Tweet

What is Telecommunications?

Written by: Steven G. Atkinson

Article Overview: We use telecommunications everyday, but what do we know about it? This article defines telecommunications and gives a short history of it.

What is Telecommunications?

Telecommunications as a word has its origins in Greek. It's a combination of tele which means 'Far Off' and Communications which is an 'exchange of information'. In its simplest terms "a far off exchange of information".

Early forms of telecommunication include smoke signals and drums. Drums were used by natives in Africa, New Guinea and tropical America. Smoke signals were used by natives in America and China. One may think these were used to announce the presence of a camp. But often they were also passing along information about the camp.

Other early forms of telecommunications were signal flags and lights. More modern uses were the telegraph, telephone and even data transmissions. Even radio and TV are forms of telecommunications, television even has the same root word tele.

The basic elements of a telecommunications system are:
a.) a transmitter. This device will take the information to be communicated and produce;

b.) a signal to be transported.

c.) a transmission medium, this could be over a wire or over the air using the airwaves. The transmission medium, by its physical nature, is likely to modify or degrade the signal on its path from the transmitter to the receiver

d.) a receiver, which reverses any actions performed by the transmitter in the exact reverse order of the transmitter. The receiver can be designed to tolerate a significant degree of signal degradation.

Telecommunication can be point-to-point, from one transmitter to one receiver or point-to-multipoint which is also known as broadcasting.

Developments in telecommunications:

Signal lights - Ancient times
Telegraph - 1835
Bell’s Telephone - 1876
Telephone Switchboard - 1878
Telephone Switching – 1891
Rotary Dial - 1896
Touchtone - 1963
Nortel SL1 - 1970's


© 2006-2007 Steven G. Atkinson – All Rights Reserved

Related Articles
  Christian Doppler's Contributions to Telecommunications
  Alan Blumlein & His Contributions to Communications
  Women Business Owners Continue to Thrive
  Alessandro Volta and The Voltaic Cell
  The Telecommunications Tycoon: Terry Matthews Takes Off

Article Tags: exchange of information, smoke signals, telecommunication, telecommunications system, transmitter



Related Forum Posts
Re: Job market slump is a guy thing - Kevin, I've noticed the same thing. In fact, my own corporate experience started in reception. That's how I ended up managing reception in addition to my primary position as Telecommunications Administrator for over 700 locations. I was offered many incredible opportunities that wouldn't even have been an option if I hadn't started the way I did. Case in point!


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Good News Travels Fast

TRADE SHOW FOLLOW-UP: HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.