The Universal Systems Model of Technology
One way of studying the technological system is by examining the inputs,
processes, and outputs of that system. Very similar to a car, consider the gas
you put into a car as an input, when the engine burns the gas you have the
process, and when the car moves you have output.
What is Communication?
Communication is the sending and receiving of information or messages. For
instance, this text is a message. If you read and understand the words, you
have received the message and communication has occurred.
Today communication Technology is used to help people communicate faster, farther and more often than ever before. It is used to exchange information with people, machines and animals. At work people use it to become more creative and productive. In school we are using it to learn new things and to explore our interest and abilities. At home we use it to stay informed, to be entertained and to keep in touch with family and friends.
Communication affects nearly every aspect of our life. Just think about what your life would be like without communication. No one would speak to you. There would be no television, no newspaper, or no internet. No messages would be sent, no messages would be received.
Why do we communicate?
Humans have basic needs. Babies cry because they’re hungry. Food is a basic
need for survival, along with shelter and security. Without them, neither the
baby or anyone else could survive. Communication enables us to meet our basic
needs.
Communication System Model
First their must be a message, it can be a picture, a sound or the written
word.
Next there must be a sender to “launch” the message. This message travels
through a communication channel to the receiver.
Communication
Concepts
Try to think of communication in terms of the basic communication concepts in computer terms.
Communication has five major purposes:
Inform
Educate
Persuade
Entertain
Control
Modes of Communication
Human-to-human communication: speaking, gesturing, writing, etc.
Human-to-machine communication: computers, telephones, musical instruments,
etc.
Machine-to-machine communication: CNC machines, thermostats, timers, automatic
switches
that can sense unsafe conditions and stop tool motion, etc.
Machine-to-human communication: fire alarms, alarm clocks, gauges, gameboy,
machines that
warn of necessary service or breakdown, etc.
Supplementary types of communication: ESP, magnet, compass, etc.
Types of Communication Systems
Data Communication - Computer systems
Technical Design - Engineering, architecture and industrial designers....
Optics - Photography, holograms...
Graphic Production - Ink on paper, plastic metal or fabric...
Audio and Video - Television, radio...
