NEW MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES New Tech: Assumptions to be tested about “Broadband” Platforms for economic and social change Role in user-to-user collaboration Different networks/devices have different advantages/limitations Dysfunctional as well as beneficial effects accompany technological change

Key concepts Access to technology not only shapes what you can now do; it now shapes what you can dream about doing Information and communications infrastructure is one of the important benchmarks in determining your and your community’s competitiveness and level of prosperity Network-connected devices and apps are doing more, faster and more economically for you/for your business/for your community than ever before The networking of digital devices and apps allows local communities and local businesses to transform themselves by reaching out to potential markets and collaborators almost anywhere on earth (or space)

BROADBAND MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE BROADBAND TELEPHONY BROADBAND CABLE BROADBAND WIRELESS BROADBAND SATELLITE BROADBAND BROADCASTING BROADBAND INTERNET

BROADBAND TELEPHONY TELEGRAPHY: FAST DISTANT COMMUNICATION STARTED WITH ELECTRICAL CURRENT VIA COPPER WIRE Advantages? Limitations? TELEPHONY: SIMULTANEOUS (2-WAY) VOICE COMMUNICATION VIA COPPER WIRE BB-TELEPHONY: ANALOG TO DIGITAL, IP-NETWORKS, xDSL COPPER LINES, FIBER OPTIC LINES ROLE OF BELL LABS: MICROELECTRONICS, DIGITAL SYSTEMS; SOLFTWARE; PHOTONICS

DATA OVER TELEPHONE LINES DIAL-UP MODEMS

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Digital pipeline into customer premises Convert regular “twisted pair” copper telephone line into high-capacity telecommunication line Voice-grade modem vs. DSL 14.4Kbps – 56Kbps vs. 1.5Mbps – several Mbps

FIBER OPTICS LIGHT (LED AND LASER)

Fiber Optics FIBER OPTICS FLEXIBLE GLASS CABLES

Technological Factors Flexible glass (or plastic) fibers Sound/video/data converted to electrical signal, which is converted to light pulses Light travels faster Less attenuation Optical fibers carry more information Not affected by electrical or radio interference of lightening.

Economic Factors High capacity/high data rate Accuracy (low error bit rate) High reliability (low maintenance) Data security Fewer amplifiers/repeaters Smaller size, lesser weight Sand (silicon) vs. copper Global market: Internet growth, VoIP (IP telephony)

Applications PPV VOD Internet E-commerce/E-gov/E-edu/E-health IP-Telephony (VoIP) DTV/HDTV Digital Video Recorders/Burners Gaming