Alis blog

M-Commerce where have you been!

2011-12-04T20:10:00.003Z

I use my smartphone every single minute of everyday. It is brilliant now that technology can be as easy as a few touches on your iphone. M-Commerce is conducting commerce using a mobile. For example using a mobile device instead of surfing on the laptop.

I use my smartphone to search the web alot. Its quick and it saves me time. What I use my smartphone to do most of the time is to check my bank balance. Being a student I was used to receiving ''insufficient funds'' this has now stopped. I check my balance and other queries. Its brilliant!

It saves time and paper for the company so I don't have to receive any of my bank statements in the post so its brilliant. We all know that getting like million pages of your past statements is a pain in the back side, especially remembering when you actually did have money!

Smart phones are completly taking over the world by storm, there will be no use of laptops or computers in a couple of years to come!

Its all online now..

2011-12-04T19:13:00.001Z

Social networking has taken over the internet world and actually even the world. It is one of the biggest platforms a business can reach out to potential customers therefore it would be stupid to ignore!

The top 10 social networking sites 2011 are:

1. Facebook

2. Twitter

3. LinkedIn

4. MySpace

5. Nig

6.Google Plus+

7. Tagged

8. Orkut

9. hi5

10. myyearbook

REF: http://blink.to/NBjd

Social networking has become the norm in every area whether it is personal or business. Some of the sites listed above I have never heard of, but I am not shocked of what site is number one. Without a doubt Facebook is leading the social networking market.

Social networking gives you the opportunity to keep in contact with friends that might not be around. For myself Facebook gives me the chance to keep in touch with my Erasmus friends. Without it I wouldn't be able to know what was happening in their lives. It allows me to see pictures from their travels, their family and just their everyday life. It still makes me feel like they are part of my life as I know what they are getting up to all of the time.

Social networking allows business colleagues also to form a relationship. With the use of instant messenger and e-mails this will lead to a friendship. This could be beneficial to the company as well as the employees.

As many individuals have some sort of social network account it is an easy way for a company to get their brand recognised. This technique to reach to customers is low cost and efficient. All companies should take advantage of social networking sites. I know that personally that is the only time I actually would look at and as because I seen it on Facebook! Sites like Twitter give the company the opportunity to get their message out there and also connect to the customer.

I am a social networking junkie I must admit. It is the only thing I do when I'm online, well when I'm not researching a paper of course! With Facebook I can view my friend’s pictures, see pictures from nights out which are always a good laugh. Talk to friends - home and aboard. Catch up with old friends. Reconnect with family members. Catch up on the gossip-which is obviously essential!

I get to show off my personality. By posting pictures of my life, designing my home page. I only ad people I actually know. I don't understand why some people have like 1029 friends! Why would you want that many people looking at your page?

As long as you keep your private stuff private and don't add any strangers I don't think there is no real danger in social sites. Although my Dad always says that one day Facebook will come back and bite me in the bum when I go for an interview... Let's just hope that doesn't happen!

If it's wrote down does it make it true?

2011-12-04T17:09:00.001Z

Censorship on the Web / Citizen Journalism

My Dad always said 'Don't believe everything you read'. I am the most naive person on this planet! If I read it in a magazine, newspaper even Facbook I automatically believe it!

I know we are all entitled your own opinion, but is there a line between your opinion and just plain old slander? Like where do you stop when your writing your opinion? Are there any guidelines? What is the story like..

As technology grows and continues to take over the world we all find ourselves somehow on the internet. Especially my own generation, but what you find on the web is what my problem is. The era of ‘citizen journalism’ is progressing. As we all know we are all entitled to our own opinions and free speech, but is there a line to what we say?

Question is should there be a level of censorship when people post their thoughts online? My answer is a big fat YES!

I understand that everyone has an opinion, but does that opinion mean it’s true? These days everyone is a journalist online. Mostly every celebrity is posting blogs and what not in order to gain the public’s interest. I feel that there should be some sort of censorship regarding these posts. Why should one opinion ruin and damage someone else’s reputation? Should we not be protected in a way?

In terms of the business world, online blogs can be very harmful for them. It will either make or break them really. If an unsatisfied customer posts online their negative experience of dealing with that particular company it will make other or future potential customers back away from the company. Why should this be allowed? The employee of the company might of having one bad day that caused this problem. There might have been a problem with the product which was out of the companies hands. There a million and one reasons why that problem would of happened yet it is not stated in the blog of the customer. As in their opinion it definitely shouldn’t of happened to them.

For that reason I believe that there absolutely should be censorship of citizen journalism. There isn’t articles in the newspapers that have no evidence behind them why should there be articles allowed online then without them! Its just like if someone spreads a rumour about a person. It’s a rumour without any truth yet it is so damaging. I believe there should be stated that only true posts should be allowed online and if they don’t abide by that rule it should be automatically and permanently removed.

