COMMUNICATIONS
Just like any organisation relies on communication between its people, so an organisation that has more than a few computers needs those computers to be able to communicate. This is almost taken for granted now, especially over the Internet, but the development of the technology that enables PCs to communicate one with another is in some ways the definitive story of computing.
For information on wireless computer communications, see mobile communications.
Serial Communications
Serial communications can be relatively slow, but they form the base from which other communication methods have developed. Early modems offered shaky 14k communications over phone lines, but later V90 standard modems gave far greater speed and reliability, and further may include fax, voice and video modems.
Digital Communications
Digital communication innovations such as ADSL, DSL and, importantly, fibre-optics have paved the way for broadband Internet communications. Wireless and satellite communications are a huge and growing part of the picture, with profound global network implications.
Networking
The fundamental principle of networking is to allow computers to share and exchange data. However, various local and wide area networks can have a range of characteristics. Here network cabling, topologies and hardware are detailed.
Last Update: Fri Nov 7th 2008