Introduction to ICT

• Data communication
• Data transmission modes
• Forms and types of data transmission
• Computer networks
• Types of computer networks
• Network architecture
• Wireless networks
 Data communication
• Data communication is a process of
transferring data electronically from one place
to another.
• Basic elements of data communication are
– Sending device
– Receiving device
– Communication device
– Transmission medium
 Data communication
• Sending device is a device that sends
message, it is also called source or transmitter.
It can be a computer, fax machine, mobile
phone etc.
• Receiving device is a device that receives
message, it is also called sink. It can be a
computer, fax machine, mobile phone etc.
 Data communication
• Communication devices are used to transmit
messages between sending and receiving
devices through communication medium. Most
commonly used communication devices are
modem and network card.
• Transmission medium is used to carry messages
from one place to another, it is also called
communication channel. Transmission medium
can be a physical cable or wireless connection.
 Data Transmission Modes
• Data transmission mode is the way in which
data is transmitted from one place to another.
• There are three data transmission modes
– Simplex mode
– Half-Duplex traffic
– Full-Duplex traffic
 Data Transmission Modes
• In simplex mode, data can flow only in one
direction, it operates in a manner similar to a
one way street.
• The direction of flow never changes.
• A device with simplex mode can either send or
receive data.
• An example is a traditional television
broadcast.
 Data Transmission Modes
• In half-duplex mode, data can flow in both
directions but not at the same time.
• It is transmitted one way at a time.
• A device with half-duplex mode can send or
receive data but not at the same time
resulting in a slow speed.
• Internet surfing is an example of half-duplex
communication.
 Data Transmission Modes
• In Full-Duplex mode, data can travel in both
directions simultaneously.
• Time is not wasted in changing the direction
of data flow, making it a faster way of data
transmission.
• An telephone is a full-duplex device.
Data Transmission Modes
 Forms of Data Transmission
• An electromagnetic or light wave used to
transmit data from one place to another is
called a signal.
• Propagation of signals across a communication
medium is called signaling.
• Communication of data from one place to
another in the form of signal is called
transmission.
 Forms of Data Transmission
• Two forms of data transmission are
– Digital data transmission
– Analog data transmission
 Forms of Data Transmission
• Digital data transmission
– All data communication between the computers is
in digital form.
– Digital signal is a sequence of voltage represented
in binary form.
– They are in the form of electrical pulses of ON and
OFF.
– Digital signals are faster and efficient and provide
low error rates.
 Forms of Data Transmission
• Analog data transmission
– Analog signal is a continuous electrical signal in
the form of a wave known as carrier wave.
– Telephone line is most commonly used media for
analog transmission of data.
– Light, sound and microwave are some other
examples.
 Types of data transmission
• Two types of data transmission are
– Asynchronous transmission
– Synchronous transmission
 Types of data transmission
• In asynchronous transmission, data is
transmitted character by character.
• There are irregular gaps between characters in
this transmission.
• It is cheaper to implement because data is not
saved before it is sent.
 Types of data transmission
• In synchronous transmission, the saved data is
transmitted block by block.
• Each block may consist of many characters.
• A large amount of information can be
transmitted at a single time with this type of
transmission.
• It is much faster than asynchronous
transmission because there is no gap between
characters.
 Computer Network
• A computer network consists of two or more
computers that are connected together
through some communication media to share
information and resources.
• The communication media can be a cable or a
wireless connection.
• Connected computers can be in the same
room, same building or at distant locations.
Computer Network
 Computer Network: Examples
• Computer networks can be used in an office.
Different people in the office can access common
information. They can share their files and
exchange mail. They can also print documents
from any computer in the network.
• Internet is also an example of a computer network
in which millions of computers are connected
through phone lines. People using this network
can share information, files and talk with one
another.
 Computer Network: Network Criteria
• A network must meet a certain number of
criteria. The most important criteria include
performance, reliability and security.
• Performance is measured in transit time and
response time. Transit time is the time
required for a message to travel from one
device to another and response time is the
time elapsed between an inquiry and the
response.
 Computer Network: Network Criteria
• Reliability of a network is measured by
different factors such as accuracy of data,
frequency of failure and time taken to recover
from failure.
• Security is the protection of data from
unauthorized access and damage. It also
includes the implementation of procedures for
data recovery if it is lost or damaged.
