Trends and future of ECommerce

1
Trends and future of E-Commerce

• Internet2/Internet Telephony
• IPv6/GoIP
• The Grid
• Web Kiosks
• Web Cams
• Smelly sites
• E-Entrepreneurs!
• Intelligent Agents

2
IPv6

• The internet gets its name from the IP network
  layer protocol
• Defines format for packets of data that are
  forwarded by routers on the network
• IPv4 is the current version of IP
• Growth has led to problems
• IPv6 - redesign - see http//www.ipv6.com
• Roll out over the next 10 years

3
The grid

• Combine millions of computers seamlessly around
  the world - processing power available on demand
• P to P (Peer to Peer) architecture

4
Forecast rollout of Internet2

• Internet is slow and unreliable
• Internet was not built for commercial use - but
  for the military
• For E-Commerce we need to enhance the Internet -
  this led to the Internet2 project - started in
  1996 - UCAID (University Corporation for Advanced
  Internet Development)
• Probably five years away from being affordable(as
  of July 2001)

5
Forecast rollout of Internet2

• Will transport data up to 1,000 times faster than
  todays internet
• What kind of applications could it support?
• Data-intensive applications such as long-distance
  surgery, true video on demand and virtual reality
  simulations are on trial at US universities

6
Web Kiosks for E-Commerce

• Information kiosks are usually located in public
  places e.g. malls, stations
• Kiosks can be a way of accessing the Internet for
  E-Commerce transactions/downloading handy
  information wirelessly to PDAs/Phones
• Early versions were rather simple but latest
  developments support multiple functions see
  practical for links
• Tailored towards customer focus

7
Web cams for E-Commerce

• Droylsden Comfort World
• Web cam records images every 15 minutes which are
  then downloaded to the Co-ops electrical e-shop
  web site
• Why?
• Gives users something to do! - a site
  stickability aim
• proof that there is a real shop behind the Co-Op
  name and not a virtual shop

8
Surf and Sniff!

• Scented web sites
• scent is very evocative
• sense of smell is closely tied to memory and
  emotion - powerful way to reinforce ideas
• picture worth a thousand words - a scent is worth
  a thousand pictures!

9
iSmell hardware and software

• Hardware called iSmell - a peripheral device that
  emits a range of smells and work in tandem with
  companys ScentStream software
• E-Commerce sites will be able to select smells
  for their products such as cigars or wine
• Database of smells - licensed to content
  providers and site developers as well as the
  worlds first Web Snortal
• Applications - email scents! Music scents

10
Intelligent Agents

• Software agents which are capable of doing
  complex tasks
• B2B Your agent will negotiate best deal in terms
  of price/service with their agent.
• B2C
• Your agent will find desired goods and arrange
  delivery
• Your intelligent refrigerator will monitor its
  own contents and order groceries
• Your intelligent car will diagnose and report its
  problems and book itself in for service

11
Are you entrepreneurial?

• If you have an innovative internet idea for an
  existing firm or setting up an internet services
  firm then why not have a go yourself?
• Caution! Bathwick Group launched -
  whytheyfailed.com to keep track of internet
  dot.gones
• Various organisations to help with the launch of
  a new internet venture e.g ecapitalstart
• see practical for more links