Article

Data Communication

Data Communication is the transfer of data or information between a source and a receiver. The source transmits the data and the receiver receives it. The actual generations of the information are not part of Data Communication nor are the resulting action of the information at the receiver. Data Communication is interested in transfer of data, the method of transfer and the preservation of the data during the transfer process.

In Local Area Network, we are interested in "connectivity", connecting computers together to share resources. Even though the computers can have different types of disk operating systems, languages, cabling and locations, they still can communicate to each other and share resources.

The purpose of Data Communication is to provide the rules and regulations that allow computers with different disk operating systems, languages, cabling and locations to share resources. The rules and regulations are called protocol and standards in Data Communications.

Data Communication can mean many things to different people, but when we are dealing with computers and our interactions with them, we are typically discussing equipment that was designed to provide or gather information needs to communicate beyond itself, to similar equipment or to a dissimilar system, Data Communication provides the tools, products and equipment to make this happen.

A simple scenario would be 2 personal computers in the same building, but 50 feet away from each other. By hooking up a cable between the 2 personal computers, we now have Data Communication. The extent of Data Communication builds from this point on, since there are many factors such as distance, topology, protocol, signaling, security, etc. that determine how Data Communication will take place.

Some of our more common Data Communication would be the simple act of your Personal Computer connecting to the Internet with a modem. You have now established a Communication between your PC and lets say a website. Every time you click on hyperlink, you are requesting information and it is presented to you in some for of Data which may letters, graphics, or colors.

Other forms of Data Communication have changed the way work and live dramatically by delivering immediate news and information right into our homes, allow us to get money from an ATM without standing on a bank line, shop, learn and buy any product or service without leaving our home.

Data Communication will continue to evolve and change dramatically for the foreseeable future. The challenge for most business and corporations today are the seemingly endless choices to achieve their Data Communication needs. Equipment, standards and technology change weekly. In house expert and employees are typically to busy maintaining what they have. The logical choices is to work with companies that specialize in Data Communication as their core business, these companies see first hand all the new solutions and equipment on a daily basis.