Communication Systems

3.2) Examples of Communication Systems

• This section examines three examples of communication systems:

• teleconferencing• messaging systems• electronic commerce

• Teleconferencing is the use of an electronic transmission to allow a meeting to occur at the same time in different locations

• It refers to an audio or video conference

• An audio conference is a telephone call involving three or more separate callers at different locations.

• Video conferences allow people in different locations to hear and see each other.

• Teleconferencing simulates a face-to-face meeting and reduces costs such as:

• travel• meals• accommodation

• However, teleconferencing does remove the inter-personal relationships that are built through real meetings

• A messaging system involves creation, exchange, storage, and management of messages

• Traditional messaging systems have included:

• telephone answering machines• facsimile (fax) machines

• More recent messaging systems include:

• voice mail• instant messaging• electronic mail

• Voice mail allows people to receive, store, manage and retrieve messages sent to their phone

• It is useful because more people have access to their phone than a computer for email.

• Lately, voice mail has been superseded by instant messaging services.

• Instant messaging allows short messages of text, images and video to be sent via computer or phone.

• Email is a fast, economical and convenient way to send messages globally.

• Email addresses are unique and made up of two parts separated by an @ symbol.

• The first part is the user name and the second part is domain name.

• The domain name specifies the server where the person’s email messages are stored.

• Email messages have two main parts:• the header• the body

• The header contains the address, carbon copy (Cc), blind carbon copy (Bcc) and the subject of the message

• The body contains the text to be sent.• Once people receive a message they

can reply or forward the message• Attachments can also be added to

emails to allow the sending of files, images, programs and video.

• Electronic commerce (e-commerce) is the buying and selling of goods and services across the Internet and the transfer of money.

• It can include:• EFTPOS• electronic banking• online auctions• Internet shopping• various ‘deal’ sites

• For any of these items to function effectively they need strong security and encryption, reliable backups and real-time connections.