GenEd 122 – LIVING IN THE IT ERA

Computers in our Daily Life

Introduction

In this module, we will focus on the communication systems that support

these and many other applications. Connectivity, the wireless revolution,
and communication systems are key concepts and technologies for the
21st century.

Desired Learning Outcomes/Competencies

At the end of the semester, the students must:

a. Explain connectivity, the wireless revolution, and communication

systems
b. Describe the physical and wireless communication channels
c. Differentiate between desktop and mobile application

Key Terms
Computer communications is the process of sharing data, programs, and
information between two or more computers.

Desktop application means any software that can be installed on a single

computer (laptop or a desktop) and used to perform specific tasks
2.1 Wired and wireless connections

Communications
Computer communications is the process of sharing data, programs, and
information between two or more computers.

Numerous applications that depend on communication systems,

including:

• E-mail—provides a fast, efficient alternative to traditional mail by

sending and receiving electronic documents.
• Texting—provides very efficient direct text communication between
individuals using short electronic messages.
• Videoconferencing—provides a very-low-cost alternative to long-
distance telephone calls using electronic voice and video delivery.
• Electronic commerce—buying and selling goods electronically.

Connectivity
Connectivity is a concept related to using computer networks to link
people and resources. For example, connectivity means that you can
connect your personal computer to other computers and information
sources almost anywhere.

With this connection, you are linked to the world of larger computers and
the Internet. This includes hundreds of thousands of web servers and their
extensive information resources. Thus, being able to efficiently and
effectively use computers becomes a matter of knowing not only about
connectivity through networks to personal computers but also about
larger computer systems and their information resources.

Wireless Revolution
The single most dramatic change in connectivity and communications in
the past decade has been the widespread use of mobile devices like
smartphones and tablets with wireless Internet connectivity. Students,
parents, teachers, businesspeople, and others routinely talk and
communicate with these devices.

This wireless technology allows individuals to stay connected with one

another from almost anywhere at any time. So what’s the revolution?
While wireless technology was originally used primarily for voice
communication, todays mobile computers support email, web access,
social networking and a variety of internet applications.

In addition, wireless technology allows a wide variety of nearby devices to

communicate with one another without any physical connection. Wireless
communications allows you to share a high-speed printer, share data files,
and collaborate on working documents with a nearby co-worker without
having your computers connected by cables or telephone. High-speed
Internet wireless technology allows individuals to connect to the Internet
and share information from almost anywhere in the world.

Communication Systems

Communication systems are electronic systems that transmit data from

one location to another. Whether wired or wireless, every communication
system has four basic elements. (See Figure 8-2.)

• Sending and receiving devices. These are often a computer or

specialized communication device. They originate (send) as well as
accept (receive) messages in the form of data, information, and/or
instructions.

• Connection devices. These devices act as an interface between the

sending and receiving devices and the communication channel. They
convert outgoing messages into packets that can travel across the
communication channel. They also reverse the process for incoming
messages.

Data transmission specifications. These are rules and procedures that

coordinate the sending and receiving devices by precisely defining
how the message will be sent across the communication channel.
• Communication channel. This is the actual connecting or transmission
medium that carries the message. This medium can be a physical wire or
cable, or it can be wireless.

For example, if you wanted to send an e-mail to a friend, you could

create and send the message using your computer, the sending device.
Your modem, a connection device, would modify and format the
message so that it could travel efficiently across communication
channels, such as telephone lines. The specifics describing how the
message is modified, reformatted, and sent would be described in the
data transmission specifications. After your message traveled across the
channel, the receiver’s modem, a connection device, would reformat it
so that it could be displayed on your friend’s computer, the receiving
device. (Note: This example presents the basic communication system
elements involved in sending e-mail. It does not and is not intended to
demonstrate all the specific steps and equipment involved in an e-mail
delivery system.)

Communication Channels

Communication channels are an essential element of every

communication system. These channels actually carry the data from one
computer to another. There are two categories of communication
channels. One category connects sending and receiving devices by
providing a physical connection, such as a wire or cable. The other
category is wireless.

