Computer studies

Form four work

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 Table of contents
1. Introduction to networking and data
communication
2. Application areas of information and
communication technology (ICT)
3. Impact of information and communication
technology (ICT) on society
4. Career opportunities in information and
communication technology (ICT)
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 Chapter 1
Introduction to networking and data
communication

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Computer network
 It’s a collection of computers linked
together using transmission media for the
purpose of communication and resource
sharing.

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Data communication
 Refers to the process of transmitting data
signals from one point to another through
the network

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Terms used in data communication 1

 Bandwidth – it’s the maximum amount of

data that a transmission medium can carry
at any one time.
 Base band signal – it’s a digital generated
and applied to the transmission medium
directly without modulation.
 Broadband transmission – refers to
sending analog signal over transmission
medium using a particular frequency. 6
Terms used in data communication 2

 Multiplexing – it’s a
process of sending
multiple data signal
over the same
medium while
demultiplexing is the
process of separating
the multiplexed
signals at the
receiving end.
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Modes of data communication
 Simplex transmission – refers to communication
in only one direction e.g. radio transmission.
 Half duplex – refers to communication in both
directions but one direction at a time e.g. police
walkie talkie.
 Full duplex – in this transmission communication
occurs in both directions simultaneously e.g.
computers connected in network.

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 Types of computer network
 Local Area Network (LAN) – this is formed whenever
computers are connected together in a small geographical
area e.g. floors, building, school etc within a radius of 10m
up to 3km.
 Wide Area Network (WAN) – this covers unlimited
geographical area e.g. across states, entire country or
entire world. They are expensive to build and have low data
rates and higher speed (over 100Mbps or higher).
 Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) – this network covers a
metropolitan are like a town or city within a radius of
between 5 and 50km. They are data rates of 100Mbps and
above and are more expensive than LANS.
 Computer Networking – refers to a collection of
independent entities that are arranged in such a manner as
to exchange data, information or resources. 9
Purpose of networking 1
 Resource sharing –
different computers
are connected to
each other hence a
user at one site may
be able to use the
resource available at
another site e.g.
printers, programs etc.

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Purpose of networking 2
 Remote communication – this involves transmission of
data signals between two communication devices
located at different geographical location. Through
remote communication, people can be able to share
ideas and pass messages over the network.
 Cost effectiveness – reduction of resources in
networking lead to reduction in costs. Example instead of
purchasing many computers resources, one buys one
which can be shared hence reducing the costs.
 Distributed processing – if a particular process can be
sub-divided into several sub-process then each sub-
process can be processed at different sites co-currently
hence speeding up the entire process.
 Reliability – if one site fails in a computer network, the
remaining site can potentially continue operating. 11
Limitation of networking
 Cost – it’s expensive to acquire networking equipments, train
network administrators and users and maintenance of network. The
cost are high.
 Data security – data and information held on a network is prone to
more illegal access, danger of data theft and also tapping by
unauthorised people during transmission.
 Network failure – there is a danger of failure which may paralyze the
operational of an organisation besides damaging files and programs.
 Moral and cultural effects – large networks like Internet have chat
rooms and messaging services that may enable underage children
to meet peers and adults on the net some of whom have bad
intentions. Access to pornographic and other negative materials is
also a problem.
 Over-reliance on networks – most organisations have done away
with manual operations. This means that all business process and
society depend on computer networks. The disadvantage of over-
reliance is that if the network fails then many systems will stop
operating. 12
Elements of networking
 Data communication media – a data communication is a
channel through which data is transmitted between
computers and other devices. Data communication
media are categorised into two:
 Communication with cables (bounded media)
 Two wire open lines cables

 Twisted pair cable

 Coaxial cable

 Fibre optic cables

 Wireless communication (unbounded media)

 Microwave

 Satellite

 Radio transmission

 Infrared transmission 13