Truly the best year of my life

2011-12-04T00:17:00.000Z

The biggest adventure of my life to date began on the 20th of September 2010. The day I dreaded for so long.. It was the day I had to leave for Nuertingen, Germany. That Monday morning was probably the hardest thing I've done. Saying bye to my sister,brother, parents was hard but what was worse was saying bye to my 3month nephew.

The first few weeks were like a holiday. I didn't have time to think about what actually happened to me. I went with my best friend so I always had someone there for me when ever I needed a pick me up! We met the most amazing people ever. But got hard not seeing my family everyday. Skype wasn't enough.

Nuertingen is a small town just outside Stuttgart. It was cute and so typically German. The people were so friendly and when they knew we were English speakers they couldn't wait to get talking to us. Our college Hochschule fuer Wirtschaft und Umwelt was tiny. I thought DkIT was small! It was so easy making friends there, if you knew one person you know everyone eventually!!

The dorms is what made my time away brilliant. I've never live in dorm's before just a student house. Everyone being in the same building was cool. We all hung out on the second floor kitchen and played cards with a few drinks. The people I met there will definitively be life time friends.

Being able to travel around both Germany and the rest of Europe was a great experience for me. Beofre I've only ever been in Spain because my parents aren't that adventurous! That year really did open my eyes to what is out there.

The biggest achievement this experience has given me is that I learnt how to cook! All thanks to Laura pushing me! I'm no Gordon Ramsey but at least now I won't be living on Chef brown sauce on toast! But I won't be appearing on ''Come dine with me''.

My friends I made aboard are amazing. I couldn't of made it trhough the year without them. Being back at DkIT is so hard. I am always remembering what I was doing this time last year. Time there was just like a holiday which I know had to come to an end but thankfully the friendships won't.

At the moment one of the Spanish boys we met aboard is over visiting myself and Laura. It is cool to say you've friends all over the world. From America,Greece,South America to Japan and much much MUCH more. I'm happy that when I visit Japan for instance I won't have to pay for a hotel, I'll just bunk up with my friends!

Erasmus has made me way more mature and independent.( obviously not that mature I'll always be a child at heart) But the time aboard has made me want to see more of the world. When I leave DkIT travelling is definitively on the cards. Just have to start doing the lotto again!

18 people,
12 countries,
1 love
Nuertingen <3

Technology Fast- Always on, Always connected.

2011-11-22T18:50:00.008Z

At fist I was totality against the technology fast. For obvious reasons. But when I thought about it when I left the class, I began to think that even if I tried to do it I would mostly defiantly FAIL!

It began on the Thursday and ended on the Friday evening. I decided to sit this fast out as I needed my phone for personal reasons. I'm not lying work needed to call me! So that was a easy pass!

Only a few students undertook this challenge. The reason being I would believe that everyone around my age always needs to feel like they are connected.

Being without my phone would make me feel naked in a way. I wouldn't feel comfortable walking from anywhere on my own. I would ESPECIALLY need my phone in my hands when you walk past a large group of people. It's so intimidating but having the phone there and pretending to text makes you feel much more safer.

I tried my own little fast on the Friday. I didn't bring my phone to work and all through the whole four hours I worked I couldn't help but think what was I missing. When i returned home and ran to check the phone. There was nothing on it. I basically wasted like four hours thinking about nothing. It is glued into my head and also on my hands so to speak that I needed to be contactable.

I feel personality that this fast would most definitely been too difficult to complete. The reason being is that I am afraid to miss out on anything. i hate not knowing things. I am so nosey. If theres gossip I always know about it. I tend to live that through my phone. I need to have to ability to talk to someone or to find out things.

I'm not sure if I'm sad or if theres other like me but the first thing I do in the morning is check the phone and that ISN'T to check the time I might add!

I think for our generation it is built in to always be connected to everyone around. Collin mentioned in class that it's like going back to the time of out parents, how they got around without the phones, facebook even Google. But I personally think that we should keep the past in the past and keep the iphone in the hand!

Always on, ALWAYS Connected.

Never put thought into Web Accessibility before...

2011-11-22T18:35:00.005Z

Web accessibility means that people who have a disability can still use, understand and surf the Web. I didn't have much knowledge of this topic before speaking about it in class as I have no disabilities that effect my ability to surf the net.

Some people may not describe themselves having disabilities but do have limitations when using the net. The limitations can vary from physical or sensory functioning such as sight problems, aging, injury related injuries or just be lack of knowledge. As I said before I had no real knowledge of how a individual who has a disability might face discrimination while they search online and how they over come these barriers that they are faced with.