 Computer Network: Advantages
• Information and resource sharing
• Money saving
• Easy communication
• Internet access sharing
• Data security and management
• Entertainment
 Computer Network: Disadvantages
• Hardware and software setup costs
• Hardware and software management costs
• Undesirable sharing
• Illegal or undesirable behavior
• Data security concerns
 Types of Computer Network
• Different types of computer networks are
– LAN - Local Area Network
– WAN – Wide Area Network
– PAN – Personal Area Network
 Types of Computer Network: LAN
• LAN stands for local area network and is the most
common type of network.
• It covers a small area and usually connects the
computers and other devices within one office or a
building or group of buildings.
• It is often used to share resources such as printers,
hard disks and programs.
• Each computer or device in the network is called a
node, and these nodes are usually connected
though wires.
Types of Computer Network: LAN
• A LAN that uses no wires is called a wireless LAN.
• LAN can transmit data in a limited distance and
number of computers that can be attached to
the network is also limited.
• LAN transmission speed is typically 10 Mbps to
1000 Mbps.
• Example: In a computer lab, there are 40
computers connected through LAN. They can
share software, files and data in the lab.
Types of Computer Network: WAN
• WAN stands for wide area network.
• It covers a large area and connects computers
and other devices in different cities and
countries.
• WAN usually consists of several LANs
connected together.
• Computers in a WAN are often connected
through telephone lines, but they can also be
connected through leased lines or satellites.
Types of Computer Network: WAN
• WAN is expensive than LAN and is not as fast as
LAN.
• Transmission rate is typically 56Kbps to 50 Mbps.
• Examples:
– The network connecting the ATMs of a bank located in
different cities.
– The network connecting NADRA offices in different
cities of Pakistan.
– Internet connects millions of users all over the world to
share information.
Types of Computer Network: PAN
• PAN stands for personal area network.
• It is a network that connects personal devices
using wired and wireless technology within
range of about 30 feet.
• Devices may include portable computer, smart
phones, digital cameras and printers etc.
• PAN enables devices to communicate and
share data.
Types of Computer Network: PAN
• Wireless PANs are more common then wired
PAN and use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi technology to
connect devices.
• Example: A PAN can be used
– to sync data from a hand held device to a desktop
computer .
– Move data wirelessly to a printer.
– Transmit data from a smartphone to a wireless
headset.
LAN vs WAN
 Network Architecture
• Network architecture is the design of
computers and other devices in a network
and how they communicate.
• The two most common network architectures
are
– Peer-to-peer (P2P)
– Client-server
 Network Architecture: Peer to Peer
• Peer to Peer is a simple and inexpensive network
and normally connects less than ten computers.
• Each computer in the network stores files on its
own storage devices and can share data and
information of any computer in network.
• The network operating system and application
software are installed on all computers.
• P2P networks are suitable for small businesses
and home users.
Network Architecture: Peer to Peer
 Network Architecture: Client-Server
• Client-server is a network in which one or
more computers work as servers and other
computers work as clients.
• A Server is a computer that provides services
to the computers and other devices connected
to the network and is also known as host
computer.
• It is more powerful than other computers in
the network and have more memory.
 Network Architecture: Client-Server
• Different services provided by the server are
– Control access to hardware, software and data.
– Centralized storage for software, data and information
– Processing data
– Sharing software
– Managing network traffic
• Some servers are known as dedicated servers because
they perform a specific task.
• For example a file server is used to store and manage
files, print server is used to manage printers and
network server is used to manage network traffic.
 Network Architecture: Client-Server
• A client is a computer in the network that is
connected with a server to access different
resources.
• The client computer sends request to the
server for resources.
• The server computer provides the requested
resource to the client computer.
• Client computer is less powerful than server
computer.
Network Architecture: Client-Server
 Wireless networks
• Wireless networks can be
– Fixed wireless system
– Mobile wireless system
 Wireless networks
• Fixed wireless system provides little or no
mobility of the computing equipment used in
wireless networks.
• The equipment remains at the same position.
• For example a LAN can be setup using wireless
technology to avoid the use of cables.
 Wireless networks
• Mobile wireless system provides mobility of
computing equipment used in wireless networks.
• It also supports the mobility of users, so that mobile
users can access information from anywhere and at
any time.
• The user does not need to maintain fixed position in
the network.
• Typical equipment used in mobile wireless systems
are smart phones, personal digital assistant (PDA) and
pagers with the internet access.