Giovannie Alvarez

Form 5

Information Technology

Contents
Computer Networks and Web Technologies...............................................................................................2
What Is A Network..................................................................................................................................2
Types of Networks...................................................................................................................................3
Mobile Network.......................................................................................................................................7
Wireless Network Technologies..............................................................................................................8
Levels of privacy....................................................................................................................................12
Transmission Media...............................................................................................................................14
Wired Transmission Media....................................................................................................................15
Wireless Transmission Media................................................................................................................16
Switch, Router and Modem...................................................................................................................19
Network Interface Card/Network adapter............................................................................................23
Suitability for various mobile networks.................................................................................................25
Web Technology Concepts....................................................................................................................32

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Computer Networks and Web Technologies

What Is A Network

A network is a set of computers and peripherals, such as printers, plotters, disk drives and
modems, that are linked together usually on a permanent basis so that they can communicate
and share resources and information. They communicate via a transmission media.

The following are types of networks:

 Local Area Network (LAN)

 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
 Wide Area Network (WAN)
 Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

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Types of Networks

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN describes a group of microcomputers or other workstations connected on one site, such
as a school or a block of offices, for the general exchange of information.

The following images show a local area network:

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Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)

This is a wireless computer network that links two or more devices using wireless
communication to form a local area network within a limited area, such as a home, school,
computer laboratory and office.

The following images show a wireless local area network:

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Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is like that of a LAN, but geographically spread over a wider area. A typical example of a
WAN is the internet, linking thousands of computers, workstations, and networks across the
globe.

The following image shows a wide area network:

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Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

A MAN is a network that interconnects users with computer resources in a geographic area or
region larger than that covered by a LAN but smaller than that covered by a WAN.

The following images shows a metropolitan area network:

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Mobile Network

A mobile network is a communication network where the last link is wireless. Mobile networks
are also called cellular networks. This type of network has evolved rapidly. The following are all
examples of mobile networks:

 1G
 2G
 3G
 4G and LTE

They are placed in consecutive order.

1G -> This is the first generation of mobile network. It utilized analog telecommunication
standards.

2G -> This is the second generation of mobile network. A 2G network, allows a person to send
text messages, picture messages and it even has some internet capabilities.

3G -> This is the third generation of mobile network. This network allows for faster data
transfer. It also provided more benefits over the previous generations. Many different devices
utilize 3G networks.

4G and LTE -> This is the fourth generation of mobile network. It allows 4G compatible devices
to connect to the internet faster than ever before. LTE stands for Long Term Evolution. This
term is used for the particular type of 4G that delivers the fastest mobile Internet experience.

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Wireless Network Technologies

A wireless network is a computer network that uses wireless data connections between nodes.

According to the syllabus, the following are examples of wireless network technologies:

 Bluetooth
 Wi-Fi
 hotspot

Bluetooth -> This wireless technology enables communication between Bluetooth-compatible

devices. It is used for short-range connections between desktops, laptops, mobile phones,
printers, scanners and etc. Bluetooth uses a standard 2.4 GHz frequency. This enables all
Bluetooth devices to be compatible with each other. Bluetooth has only drawback, it usually
has a limited range.

Wi-Fi -> This is wireless network technology that allows devices such as computers, mobile
devices and other equipment to interface with the Internet.

hotspot -> A hotspot is a physical location where people may obtain Internet access, typically
using Wi-Fi technology, via a wireless local-area network (WLAN). A mobile phone can provide a
hotspot

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Images showing mobile networks and wireless network technologies

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Levels of privacy

The definition of online privacy is the level privacy protection an individual has while connected
to the Internet. These following are different levels of protected networks.

Intranet -> This is a private enterprise network, designed to support an organization’s

employees to communicate, collaborate and perform their roles.

Extranet -> A controlled, private network allowing third-party partners to gain information,
typically about a specific company or institution, and do so without granting access to an
organization's entire network.

Internet -> The Internet is a vast network that connects computers all around the world. Many
different people could access and information on the internet. Majority of the information is
made public to the users of the Internet. People would need an internet connection to share
and communicate information over the internet.

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The following image helps to explain the levels of privacy.

