III. eCommerce in terms of Space, Time, Self, & Knowledge
Space
Space as an element of the web relates to the physical space that has either grown or shrunken between individuals due to the web. The effect that eCommerce has had on space is apparent; people do not have to go out of their way to find anything anymore. The “treasure hunt” for that rare memorabilia is eliminated by ebay.com, or kijiji.com, or many, many other similar websites. eCommerce provides the consumers the option of doing all their shopping from the comfort of their home, pay through their credit or debit card via PayPal or other payment methods, and have their product ship to their doorstep.
Time
Time as an element of the web is the measure of the time either spent online, the time we expect things to take, and such. When put in the context of eCommerce, time is the measure of the time the product takes to get to the destination after the payment, or the time we expect things to take in order for us to find and purchase it. Due to eCommerce, the society has become more impatient and wants everything instantly. Through emails and live updates, contact can be made at any time of the day, as well as purchases, they can also be made at any time of the day.
Self
Self in terms of an element of the web is defined as having an identity on the web, it can be as ludicrous as one wishes or as true to their identity as one wants. With eCommerce, retailers and consumers have a reputation and history which follows them everywhere. Consumers can check the reliability of any seller with a click of a few buttons. On popular websites like eBay and Amazon, there is a feedback and rating system where consumers are frowned upon when they do not accept this social norm. Due to the numerous retailers with the exact same product, this reputation must be upheld otherwise there is a huge chance of losing future buyers.
Knowledge
Knowledge is the data that individuals get off the web, and the information that they consume in their time online. Knowledge relating to eCommerce would be the ability that consumers have to research on the retailers. The web keeps a history of all the sales and purchases that a business or a user makes online. This feedback and rating system follows users and allows consumers to be better aware of the person they are dealing with on the other end. Users can also use the web to find reviews, tutorials, and such research before making a purchase.