Physical Connections

Physical connections use a solid medium to connect sending and

receiving devices. These connections include twisted-pair, coaxial, and
fiber-optic cables.

• Twisted-pair cable consists of pairs of copper wire that are twisted

together. Both standard telephone lines and Ethernet cables use
twisted pair. (See Figure 8-3.) Ethernet cables are often used in
networks and to connect a variety of components to the system unit.

• Coaxial cable, a high-frequency transmission cable, replaces the

multiple wires of telephone lines with a single solid-copper core. (See
Figure 8-4.) In terms of the number of telephone connections, a coaxial
cable has over 80 times the transmission capacity of twisted pair.
Coaxial cable is used to deliver television signals as well as to connect
computers in a network.

Fiber-optic cable transmits data as pulses of light through tiny tubes of

glass.(See Figure 8-5.) The data transmission speeds of fiber-optic cables
are incredible; recently speeds of 1 petabit per second were measured (a
petabit is 1 million gigabits). Compared to coaxial cable, it is lighter, faster,
and more reliable at transmitting data. Fiber-optic cable is rapidly
replacing twisted-pair cable telephone lines.
Wireless Connections

Wireless connections do not use a solid substance to connect sending

and receiving devices. Rather, they move data through the air. Most
wireless connections use radio waves to communicate. For example,
smartphones and many other Internet-enabled devices use radio waves
to place telephone calls and to connect to the Internet. Primary
technologies used for wireless connections are Bluetooth, Wi-Fi,
microwave, WiMax, cellular, and satellite connections.

• Bluetooth is a short-range radio communication standard that transmits

data over short distances of up to approximately 33 feet. Bluetooth is
widely used for wireless headsets, printer connections, and handheld
devices.
• Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) uses high-frequency radio signals to transmit
data. A number of standards for Wi-Fi exist, and each can send and
receive data at a different speed. (See Figure 8-6.) Most home and
business wireless networks use Wi-Fi.

• Microwave communication uses high-frequency radio waves. It is

sometimes referred to as line-of-sight communication because
microwaves can only travel in a straight line. Because the waves
cannot bend with the curvature of the earth, they can be transmitted
only over relatively short distances. Thus, microwave is a good medium
for sending data between buildings in a city or on a large college
campus. For longer distances, the waves must be relayed by means of
microwave stations with microwave dishes or antennas. (See Figure 8-
7.)
• WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a new
standard that extends the range of Wi-Fi networks using microwave
connections. WiMax is commonly used by universities and others to
extend the capability of existing Wi-Fi networks.

• Cellular communication uses multiple antennae (cell towers) to send

and receive data within relatively small geographic regions (cells).
Most cellphones and mobile devices use cellular networks.

• Satellite communication uses satellites orbiting about 22,000 miles

above the earth relay stations. Satellites can be used to send and
receive large volumes of data. Satellites can be used to send and
receive large volumes of data. Uplink is a term relating to sending data
to a satellite. Downlink refers to receiving data from a satellite.

The major drawback to satellite communication is that bad weather

can sometimes interrupt the flow of data. One of the most interesting
applications of satellite communications is for global positioning.
Global positioning system (GPS) devices use that information to
uniquely determine the geographic location of the device. Available
in many automobiles to provide navigational support, these systems
are often mounted into the dash with a monitor to display maps and
speakers to provide spoken directions. Most of today’s smartphones
and tablets use GPS technology for handheld navigation. (See Figure
8-8.)
Connection Devices
At one time nearly all computer communication used telephone lines.
However, the telephone was originally designed for voice transmission,
telephones typically send and receive analog signals, which are
continuous electronic waves. Computers, in contrast send and receive
digital signals. These represent the presence or absence of an electronic
pulse-the on/off binary signals. To convert the digital signals to analog
signals and vice versa, you need a modem

Modems

The word modem is short for modulator-demodulator. Modulation is the

name of the process of converting from digital to analog. Demodulation is
the process of converting from analog to digital. The modem enables
digital personal computers to communicate across different media,
including telephone wires, cable lines, and radio waves. The speed with
which modems transmit data varies. This speed, called transfer rate, is
typically measured in millions of bits (megabits) per second (Mbps). (See
Figure 8-10.)

