1. COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY What is Communication Technology ? –Communication technology is all the things people make and do to send and receive messages. –Examples: E-mail Cell Phones Fax Machines

2. COMM. INNOVATIONS AND TRENDS An Innovation is something new, whether it is a new device, process, or idea. Many innovations lead to the development of trends. –Examples: Cell Phones, Satellite Navigation A Trend is a general movement or inclination toward something. It is usually NOT a specific device, process, or idea but is represented by several devices, processes, or trends. Most Trends try to improve one of the following three areas: –Quality of Communications (CD’s, Fiber Optics, HDTV) –Convenience & Portability of Devices (Laptops, Cordless Phones, MP3 Players) –Speed and Efficiency of Devices and Systems (Internet, Dual-Core Processors, DDR2 SDRAM Memory)

3. WHY DO WE NEED COMM. TECH.? Comm. Tech. extends our ability to send and receive messages Comm. Tech enables us to do the following things better and faster: –Inform (newspapers, Internet, T.V., radio) –Educate (DVD’s, computer programs, hydrophones, seismometers) –Persuade (Virtually all advertising on radio, Internet, T.V., or billboards; political persuasion; social reform) –Entertain (MP3’s, Internet, X-Box, T.V., cell-phones) –Control (control mechanisms and sensors on computers; control of traffic signals, which sends a control signal to us)

4. PARTS OF A COMM. SYSTEM All Communication Systems include: –A Sender – the person or device sending the message –A Message – if you need help with this, we need to talk –A Communication Channel -- the path over which a message must travel to get from the sender to the receiver (cellular signal, DSL/Cable Modem, T.V.) –A Receiver – the person or device receiving the message Like all systems, Communication Systems contain 4 parts: –Input(s) – time, people, information, capital, materials, tools & machines, energy –Process(es) –Output(s) –Feedback

5. COMM. SYSTEM INPUTS People: – create the messages to be sent; create the technologies to send the message; work in the careers necessary to broadcast messages; perform the production tasks necessary to send the message, etc.. Information: information is needed about a variety of technologies to design, create, install, and repair the equipment & devices needed to send messages (micro- processing, digital electronics, photonics, electronic imaging); consumers need information to make educated decisions when purchasing communication equipment; people working in the communication industry need information, knowledge, and skills regarding science, mathematics, social sciences, and language arts

6. COMM. SYSTEM INPUTS (cont’d) Materials: – enormous amounts of materials are used to make the items we use to send and receive messages: –Trees and water (for paper), barrels of petroleum products (for plastics that are manufactured into nearly all of the items we use to communicate), miles of metal wires and/or glass fiber optic cables laid each year to connect communication devices, enormous amounts of metal for the transmission towers that send and receive signals, millions of electronic circuits made from silicon, hydrogen, aluminum and other raw materials. Tools and Machines: many tools and machines are needed to communicate today: – Simple drawing tools and programs used to communicate through detailed technical drawings how things are to be built or designed; electronic communication devices such as cell-phones, laptop computers, Blackberry devices; all the tools and materials needed to print and publish magazines and newspapers.

7. COMM. SYSTEM INPUTS (cont’d) Energy: energy is fundamental to communication systems: –The mental and physical energy individuals use to provide their individual input into the system; the mechanical and light energy that must be changed into electrical energy to power almost all electronic communication devices; radiant energy in the form of electromagnetic waves, produced by radio, television, and microwaves that allow us to send and receive messages over long distances. Capital: without the money, land, and equipment needed to produce communication devices, they wouldn’t exist: – Capital (money) is needed to buy equipment, pay workers, and pay for the energy necessary to operate communication systems; capital investments are needed to research and develop emerging communication technologies; capital is needed to build the infrastructure necessary for communication technology to exist.

8. COMM. SYSTEM INPUTS (cont’d) Time: time is needed to design and develop new communication technologies. Often, the new technologies themselves save people a very precious commodity – time. This time-saving feature of communication technology: –Improves efficiency and productivity –Gives people more options on how they use their time (laptops that are used on a plane to finish a report or project; cell phones that allow people to conduct business while on their way to work; internet and network connections that allow people to work from home).

9. PROCESSES Processes are all the things done with or to the inputs of a communication system to get the desired result or output: –Using a computer to access information on the internet –All the tasks involved in getting a newspaper or magazine printed Photography Writing the articles Printing the publication –The actual processes used in communication technology constantly change and improve with time: It took two years to print 200 copies of the Gutenberg Bible in the 1400’s – today the same number of copies can be printed in less than 1 day. When the Titanic sank in the early 1900’s, it took 2 weeks for news to reach Europe – today, the same information could be transmitted and received in the amount of time it took to write the story and hit the send button on a e- mail program.

10. OUTPUTS Once a message is created, coded (if necessary), and transmitted (sent), the desired output of the communication system has been achieved – the message has been sent. Outputs come in many forms: –Images –Words –Sounds Positive Impacts of Communication Technology Outputs: –Long-Distance Communication: the Internet is currently reshaping our view of long-distance communication. Products using VOIT (voice-over- internet-technology – Vonage) is providing long-distance service at a fraction of the cost usually associated with regular telephone long- distance service. –Communication in Schools: Computers enable schools to handle, store, retrieve, and send incredible amounts of information; Internet and computer-based databases enable students to for information in large databases. PARENT CONNECT LETS YOUR PARENTS KNOW IF YOU’RE FAILING OR PASSING A COURSE – INSTANTANEOUSLY!

11. OUTPUTS (cont’d) Negative Impacts of Communication Technology Outputs: –The Internet: The Internet was initially created as a means to send information. As it developed, it also became a source that could be used for evil intentions (terrorist websites, chat rooms where predators try to deceive and lure innocent children). –Privacy: computer databases are potential sources for theft, sabotage, identity theft, and disinformation; telemarketers calling during the evening invades the privacy of people in their homes. –Effects on Health and Safety: Electromagnetic Radiation Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Hearing Loss from headphones Eye strain from prolonged computer viewing Medical devices and aviation avionics malfunctioning due to negative electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) –Pollution and Environmental Impacts: Aesthetic beauty damaged from towers and antennas Vast raw materials used and pollution generated turning them into industrial materials necessary to build communication devices

12. FEEDBACK Feedback is any response directly related to the output of a communication system. It can take many forms: –Replying to an e-mail message –Replying to an advertisement –Replying to a telephone conversation –Negative Feedback (not being able to hear someone over the static in a cellular conversation; dropped calls; yelling at a telemarketer; the Internet or a LAN going down, which can cause aggravation at best or cause a system to crash, at worst) –Poor communication security resulting in theft