Computer networking Computers by themselves are useful tools, but once they are interconnected, they become an unlimited source of information, they basically become media. Everyone that owns a computer that is connected to the internet suddenly becomes an information provider. Networking is one of the most significant steps in electronic evolution since the invention of the PC. A collection of computers and other hardware components that pass data to each other along network links is called a computer network. Computer networking may be considered a branch of electrical engineering, telecommunications, computer science, information technology or computer engineering. Computer networks allow people to communicate efficiently and easily via …show more content…
Lastly there are spread spectrum technologies. Wireless LANs use spread spectrum technologies to enable communication between multiple devices in a limited area. All of the previously mentioned technologies have generally the same advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage is the price, because a telecommunication network can avoid the costly process of introducing cables into a building, or a connection between various locations in addition to that wireless technologies are able to reach isolated places like mountains and islands. One of the disadvantages is electromagnetic interference. This can be caused by other networks or other types of equipment that generate radio waves that are within radio bands used for communication. Interference can degrade the signal and consequently cause a failure. Secondly some materials cause absorption or reflection of electromagnetic waves (for example aluminium foiled thermal isolation can reduce signal strength), this can cause “dead zones“ where no reception is available. Moreover signals can reach the wrong antenna due to reflection, hence causing interference and fading. In conclusion there is no perfect network link, …show more content…
Very similar to PAN network is home area network (HAN). HAN is a residential network used for communication between digital devices deployed in the home usually a small number of personal computers and accessories. Often internet access is shared between a TV and a computer. In addition to these networks there is also a local area connection (LAN). LAN is a computer network that interconnects computers within a limited area such as home, school, office building. The defining characteristics of LANs, in contrast to wide area networks (WANs) include a smaller geographic area, and usually higher data transfer rates. Metrapolitan area network usually spans a city or a large campus. As previously mentioned WAN is a wide area network, it covers a large geographic area such as a city, or a country, sometimes it eves spreads over international borders. A virtual private network (VPN) is network in which some of the links between nodes are carried by virtual circuits in some larger network instead of by physical wires. One of the features of VPN is separating the traffic of different users communities, furthermore it can be used for secure