The higher the speed, the faster you can send and receive information.
For example, to download a complete full-length motion picture (700 MB)
on a 1.5-Mbps modem would take about 1 hour. Using a 10.0-Mbps
modem would take about 9 minutes. There are commonly used types of
modems: Telephone, DSL, cable, and wireless. (See Figure 8-11.)

Figure 8.11 Basic types of Modems

 Telephone modem is used to connect a computer directly to a
telephone line. These modems can be either internal or external.
Internal modem are on an expansion card that plugs into a slot on the
system board. An External modem is typically connected to the system
unit through a USB port . Of the four types of modem, the telephone
modem is the slowest and least used.

• A DSL (digital subscriber line) modem uses standard phone lines to

create a high-speed connection directly to your phone company’s
offices. These devices are usually external and connect to the system
unit using either a USB or an Ethernet port.

• A cable modem uses the same coaxial cable as your television. Like a
DSL modem, a cable modem creates high-speed connections using the
system unit’s USB or Ethernet port.

• A wireless modem is also known as a WWAN (wireless wide area

network) modem. Almost all computers today have built-in wireless
modems. For those that do not, wireless adapter cards are available that
plug into USB or special card ports.

Connection Service

For years, individuals relied on dial-up services using existing telephones

and telephone modems to connect to the Internet. This type of service
has been replaced by higher-speed connection services including DSL,
cable, satellite, and cellular services.

Digital subscriber line (DSL) service is provided by telephone companies

using existing telephone lines to provide high-speed connections. ADSL
(asymmetric digital subscriber line) is one of the most widely used types
of DSL. DSL is much
faster than dial-up.

• Cable service is provided by cable television companies using their

existing television cables. These connections are usually faster than DSL.

• Fiber-optic service (FiOS) is showing up in some areas, but it is a new

technology and not widely available. Current providers of FiOS include
Google and Verizon with speeds faster than cable or DSL connections.

Satellite connection services use satellites to provide wireless

connections. While slower than DSL and cable modem, satellite
connections are available almost anywhere using a satellite-receiving
disk.

• Cellular service providers, including Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile,

support voice and data transmission to wireless devices using cellular
networks.
These networks have gone through different generations.

First-generation mobile telecommunications (1G) started in the 1980s

using analog radio signals to provide analog voice transmission service.

Second-generation mobile telecommunications (2G) started in in the

1990s using digital radio signals.

Third-generation mobile telecommunications (3G) started in the 2000s

and provided services capable of effective connectivity to the Internet,
marking the beginning of smartphones.
Fourth-generation mobile telecommunications (4G) has begun to
replace 3G networks in some areas with providers using WiMax and LTE
connections to provide faster transmission speeds.

2.2 Types of Network

Network
Computer Networks is a communication system that connects two or
more computers so that they can exchange information and share
resources. Networks can be set up in different arrangement to suit users’
needs.

Terms

There are a number of specialized terms that describe computer

networks. These terms include:

• Node any device that is connected to a network. It could be a

computer printer, or data storage device

• Client a node that requests and uses resources available from other
nodes. Typically, a client is a user’s personal computer.

Server a node that shares resources with other nodes. Dedicated

servers specialize in performing specific task. Depending on the
specific task, they may be called an application server,
communication server, database server, file server, printer server or
web server.

Directory server a specialized server that manages resources, such

as a user accounts, for an entire network.

Host any computer system that can be accessed over a network

Router a node that forwards or routes data packets from one

network to their destination in another network.

Switch central node that coordinates the flow of data by sending

messages directly between sender and receiver nodes. A hub
 previously filled this purpose by sending a received message to all
connected nodes, rather than just the intended node.
Network interface cards (NIC) these are expansion cards located
within the system unit that connected the computer to a network.
Sometimes referred to as LAN adapter.

Network operating system (NOS) control and coordinate the

activities of all computers and other devices on a network. These
activities include electronic communication and the sharing of
information and resources

Network administrator a computer specialist responsible for efficient

network operations and implementation of new network.