As I thought about it I began to truly understand why a vision impaired person would be effected if a business didn't make their website accessible for them. I had the attitude that why can't they just get a person with normal sight just help them. My attitude completely changed when the vision impaired lecturer came in to talk to our class today. I was so impressed of her ability to use the web although not seeing the screen. It was amazing!

In recent times, shops,bars and public areas had to make their entry points accessible for disabled people, why not add this to their websites? Businesses who are ignorant to this problem are loosing out on good customers. Company's should make their websites more accessible and put money and effort into doing it correctly for those who are limited.

While listening to the blind lecturer talk to us about her everyday set backs that occur to her while doing her every day things made me thing that I was lucky. I was so interested in how she has such a good attitude towards her life and her love to teach. She showed us how to gets around websites using a program which speaks out what the text on the website says. She doesn't use a mouse either, everything she does is through the key board.

If a company puts the correct resources into making their website accessible to everyone. Disabilities can be those of low vision, hard of hearing, colour blindness, dyslexia or seizure disorders. I feel that these people shouldn't feel that are they being discriminated especially in this day and age where human rights are top concern but these people who are no different than us are getting set aside. It is ridiculous.

Web accessibility is so important. At first I didn't think it was but as the Web increasingly grows to be the main resource for life; education and work. Your company should make their website available and accessible for those who make have trouble. They shouldn't be pushed aside because of their disability. They are as important as any other customer.

Why go online?

2011-11-14T16:47:00.006Z

Digital marketing is promoting your brand using digital forms of advertising to reach to your clients. Such forms include:

Facebook,Twitter & Myspace (social network platforms)
Blogs
Emails
Pay by click adverts
Google adverts
Text alerts/ instant messaging
Website pop up adverts

Such forms include the high use of technology. The reason being is to grab consumers on the go. People nowadays are busy working, the old traditional approach to marketing is outdated. The world is adapting quickly from analogue to digital especially in the business sector. Newspapers are slowly being replaced by online news. In my opinion it is highly important for any company to be up to date with these technologies. Laptops, mobiles, computers at work are essentials in this day in age. Business meetings are happening over the internet saving travel costs and time. Research has proven that mostly everyone has access to the internet.

The image below shows the percentage of internet usage from each world region

Why Digital Marketing?

Why should a company go online?

Digital marketing can add great value to your company. It delivers a greater reach than any other media. As the image above shows that the internet is the highest media time by most people. 16% of UK consumers spend their time online.
Digital marketing is faster and is more effective. Faster meaning that it can reach people more quickly. It is a faster way to connect with your consumer. It also widens your consumer range as it gives the company the opportunity to connect to people from all areas instead of being local.
Having your company online gives the consumer the opportunity to search for your company whenever they want, its on their time. Which is both beneficial for them and for the company.
Online marketing is the most cost effective than any other media.
Online marketing is eventually going to replace any other traditional marketing, it is the future.
Online marketing has the ease with results that can be tracked and monitored therefore having no reason do carry out expensive marketing research.

Basically we all know that the digital age is here, if your business can't cope and adapt to the new marketing climate there is a huge risk of failure. I think for a business it should be top of their priorities to go digital, they don't want be left behind and potential customers go the competition.

The video shows the future... just whats next? Will our kids be using laptops or will they go out of fashion just the way CD walk mans did for my generation?

I'm obviously a good luck charm :P

2011-11-10T00:06:00.010Z

So obviously we all know that it was Mary's time up in Áras an Uachtaráin. After 14 long years she has finally been evicted from the big white house!

So the new presidential elections happened on the 28th/29th of October. Those running for it where doing every they could to reach out to the public. Twitter was overloaded, Facebook was constantly being updates and the streets were covered in posters. I began to follow all of their campaigns online, I didn't really know any of them before and I don't have an interest in politics to be honest. However a few caught my eye.

Sean Gallagher was the one who stood out, at the beginning I felt he could win. He had everything we needed, young brain, knew how to make money and in our economy that's something we needed badly. Although the positives thoughts didn't stick in my opinion. The saying ''the truth comes out in the end'' really did occur here. His past caught up and bit him!

Dana, who's Twitter was a disgrace, some of the tweets were just ridiculous, someone must tell her not to count all of her eggs before they hatch! Way too religious for my liking.

Mary David obviously didn't get the support she assumed she was going to receive after her ''charitable work'' true colours came out to haunt her. We all know politicians aren't honest but there's lying and then there's lying!! Gallagher, was a strong leader, but his past caught up, coming from the back door of Fianna Fáil was a No-no.

