Abstract This paper explains that Netscape Navigator 2.0, the original browser, and Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0 were both provided as free downloads; both companies expected to make money through sales and advertising to companies using their browsers to drive customers to their websites, but this was a far more significant source of income for Netscape because Microsoft's primary business was not web browsers. The author points out that Netscape's extra features made it larger and slower than Explorer, while providing little actual benefit to users who were seeking information rather than animated butterflies chasing their mouse pointers. The paper relates that both browsers were badly designed, hurried products without testing, but the browser market in 1995 did not allow it. Comparison table.
From the Paper "During the Browser Wars, standards, where they existed, were usually ignored in favor of adding new, incompatible features as fast as possible. Netscape has support for Java, Javascript and frames, none of which were standard, or supported by Internet Explorer. Netscape strongly encouraged the use of these features in order to make their product relevant. Legitimate uses for these features did and still do exist, but the primary effect was to encourage a huge number of poorly designed websites. Former Open Source Initiative president Eric Raymond accuses authors of pages with an order of magnitude more Javascript that content of "masturbation with Javascript". Netscape fails to support some less flashy, but more useful features found in Explorer, such as individual colors for table cells."
Abstract The anti-trust lawsuit brought against Microsoft Corporation is based on a variety of Microsoft strategies that are claimed to affect the browser industry at large. This paper analyzes the claims brought against Microsoft, as stated in the anti-trust lawsuit and the defense of Microsoft's business practices, as conveyed by news reports and press releases from the offices of Microsoft executives. These points of view, taken together, are an attempt to determine whether or not Microsoft's business strategies in the browser market have been an illegal method of obtaining a true monopoly of the industry, one which genuinely prohibits alternative browser development by non-Microsoft sources.
From the Paper "AOL executive John Rose explained to the court that Compaq, one of the industry's leading manufacturers of personal computers, pre-installs both Microsoft and Netscape browsing software on all of its machines. [22] Thus, consumers are free to change their browsers at will, as often as they like. This testimony is a level blow to the idea that consumers are forced to use one type of browser over another. Yet it does not address the fact that when Internet Explorer comes pre-installed on any other type of PC, the end-user will still have easier access to the Internet via IE, if only because it saves the consumer the hassle of having to manually install a separate browser."
Abstract This paper discusses the security issues associated with downloading Java applets, noting that, since the applets are downloadable from web browsers, they present security risks. The paper looks at Java applet's security features, but shows how they are open to being exploited. Other problems with applets, such as browser incompatibility, lack of read/write facility, and the new 'Signed' applet risks, are also explored and the paper notes that they have caused the applet to be slightly more vulnerable to security breaches than should be possible with the application. The paper then relates that these problems are known by Sun, and are therefore likely to be resolved in the near future.
From the Paper "An applet is a small program ("little application") which is not run on its own, but is rather used as part of another program. A Java Applet is "An application which is written in the Java programming language and is dynamically downloadable by a web browser such as Netscape" (Surveyor.com), Java Applets are intended to be embedded in browsers, and the best way to use them is through such browsers.
The fact that Java Applets are downloadable from web browsers naturally raises concerns about the security of such operations: downloading is one of the main sources of computer viruses and other invasions. Fortunately, the Java Applets conform to a high security standard."
Abstract The paper gives an in-depth examination of the development of the internet from its early days as a communication between government departments and academics to how it has become part of every day life.
It looks at the main features of today's use such as e-mail and chat programs, ftp and web browsers. It also discusses the negative side of the internet such as security risks, breaches of individual privacy and criminal offences such as attempts to commit fraud.
From the Paper "One advantage to the Internet is the fact it is not owned by anyone, it has no regulatory authority, and is therefore a truly free medium. However this does not mean it is completely unregulated laws of the various countries can be applied (for example to curb pornographic material) but these regulations are week and ineffective. This has an effect of lowering boarders to trade and communication and in many cases lowering the barriers that may exist. Goods can be ordered between countries, and with he advance of electronic data transfer they can be paid for over the internet and delivered directly to the purchaser, often within a matter of days, just as communication can be seen as taking minutes rather than days."
Abstract This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the new technology, VoiceXML. It describes that the technology allows users to interact with the Internet using a telephone or voice browser. It explains how the technology will affect organizations. The paper includes color charts and graphic illustrations.
From the Paper ?The computer of the future understands what we say, will talk to us, show us images and movies, and fit in a palm. The keyboard is not a natural extension of the human body. After all, we do not communicate naturally with a keyboard, but with our voice.? (Martin, 2000, The Challenge,5) World Wide Web technologies have, ?shifted the landscape for providers of traditional phone services to new set of customers accessing information and services through the Web.? (VoiceXML Forum, 2002,1). The standard coding language, Voice eXensible Markup Language (VoiceXML) allows users to interact with the Internet or an intranet using a telephone or voice browser. By enabling speech interactivity, VoiceXML literally acts as ?a translator that sits between the content on the Internet and the caller (us)?? (Castelluccio, 2002,11). The IDC reported that in 2000 over 1.6 billion telephones (both landline and wireless) were installed throughout the United States. By 2005, that number is expected to nearly double. Although traditional automated telephone services have been used by organizations for decades now, companies are looking towards new, improved, and less costly technology (Penumaka,6-7). With VMXL users are able to call into a "voice browser" by dialing a regular phone number from any wire line or wireless phone. This voice browser allows the caller to surf the Web and interact with Internet and intranet applications hosted on any Web server. An example of a typical application would be a user who requests the flight status for a specific flight by calling into the browser. The voice browser, using speech recognition, recognizes the request and translates it into a travel service provider's URL. The Web server processes the request and responds with a VoiceXML page. The browser interprets this page, and relays the flight information to the "phone surfer" using a prerecorded or synthesized voice.
Tags:browser, communication, interactivity, intranet, recognition, speech, elephone, web
Abstract This paper analyzes the evolution of Extensible Markup Language (XML) which has become a major server side resource for web site presentations. It examines how the standard HTML had become a rigid and standardized mark-up language for browsers and how XML was designed from its inception to be flexible enough to describe any kind of mark up schema that the industry could devise. It looks at how the most basic use for XML is to describe the data structure of the provided data, however its ability for data transformations has made it into the database world for transferring data from one table schema to another one. Today it has become the de facto format for modern configuration files, and every major vendor has XML in their product offering in one form or another. XML hasn?t replaced HTML; instead it has found a companion role in providing the data that is presented in HTML.
From the Paper "When XML was first designed, many people thought that XML would be quickly adopted as a replacement for HTML. At first, XML was used to describe scientific terms and domains such as chemistry and music. This
never really caught on beyond the small groups who championed their
mark-ups. Instead, XML has become more of a server side tool than a presentation tool. However, HTML 4 has been extended into XHTML. Even though this is a new standard, compatibility with existing HTML user agents is possible by following a small set of guidelines. This means that the original vision might yet be realized as more tools are developed that produce content in this format."
Abstract This paper discusses what programming languages are used in web pages. It describes what database-driven sites are and looks at what a server does. It also discusses issues like the interface and the browser.
From the Paper "When creating a structure for a website one must take into consideration many attributes that will help in the development of a site targeted to the end users. When making attributes the developer must form a site that is easy to use with a well designed layout that contains valuable resources. Within these attributes the designer must have made a stable system structure that can perform well. For this to occur there are some key basic element that must be in place. These are organized pages or architecture, a server, a good database and the languages."
Abstract This paper considers the potential for co-evolutionary interactions between plant secondary compounds and browsing mammals in a relatively simple system. It first briefly presents several theoretical ideas on plant-animal co-evolution and then present the evidence on interactions between mammalian browsers and woody plants in boreal regions that may bear on the co-evolutionary questions.
Paper Outline:
Introduction
Theoretical Co-evolution
Browsers and Food Plants in the Boreal Forest
Variation in Secondary Compounds and Browsing Resistance
Estimating Plant Fitness
The Herbivores: Hares, Moose, and Voles
Conclusion
From the Paper "The evidence for the effects of secondary compounds on fitness has not been measured directly for boreal mammals. However, the evidence presented above suggests that they may be important. Both the fine-scale selectivity of browsers among similar plants and plant parts that vary in their levels of secondary compounds (Bryant et al. 1991a,b, Bryant et al. 1992) and the potentially severe effects of these chemicals on the herbivores' nutritional status (Iason and Palo 1991) suggest that the ability to avoid or detoxify secondary compounds is a result of selection."
Abstract In this article, the writer explains that wireless transport layer security (WTLS) technology is a protocol used for secure communications and transaction over the wireless network. The writer notes that the applications of this technology can be found in WAP servers, browsers, internet hosts and e-commerce. The writer discusses that the protocol also issues digital certificates for the users which can be used to identify individual users and authenticate the electronic transaction. The writer discusses that wireless systems were found to be more vulnerable to attacks and that as a result many security features of WAP servers, browsers, internet hosts and e-commerce follow security protocols designed for wireless applications. The writer concludes that the wireless band use for communication has revolutionized the use of the Internet, communication, and e-commerce and has enhanced accessibility.
Outline:
Wireless Protocols
Conclusion
From the Paper "The protocol can be defined as a set of details that lays down the methods of communication between devices. The set of communication protocol that is used on the internet for example is called the TCP/IP. This is a collection of many smaller protocols with unique functions, like security encryption, authentication or data transfer. The use of the protocol is dependent on the end to which the communication layer is subject to. The most important and widely used protocol is the 802.11b. Some standards like the blue tooth are new, the wireless field is exploding and new and better protocols based on application requirements are being released day by day. Mobile protocols are constantly evolving and the history of the subject goes back from the time distributed computing came in vogue. The third generation wireless protocol commonly known as 3G is used in mobile wireless and is operational in any part of the earth and is found in the cell phones, and can be used in any instrument that is portable."
Abstract This paper discusses the growth of e-commerce and explores the different applications that were developed for use in e-commerce. One of these, XML, is explored in detail, including its development, its advantages over HTML for e-commerce, and the companies that first used it. The paper discusses the advantages of e-commerce and conversely, e-commerce's failures.
Contents: Early Application Developments for E-commerce; XML; Primary & Early Users of Leading Edge Applications; Development of Products by Businesses and Industries; Leaders and Followers; Applying Technologies to Business Problems and Solutions; Successes and Failures; The Future; Vision
From the Paper "Among the more recent application developments for the web is the Extensible Mark-up Language (XML) designed to improve the functionality of the Web by providing more flexible and adaptable information identification. (?The XML FAQ,? Jan 2002). The flexibility and extensibility of XML are very significant features since at present further development of the Web is held back by important constraints due to dependence on a single inflexible document type-HTML (the Hypertext Mark-up Language most frequently used on the web) which is already stretched to the limit with over-use and has severe limitations for data transfer and storage."
Abstract This paper discusses the question of how secure the internet is regarding credit card details, social security numbers and other vital and personal information. It looks at security features offered by most companies and examines whether these are safe. It also shows that if anyone really wanted to construct a method of tapping into people's personal details, it would not be hard, and of course it is being done already.
From the Paper "
"With the development of the Internet and the expansion of abilities that computers have, the world has become more reliant than ever on the use of computers. In the past ten years, the Internet has come from being a start-up idea to the fuel which runs the world. Computers with Internet access have become so much of a necessity not only to families with students, but to families who wish to have anything they want at the touch of a button. Online information is so easy to come by that families have become reliant on computers for almost everything, including shopping. While some people do not trust the internet enough to be entering vital information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, and family information, some people believe all of the security features offered by certain companies and enter this information at will."