A network may consist only of personal computers, or it may integrate

personal computers or other devices with larger computers. Networks can
be controlled by all nodes working together equally or by specialized
nodes coordinating and supplying all resources. Networks may be simple
or complex, self-contained or dispersed over a large geographic area.

Network Types

Clearly, different types of channels—wired or wireless—allow different

kinds of networks to be formed. Telephone lines, for instance, may
connect communications equipment within the same building or within a
home. Networks also may be citywide and even international, using both
cable and wireless connections. Local area, metropolitan area, and wide
area networks are distinguished by the size of the geographic
area they serve.

Local Area Networks

Networks with nodes that are in close physical proximity—within the same
building, for instance—are called local area networks (LANs). Typically,
LANs span distances less than a mile and are owned and operated by
individual organizations. LANs are widely used by colleges, universities,
and other types of organizations to link personal computers and to share
printers and other resources. For a simple LAN, see
Figure 8-14.
The LAN represented in Figure 8-14 is a typical arrangement and provides
two benefits: economy and flexibility. People can share costly equipment.
For instance, the four personal computers share the high-speed laser
printer and the file server, which are expensive pieces of hardware. Other
equipment or nodes also may be added to the LAN—for instance, more
personal computers, a mainframe computer, or optical disc storage
devices. Additionally, the network gateway is a device that allows one
LAN to be linked to other LANs or to larger networks.

For example, the LAN of one office group may be connected to the LAN
of another office group. There are a variety of different standards or ways
in which nodes can be connected to one another and ways in which
their communications are controlled in a LAN. The most common
standard is known as Ethernet. LANs using this standard are sometimes
referred to as Ethernet LANs.

Home Networks

While LANs have been widely used within organizations for years, they are
now being commonly used by individuals in their homes and apartments.
These LANs, called home networks, allow different computers to share
resources, including a common Internet connection. Computers can be
connected in a variety of ways, including electrical wiring, telephone
wiring, and special cables. One of the simplest ways, however, is without
cables, or wireless.
Wireless LAN
A wireless local area network is typically referred to as a wireless LAN
(WLAN). It uses radio frequencies to connect computers and other
devices. All communications pass through the network’s centrally located
wireless access point or base station. This access point interprets incoming
radio frequencies and routes communications to the appropriate devices.
Wireless access points that provide Internet access are widely available in
public places such as coffee shops, libraries, bookstores, colleges, and
universities. These access points are known as hotspots and typically use
Wi-Fi technology. Many of these services are free and easy to find using
free locator sites such as www.hotspot-locations. com. Most mobile
computing devices have an internal wireless network card to connect to
hotspots. If your mobile device does not have an internal wireless network
card, you can use an external wireless adapter (see Figure 8-15) that plugs
into your computer’s USB port or PC card slot.
 Personal Area Network
A personal area network (PAN) is a type of wireless network that works
within a very small area—your immediate surroundings. PANs connect cell
phones to headsets, keyboards to cell phones, and so on. These networks
make it possible for wireless devices to interact with each other. The most
popular PAN technology is Bluetooth, with a maximum range of around 33
feet. Virtually all wireless peripheral devices available today use Bluetooth,
including the controllers on popular game systems like the Play- Station
and Wii.

Metropolitan Area Networks

Metropolitan area networks (MAN) span distances up to 100 miles. These
networks are frequently used as links between office buildings that are
located throughout a city. Unlike a LAN, a MAN is typically not owned
by a single organization. Rather, it is owned either by a group of
organizations or by a single network service provider that provides
network services for a fee.

Wide Area Networks

Wide area networks (WANs) are countrywide and worldwide networks.

These networks provide access to regional service (MAN) providers and
typically span distances greater than 100 miles. They use microwave relays
and satellites to reach users over long distances—for example, from Los
Angeles to Paris. Of course, the widest of all WANs is the Internet, which
spans the entire globe.

The primary difference between a PAN, LAN, MAN, and WAN is the
geographic range. Each may have various combinations of hardware,
such as personal computers, midrange computers, mainframes, and
various peripheral devices. For a summary of network types, see Figure 8-
16.