McGuinness in my opinion was a waste of time and money to his party. Why choose someone who was once involved with an organization who didn't recognize Ireland as a state? So he changed his mind? I won't even mention Bloody Sunday! Good oul Gay Mitchel, thought he had it in the bag since all of the support previous. So wrong! Norris had too many skeletons in the wardrobe and was terrible to listen to!

Last but not least my fella Michael D Higgins, he was the only one to actually have enough experience for the job! I followed Michael D Higgins from the start. My Dad was a firm believer he could win so I obviously jumped on the bandwagon. He was the only one who always kept his cool and didn't come across fake.He has given his life to public office and less face it, he is 70, his pension isn't going to cost us that much compared to Gallaghers! HUGE welcome to Michael D Higgins. Twice now I've voted for the winner, I should really put money on it next time!! :)

Another ginger to add to my list of loves!

2011-10-26T22:27:00.006+01:00

Can I just start of.. YUM!

The one and only ED SHEERAN!!

Can't get over how good this guy is!!

All thanks to Jamie Foxx finding him in America! Ed started busting around England at 16, left school to pursue his music. Coming from a hippy background his parents had no problem with it. Jamie Foxx brought him back to his studio and introduced him to a couple of producers and that's were it all kicked off. His first song he released was A Team which is such a catchy song!

His album came out and I was one of first to grab it, having being following him on YouTube. Then released I didn't own a Cd player and my Net book doesn't run cds was a bit of a blonde moment for sure! But that did not stop me getting to know word to word every song! The downloading began!

It's clear to see that he has been busting for a good while because he is amazing live, went to see him in Dublin in September. He put on a great show and was totality worth paying over triple the amount for tickets off Done deal! Would definitely go back to see him, which I am trying to. All tickets sold out!:(

My favorite song by far below...Just obsessed listening to him. I have his cd on repeat on my iPod. Haven't listened to anything since I bought it! Ended up getting his autograph in Grafton Street the day before he played in Vicor Street! Have a little shrine of him in my room! Joke! So if anyone is thinking of what to get me for Christmas, Ed shall be more than enough ;)

How mad is it that Rupert Grint plays Ed's stalker in this?? His acting career has just hit the top level!

I spend too much time online..

2011-10-10T22:34:00.006+01:00

This week I tried to discover what do I spend my time on. Being a unemployed student I obviously have a lot of time on my hands. Well apart from studying of course and that obviously is not top of my to do list:P First tried to add up the amount of hours a week I spend on my phone, well.. lets just say the result was quiet shocking!! I added up to like 45 HOURS per week on my phone!! CRINGE! That is just texting- not adding in Facebook app or instant messaging! I am addicted to having my phone in my hand, even when I'm walking around I need to have it in my hand. Especially if I'm walking somewhere on my phone I NEED to be texting someone!

I don't own a radio, only on my phone. I don't listen to it at all. I usually just download music and just listen to my iPod. The only time I hear the radio would be when I'm in the car (prob my Dad's cause every other car I'd be in would be using the iTrip or cd's) or when I'm on the bus to college if I forget my earphones. So basically I do anything to get away from the radio!

Never was one for the television. I don't have the patience to sit around waiting for my program to be on. Even as a kid didn't have the patience to sit in the one stop. I usually use my laptop to stream any program I want to watch - which at the moment is X Factor (OBSESSED) and I only watch that on a Sunday afternoon when I'm hungover. The fact that I don't own a TV in my room doesn't help that anyways!

Spend an awful amount of time on the internet, when I say Internet I mean Facebook. Addicted isn't the word! I don't see the point these days for me to read a newspaper or magazine when I have Facebook to keep me updated.

For everything else I stream off my laptop, can't remember the last time I sat down and watched stuff on the TV and the fact I don't have a TV in my room is prob the reason why!!!As for newspapers and magazines, don't look at them at all! I usually find out the news on Facebook from people's status!:P Most of my gossip ends in ''Awh seen it on Facebook''

When I look back over the results I came up with felt sort of bad I should be reading newspapers and watching TV, just to get away from these media, but that feeling lasted about ten minutes when I realised I was scrolling down Facebook! Woops! :)

Obviously I'm not the worse one out there,,, but I'm pretty close! The girl in the video below is obviously texting someone important, that or she is just stupid!

The start of my blogging career :)

2011-10-06T12:24:00.009+01:00

My first blog..

Not too sure why I am doing this. Don't really have anything interesting to say. E-business is quite stressful at the moment. Being overloaded with too much technology my head is fried! My email doesn't know what hit it with the amount of emails I'm getting because of signing up to new sites for this class!

I need a holiday!!Would kill to be lying on the beach right now! Although knowing me I'd probably just burn to a crisp! The joys of being Irish:) Roll on summer 2012! When I say bye bye to DkIT and a big HELLO to freedom!