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Transmission Media

Transmission media is a communication channel that carries the information from the sender to
the receiver. Transmission Media can be wired and wireless.

Some wired examples of transmission media are as follows:

 Twisted pair
 Coaxial
 Fibre

Some wireless of examples of transmission media are as follows:

 Infrared
 Microwave
 Satellite

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Wired Transmission Media

Wired Transmission Media is Guided media. Essentially, the data signals are guided along a
physical path. For example, within a wire.

Twister Pair -> A twisted pair cable is made of two plastics insulated copper wires twisted
together to form a single media. These types of cables are affordable and fast to install. An
organization may not experience much latency if it uses twisted pair cables throughout its
internal network.

Coaxial -> It is a very commonly used transmission media. This cable contains two conductors
parallel to each other. It has a higher frequency as compared to Twisted pair cables.

Fibre-> A fibre optic cable is a cable that uses electric signals for communication. Fibre optic is a
cable that holds the optical fibres coated in plastic that are used to send the data by pulses of
light. This type of guided transmission is expensive.

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Wireless Transmission Media

Wireless Transmission is a form of unguided media. Wireless communication involves no

physical link established between two or more devices, communicating wirelessly.

Infrared -> This is a wireless transmission media that sends signals using infrared light waves.
This type of wireless transmission media is common, inexpensive and it is easy to use. For
example, a tv remote uses infrared.

Microwave -> Microwave is a line-of-sight wireless communication technology that uses high
frequency beams of radio waves to provide high speed wireless connections that can send and
receive voice, audio, and data information. Radars, radio navigation systems and sensor
systems use microwave transmission media.

Satellite -> A communication satellite is a space station that receives microwave signals from an
Earth-based station, amplifies the signals, and broadcasts the signals back over a wide area to
any number of earth-based stations.

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Images showing wired and wireless transmission media.

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Extra notes on Transmission Media.

A communications satellite is an artificial satellite that relays and amplifies radio

telecommunications signals via a transponder; it creates a communication channel between a
source transmitter and a receiver at different locations on Earth. ... This allocation of bands
minimizes the risk of signal interference.

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Switch, Router and Modem

Switch -> Switches are devices that facilitate the sharing of resources by connecting together all
the devices, including computers, printers, and servers, in a small business. A switch connects
multiple devices to create a network.

Router -> A router receives and sends data on computer networks. A router connects multiple
switches, and their respective networks, to form an even larger network.

Modem -> A modem is typically used to send digital data over a phone line. It is hardware
component that allows a computer or another device, such as a router or switch, to connect to
the Internet.

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Image showing how each of the previously mentioned operate.

Images showing how a modem operates.

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Images showing how a router operates.

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Image showing how a switch operates.

This image assumes that computer A and B are receiving data from the Internet. The data can
be a video, an image etc.

Also, if the arrows were reversed, the computers would be sending information over the
internet. Without the router, the switch would not be able to send data over the internet.
Without the switch, there would be no network.

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Network Interface Card/Network adapter

A network interface card is a hardware component without which a computer cannot be

conducted over a network. It is a circuit board installed in a computer that provides a dedicated
network connection to the computer. It is also called a network interface controller, a network
adapter or LAN adapter.

To connect to a network, a computer uses a network interface card (NIC). A NIC controls the
wired and wireless connections of a computer to exchange information with other computers
and the Internet.

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Image showing a network interface card

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Suitability for various mobile networks

As stated before, a mobile network is a communication network where the last link is wireless.
To add to the definition, a mobile network is a communications network that is spread out over
an immense land area around the world and connected wirelessly by transceivers at fixed
locations that are know as cell sites, or base stations.

Mobile networks are not the same as wireless networks.

Mobile networks commonly are described as a physical device that can be taken anywhere. It is
composed of a battery to provide power and must have some type of mobile network
connectivity.

Wireless networks do not indicate a physical device. Wireless means having access to a wireless
network such as a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), or a 4G/3G cellular
network. These networks still require some type of physical hardware within close proximity to
have a physical connection to a power supply and a router or router node in order to
communicate.

