Communication Technology
Communication is the exchange of
information through different mediums.
It is an activity that started even
before the civilization of human beings; however, over a period of time, as
technology advanced, accordingly different modes of communications also
developed including telecommunication and wireless communication.
Communication technology is
the transfer of messages (information) among people and/or machines through the
use of technology. This processing of information can help people
make decisions, solve problems, and control machines.
In
today’s world, information and communication technology play an important role
in almost every activity that we perform.
Types of Communication
Based on
the advancement and mode of technology, telecommunication is categorized as −
1. Telecommunication
2. Wireless
Communication
Let us
now discuss each category −
1.
Telecommunication
Telecommunication
is a technique of transmission of information from one location to another by
electromagnetic means.
Different
types of information can be transferred through a telecommunication system,
such as voice, text, pictures, etc.
Modern
Telecommunication System
The
modern form of telecommunication involves computer technology and it is capable
of transferring wide range of data including audio, video, textual, many other
computer files.
Major
components of modern telecommunication are −
1. Hardware −
For example, computer system and modems.
2. Software −
This controls the Computer programs.
3. Media −
This is the communication outlet, wired or wireless.
4. Networking −
This technology connects various computer systems.
5. Protocols −
These rules govern information and communication transmission system.
2. Wireless
Communication
Wireless
communication is a technique of transmitting the information or power between
two or more points, which are actually not connected with the physical wire / conductor.
The most
common wireless technology uses radio
waves. Microwave transmission is another technology.
The world’s first wireless telephone
communication took place in 1880. This was experimented by Alexander Graham
Bell and Charles Summer Tainter. Both of them together invented and patented
the ‘photophone.’
Photophone was a sort of telephone,
which conducted audio conversations wirelessly over modulated light beams,
i.e., electromagnetic waves.
However, in the 21st century,
the invention of cellular phones radically changed the concept of communication
system and made available the wireless communication system even in the remote
part of the country.
Modulation
Modulation is one of the most
significant processes through which characteristics of a carrier wave varies in
accordance with an information signal.
In telecommunications, modulation is the
process of transmitting a message signal inside another signal so that it can
be physically transmitted. Likewise, modulation of a sine waveform transforms
the narrow frequency range baseband message signal into the passband signal to
pass through a filter.
Demodulation
Demodulation is the reverse process of
modulation that change the signal and makes it understandable to the user.
Modulator
A modulator is a device that performs
the modulation process.
Demodulator
Demodulator is a device that performs
reverse modulation process or inverse of modulation.
Modem
Modem is device that performs both the
process i.e. modulation and demodulation.
Types of Modulation
Let us now see what the different types
of modulation are −
Analog Modulation
The waves continuously vary here and
transfer signals; for example, audio signal, television signal, etc.
Digital Modulation
It remains in the form of discrete
pulse, i.e., ‘on’ or ‘off.’ In this technology, all forms of data are used
through binary digit, i.e., series of ‘0’ and ‘1.’
Methods of Modulation
In this section, we will see the
different methods of modulation −
Amplitude modulation
(AM)
In this method, the strength or
intensity of the signal carrier varies. This represents that the data is being
added to the signal.
Frequency modulation
(FM)
In this modulation, the frequency of the
carrier waveform varies; this reflects the frequency of the data.
Phase modulation (PM) − It is somehow similar to FM, but
not the same.
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