Welcome to FreshNote, your distinguished Uniblog. This is one of our course notes on GST 103 (computer fundamentals) or information technology; anyhow you want to call it. We recently published a note on this GST: generation of computers. Do well to check it out, as it's one of the crucial topics on this course.
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In our current era, communication has expanded well beyond traditional face-to-face meetings, postal mail, or standard phone conversations. The emergence of computing technology has entirely transformed how individuals share data, work together, and manage their everyday activities. From basic local connections in educational facilities and workplaces to the massive global network linking millions of users, communication has become the bedrock of our technological society. To properly understand the web we rely on daily, we must first explore what computer networks represent, how they operate, and their significance in our lives.
What Does Communication Mean?
In its most fundamental form, communication involves transferring data from one party (the source) to another (the destination). For effective communication to happen, four core components must be present:
Source – the origin of the information.
Information – the actual content being transmitted (text, audio, video, files, etc.).
Channel – the pathway through which information travels (spoken word, written documents, digital networks, wireless signals, etc.).
Destination – the individual or device that receives the information and processes it.
Historically, communication occurred primarily through verbal exchange or written correspondence. However, with developments in computing technology, communication now includes digital data in formats like text files, pictures, audio recordings, graphics, and video clips. Currently, computers and mobile devices serve as primary instruments for sending and receiving this varied information.
Computer Networks: Connecting Devices Worldwide
A single computer has impressive capabilities, but when linked to other computers, it becomes part of something much more powerful—a network. A computer network consists of multiple computers and associated equipment that are connected together so they can share resources and exchange data.
Networks exist at different sizes based on their geographic scope:
Local Area Network (LAN): Covers a limited space such as one building, workplace, or campus. For instance, the network in a college computer lab that allows all student machines to access a shared printing device.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): Spans across an entire metropolitan area or region larger than a LAN can handle. An example might be the network connecting various branches of a corporation throughout a major city like Abuja.
Wide Area Network (WAN): Covers extensive distances, sometimes across multiple countries. The Internet represents the largest and most well-known WAN globally.
Similar article: computer fundamentals and basic components
Network Topologies: The Structure of Connections
The way computers are organized within a network is called network topology. Different topologies are chosen based on budget, dependability, and intended use. The main types include:
Bus Topology – All devices connect to a single shared cable. It's inexpensive but unreliable, as one problem can bring down the entire network.
Ring Topology – Devices are arranged in a circular pattern. Information flows in one direction around the circle, but if one device breaks, the whole network can fail.
Star Topology – Each computer links to a central hub or switch. It's dependable and easy to maintain, though the central hub becomes a critical failure point.
Mesh Topology – Every computer connects directly to all other computers. It's extremely reliable but costly due to the many connections needed.
Tree/Hierarchical Topology – Combines star and bus elements, making it suitable for large companies with multiple divisions.
These arrangements create the foundation for computer communication before they expand to connect with the broader internet infrastructure.
The Internet: A Worldwide System of Connected Networks
The Internet stands as the most impressive example of a WAN. It represents a global collection of interconnected computer networks that enables individuals and organizations around the world to share data, communicate, and access various services. Unlike smaller private networks, the Internet isn't controlled by any single entity; instead, it consists of countless individual networks operating together.
Essentially, the Internet functions as a digital superhighway, transporting data through websites, email systems, video content, social platforms, and much more.
Similar course note computer software and programming
Web Addresses and URLs
Every website on the Internet has a unique location identifier. This is technically known as a URL (Universal Resource Locator). For instance, the address Facebook.com leads directly to Facebook's main page. Just like a home address tells you where to locate a house, a URL tells your browser where to find a specific page online.
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
To connect to the Internet, you need an Internet Service Provider (ISP). These are businesses or organizations that provide users with web access, typically through monthly subscription plans. Your ISP gives you an email account, helps configure your connection, and serves as the gateway for your computer or smartphone to reach online content.
Important Internet Terms
When using the Internet, several terms come up regularly. Here are some crucial ones:
Web Browser: A software program like Chrome, Edge, or Safari that allows you to view websites.
Email Attachment: A file (document, image, or video) included with an email message.
Security Firewall: A protective system that shields your computer or network from unauthorized intrusion.
HTML (HyperText Markup Language): The programming language used to create and format web pages.
Hyperlink: A clickable text or image that takes you to another page or resource.
Modem: A hardware device that connects your computer to the Internet.
WWW (World Wide Web): A network of interconnected documents that can be accessed via the Internet.
Internet Café: A public establishment where people pay to use Internet-connected computers.
Compressed File: A file format like ZIP that reduces large files for easier sharing.
These terms help you understand the online world and how the Internet functions practically.
The Link Between Networks and the Internet
It's essential to understand that without computer networks, the Internet couldn't exist. The Internet is basically a "network of networks." Local Area Networks in schools, Wide Area Networks in corporations, and even home networks are all components that combine to create the global Internet infrastructure.
Communication technologies enable sending an email from Kano to Cairo in seconds, sharing live videos from Dubai, or joining an online course hosted in Boston—all built on fundamental computer networking concepts.
Summary
Communication, computer networks, and the Internet are interconnected elements of our digital world. Communication serves as the foundation—the basic need to share information. Computer networks provide the framework—how devices connect to enable communication. The Internet acts as the ultimate global platform that brings everything together, linking billions of people and devices in one massive digital environment.
Learning these concepts is valuable not just for technology students but for anyone living in today's networked society. Whether you're sending a text message, participating in a video conference, or watching online videos, you're depending on the complex but invisible network of communication systems and Internet infrastructure that powers our contemporary digital lives.
Revised questions
Define communication in the context of computing and explain the four basic elements that make it effective.
2. Differentiate between a Local Area Network (LAN), a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), and a Wide Area Network (WAN), giving one example of each.
3. List and describe three types of network topologies, highlighting one advantage and one disadvantage of each.
4. Explain the role of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and why it is necessary for accessing the Internet.
5. Identify and briefly explain five common Internet terminologies (e.g., browser, firewall, hyperlink, modem, URL).
Practice MCQ questions here
References
1. National Open University of Nigeria (2008). GST103: Computer Fundamentals. Lagos: NOUN Press.
2. Akinyokun, O.C. (1999). Principles and Practice of Computing Technology. Ibadan: International Publishers Ltd.
3. Balogun, V.F., Daramola, O.A., Obe, O.O., Ojokoh, B.A., & Oluwadare, S.A. (2006). Introduction to Computing: A Practical Approach. Akure: Tom-Ray Publications.
4. Larry Long (1984). Introduction to Computers and Information Processing. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc.