Topic 28 - Features of online services

Question 1

What are Online services?

Answer 1

Online services are information and services that are made available over the internet, usually via a web browser. As a result, access to these services is extremely flexible and convenient

Question 2

Some features are common to all types of online service What do these include?

Answer 2

These included 24/7 access and availability on a wide range of devices. Others are more specific to different types of service

Question 3

What are the 7 common types of online services?

Answer 3

1 = Retail
2 = Financial services
3 = Education and training
4 = News and information
5 = Entertainment and leisure
6 = Productivity
7 = Booking systems

Question 4

What are the 3 Advantages of Retail?

Answer 4

• Wide range of competition to choose from
• Saves transport time and costs
• Better targeted marketing can be performed online

Question 5

What are the 2 Disadvantages of Retail?

Answer 5

• Produces and services may not be regulated
• May results in nuisance emails and texts

Question 6

What are the 2 Advantages of Financial services?

Answer 6

• Can manage finances from home
• Reduces the need for visiting financial institutions to conduct business, resulting in reduced travel times and costs

Question 7

What are the 2 Disadvantages of Financial services?

Answer 7

• Not all services may be genuine
• Potential for unauthorised access through security breaches and social engineering

Question 8

What are the 2 Advantages of Education and training?

Answer 8

• Can learn in your own time
• Access to a wider range of courses than those taught in the local area

Question 9

What are the 2 Disadvantages of Education and training?

Answer 9

• Need to make sure the course is properly accredited
• Lack of structure may impede learning

Question 10

What are the 3 Advantages of News and information?

Answer 10

• Provides the most up-to-date information possible
• Helps to plan travel and events to avoid traffic, bad weather
• Can be personalised to show news on particular topics

Question 11

What are the 2 Disadvantages of News and information ?

Answer 11

• Need to check the reliability of the information provider
• Too much information assessible too quickly, for example potential impact and prejudgment of the accused before trial

Question 12

What are the 2 Advantages of Entertainment and leisure?

Answer 12

• Access to a wide range of music, TV and films, bad weather, etc.

Question 13

What are the 1 Disadvantages of Entertainment and leisure?

Answer 13

• Safety locks may be needed to protect children from unsuitable content

Question 14

What are the 2 Advantages of Productivity?

Answer 14

• Accessible anywhere with an internet connection and on most connected devices
• Supports collaborative working, sharing information and communication

Question 15

What are the 1 Disadvantages of Productivity?

Answer 15

• Potential for the loss of the ‘human touch’ by using technology to communicate and plan in isolation

Question 16

What are the 2 Advantages of Booking system?

Answer 16

• No need to travel to make booking
• Fewer admin staff needed to take bookings
• Avoids having to wait in a telephone queue
  (e.g. for GP appointment)

Question 17

What are the 1 Disadvantages of Booking system?

Answer 17

• May disadvantage those without internet access