Role of Computers in Communication
Computer communications are being used to send and receive electronic mail, engage in on-line conferencing (computer conferencing, teleconferencing or video conferencing), to view and post news on computer bulletin boards, for electronic shopping, banking and brokerage, to get information services, social media networking etc.
1. Bulletin Board Systems (BBS)
This software program permits bulletin board computer to answer telephone calls from user's computers, accept and store messages from outside users and allow access to the information stored in its files. Users can actively exchange ideas and participate in on-going discussions or passively observe the electronic conversation of others. This type of service is offered to a group of people who have similar interests. For example, bulletin may be for a group of employees, customers, clients, patients, readers, students and so on. Life Insurance Company may provide BBS to give general information and answers to the questions of policy holders. Health organizations may have BBS for doctors; industries can provide BBS for their employees and so on. As of March 2019, the largest part of traditional bulletin board systems has migrated to the Internet using Telnet or SSH protocols.
2. Computer Conferencing (Tele Conferencing or Video Conferencing)
The Video Conferencing allows persons sitting at different places to participate in a conference. It is also known as online conferencing. The participants are at their PCs or terminals. This allows people to meet at a common time and communicate over long distances. Executives can save a lot of time by avoiding travel to participate in a conference.
3. Internet
Now-a-days Internet has made information service very easy. One can get almost all kinds of information on Internet in every sphere of life, such as arts, science, medicine, engineering, agriculture, business, industry and so on. E-Mail is the oldest and also the most widely used communication method today. With the help of Internet, Electronic Mail (e-mail) messages are delivered and received.
4. E-Commerce
E-commerce is the procedure of propulsive deals by expanding alertness about an online supply’s product. It is one of the major applications of Computer in Communication. E-commerce companies provides technologies such as electronic mail, mobile commerce, home shopping, electronic funds transfer, travel arrangements, online transaction processing, inventory management systems, EDI Services and automated data collection systems. Other facilities provided by E-commerce are access to financial, demographic and editorial information; stock quotes, market indices etc. are also available.
5. Satellite Communications
A communication satellite is a repeater station in the space that is used for telecommunication of radio and television signals. To transmit large volume of data at high speed, broad channels are employed. Communication satellites are the most widely used broadband channel today. A satellite is the fastest and cheapest medium for the transmission of voice, text, video, data and pictures over lengthy distances. At first, the data are sent to the satellite from one earth station and it converts the data into another form and sends it to the second earth station. Here the satellite acts as a reflector. It accepts signals from one location on the earth and then sends the same signals to another location on the earth.
6. Defence
Computers are extensively used in defence. Now-a-days smart weapons are being widely used everywhere. These weapons are being widely used in military operations. These weapons use microprocessor-based control systems. Modern tanks, torpedoes, missiles etc. use computerized control systems. A guided missile uses internal computer for its control. Computer’s memory holds the detailed map of the target area. Photographs of the target are taken and compared with stored map before the missile hits the target. Such missiles can fly into dangerous zones without the risk of pilot’s life. Computers play a very important role in military communications. Radar systems employ computers to process data and display images. Computerized control systems provide much more information about range, height etc. of the target. Today, aircrafts employ computers for their controls and instrumentation. Fighter aircrafts are equipped with computers for their quick activity. The computers also allow the pilot to interact with it.
7. Social Media Communication
Social media is a group of online communication channels for the purpose of group based input that can be done through the social networking, communication and content sharing. Social media essentially helps to share the views of one to the public through the social networking platform. Various networking sites and popular media channels are Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Youtube, Blogs and so on.
Examples of social media:
♦ Facebook is a popular free social networking website that enables registered clients to make profiles, upload photographs and video, send messages and stay in contact with friends, family and associates.
♦ Twitter is a free micro blogging service that enables registered individuals to show short texts called tweets. Twitter users can spread tweets and follow other users’ tweets by utilizing numerous platforms and devices.
♦ LinkedIn is a social networking site planned particularly for the business group. The objective of the website is to enable registered followers to establish and document networks of the general population they know and trust professionally.
♦ Youtube helps to upload the user’s video and thereby one can share their experiences through video content. People will follow the channel by subscribing it, so that they can stay updated with the latest videos of the channel.