Smart Ticketing and Future Computing - Assignment Example

Running Title: Smart Ticketing and computing for the future Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Name and Code: University: Date Submitted: Smart Ticketing and computing for the future Abstract The paper looks at two emerging technologies. The two emerging technologies that the paper addresses are smart ticketing and computing for the future. The first section of the paper deals with smart ticketing. The term smart ticketing is defined. This technology is briefly examined, although not in detail. The impacts of smart ticketing on business are explored. These include impacts like the streamlining of administration in business. Impacts like plunging company leaks and reducing clogging are examined in depth. The reductions of costs among other benefits are examined in relation to business. The impacts of smart ticketing to society are also examined. These include impacts like control of congestion, security of smart cardholders and control of pollution. Many other effects are explored and reported. The other emergent technology, computing for the future, is examined. The two technologies that come with this emerging technology are explored. The two are grid computing and cloud computing. The two technologies are distinguished. The paper then concentrates on cloud computing. This is because cloud computing is edging out grid computing. The impacts of cloud computing in business are examined. These include the minimization of costs due to reduction of capital expenditures among other impacts. The impact of cloud computing on society is also examined. The conclusion is a call for the quick implementation of smart ticketing. Introduction The world of technology has transformed the way of life in society. Technological advances have ushered the world into an era of unprecedented comfortability.The world of technology has not rested on its laurels. Emerging technologies continue to light up the world on a day to day basis. Some of the emerging technologies that are shaping business and transforming society are smart ticketing, and computing for the future. Smart ticketing is a means of intelligent ticketing that solves the problem of acquisition of tickets (Fujimura & Nakajima, 2004). It is mostly used for mass transit. Smart ticketing has other applications in library registration, membership in clubs and car hire services among other functions. The society and the business world have experienced the impacts of smart ticketing. Entrepreneurs can get paid in advance, while Smart ticketing affords society secure tickets that cannot be counterfeited. Computing for the future comes in two forms of applications. These are grid computing and cloud computing. Grid computing is the earlier version of computing for the future. Cloud computing is the newest form of computing for the future and it is also the computing for the future that is mostly used (Bernstein, 2009). Smart ticketing is a low cost form of contactless ticketing for mass transit among other functions. This form of intelligent ticketing is enabled by advances in computer technology. The smart card can be recharged countless times (David, 2006). It is one of the emergent technologies that have not fully been integrated into the society. Some companies have already embraced this emerging technology. Plans are in the pipeline in countries like the UK to nationalize the smart ticketing project. Smart ticketing are revolutionizing businesses, and society. The paper is going to look at the benefits to business and society. Impact on business Smart ticketing has had a big impact on the business world. It has taken businesses to another height in sales and marketing. One of the first impacts of smart ticketing is that it gives the companies that use this form of ticketing a unique advantage. One such advantage or impact is that the company has fast and useful data that it can use at any time. This is data on its clients. It can use the data on the clients because it is centralized (David, 2006). In case problems develop for certain customers, the company has all the data it needs on them. It can relay this data to its branches’ across the country. This means that it is remarkably difficult to defraud companies that employ smart ticketing. Another impact on businesses is that the business receives payment in advance. This means that it can invest the money received from customers even before the customers are served. The company can use the money received to do repairs, and improve services (David, 2006). In the case of transport companies, smart ticketing removes the burden of drivers handling cash. This means that it reduces crime as the drivers have no cash. Smart ticketing also ensures that there is no internal theft in the company. This is because the company employees do not handle cash directly. The cash records are centralized, and it is impossible to tamper with them. For transit companies, smart ticketing is godsend (David, 2006).This is because it eliminates the necessity for mechanical terminals. The essence of this is that cost are minimized, especially those to do with malfunction, maintenance