Electronic commerce for new management and information system infrastructure

The proliferation of the Internet and personal computers is creating a new societal information structure, that is electronic commerce (EC). EC is a major theme in the actualization of a highly information society and has the potential to greatly change commercial transactions and stimulate economic activity. EC supports sophisticated hi-directional communications among businesses, consumers and governments. Currently, major new applications are appearing in two fields. The first is 'business-to-consumer EC' which Internet shopping and Internet banking, and the second is 'business-to business EC' which includes auction and bidding system and open electronic data interchange (EDI). In the future, additional EC applications will make living and working convenient. Consequently, it will be necessary for business consumers and governments to participate in the development of products and services, and the creation of makers.