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Communications software allows you to connect your computer to other computers. There are two types of communication - telecommunication and network communication.
A network is a group of computers that are directly connected to one another. Users on a network can easily exchange messages, files and other documents, or they can work together on a project.
Telecommunications links two computers through existing telephone lines. This is accomplished by using a "modem" on each of the computers. The modem translates the information on your computer to a telephone signal which can be sent anywhere in the world to another modem-equipped computer. The modem in the computer on the other end translates the telephone signal back into the original format for the computer. We use similar technology each time we use the telephone. The telephone translates your voice into an electronic carrier signal and the telephone on the other end of your connection translates the signal back into a voice.
The connection is established by having one computer initiate a telephone call while the other computer is set to answer the phone. Once the connection is established, the two computers can share information.
One of the most common uses of communication software is electronic mail (email). To send an email message, you type the message on your computer and then send it (over the network or over telephone lines) to another computer or to a "mailbox." A mailbox can store the message if the recipient is not immediately available to receive the message. This system makes it convenient for both the sender and the receiver of the message. You are free to send your messages at a time that is most convenient, and the recipients of your messages can "log-on" to the computer and retrieve the message at a time that is most convenient for them.
There are many commercial services that, for a small monthly fee, allow users all over the world to access their email with a local phone call. This could be cost effective if you often communicate with many people over a long distance. Not only is email inexpensive, it is also quick. Your messages can be sent anywhere in the world in just seconds or minutes!
An "on-line information service" is a step up from an email service. On-line services such as Compuserve, America Online and Prodigy provide a vast amount of information such as news, sports, weather, travel information, reference libraries, file libraries, on-line support from many companies, bulletin boards on a wide variety of topics, and on-line chat where two users can communicate directly. These services also include their own email storage as well as email links to other services such as Internet email.
Another popular on-line service is the computer bulletin board (BBS) services. Most communities have local bulletin boards that can be used to exchange messages or files or to post questions or notices that other users can read and respond to. Many companies (including computer and software companies) offer a BBS where customers can access support information or updates for their software.
The most popular form of communications today is probably the "Internet". The Internet is a world-wide "network of networks" where businesses, schools and universities, commercial services, libraries, government agencies and private users are all interconnected through a "backbone." While many computers on the Internet are directly connected, it is possible to access the Internet by modem by placing a call to a computer that has an Internet connection. This "host" computer is generally referred to as an "Internet provider." You might be able to gain free Internet access through a school, library, or your workplace. Others can obtain Internet access through a commercial provider for a monthly fee. This can be set up inexpensively through a "dial-up" connection using an existing phone line, or you can obtain a faster connection speed by obtaining service through your cable TV provider or through a DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) offered by phone companies and independent providers. Once you establish a connection with an Internet provider, you then have direct access to any other computer on the Internet!
Because of the vast scope of the Internet, the amount of information available is enormous. Many agencies and facilities are making their entire archives of information available for your use by placing it on the Internet.
The Internet is also a universal and widely accepted carrier of electronic mail. It is becoming common for computer users to have an "Internet email address" and include this address on their business cards, stationary and advertisements so they can be easily contacted. Free Internet email accounts are aailable to interested users that do not have Internet access of their own. You can obtain a free email account even if you don't have a computer. You can then check your email at a library, school or business.
Recent developments in communications software have made it easy and affordable to use the Internet, other computer network links, or a "dial-up" connection between two computers using existing telephone lines to transmit voice and video over the network. This allows personal computers to provide video teleconferencing, long-distance phone access without fees by using the Internet, and the ability for multiple users connected at the same time on a "video conference" call to share project information by broadcasting the image on their screen to other connected users. It is even possible for a user on one end of a conference call to edit information on the terminal of the user at the other end of the connection!
Because there are so many difrferent types of information that can be accessed over the Internet (World Wide Web documents, email, bulletin board and forum messages, software, music, video, graphics and photos, databases and libraries, etc.), there are a corresponding variety of Internet software applications designed to do a specific task or a variety of tasks. To access information on the "World Wide Web," such as Yahoo!, Google or your school's or company's web site, you use an application program called a "web browser." A web browser lets you read pages published on the "World Wide Web" (WWW). Examples of web browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape, Mozilla, or Firefox. To access Internet email, you would use an email application such as Microsoft Outlook Express or Qualcomm Eudora. Microsoft's Outlook Exprees is also used to access Internet "Newsgroups" (also known as bulletin boards, forums, USENET or discussion groups). Files can be transfered using Microsoft Internet Explorer, or by using FTP (File Transfer Protocol) applications such as WS_FTP (Winsock FTP) or Cute FTP. Videoconferencing software is usually included when you purchase an Internet camera. Example of videoconferencing, or "video chat" software are CU-See-Me and Microsoft Net Meeting.
Most new modems can also be used to send and receive fax documents. You can type a letter in your word processor and then "fax" it to another fax machine or a computer with a fax modem. If you also have an image scanner connected to your computer, you can scan a page or a document on paper onto your screen and then send it as a fax. When you receive a fax on your computer, you can view it on the screen or print it to your printer. To receive a fax, your computer would have to be on and running a software program designed to answer the phone and receive the fax.
Using your computer for faxing or telecommunications would not necessarily require a separate phone line. You can use the same phone line for both voice and data communications.
Another popular use of telecommunications is "remote access," also known as "telecomputing" or working-from-home. If your computer at work has a modem and is running a special remote access software program, you could dial into work from your home computer. Once the connection is made, you would then be able to access anything you would have access to if you were sitting at your desk at work! Your computer becomes a remote terminal on the office network.
There are many types of modems available. It is best to use one that is capable of making a high speed, error free connection. The few extra dollars spent on a quality modem will be returned many times over if you often make long distance connections. The faster the modem sends and receives data means the less time you spend on the phone.
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