Communication & Networks
businesses, government
Uses of Computer
Communications
Computer communications describes a process in
which two or more computers or devices transfer
data, instructions, and information.
For successful communications, you need the
following:
 A sending device that initiates an instruction to
transmit data, instructions, or information.
 A communications device that connects the
sending device to a communications channel.
 A communications channel, or transmission
media on which the data, instructions, or
information travel.
 A communications device that connects the
communications channel to a receiving device.
 A receiving device that accepts the
transmission of data, instructions, or
information.
Summary of Communications
Communication Brief Description
Type
Blogs Time-stamped articles on a
network that reflect the
author’s interests, opinions,
and personality.
Chat Rooms Real-time typed conversation
among two or more people
that takes place on a
computer connected to a
network that also may allow
the exchange of messages,
photos, files, audio, and video.
E-Mail Transmission of messages
and files via a computer
network.
Fax Transmits and receives
documents over telephone
lines.
Instant Real-time one-on-one Internet
Messaging communications service that
notifies you when one or more
people are online and then
allows you to exchange
messages, photos, files,
audio, and video.
Internet Worldwide collection of
networks that links millions of
agencies, educational
institutions, and individuals.
Newsgroups Online areas in which users
have written discussions
about a particular subject.
RSS Specification that enables
Web content to be distributed
to subscribers.
Video Real-time meeting between
Conferencing two or more geographically
separated people who use a
network to transmit audio and
video data.
VoIP Conversation that takes place
over the Internet using a
telephone connected to a
computer, mobile device, or
telephone adapter.
Web Worldwide collection of
electronic documents on the
Internet that users access
through a Web browser.
Web 2.0 Web sites that provide a
means for users to share
personal information, allows
users to modify Web site
content, and/or have
application software built into
the site for visitors to use.
Web Folders Location on a Web server in
which users publish
documents and other files.
Wikis Collaborative Web sites that
allows users to create, add to,
modify, or delete Web site
content.
Means of Communication
Wireless messaging Services
Users can send and receive wireless
messages to and from smartphones, cell phones,
handheld game consoles, and other mobile devices
and computers using three techniques: text
messaging, picture/video messaging, and wireless
instant messaging.
Text Messaging
A mobile device with text messaging, also
called SMS (short message service), capability
allows users to send and receive short text
messages, typically fewer than 300 characters, on
a phone or other mobile device or computer. Text
messaging services typically provide users with
several options for sending and receiving
messages:
 Mobile to Mobile
 Mobile to E-Mail
 Web to Mobile
 Mobile to Provider
Picture/Video Messaging
With picture messaging, users can send
pictures and sound files, as well as short text
messages, to a phone or other mobile device, or a
computer.
With video messaging, users can send short
video clips, usually about 30 seconds in length, in
addition to all picture messaging services.
Picture/video messaging service, also called
MMS (multimedia message service), typically
provides users these options for sending and
receiving messages:
 Mobile to Mobile
 Mobile to E-Mail
Wireless Instant Messaging
Wireless instant messaging (IM) is a real-
time Internet communications service that allows
wireless mobile devices to exchange messages
with one or more mobile devices or online users.
Some wireless Internet service providers partner
with IM services so that you can use your
smartphone or other mobile device to send and
receive wireless instant messages. With a
compatible IM service, users have these IM
options:
 Mobile to Mobile
 Mobile to Personal Computer
 Web to Mobile
Wireless Internet Access Points
At home, work, school, and in many public
locations, people connect wirelessly to the Internet
through a wireless Internet access point using
notebook computers, smart phones, handheld
game consoles, or other devices. Users access
wireless Internet access points with computers or
devices that have the necessary built-in wireless
capability or the appropriate wireless network card,
USB network adapter, ExpressCard module, or PC
Card.
Two types of wireless Internet access points
 Hotspot - wireless network that provides
Internet connections to mobile computers
and devices. Through the hot spot, mobile
users check e-mail, browse the Web, and
access any service on the Internet.
Three hotspot technologies are:
 Wi-Fi
 WiMAX
 Bluetooth
 Mobile wireless networks
Cybercafés
A cybercafé, or Internet cafe, is a
coffeehouse, restaurant, or other location that
provides personal computers with Internet access
to its customers. Cybercafés exist in cities around
the world. Although some provide free Internet
access, most charge a per-hour or per-minute fee.
Some cybercafés also are hotspots.
Global Positioning Systems
A global positioning system (GPS) is a
navigation system that consists of one or more
earth-based receivers that accept and analyze
signals sent by satellites in order to determine the
receiver’s geographic location.
A GPS receiver is a handheld, mountable,
or embedded device that contains an antenna, a
radio receiver, and a processor. Many include a
screen display that shows an individual’s location
on a map. Some also function as a portable media
player.
Collaboration
Many software products provide a means to
collaborate, or work online, with other users
connected to a server.
Two methods of collaboration:
  collaborative software
 document management systems. Web Services
Collaborative software includes tools that Web services describe standardized
enable users to share documents via online software that enables programmers to create
meetings and communicate with other connected applications that communicate with other remote
users. An online meeting allows users to share computers over the Internet or over an internal
documents with others in real time. business network. Businesses are the primary
Web conference is an online meeting where all users of Web services because this technology
participants see a document(s) at the same time. provides a means for departments to communicate
As someone changes the document, everyone in with each other, suppliers, vendors, and with
the meeting sees the changes being made. clients.
Collaborative software often has chat, whiteboard,
and video/audio conferencing capabilities.
A document management system provides for
storage and management of a company’s
documents, such as word processing documents,
presentations, and spreadsheets. Users then
access these documents, depending on their
needs. A document management system can track
all changes made to a document.

Groupware
Groupware is software that helps groups of
people work together on projects and share
information over a network. Groupware is a
component of a broad concept called workgroup
computing, which includes network hardware and
software that enables group members to
communicate, manage projects, schedule
meetings, and make group decisions. To assist with
these activities, most groupware provides personal
information manager (PIM) functions, such as an
electronic appointment calendar, an address book,
and a notepad. A major feature of groupware is
group scheduling, in which a group calendar can
track the schedules of multiple users and help
coordinate appointments and meeting times.

Voice Mail
Voice mail, which functions much like an
answering machine, allows someone to leave a
voice message for one or more people. Unlike
answering machines, however, a computer in the
voice mail system converts an analog voice
message into digital form. Once digitized, the
message is stored in a voice mailbox. A voice
mailbox is a storage location on a hard disk in the
voice mail system.