A wireless network provides a fixed or portable endpoint to gain access to a distributed

network. A mobile network, on the other hand, provides access to the distributed networks,
through a portable device that allows you to travel anywhere, as long as there is sufficient
coverage.

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With respect to education.

Mobile connectivity provides the opportunity to offer new ways of teaching and learning that
are cost-effective and can create programmes of education that can be better personalised to
the needs and location of the individual, thereby improving performance and results.

Students would be able to utilize these communications networks to assist them in their
learning. For example, searching for information on the internet or sending their findings to
their teachers or other classmates.

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With respect to commerce (trade)

Mobile networks are already utilized in commerce. There is even a term around it. The term is
m commerce or mobile commerce. This is the use of wireless handheld devices like cell phones
and tablets to conduct commercial transactions online.

M commerce benefits both the consumer and the seller. The consumer would be able to
communicate with the seller and discuss the price of the good, whether the good is useful and
other consumer related questions.

The seller would be able to share communicate his or her product over the network. He or she
would be able to share an image or video over the network and they would be able to
communicate with interested consumers.

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With respect to Journalism

Mobile networks are being utilized in journalism. Essentially, the journalist uses portable
devices for sharing and broadcasting news as fast as possible. They usually transmit news from
the epicentre or start of events using mobile phones or laptops. The major benefits of such an
approach are portability, affordability and the ease of access.

Mobile Networks are used by journalist to provide a quicker service to the public. They utilize
mobile network to communicate with others very quickly. They usually communicate pictures,
videos or information about events.

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Images showing mobile networks and their suitability.

With respect to Journalism

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With respect to Education

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With respect to Commerce (trade)

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Web Technology Concepts

The following are all concepts related to web technology:

 Word Wide Web

 Hypertext Markup Language
 Hypertext Transfer Protocol
 Hyperlinks
 Web Server
 Web Page
 File Transfer Protocol
 Web Brower
 Uniform Resource Locator
 Upload and Download

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The World Wide Web

The World Wide Web (WWW or web) is the part of the Internet that contains websites and
webpages.

The WWW is confused with the Internet. The World Wide Web are the pages you see when you
are at your device and you are online. The Internet is the network of connected computers that
the web works on, as well as what emails and files travel across.

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Hypertext Markup Language

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the standard markup language for documents designed
to be displayed in a web browser. Also, HTML, is a standard for describing the structure and
presentation of information via the Internet

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The following images show a webpage being created using html.

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Hypertext Transfer Protocol

It is a communications protocol. It is used to send and receive webpages and files on the
internet. It can also be described as the communications protocol used to connect to Web
Servers on the Internet or on a local network (intranet).

Its primary function is to establish a connection with the server and send HTML pages back to
the user’s browser. It is abbreviated to http.

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Hyperlinks

A hyperlink is a word, phrase, or image that you can click on to jump to a new document or a
new section within the current document.

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Web Server

A web server is a computer system that hosts websites. It runs Web server software, such as
Apache or Microsoft IIS, which provides access to hosted webpages over the internet.

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Web Page

Web pages are what make up the World Wide Web. These documents are written in HTML and
are translated by your Web browser. Web pages can either be static or dynamic.

Static web pages -> They show the same content each time they are viewed.

Dynamic web pages -> Their content can change each time they are accessed.

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The following are examples of dynamic web pages:

 Weebly
 Typekit
 W3 schools
 Steam
The content on these webpages can change each time they are accessed.

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The following are examples of static web pages:

 files that have .html

 files that have .htm
The content on these webpages usually do not change.

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File Transfer Protocol

It is a protocol designed for transferring files over the Internet. It is abbreviated to FTP. Files
stored on an FTP sever can be accessed using an FTP client, FTP software or a command line
interface.

Some FTP clients are web browsers.

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Web Browser

A web browser, or simply browser, is an application used to access and view websites. Some
common web browsers include:

 Microsoft Internet Explorer

 Google Chrome
 Mozilla Firefox
 Apple Safari

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Uniform Resource Locator

This is the address of a specific webpage or file on the Internet. It is abbreviated to URL.

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Upload and Download

Upload -> It is sending a file from your computer to another system.

Download -> It is receiving a file from another computer.

The symbols for upload and download

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