SSS 1 COMPUTER STUDIES
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Define and state the meaning of ICT.
2. List types of communication systems.
3. Discuss components of each type of communication system.
A communication system is a system, process or facility for transferring data and information between people and
equipment.
ICT- Information and Communication Technology, is a group of technological tools and resources used to create,
process, store, retrieve, manage and communicate information. It is the means of using computer and some other
gadgets to send and receive information to and from anywhere in the world within seconds.
TYPES OF ICT
1. Broadcasting
2. Telecommunications
3. Data Networks
4. Information Systems
5. Satellite Communications
BROADCASTING
Broadcasting refers to the transmission of audio and/or video content in real-time over the airwaves, via television
or radio or over the internet to a widely dispersed audience.
TYPES OF BROADCASTING
1. RADIO BROADCASTING - An audio (sound) broadcasting service, broadcasted through air as radio waves from a
transmitter to an antenna and then to a receiving device. Radio broadcasting can be through Amplitude
Modulation (AM) and Frequency Modulation (FM)
2. TELEVISION BROADCASTING - The transmission of audio and video signals through radio waves.
3. SATELLITE TV BROADCASTING – A broadcast delivered by means of communication satellite and an outdoor
antenna.
4. WEBCASTING – The broadcasting of news, entertainment, etc., through the internet using streaming media
technology to distribute a single content to many simultaneous listeners/viewers. Webcasting is video
broadcasting live over the internet.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
This is the exchange of information over significant distance through electronic media such as telephones,
telegraph, internet, facsimile, etc.
A basic telecommunications system consists of 3 units:
i. Transmitter - Takes information and converts it to signal
ii. Transmission Medium (Physical Channel e.g. cable) – Carries the signal
iii. Receiver – Takes the signal from the channel and convert it back to usable information.
TYPES OF TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
MRS ADOGIE - POWERFIELDS GROUP OF SCHOOLS [COLLEGE], EGBIN
SSS 1 COMPUTER STUDIES
1. PUBLIC SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK {PSTN} {Landline} - The network which allows any telephone in the
world to communicate with another. It uses copper wires to transmit voice in analogue form. Telephone service
that uses PSTN is often called Plain Old Telephone Service {POTS}.
2. MOBILE PHONE SYSTEM {GSM} - This is a digital telecommunication system. Example of a mobile phone
technology is the {GSM} Global System for Mobile Communication. The GSM can be used for voice
communications, text messaging, multimedia messaging, data transfer etc.
3. CIRCUIT SWITCHED PACKET TELEPHONE {CSPT} - A telephone system that uses circuit switching technology i.e.
reliable connections between communication channels. Once a call is initiated on CSPT, the call remains as long
as the caller does not disconnect the caller.
4. SATELLITE TELEPHONE SYSTEM - This is a type of mobile phone that connects to orbiting satellites. An example of
this device is the THURAYA.
5. FIXED WIRELESS TELEPHONE SYSTEM - These are the telephone systems that are situated in a fixed location such
as offices or homes unlike mobile devices such as the GSM’s. They do not require cables for transmission of data,
they transmit signals through the air.
DATA NETWORKS
This is an electronic communication system that allows the transmission and reception of digital media such as
voice, data and video between computers and other devices.
TYPES OF DATA NETWORKS
1. PERSONAL AREA NETWORK (PAN): Is a computer network around individual using a computer or a phone / tab.
A cable may not be necessary for this type of data network, Bluetooth, WIFI or infrared are mainly used.
2. LOCAL AREA NETWORK (LAN): A computer network of devices over a relatively short distance, such as within a
school. User on this network can send and receive data on a personal computer or a laptop using cable or wireless
medium
3. METROPOLICAL AREA NETWORK (MAN): A computer network that covers a metropolis such as city, campus etc.
4. WIDE AREA NETWORK (WAN): A network that covers several cities, states and even countries.
5. INTERNET: A global data communication system that interconnects different networks.
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
This is the collection of components such as people, procedures, data, database, telecommunication system,
software and hardware that are organized together to accomplish specific goals in an organization. An information
system receives data as input, processes it and produces new information as output.
TYPES OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS
i. GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM {GPS} - A satellite-based navigation system used to determine user’s exact location
on the globe, time difference, sunrise and sunset time, trip distance (commonly used by airplanes), etc.
ii. DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM - This is also known as Transaction Processing System {TPS}. They are used to process
data to produce a result. Examples of these processing systems are: Billing System e.g. PHCN or telecom billing
system for calculating customers’ monthly charge based on service plan and usage, system used to compute taxes,
Airline Reservation System, etc.
SATELLITE COMMUNICATION
Satellites are artificial objects orbiting the earth for communication. Here, signal transfer between sender and
receiver is done via satellite. This type of communication is known as space communication since all transfers
occur in space.
MRS ADOGIE - POWERFIELDS GROUP OF SCHOOLS [COLLEGE], EGBIN
