Download Class_3_-_Subarea_V

Communication Technology
MTEL Technology/Engineering
Subarea V
Careers to condisder
• Software Developer – translates software program
intent into working code. Designs and tests the
program often in several different programming
languages.
• Database Programmer – Responsible for designing a
database to store, sort and quantify relevant data for a
company.
• Information Systems Analyst – Determines how to best
service a company's computing needs in the most
efficient means possible.
• Computer Engineer – Design, install and preform
maintenance on computers and there related
equipment.
Telecommunications
• The act of communication over long distances, using
technology
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Radio
Television
Email, and the internet
Telephone
• Telecommunications all have three things in common
1. A transmitter which converts the information
2. Transmission medium through which information flows
3. Receiver which converts the information back to a form
usable by the operator
Networks
• Node – Any computer hooked to the network
• Repeater – Enable signals to travel further
without deterioration or loss of signal
• Bridges – Read the destination of the message
and determine if the message should be sent
across the network
• Switch – Much like a bridge, a switch reads the
destination and forwards it down the correct
path. May be linked to numerous networks
enabling more pathways then a bridge
Network Terminology
• Sever – A computer or computer program which serves the
needs of another program. File servers enable other
programs to locate and extract files from databases
• Port – A physical or virtual interface or connection between
two pieces of hardware. USB is one of the most
recognizable port protocols
• RAM – Random Access Memory is a part of computer
memory which can both read and write. The random part
comes from the computers ability to access data in any
order unlike optical or magnetic hard drives
• ROM – Read only Memory refers to the data stored on the
computers motherboard that cannot be over written (like
the bios setup). These functions must be in place to enable
the different pieces of connected hardware talk to one
another.
Routing Information on a Network
• Router – Allow multiple networks to be linked across
an internet (defined as a network of networks).
• Different configuration of nodes in a network
– Bus Network links each node sequentially using a single
cable. Every computer must share the load of sending and
receiving data from one end to the other
– Star Network is a centralized computer acting as a switch
to connect to all of the nodes. All information must be
filtered through the central computer
– Ring Network is a decentralized parallel network in which
each node is connected to the node on either side of it. A
failure in one node will be dealt with by re-routing
information elsewhere around the ring.
Network Identification
• LAN – Local area Network covers the area inside a
home or small business
• MAN – Metropolitan area Network connects
multiple LANs together
• WAN – Wide area Network covers wide outdoor
areas usually to provide public internet access
across multiple buildings
• PAN – Personal area Networks are usually
computers hooked to a single fixed wireless data
network.
Central Processing Unit
• A CPU (central processing unit) inside of every
computer manipulates data in three main
parts
1. Arithmetic/Logic unit which carries out
operations (addition, multiplication etc.)
2. Control unit, which manages the machines
activities
3. Register unit which stores temporary information
within the CPU while it carries out an opperation
System Storage
• Once the CPU is carrying out operations it sort
out those computations by where it should be
stored
– CPU Cache is a small set of high speed read/write
memory that the CPU uses to speed up operations
– Main memory is where the RAM and ROM enable
BIOS operation
– 2ndary Storage such as a hard drives and flash drives
where programs and program data is stored
• On-line – the storage device operates without human
intervention and is attached to the machine
• Off-line – storage devices that must be addressed using
some sort of human intervention
Peripheral Devices
• Any electronic device which is intended to
interface with the computer. They do not help
the computer run, merely acting as input and
output functions from human interactions
giving instructions to the computer
– Keyboards
– Mice
– Monitors
– Microphones
Analog vs. Digital Signal
• We live in an analog world. There are an infinite
amount of colors to paint an object (even if the
difference is indiscernible to our eye), there are
an infinite number of tones we can hear, and
there are an infinite number of smells we can
smell. The common theme among all of these
analog signals is their infinite possibilities.
• Digital signals and objects deal in the realm of the
discrete or finite, meaning there is a limited set
of values they can be. That could mean just two
total possible values, 255, 4,294,967,296, or
anything as long as it’s not ∞ (infinity).
Waves
• An excellent tutorial on all types of waves
– The test objectives focus on sound waves for this
section
– Lessons 2 and 3 are the most applicable
• http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/wave
s
Light as a wave
• Again the physics classroom is great for its
tutorials and interactives
• http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/light/
Lesson-1/Wavelike-Behaviors-of-Light
Electromagnetic Spectrum
• The electromagnetic spectrum is
the range of all possible frequencies
of electromagnetic radiation. The
"electromagnetic spectrum" of an
object has a different meaning, and
is instead the characteristic
distribution of electromagnetic
radiation emitted or absorbed by
that particular object.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=cfXzwh3KadE
Fiber-optic Technology
• Fiber-optic cables carry information between
two places using entirely optical (light-based)
technology
• http://www.explainthatstuff.com/fiberoptics.h
tml
A good introduction video
https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=9VmA2S2XiCo