Unit VIII : Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Chapter 4 : Traditional media, Networking and Memory devices
- Generally, the medium used for communication is confined to print, television, radio, photography, internet etc. But there are many other ways of communication which exist around us for a long time.
- In villages where the modern form of communication is still far away, people use have developed different ways of communication depending upon local language and culture.
- This non-electronic medium which works as part of our culture and as vehicles of transmitting tradition from one generation to another generation is called traditional media.
How did traditional means of communications develop?
- These form of communication developed from beliefs, customs and rituals practised by the people from a long period of time.
- These form of communication are very old and deep-rooted.
- It employs vocal, verbal, musical and visual folk art forms, transmitted to a society or group of societies from one generation to another.
Different forms of traditional media
The traditional form of communication may not be popular but these form of communication does the purpose of communication in family, friends and in the society. These are:
- Traditional dance
- Drama
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Song
- Music
- Motifs and symbols.
Nagada- In the village, one must have seen this form of communication where the announcement is made by beating a drum with a stick. This is called as Nagada.
Puppetry- In rural areas puppetry is the popular form of communication. Shadow puppetry and string puppetry are the most famous form of puppetry.
Patachitra Katha- These are the stories that have been told through the medium of palm leaf paintings.
Storytelling- We all know this form of communication. This form of communication existed before even before the writing begins. Example: Historical stories of freedom struggle which are unknown in textbooks and are not documented are communicated orally from one generation to another. They kept the stories alive.
Nautanki- It is folk art and includes a mixture of music and dance. This is most popular in northern India. it was even the most popular form of entertainment before the cinema begins.
Fairs and festivals- People gathered at a place in fairs and festivals where they exchanged views amongst themselves.
Folk dances- These vary from one region to another. For example, you will find a variety of tribal dances in the north-eastern region, Orissa and Gujarat. Every tribe has a different dance form and dress, accessories, symbols and motifs.
Paintings- Traditional paintings, wall paintings, inscriptions, statues and stupas played a vital role in communicating ideas and culture from one generation to another.
Differences between Traditional Media and New Media
Traditional media | New media |
1. Non-technical in nature. | 1. Technical in nature. |
2. It is less expensive. | 2. It is expensive because it needs investment. |
3. Its reach is limited | 3. It reaches a larger number of people. |
4. Communication takes place directly in from of a live audience. | 4. Message is broadcasted. It could be live or recorded. |
5. It is culturally rigid. | 5. It is flexible |
Networking is basically the connection inside the computer or computer ports. Lets, see the different type of networking technology used for ICT.
Wi-Fi: It is a technology for radio wireless local area networking of devices based on the IEEE (802.11) standards. Devices that can use Wi-Fi technologies include desktops and laptops, video game consoles, smartphones and tablets, smart TVs, digital audio players, cars and modern printers. Wi-Fi compatible devices can connect to the Internet via a WLAN and a wireless access point.
Li-Fi: It is a technology for wireless communication between devices using light to transmit data and position. In its present state only LED lamps can be used for the transmission of visible light.
- Li-Fi is a bi-directional, high-speed and fully networked wireless communication technology similar to Wi-Fi.
- Developed over blue, green or red waves.
- Not only LAN but also in MAN/WAN
- Long-distance wireless connectivity.
- MAN – Metropolitan area network
- Copper wire-based – existing telephone lines
- Optical fibre-based
Optical Fibers:
- Long tubes of glass, inner surfaces can be polished.
- Light waves used in signal transmission.
- Light falls at a critical angle – Total internal reflections.
- Signal augmentation can be done.
Networking of National Optical fibre network (NOFN)
- Connectivity by Optical fibres Digital India
- It is the flagship scheme of Govt. of India conceptualize in 2014, initiated in 2015.
- It is headed over by the PM of India and the nodal ministry in Ministry of Information Broadcasting and Telecommunication.
- The target of the programme is to create an optical fibre-based network upto the Gram Panchayat level to avail broadband internet services at the rural levels.
DiGi- locker
- It is a 20MB virtual space provided by GOI to every citizen to store documents related to the identity of Government. Service transactions in soft copies.
- It will be protected by an authenticated number which also helps in the rapid sharing of the information to avail government services.
Wimax (Wireless micro-based connectivity)
- It is a pattern through which metropolitan area network can be created with a range of 20 km maximum linear distance.
- It helps in the creation of MAN as well as WAN so-termed as worldwide interoperability for microwave access.
- Wimax work over radio waves and microwaves in a range of 2 to 6 GHz and near microwaves at 7 to 8.1 GHz.
- It helps in connection across mobile tower or dedicated transmission hubs, which can connect infinite devices at a time. Maximum level distance achievable is 20 km a range of 40 km diameter. It helps in a relay of wireless broadband internet.
Private network
- EPN (Enterprise Pvt . Network): It is an exclusive network created by any enterprise or private organization. This network is created outside the domains of interval and the enterprise holds the exclusive rights of the data stored over EPN. The stored information can be shared partially at exclusive open points which are also under the control of an enterprise. There are multiple restrictions or authorizations, which are created for identification or data sharing at any point.
