Real Time

Real time services are online services that allow us to see instant updates on the newsfeeds. This includes: daily weather reports, bus and train timetables, live webcams, traffic reports and GPS instead of using maps. Real time is used by many people on a daily basis as it is an instant update to provide us with the information we need when heading out on our day.

Newsfeeds

Newsfeeds are a popular and instant way to connect to the world. Some of the popular newsfeeds include Facebook and Twitter, you can find out what your friends and family are up to and even your favourite celebrities. You can let others know what you are doing by uploading pictures and videos to Facebook. Other newsfeeds like the BBC are used to find out about the latest news worldwide.

The scopes of newsfeeds are that they are instant to find out the information you want to know from around the world. They are a great way to connect to family and friends, as you can be able to see what they are doing and vice versa. It is also useful to find out about the latest news about the world just by quickly looking online on or an app.

The limitations of newsfeeds include that sometimes people use them in the wrong way and victimise others. Also it can allow some people to access your personal information if they know where you are and what you are doing.

My own experience I have with newsfeeds is regularly checking on Facebook and Twitter on my phone to check what others are doing and where they are. However I never usually update on myself unless I am doing something interesting which others may want to know.

Live Webcams

Live webcams are used online to check what it the traffic is like on the main roads without having to be there yourself. This can be used when travelling to a destination to see if another route should be used. They can also be used to look at some holiday locations, to be able to look around the resort themselves and to check on the weather to see if the particular place appeals to them.

The scopes of live webcams are that they show a live view of various places at that specific time. It can be very useful for families when travelling to choose the best route and location to stay. It is a much more efficient way to check live updates because when listening to the traffic updates on the radio sometimes it does not tell you what you want to know, so to see for yourself can be very useful.

The limitations of live webcams are that as they are live sometimes the weather may limit you to what you see, for example, in heavy rain you may not be able to see anything clearly.

The only experience I have had using live webcams is when I was on holiday and I was the one who had to check on live updates on certain roads and I had come across a live webcam which was very useful.

Timetables

Timetables for public transport are used to when your bus or train is arriving so that you can get there before it departs. Timetables can be found online and are helpful as they are easily accessible and are updated whenever the times are changed. They can be used anywhere at any time and you can find any timetable whether it is local or for travelling around.

The scopes of timetables are being able to check any timetable you need at any point in the day. Also some timetables give you information on the ticket price and tell you the best deals if you are using multiple public transport routes.

The limitations of timetables can be that sometimes they do not update the timetable straight away, resulting in you finding out false information which can affect you if you need to get somewhere at a particular time. Similarly they do not tell you live updates, this can cause annoyance especially with buses as you do not know the traffic. Furthermore timetables can be hard to read and can cause you confusion.

My personal experience with timetables is using them to find which bus to catch. They allow me to manage my time before leaving the house so that I can get to the bus stop just before the bus should arrive.

GPS

GPS is used to know where your global positioning is. GPS is used in satellite navigation, this is commonly used while driving and it tells you the best routes to take in order to get to your chosen destination and also the time of arrival. They update automatically and can identify where there are speed cameras so that they can warn you in advance.

The scopes of GPS include that is it easy to navigate as it tells you to the direction for each turn you take. It can help you search the nearest restaurants, hotels and more if you need for your journey. Also it is much more practical than using a map. It is very useful when it can estimate the time of arrival because it means you can plan your route and make it easier for you.

The limitations of GPS are that it could fail due to certain reasons and it could cause difficulties for you, in particular if you are on a route you do not know. Another limitation is that sometimes GPS’ are not updated quickly and it will not notify you where there are road works or any sort of problem, therefore it can cause delay.

My own experience using GPS is when on long journeys with my family and needing to use a Sat Nav to know where the best route to take is. I found it helpful as it gave the quickest route for us to take.