1. Define computer communications.

Computer communications describes a process in which two or more computers or

devices transfer data, instructions, and information.

2. Discuss the purpose of the components required for successful communications: sending

device, communications device, communications channel, and receiving device.

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.

3. Identify various sending and receiving devices.

Computers and mobile devices that serve as sending and receiving devices include

mainframe computers, servers, desktop computers, notebook computers, smart phones,

portable media players, handheld game consoles, and GPS receivers.

4. Briefly describe these communications: blogs, chat rooms, e-mail, fax, FTP, instant

messaging, Internet, RSS, video conferencing, VoIP, Web, Web 2.0, and wikis.

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

FTP - Internet standard that permits users to upload and download files to and from FTP

servers on the Internet

Instant Messaging - real-time one-on-one Internet 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 businesses, government

agencies, educational institutions, and individuals

RSS - specification that enables Web content to be distributed to subscribers

Video Conferencing - real-time meeting between 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, allow

users to modify Web site content, and/or have application software built into the site for

visitors to use

Wikis – collaborative Web sites that allow users to create, add to, modify, or delete Web

site content

5. Describe text messaging.

 A mobile device with text messaging capability allows users to send and receive short text

messages, typically fewer than 300 characters, on a phone or other mobile device or

computer.

6. Describe picture messaging and 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.

7. A synonym for picture/video messaging is _____.

A synonym for picture/video messaging is MMS (multimedia message service).

8. Define wireless Internet access point.

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.

9. Define hot spot. Describe three hot spot technologies.

A hot spot is a wireless network that provides Internet connections to mobile computers

and devices. Wi-Fi hot spots provide wireless network connections to users in public

locations such as airports and airplanes, train stations, hotels, convention centers,

schools, campgrounds, shopping malls, bookstores, libraries, restaurants, and coffee

shops. The coverage range for WiMAX hot spots, can be much wider than Wi-Fi; for
 example, they can cover an entire city. Bluetooth hot spots provide location-based

services to users whose enabled devices enter the coverage range.

10. Describe a mobile wireless network.

A mobile wireless network provides users with high-speed Internet connections, as long

as they are in the network’s range. A mobile wireless network usually includes most

major cities and airports.

11. Describe uses of these computer communications: collaboration, groupware, voice

mail, and Web services.

Many software products provide a means to collaborate, or work online, with other users

connected to a server.

Groupware is software that helps groups of people work together on projects and share

information over a network.

Voice mail, which functions much like an answering machine, allows someone to leave a

voice message for one or more people.

Web services describe standardized software that enables programmers to create

applications that communicate with other remote computers over the Internet or over an

internal business network.

12. Define the term, network. List advantages of using a network.

A network is a collection of computers and devices connected together via

communications devices and transmission media. Many businesses network their

computers together to facilitate communications, share hardware, share data and

information, share software, and transfer funds.

13. Describe how sensors might work in a body area network (BAN). Identify potential
 uses of BANs.

A body area network (BAN) is set of wearable or implanted body sensors will turn the

body into a human router. The devices will communicate wirelessly and transmit data

from the body to another device that performs an action. For example, you can save a

word processing document to a device on your wrist, walk to a printer, and just touch the

printer with your hand to print. Or, merely by shaking hands, you can transfer

information from a business card stored on your wrist device to another device worn by a

business colleague.

14. Differentiate among LANs, MANs, and WANs.

A local area network (LAN) is a network that connects computers and devices in a

limited geographical area such as a home, school computer laboratory, office building,

or closely positioned group of buildings.

A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a high-speed network that connects local area

networks in a metropolitan area such as a city or town and handles the bulk of

communications activity across that region.

A wide area network (WAN) is a network that covers a large geographic area (such as a

city, country, or the world) using a communications channel that combines many types of

media such as telephone lines, cables, and radio waves.

15. A server is sometimes called a _____ computer. State examples of dedicated servers.

A server is sometimes called a host computer.

A file server stores and manages files. A print server manages printers and documents

being printed. A database server stores and provides access to a database. A network
 server manages network traffic (activity). A Web server is a computer that delivers

requested Web pages to your computer.

16. Differentiate between client/server and peer-to-peer networks.

On a client/server network, one or more computers act as a server; the other computers

on the network request services from the server. In one type of peer-to-peer network,

each computer, called a peer, has equal responsibilities and capabilities, sharing

hardware, data, or information with other computers on the network.

17. Differentiate among the Ethernet, token ring, and TCP/IP standards.

Ethernet is a network standard that specifies no central computer or device on the

network (nodes) should control when data can be transmitted; that is, each node attempts

to transmit data when it determines the network is able to receive communications.

The token ring standard specifies that computers and devices on the network share or

pass a special signal, called a token, in a unidirectional manner and in a preset order.

TCP/ IP is a network standard, specifically a protocol, that defines how messages (data)

are routed from one end of a network to the other.

18. Describe the Wi-Fi standard. Name some uses of Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) identifies any network based on the 802.11 standards, which

specifies how two wireless devices communicate over the air with each other.

Most of today’s computers and many mobile devices, such as smart phones and handheld

game consoles, are Wi-Fi enabled. One popular use of the Wi-Fi standard is in hot spots

that offer mobile users the ability to connect to the Internet with their Wi-Fi enabled

wireless computers and devices. Many homes and small businesses also use Wi-Fi to

network computers and devices together wirelessly.

19. Describe the Bluetooth standard. Give examples of some Bluetooth devices.

The Bluetooth standard defines how two Bluetooth devices use short-range radio waves

to transmit data. To communicate with each other, Bluetooth devices often must be within

about 10 meters (about 33 feet) but can be extended to 100 meters with additional

equipment. Examples of Bluetooth devices can include desktop computers, notebook

computers, handheld computers, smart phones, headsets, microphones, digital cameras,

GPS receivers, and printers.

20. Describe the WiMAX standard.

Using the WiMAX standard, computers or devices with the appropriate WiMAX wireless

capability communicate via radio waves with other computers or devices via a WiMAX

tower.

21. Explain the purpose of communications software.

Communications software consists of programs that (1) help users establish a connection

to another computer or network; (2) manage the transmission of data, instructions, and

information; and (3) provide an interface for users to communicate with one another.

22. Describe the advantages of a home network. Discuss different wired and wireless

ways to set up a home network.

Home networking saves the home user money and provides many conveniences. Each

networked computer in the house has the following capabilities: connect to the Internet at

the same time, share a single high-speed Internet connection, access files and programs

on the other computers in the house, share peripherals such as a printer, scanner,

external hard disk, or optical disc drive, play multiplayer games with players on other

computers in the house, connect game consoles to the Internet, and subscribe to and use
 VoIP.

As with other networks, a home network can use wires, be wireless, or use a combination

of wired and wireless. Three types of wired home networks are Ethernet, powerline cable,

and phoneline. To network computers and devices that span multiple rooms or floors in a

home, it may be more convenient to use a wireless strategy. Most home networks use a

Wi-Fi network.

23. Define the term, bandwidth.

The amount of data, instructions, and information that can travel over a communications

channel sometimes is called the bandwidth.

24. Describe the purpose of transmission media. Define the term, broadband media.

Transmission media consist of materials or substances capable of carrying one or more

signals. Broadband media transmit multiple signals simultaneously.