and misuse. Also minimized include printing costs, distribution overheads and minimize the potential for fraud (David, 2006). Businesses are to benefit profoundly due to smart ticketing. This is because smart ticketing provides crucial data on ticket types used the patterns of travel, preferences of passengers among other insights. This information is crucial to the allocation of resources. It enables more efficient timetabling, recduces delays and improves passenger safety. The incorporation of the measures outlined above means that the company can develop strategies and services that meet client approval. This in turn leads to customer satisfaction and subsequently customer loyalty (Fujimura & Nakajima, 2004). Smart ticketing affords companies centralized data bases. This enables the company to have a clear view of the business. Those areas that are doing badly can be rectified. Smart ticketing also streamlines the administration of the business entity. This ensures that leaks are plunged. The company management also enjoys better overall control (Fujimura & Nakajima, 2004). Impact for society Smart ticketing has numerous impacts for society. One of the impacts that smart ticketing has on society is that it is remarkably safe. Smart ticketing eliminates the burden of carrying cash on oneself. This means that members of society fell secure with this form of ticketing. Members of society cannot lose cash as they do not walk around with cash (Fujimura & Nakajima, 2004). Another impact is that the card can not be counterfeited. The smart card can also not be manipulated or read. The implication is that even if the card is lost, the owner has not lost anything. Smart ticketing saves society time lost in standing in line. This is because it sis digital and bookings can be done online. This means that the customer can book for services while in his house. Smart tickets can be used millions of times. They can also be used for a multiplicity of purposes (David, 2006). In case of travel, even if the smart ticket or card is lost, the owner can still travel. This is because the information in the card can be retrieved to continue with plans. Smart ticketing protects privacy where it is needed. The cards that have been stolen can be easily cancelled. The acquisition of smart cards in line with smart ticketing reduces congestion. This is the congestion in places like airlines, bus stations and other ticket acquisition places. Smart ticketing also reduces pollution (Fujimura & Nakajima, 2004). This is a major impact because pollution is doing a lot of harm to society. This means that the effects of global warming can be reduced through smart ticketing. The environment is made cleaner and all the benefits of a clean environment fall on the society. A pocket reader can be used to read the balance on the smart card.Embarasments can be avoided this way. Smart ticketing can be combined with the regular ePurse system to pay for almost any thing (David, 2006). Computing for the future Computing for the future is an emerging technology that comprises two main technologies. The technologies are grind computing and cloud computing. Grind computing is a system of distributed computing that exploits the power of several computers to handle massive computational tasks among organizations that have high computing needs. Cloud computing is a computation system that allows many users to request for small amounts of information. For purposes of this study, it is god to note that cloud computing has replaced grind computing. This is because grind computing is largely the preserve of scientific and governmental bodies (Brian, 2008). Grind computing has been having less application in business and society. It has been replaced by cloud computing. The paper will thus concentrate on cloud computing (Brian, 2008). Impact on business The impact of cloud computing on businesses is extensive. One of the main impacts of this emerging technology is scalability. The information technology departments in organizations anticipating enormous upticks in user load do not need to scramble in order to secure extra software and hardware. A business entity can subtract or add as its load and capacity dictates. Cloud computing relies on a utility model. This means that the company can only pay what it has used. This reduces standing expenditures that increase the overhead in a company. The reduction of expenses is what most companies aim for. This in the long run means that the company will make more profits (Brian, 2008). Cloud computing applications are easy to implement. This is because, as the paper has documented above, the company does not need to buy any new hardware or software. The company does not need to purchase cloud computing licenses (Cauley, 2006). Another thing the company does not nee to purchase when it comes to cloud computing is an implementation service. This implies that a cloud computing arrangement can be implemented in the shortest time possible. It can also be implemented for a tiny proportion of the expenditure for an on the premise solution (Cauley, 2006).. This emerging technology has also another remarkably important impact for business