Lec 7 Telecommunication, internet and wireless technology

Computer Networks

• Simple Computer Network

  • Components of a Computer Network:

  • Computers

  • Servers

  • Switches/Hubs

  • Routers

  • Network Operating System

• Network Interface Card (NIC): Hardware component that allows computers to connect to a network.

Types of Networks

• Network Description

  • Devices:

  • Connected devices (computers, printers, servers, communication hardware) that enable data sharing.

  • Nodes:

  • Connected devices within the network.

• Local Area Network (LAN)

  • Characteristics:

  • Connects personal computers and other digital devices within a limited geographical area (e.g., home or office).

  • Components of a LAN:

  • LAN server: Central repository of software and data files for the network.

  • Nodes: Client machines on the LAN.

  • Communication Media: Can be wired or wireless.

• Wide Area Networks (WANs)

  • Definition: Networks that cover large geographic areas, interconnecting multiple LANs.

  • Capacity:

  • High capacity, combining multiple channels.

  • Internet:

  • World’s largest WAN, operational since 1969.

Internet and Its Protocols

• Internet Functionality Overview

  • Data Transmission: Based on packet switching and the TCP/IP protocol suite.

  • Main Functionality:

    • Transmission Control Protocol (TCP): Manages data movement between computers.

    • Internet Protocol (IP): Manages addressing for each packet of data.

World Wide Web and Other Services

• World Wide Web (WWW)

  • Definition: An application/service of the Internet, organized by hyperlinks, creating an expansive universe of information.

  • Other Services include:

  • E-mail

  • Chatting/Instant Messaging

  • Newsgroups

  • Telnet

  • File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

  • Voice over IP (VoIP)

  • Virtual Private Network (VPN)

• Intranet

  • Definition: A network designed to serve internal informational needs, using Internet concepts confined to an organization's internal use.

• Extranet

  • Definition: A private network leveraging Internet technology to securely share parts of a business’s information with external partners.

  • Components of Extranets:

  • May utilize Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for secure connections.

Web Evolution

• Web 2.0

  • Definition: The second generation of interactive Internet services enabling user collaboration and content creation.

  • Features:

  • Interactivity

  • Real-time user control

  • Social participation (sharing)

  • User-generated content

  • Examples:

  • YouTube, Blogs, RSS (Really Simple Syndication), Wikis, Social Networking

• RSS (Really Simple Syndication)

  • Function: Automates the delivery of content for users by syndicating information from websites for later viewing.

• Wiki: A collaborative platform that allows users to create, edit, and manage content collectively, fostering community-driven knowledge sharing.

• Web 3.0

  • Need for Web 3.0: Addressing inefficiencies in current search engines, emphasizing meaningful and contextual search results.

  • Concept of Semantic Web: A collaborative effort to add meaning to web content to enhance search engine understanding of human language and context.

• Web 4.0

  • Definition: Known as the Intelligent or Symbiotic Web; represents the leap towards advanced AI, decentralised architectures, and enhanced interactivity.

  • Major Technologies:

  • AI, Blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR)

  • Characteristics:

  • Emphasis on user-friendly interfaces and seamless integration of digital and physical realms.

  • Increased interaction between humans and machines, contributing to immersive experiences.

Internet of Things (IoT)

• Definition: A Web 3.0 application involving billions of interconnected sensors in the physical world.

• Characteristics:

  • Provides unique identifiers to objects, animals, or people to facilitate data transfer without human interaction.

  • Sensors: Devices capable of detecting environmental parameters (e.g., temperature, humidity) and generating output signals.

Wireless Technologies

• Wireless Applications

  • Cellular Systems:

  • Generational progressions (2G, 3G, 4G/LTE, 5G).

  • 5G Technology: Supports vast data transmission with minimal delays, enabling multiple device connections.

  • Technologies:

  • Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Infrared (IR), RFID, NFC

• Business Value of Wireless Technology

  • Facilitates communication with customers and suppliers, enhancing flexibility in organizing work (L-commerce, RFID).

• RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)

  • Definition: Uses tiny tags containing data and antennas to transmit radio signals.

  • Active RFID: Battery-powered, longer range, rewritable data.

  • Passive RFID: Shorter range, smaller, less expensive, powered by received signals.

  • Common Uses:

  • Tracking goods, automated toll collection systems, and integrating with payment systems like Octopus cards.

• Near Field Communication (NFC)

  • Definition: A contactless payment system allowing devices to exchange data over short distances.

  • Examples: Apple Pay, Google Wallet.

• Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs)

  • Definition: Networks of interconnected wireless devices providing measurements across vast areas.

  • Characteristics:

  • Devices come equipped with processing, storage, and communication capabilities.

• Location-based Commerce (L-commerce)

  • Definition: Delivering tailored advertisements based on user location.

  • Two Scenarios:

    • Pull: Users seek local services.

    • Push: Advertisements sent when users enter specific locations.

Managerial Considerations

• Organizational: Assessing productivity and IT infrastructure support for mobile platforms.

• Social: Risks associated with constant connectivity, potential health issues, and effects of social isolation from remote work.

• Ethical: Concerns regarding employee monitoring, discrimination, and privacy.