Tags: internet, computer, access, email, web, mainframe, browser, user
Abstract This paper provides a thorough examination of the Microsoft enterprise. It includes the history of Microsoft as well as discussing their advertising and marketing techniques. The writer also explains Microsoft's sales statistics and how competition affects the company.
From the Paper "Microsoft Corporation was founded in 1975 by two college students, Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Today, it is the world's largest software company. Its Windows operating system is standard on most desktop computers and a major contender in the server arena (Hutchinson pg). Microsoft Office is the most successful application suite in history. Furthermore, Microsoft has thrived in programming languages, as well as numerous other software categories (Hutchinson pg). Its outstanding success is due to fitting IBM PCs with DOS in 1981 and non-IBM PCs with MS-DOS. Microsoft's leadership was cemented in 1990 with the creation of Windows3.0 and later Windows 95 (Hutchinson pg)."
A discussion on the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, on the basis of which the United States Department of Justice, along with twenty state attorney generals, charged the Microsoft Corporation with conducting illegal anti-competitive business practices.
Abstract The following paper discusses the controversial charges brought about by the government on Microsoft. The writer examines thoughts and opinions of people and companies that think that Microsoft and CEO Bill Gates are acting in violation of the anti-trust laws of the United States, while others think that the charges against Microsoft are damaging the free market. This paper examines the truth to both sides of the argument.
From the Paper "The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 was passed by the United States Congress in order to declare illegal "every contract combination in the form of a trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce with several states, or foreign nations", meaning that any corporate action for the purpose of eliminating competition in an area of business and of controlling the market for a product, was declared illegal. (1) In May of 1998, the United States Department of Justice charged the Microsoft Corporation with conducting such illegal anti-competitive business practices. Microsoft, the largest and wealthiest software company in the world, was under fire because it was supplying, free of charge, it's version of an internet browser called Internet Explorer with the selling of the Windows operating system. The government stated "internet browsers are separate products competing in a separate product market from personal computer operating systems"?. (2) The government was calling for action to split the Microsoft Corporation into two separate companies: software and web browsing."
Abstract Zacchini v. Scripps-Howard Broadcasting Company:
Copyright and Public Access
Public Access or Public Interest?
What is public information and what kinds of information are copyrighted? In the age of the Internet where literally millions of pages of documents are available through the use of a modem, a search engine, and a browser, this is a question that needs to be answered. Why?
From the Paper "Zacchini v. Scripps-Howard Broadcasting Company:
Copyright and Public Access
Public Access or Public Interest?
What is public information and what kinds of information are copyrighted? In the age of the Internet where literally millions of pages of documents are available through the use of a modem, a search engine, and a browser, this is a question that needs to be answered. Why? Because what may be legally defined as public information vis-?-vis a database, might in some way be protected under the law. It might be convenient to be able access all the names and phone numbers of out-of-town relatives from a computer desktop. But by doing so, is the letter of the law being violated in reference to our right to privacy? What information..."
Abstract This paper reviews the literature and study conducted on the advantages of Netscape's "Navigator" program over Microsoft's "Internet Explorer". Statistics provided show that worldwide use of Internet Explorer, is up while Netscape's share of the market has plummeted from 33.43 percent in February 1999 to 13.90 percent in June 2000. The study compares Netscape Navigator 6 with the Microsoft 5.5 release using a simple property font code to show the differences that still exist. The paper includes a look at the differences and similarities between the two programs with comments on their abilities to perform.
From the Paper "Part of this problem is still related to the fact that both Netscape and Microsoft still rely for the most part on HTML scripting, even though both are making bold and blatant overtures to the growing XML groups (Yager 2000). Microsoft, in October of this year plans to begin sending out copies of its new Microsoft.NET program that is its first venture into a fulltime commitment to XML."
