Components of Hardware Layer

The fifth layer of the Web Interaction Model is Hardware. Hardware consists of the physical components of Web interaction, from back-end equipment such as a UNIX server for storing the Web site's supporting database; to dial-up or dedicated data connection lines; to the Internet backbone through which the information is transmitted; to the end user's PC, where the information is requested and accessed. The following section contains a diagram of the hardware layer .

• Networks, Internet layer and the Web Interaction Model

  

An intranet is defined by the use of Internet technologies (HTTP, TCP/IP, FTP, SMTP) within an organization. By contrast, the Internet is a global network of machines connecting different organizations. The line becomes blurred when the internal system is opened to remote access and parts of the system are made available to customers and suppliers. This extension of an intranet to selected outsiders is often called an extranet. As networks continue to develop, distinctions among types of systems will become increasingly artificial , just as the once clear distinctions among hardware such as personal computers, servers, and minicomputers have lost meaning. When studying network architectures, concentrate on how the issues described may affect internet technology-based systems within your organizations, rather than on the specific definition of any one system.
Because they are based on open Internet standards, intranets are easy to implement technologically. Although they can offer robust functionality with little investment, they are often rolled out with little forethought and therefore fail to make a significant contribution to the organization. Much of the research and background information applicable to intranets is now being published in other areas. The technological issues overlap with the broader Internet, and many of the internal applications offered on intranets are now encompassed by enterprise applications and knowledge management. Some authors even refer to (B2E) business-to-employee applications emphasizing the importance of focusing on the access to systems by those within the organization.

In the Web Interaction Model, networks and hardware are separated to help articulate how the Web works and to conceptualize Web site requirements. Keep in mind that every network uses hardware to operate. Networks are made up of hardware plus the systems for identifying components and regulating traffic flow. To build on the familiar Information Superhighway metaphor, networks can be seen as the highway system, while hardware can be seen as the physical roads, bridges, and entry ramps of the highway system. Hardware creates the physical platform for the Internet to function. The following diagram describes some of the basic hardware and connectivity components that are necessary for Web implementations:

Engineering Group, Hub:	Interconnects multiple devices in a network, thereby enabling distribution of information among the devices connected to it.
Intranet Server:	The server stores and forwards URLs and resources (such as Web pages, images, other data).
Internet, Extranet Clients:	Client [CPU, hard drive, monitor] - The client hosts the browser that allows users to access and display Web resources.
Dial access (Sales People) Modem:	Used when dial-up services are necessary. When analog telephone lines are used to access the Internet, a modem converts digital to analog signals (outgoing traffic) and from analog to digital (incoming traffic). DSU/CSU modems are used for T1 or fractional lines. Digital modems do not need to convert from digital to analog, but maintain digital from end to end (for example, for use with ISDN or ADSL lines).
Main Router:	Connects two or more IP networks and routes traffic based on IP addresses.
Physcial Connections, Connectivity:	The physical connections among network hardware, such as cables, phone lines, or other connection lines. A primary connectivity issue is bandwidth, which is the maximum amount of information that the line can transmit per unit of time. (Home computers often connect via telephone lines, while businesses usually use connections with greater bandwidth, such as T1 lines, ISDN lines, or DSL.)
Project Management Server:	The server is a computer that is dedicated to storing data or running applications, processes, and services.

Client (CPU, hard drive, and monitor)	The client hosts the browser that allows users to access and display Web resources.
Server Computer	The server is a computer that is dedicated to storing data or running applications, processes, and services.
Web Server Software	The server stores and forwards URLs and resources (such as Web pages, images, other data).
Connectivity	The physical connections among network hardware, such as cables, phone lines, or other connection lines. A primary connectivity issue is bandwidth, which is the maximum amount of information that the line can transmit per unit of time. (Home computers often connect via telephone lines, while businesses usually use connections with greater bandwidth, such as T1 lines, ISDN lines, or DSL.)
Router	Connects two or more IP networks and routes traffic based on IP addresses.
Hub	Interconnects multiple devices in a network, thereby enabling distribution of information among the devices connected to it.

In the next lesson, you will see how all five Web layers interact in a real-time transaction. You will use the Web Interaction Model to explain how resources are requested and received via the Web. The following section discusses how to identify where in the model various elements of the Web belong.

The interaction model is something that users internalize, but probably could not articulate, and would not care whether they could. Users internalize well-constructed interaction models, which make most actions within a system more predictable. We usually do not notice a product or application when it works well. There is no ultimate solution for the web interaction model. Every product solves a different set of problems for different users, and therefore, requires a model that, as much as possible, reflects and supports their real-world interactions. If they are designing a simple Web portal, they may be right. However, any time a product needs to scale to support complex interactions or comprises more than a dozen pages or so, its designers need to step back and define its interaction model first.
Signs and Metaphors: Client

• Signs and Metaphors: Client
  • In a service context, a client is an individual or organization that receives or uses services from a professional or business.
  • The term often implies a relationship of dependency or professional assistance.
• Signs and Metaphors: Online shopping cart
  • An online shopping cart is a digital interface that allows users to accumulate items they intend to purchase from an e-commerce website.
  • It metaphorically represents a physical shopping cart, facilitating the temporary storage and management of selected products before checkout.
• Information Architecture: Menu
  • A menu is a structured list of options that allows users to navigate and access different sections or functions within a system or application.
  • It provides a hierarchical organization of information, facilitating ease of use and discovery.
• Information Architecture: Keyword Search
  • Keyword search is a function that enables users to find specific information by entering terms or phrases into a search engine or database.
  • It relies on matching user-inputted keywords with indexed content to retrieve relevant results.
• Software: Hypertext
  • Hypertext is a system of linking text or other data, enabling users to navigate between related information non-sequentially.
  • It is the underlying structure of the World Wide Web, allowing for interconnected documents and resources.
• Software: Database
  • A database is an organized collection of structured information or data, typically stored electronically in a computer system.
  • It allows for efficient storage, retrieval, and management of large volumes of data.
• Software: Java
  • Java is a high-level, class-based, object-oriented programming language designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible.
  • It is widely used for developing applications that can run on various platforms.
• Networks and the Internet: Internet
  • The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to link devices worldwide.
  • It enables communication and data exchange between billions of users and devices.
• Networks and the Internet: FTP
  • FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a standard network protocol used for the transfer of computer files between a client and server on a computer network.
  • It facilitates the uploading and downloading of files over the internet.
• Hardware: Modem
  • A modem (modulator-demodulator) is a network hardware device that modulates one or more carrier wave signals to encode digital information for transmission and demodulates the signals to decode the transmitted information.
  • It enables computers to communicate over analog telephone lines or other analog connections.
• Hardware: Router
  • A router is a networking device that forwards data packets between computer networks.
  • Routers perform the traffic directing functions on the Internet.