Figure 8-16 Types of Networks

2.3 Desktop Applications
What does the "desktop" part of that mean? The "desktop" comes from
what is called the desktop metaphor. The idea was to make it easier for
humans to use computers by giving them a graphical user interface that
was similar to things in the real world.

Desktop application means any software that can be installed on a single

computer (laptop or a desktop) and used to perform specific tasks. Also
means, an application that runs stand-alone in a desktop or laptop
computer. Contrast with "Web-based application," which requires the
Web browser to run.

Desktop Application vs Web Application

Software application development began with desktop applications,

which could be used on standalone machines only. However, with the
advent of internet and online commerce, web application development
gained importance. Word processors and media players can be
considered to be typical desktop applications, while an online shopping
cart on an ecommerce website can be considered as a web application.

Some examples of desktop applications for Windows:

 Windows File Explorer (to find files on your computer)
 Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, etc.)
 Web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer)
 Adobe Photoshop
 TweetDeck (lets you use Twitter on your computer outside of a web
browser)

Some examples of web applications:

 Google search (to find stuff on the web)
 Google Docs (like Microsoft Office, but they it runs inside a web
browser)
 Facebook
 Twitter
 Flickr

2.4 Mobile Applications

A mobile application, most commonly referred to as an app, is a type of
application software designed to run on a mobile device, such as a
smartphone or tablet computer.
Mobile applications frequently serve to provide users with similar services
to those accessed on PCs. Apps are generally small, individual software
units with limited function.
This use of app software was originally popularized by Apple Inc. and its
App Store, which offers thousands of applications for the iPhone, iPad and
iPod Touch. A mobile application also may be known as an app, web
app, online app, iPhone app or smartphone app.

Mobile applications are a move away from the integrated software

systems generally found on PCs. Instead, each app provides limited and
isolated functionality such as game. Calculator or mobile web browsing.

Apps are divided into two broad categories: native apps and web apps.
Native apps are built for a specific mobile operating system, usually
iOS or Android. Native apps enjoy better performance and a more
finely-tuned user interface (UI), and usually need to pass a much
stricter development and quality assurance process before they are
released.

Web apps are used in HTML5 or CSS and require minimum device
memory since they’re run through a browser. The user is redirected
on a specific web page, and all information is saved on a server-
based database. Web apps require a stable connection to be
used.

There are several types of apps currently available.

Gaming apps The equivalent of computer video games, they are
among the most popular types of apps. They account for one-third
of all app downloads and three-fourths of all consumer spending.

Productivity apps These focus on improving business efficiency by

easing various tasks such as sending emails, tracking work progress,
booking hotels and much more.

Lifestyle and entertainment apps Increasingly popular, these

encompass many aspects of personal lifestyle and socialization
such as dating, communicating on social media, as well as sharing
(and watching) videos. Some of the most widely known apps such
as Netflix, Facebook or Tiktok fall into this category.

Other apps types include mobile commerce (M-commerce) apps used to

purchase goods online such as Amazon or eBay, travel apps that help a
traveler in many ways (booking tours and tickets, finding their way through
maps and geolocation, travel diaries, etc.) and utility apps such as health
apps and barcode scanners.
Summary

To efficiently and effectively use computers, you need to understand the

concept of connectivity, wireless networking, and the elements that make
up network and communications systems. Additionally, you need to
understand the basics of communications channels, connection devices,
data transmission, network types, network architectures, and
organizational networks.

Literature Cited/Bibliography

O’Leary, T., O’Leary, L., & O’Leary, D. (2017). Computing Essentials Complete Edition
Making IT work for you. Retrieved from http://www. Computing Essentials 2017 by
Daniel O’Leary, Linda I. O’Leary, Timothy J O’Leary (z-lib.org.pdf
Computing Essentials 2015
Making IT work for you by Timothy J O’Leary, et,al .

Computing Concepts 2nd Edition 2004 by Stephen Haag, Maeve Cummings and
Alan Rea, Jr.

https://www.technopedia/definition/2953/mobile-application-mobile-app