- VPN (Virtual Pvt. Network) : (Core banking) Virtual private network act as a wide area network in which the enterprise which lay down the network has the exclusivity over the network as well as the data available over the network. In this network, the remote user can also be included through the layers of internets connectivity in an authorized sharing of the data. In this network, the remote user also has the authorization to access as well as to modify the data but exclusivity pertinacity to the user only. In this way, the enterprise has exclusive right over the data but a remote user can also use a part of that data
- Value-added Network (Courier Services): It is a type of EPN or a WAN which is developed by more than one enterprise for sharing the data but is maintained by any 3rdpact. This type of network is seen in courier services.
Internet: It acts as a network of the network. The first developed was ARPANET in 1983 which was used for strategic purposes by US dept. of defence. The pattern is now evolved into a common network over a network hub, which is www, which eventually is developed by IETF.
IETF: Internet engineering task force. It is a non-government non-profit organization which is developed by an association of computer scientist, organization institutes and private bodies. It helps in defining and developing the required for global network, behaviour pattern and functioning of the internet. It also helps to co-ordinate amongst various organization internet agencies, the national group, institutes, and government. It controls the type of content and data as well as the pattern of a network across the internet.
Web page: It is a pattern through which data is related across internet reader. It is developed using the hypertext transfer protocol. The major languages that can be used are HTML (Hypertext mark-up languages). It can be relayed over special software or web browsers. Commonly used web browsers. e.g. MSIE (Microsoft internet explorer), Opera, Safari, Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, PNAS – Scientific browser.
What is Memory?
We will understand the concept of memory first before going for further details. Computer memory is a physical device, where we can store the information temporarily or permanently, namely- RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read-Only Memory), CD, DVD, HDD, and Flash Memory. Operating systems, software use it, and hardware also utilizes to integrate the circuits.
There are two types of memory- Primary Memory and Secondary Memory. In the following table, you can see the difference in both the memory devices:
Primary Memory | |
RAM | Static RAM |
Dynamic RAM | |
ROM | PROM |
EPROM | |
EEPROM | |
Secondary Memory | |
Magnetic Storage | Floppy Disk |
Hard Disk | |
Optical Storage | CD (Compact Disk) |
DVD (Digital Video/Versatile Disk) | |
BD (Blue-Ray Disk) | |
Solid-State Memory | Pendrive |
Primary Memory
It is the memory that is accessed by the CPU (Central Processing Unit) straightforwardly. It permits a processor to get to running execution applications and administrations that are incidentally put away in a particular memory area. Primary memory is also known as primary storage or main memory. It is Volatile, and the storage capacity is limited in Primar Memory.
Secondary Memory
Secondary memory is termed as external memory and refers to the multiple storage media on which a PC can store information and projects. It can be fixed or removable. Hard Disk comes under the Fixed Storage Media, which is an Internal Storage Medium and set inside the PC. It is versatile and can take outside the computer.
Central Processing Unit (CPU) will not obtain the instant result to the Secondary Memory. Alternatively, before sending it to the Processing Unit, the accessed data will be loaded first into the RAM (Random Access Memory).
Secondary Storage Media
Here, we are providing complete detail information, which comes under the Secondary Storage Media.
Magnetic Storage Media
The devices that come under the magnetic storage media are- Hard Disks, Floppy Disks, and Magnetic Tapes. There are the devices that are coated with the magnetic layer, magnetized in anti-clockwise, and clockwise directions. The head reads the information stored at a particular area in binary 1s and 0s at reading while disks move or rotate.
- Floppy Disk- It is flexibly coated by the magnet, which is packaged inside the protective plastic envelope. It is the oldest device with a memory of 1.44 MB now, and there is no use of the Floppy Disk because of the less memory.
- Hard Disk- It is consists of more than one circular device coated with magnetic material, which is known as Platters. The inner surfaced of the Disk can store the data except for the bottom and the top. The data will record by rotating magnetic reads/ write heads of the disks.
Components of the Hard Disk
- There are several disk Platters mostly in the basic types of Hard Disk, which placed around the spindle in a sealed chamber. The chamber has the motors, and reads/writes head.
- Data will store in each Disk of concentric circles called Tracks
- The tracks divided into further circles.
- The internal hard drives are not very much portable comparatively from the external one.
- Data in the harddisk can store up to numerous terabytes.
Optical Storage Media
CD and DVDs come under the Optical Storage Media, which stored as a spiral pattern of pits and ridges signifying binary 0 and 1. These are not magnet coated devices like a floppy disk and hard disk. In these devices, the information is stored and read using a laser beam.
