Chapter 4 – telecommunications and Networking

 

This week we'll be looking at telecommunications and networking. 

 

A computer network is a system connecting computers and other devices through communications media so data and information can be transmitted between them. With computer networks comes bandwidth, which is the transmission capacity, or the speed, of a network. These networks run on what's known as broadband, which can range from a small Personal Area Network (PAN) to a Wide Area Network (WAN) or even beyond into the broader internet. The most common network is a LAN or Local Area Network, connecting 2 or more devices in a small region.

 

Then there are the network fundamentals. To start with, we must distinguish between analogue and digital signals. Analogue signals are a continuous wave, measured by its amplitude (volume) and frequency (pitch). Digital signals, on the other hand, are more discrete and are either on or off.

 

The next fundamental is communications media and channels. These include:

- transmission speed - aka bandwidth and measured in bits per second (bps) or hertz

- cable - twisted wire

- LAN cabling - coaxial cable and fibre optics

- broadcast - microwave, satellite, radio and infrared

 

The third fundamental is protocols, which are sets of rules and procedures governing transmissions on a network. A Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, or TCP/IP, can transfer large files of information across unreliable networks with assurance the data will be uncorrupted.

 

The final fundamental is the types of processing, which include the following:

- distributed processing - divided among 2 or more computers

- client/server computing - server computers provide computing services, client computers use services

- peer-to-peer processing - each computer is both server and client, features real-time collaboration

 

The last thing we'll touch on is network applications. These include:

- discovery - can involve using search engines, metasearch engines or portals

- communication - e.g. email, web-based call centres, electronic chat rooms, voice communication and unified communication

- collaboration - via workgroups, virtual groups or crowdsourcing

- E-learning, distance learning and virtual universities - learning conducted outside a physical classroom

- Telecommuting - for a distributed or separated workforce

 

Reference from:

Management Information Systems 1st Edition

Gray, H., Issa, T., Pye, G., Troshani, I., Rainer, R. K., Prince, B., & Hugh J. W. (2015). Management information systems. John Wiley.