entities. The impact is that the practitioners who supply businesses with cloud computing services are skilled. The vendors of this technology are reputable, unlike vendors of other technologies who are wanting. The vendors include trusted names like Microsoft, Google, Yahoo and Amazon. What this means is that businesses cannot lose money from suppliers by getting faulty services. This in turn means that business can give their customers superb services (Bernstein, 2009). Cloud computing is extremely beneficial to a business entity. In addition to reducing costs by cutting out the purchase of soft ware, it also frees internal resources. This is because by placing server and storage requirements in the hands of an outsourcer, a business shifts the weight placed on its information technology team to a third party supplier. This results in the in house information technology team concentrating on valuable business activities. This is without the cost of having to train the IT manpower.Cloud computing also frees the business entity from having to hire additional information technology personnel (Bernstein, 2009). Network outages can lead to information technology scuttling for answers. Cloud computing offers quality services to business entities; this is because the cloud computing vendors like Microsoft offer unlimited customer support. The cloud computing vendors also offer instant response to emergency situations. Even when outages do occur, they are quickly rectified. In February 2008, Amazons cloud computing service experienced a brief outage. This affected thousands of companies. The service was restored in three hours. Impact on society When a technology affects one part of the human side like business, it means that the entire society is imparted. Members of society can access this technology for remarkably little costs. This is because the system avoids capital expenditures as documented earlier. Consequently the barriers to entry are lowered. This is because a third party pays for infrastructure. Users also do not have to purchase infrastructure and this is a big advantage to members of society (Scheier, 2009). Location and device independence enable user to get access to the system with a web browser and also regardless of the device the use is using. Thus, the user can use a personal computer, a mobile phone or any other device. This makes it remarkably convenient. Infrastructure is offsite and users can connect anywhere in the globe. It enables multi tenancy. This is the enabling of sharing of resources and also costs (Foley, 2010). This is across huge group of users and it allows for centralization. This is the centralization of resources with lower costs such as electricity and real estate. Multi tenancy also allows for peak load capacity. Cloud computing also serves as a remarkably secure system, this due to the centralization of data. Sensitive information cannot be lost because of the security measures that are put in place (Foley, 2010). Cloud computing has made life easier for most people in society. This is because it has revolutionized aspects of day living like shopping. It has revolutionized online shopping. It enables most people to conduct business from any where in the world. This means that it saves a lot of time for members of the society. Conclusion These two emerging technologies still need a lot of work. This is in the case of smart ticketing. This is because it has not caught like cloud computing. It is true that some companies have started to implement smart ticketing. This is especially so in the US, UK and Germany. It has found wide acceptance among the transport companies. Smart ticketing is a revolutionary emerging technology and need not to be restricted to mass transport. If properly used, it can be employed in places like libraries, club memberships and car hires among other places. The plans to introduce smart ticketing for the entire transport system of the US are noteworthy. This means that governments are picking up in using emerging technologies. It is the hope of this paper that all that remains to be done will be done to enable these emergent technologies to function fully. \ References Bernstein, David, Ludvigson, Erik, Sankar, Krishna, Diamond, Steve, Morrow and Monique (2009-05-24). Blueprint for the Intercloud - Protocols and Formats for Cloud Computing Interoperability. Washington, D.C.: IEEE Computer Society. Brian, B. (2008-09-02). "The Cloud's Chrome Lining". Newsweek.com, Vol, 32(8). Cauley, Leslie (2006-05-11). "NSA has massive database of Americans' phone calls". USA Today, Vol. 18(12). David, Labaster (2006). "Smart Ticketing ". Proceedings of the 5th USENIX Workshop on Electronic Commerce.  Foley, John.(2010-08-22) "Private Clouds Take Shape". Information Week, Vol. 24(2). Fujimura,K. Nakajima, Y. (2004). "General-purpose Digital Ticket Framework". Proceedings of the 3rd USENIX Workshop on Electronic Commerce. USENIX. pp. 177–186. .  King, Rachael (2008-08-04). "Cloud Computing: Small Companies Take Flight". Business Week Vol (10) 6. Scheier, Robert L. (2009-04-20). "What to do if your cloud provider disappears Cloud Computing". InfoWorld, Vol. 34(11). Read More