- Compact Disk (CD)- The Compact Device (CD) which uses optical rays, lasers, to read and write data. It is a circular disk. It is a portable device as we can eject the drive and remove it from the PC and carry it with us. The difference in the type of CDs mentioned below-
CD-ROM | CD-R | CD-RW |
Expanded Form of CD-ROM is Compact Disk- Read-Only Memory. | CD-R stands for Compact Disk- Recordable. | Full-Form of CD-RW is Compact Disk- Rewritable. |
In this Disk, once the data are written in the disk, it cannot be changed. | In this Disk, the data can be recorded only once. | It can be write and read multiple times. |
These are usually used for text, audio, and video for games, encyclopedia, and application software. | Once the data can be written or recorded, it cannot be erased or modified. | To edit the CD-R, it must be installed on the computer. |
- Digital Video/Versatile Disk (DVD)- The formation of the DVD is circular like the Compact Device and has similar technology. It is a significant progression in portable storage technology. In DVD, we can hold 4.7 GB to 17 GB of data, which is 15 times more from the storage of CD. Usually, it is used to store rich multimedia portfolios that need high storage capacity. DVDs also come in three categories- read-only, recordable and rewritable.
- Blue Ray Disk (BD)- It is used to store the High Definition (HD) videos or other multimedia files. The laser wavelength is shorter than the CD/DVD as a comparison. Blue Ray Disk can store up to 128 GB data max, 27 GB data on a single layer disk, and 54 GB and more data on a dual-layer disc.
Solid-State Memory
It will be work based on the electronic circuits, not like the other devices like- a reel of tape, magnet coating, or spinning disks, etc. The Solid-State Storages devices use a special kind of memory to store data called Flash Memory. Examples of Flash Memory Devices are- Digital Cameras, Pen Drives, or USB Flash Drives.
Pen Drives-
Pendrives are also known as Thumb Drives or Flash Drives, which are added as an emerged portable storage media recently. The memory in the Pendrive is accompanied by the USB connector, which enables it to connect with any device which has the USB portal. It has a capacity greater than the CD but smaller than the Hard Disk.
Advantages of Family
- Transfer File- When the Pendrive will connect to any of the USB ports either in the computer or any other device, we can use it to transfer the files, pictures, documents, videos. Also, the selected data can be transferred between any workstation and a Pendrive.
- Portability- Pendrive is lightweight and portable to carry, which makes data transportation easier and more convenient.
- Backup Storage- Nowadays, there is the feature of having password encryption, important information related to family, medical reports, pictures, videos, etc. can be stored as a backup.
- Data Transportation- The advantage of transferring the data is more useful for the Professionals/Students by easily transporting large files, documents, video/audio lectures, etc. on a Pendrive and gaining access to them from anywhere. The technicians who have independent PC’s can store their work-related useful tools, various programs, and files on a high speed 64 GB pen drive. The data can quickly move from one site to another with all their valuable accommodations in a small device.
1. Memory: Computer memory is the storage space in the computer where data is to be processed and instructions required for processing are stored. The memory is divided into a large number of small parts called cells. Each location or cell has a unique address which varies from zero to memory size minus one.
(a). Memory is primarily of two types:
- Primary Memory/Main Memory: Primary memory holds only those data and instructions on which computer is currently working. It has limited capacity and data is lost when power is switched off.
- Secondary Memory: This type of memory is also known as external memory or non-volatile. It is slower than main memory. These are used for storing data/Information permanently.
(b). Primary memory consists of mainly two types of memories:
- Random Access Memory (RAM): RAM is the internal memory of the CPU for storing data, program and program result. It is read/write memory which stores data until the machine is working. As soon as the machine is switched off, data is erased.
- RAM is volatile,e. data stored in it is lost when we switch off the computer or if there is a power failure. Hence a backup uninterruptible power system (UPS) is often used with computers. RAM is small, both in terms of its physical size and in the amount of data it can hold.
(c). There are mainly three types of RAM available:
- Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM): A type of physical memory used in most personal computers. The term dynamic indicates that the memory must be constantly refreshed2 (reenergized) or it loses its contents. This type of memory is more economical.
- Static Random Access Memory (SRAM): A type of memory that is faster and less volatile than DRAM, but requires more power and is more expensive. The term static is derived from the fact that it does not need to be refreshed like DRAM.
- Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM): A type of DRAM that can run at much higher clock speeds.
(d). Read Only Memory (ROM): The memory from which we can only read but can not write on it. This type of memory is non-volatile. The information is stored permanently in such memories during manufacture. A ROM, stores such instructions that are required to start a computer. This operation is referred to as bootstrap.
There are mainly four types of ROM available:
- MROM (Masked ROM): The very first ROMs were hard-wired devices that contained a pre-programmed set of data or instructions. These kinds of ROMs are known as masked ROMs which are inexpensive.
- PROM (Programmable Read-only Memory): PROM is read-only memory that can be modified only once by a user. The user buys a blank PROM and enters the desired contents using a PROM program
- EPROM (Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory): The EPROM can be erased by exposing it to ultra-violet light for a duration of up to 40 minutes. Usually, an EPROM eraser achieves this function.
- EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory): The EEPROM is programmed and erased electrically. It can be erased and reprogrammed about ten thousand times. Both erasing and programming take about 4 to 10 ms (millisecond).
(e). Cache Memory: It is a very high-speed semiconductor memory which can speed up CPU. It acts as a buffer between the CPU and main memory.
(f). Secondary Memory: This type of memory is also known as external memory. It is slower than main memory and non-volatile. These are used for storing data/Information permanently. Contents of secondary memories are first transferred to the main memory, and the CPU can access it. For example disk, CD-ROM, DVD etc.
