Communication Methods : Introduction

Communicating is tranferring information from one person or location to another. There are many different methods that can be used to communicate information. The best method to use on a particular occasion will depend upon factors such as :

1. What type of information you are sending, e.g. a package, a document or a video.
2. How quickly the information must arrive at its destination.
3. What equipment you have to help you send the information and what equipment the person receiving the information has.
4. How much you are prepared to pay to send the information.
5. Whether the information is private and being sent to just one person or public and being sent to many people.

Communications systems can be classified as being either private or broadcast. Private systems are used for private communications between a small number of people. Broadcast systems allow one person to send the same information to lots of people at the same time. Some of the most common communication systems are listed below.

Private Communications Systems
Post
Telephone
Cellular Telephone
Fax
Email
Video Conferencing
Broadcast Communications Systems
Teletext
Digital TV

Data can be communicated directly between computers through a computer network or using a modem or ISDN.

GCSE ICT Companion 04 - (C) P Meakin 2004