What is Communication? Defining Digital Communication and types of communication

Guru

Introduction

In the vast tapestry of communication, where ideas, information, and emotions intertwine, digital communication stands as a transformative force. This method of conveying messages, born from the marriage of technology and data, has become the cornerstone of our interconnected world. In this exploration, we dissect the essence of digital communication, understanding its principles, modes, and the profound impact it has on how we connect and share.
A significant point about communication is that it involves a sender (transmitter) and a receiver. Only a receiver can complete the process of communication. Therefore dual process of “transmitting and receiving” or “coding and decoding” an information can be called as communication; thus,this is a two way process.

Defining Digital Communication

At its core, digital communication involves the transmission of information in a digital format, where data is represented as discrete elements. These discrete elements are typically bits, the fundamental units of digital information, which can take on values of 0 or 1. Unlike analog communication, which uses continuous signals, digital communication relies on the precision of these discrete values to convey information.

COMMUNICATION

As a general concept, we can say that transfer of information from one place to another is communication.Some importants points regarding communication are given below.
  • Communication is the science and practice of transmitting information.
  • Communication Engineering deals with the techniques of transmitting information.
  • In brief, Communication Engineering means Electrical Communication, in which information is transmitted through electrical signals.
  • Electrical Communication is a process by which the information/message is transmitted from one point to another, from one person to another, or from one place to another in the form of electrical signals, through some communication link.
The important elements of a communication system are:
  1. Message or information
  2. Sender, transmitter or coder
  3. Receiver or decoder
  4. Code
  5. Channel (transmission path)

METHODS OF COMMUNICATION

The communication may be:

1.Oral Communication: In this type of communication, the message is sent or transmitted from the sender to the receiver through spoken words e.g., direct talk or through telephone. The communication through hints or face expression also come under this category.
2.Written Communication: When the message is sent to the receiver in writing, it is called written communication, e.g., communication through letter, FAX etc.

Principles of Digital Communication

1. Digitalization:

The process of converting analog signals, such as voice or images, into digital form is known as digitalization. This conversion allows for more efficient storage, processing, and transmission of information.

2. Encoding:

In digital communication, information is encoded into a binary format, where each piece of data is represented by a sequence of 0s and 1s. Different encoding schemes exist, such as ASCII for text characters and JPEG for images.

3. Modulation:

Modulation is a key aspect of digital communication, involving the modification of carrier signals to transmit digital data. Techniques like Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK), Frequency Shift Keying (FSK), and Phase Shift Keying (PSK) are common in digital modulation.

4. Error Detection and Correction:

Digital communication systems often incorporate error detection and correction mechanisms to ensure the accuracy of transmitted data. Techniques like checksums and forward error correction (FEC) codes enhance reliability.

PROCESS OF COMMUNICATION

The process of communication involves the following steps:
1.Encoding the message: The encoder for transmission encodes the message into suitable words, symbols etc.
2.Transmission: After developing the message into suitable code, it may be transmitted through a proper channel.
3.Reception: The information is received on the other side by the receiver.
4.Decoding: The coded message is decoded into the original form, so that it is easily understood by the person on the receiver side.

5.Use: The final stage of the communication process is to use the
information for the purpose, it has been transmitted.

BRIEF HISTORY OF COMMUNICATION

In earlier days pigeons were used to send message (Information, signal) from one place to another. For this, pigeons were trained so that they could travel hundreds of miles to reach the destination.The message was tied round their Fig. 1 neck or fastened in the beak and was flown towards the destination. See Fig. 1.
Figure 1
Men were also engaged for this job. They were known as Harkara, they were collecting dak from one place and carried to the destination. Later on, they were provided with horses to speed up the work.
 
In 1830, letter boxes were installed in Britain and as India was under British rule, many such red painted letter boxes were installed in the localities in India, where the English people resided.
 
We’ve had postal services of some kind or the other since times beyond memory. Every ruler employed dak runners to carry information to and fro from the outposts of his kingdom to the palace. It was during British rule that postal services were linked to the police.A regular police force was set up in 1832; and the first Indian postage stamp was issued in 1840. To start with, post offices were located in the same buildings as police stations.Then postal services outstripped the police and had to have large buildings like General Post Offices to handle mail, telegrams, money orders, fixed deposits, etc.Now postal services are on the decline. People use telephones, courier services,e-mail and fax. In near future, post offices may become a relic of the past.

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

The function of an electronic communication system is to convey or send a message from one place to another using electronic equipment. The message may be an information or a signal. The information or a signal is obtained from a source, and through an electronic network it is sent to the receiver.Various communication systems are employed to transmit A.V. (audio-video) signals of telephone, radio, T.V., radar, etc.

STRUCTURE OF AN ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION
SYSTEM

A communication system consists of following parts.
1.Information Source
2.Transmitter
3.Receiver

  • The information source: The information source is the source which generates or produces information or signal.
  • Transmitter: Transmitter is the device which transmits the generated information or signal. It has the following components:

1.Coding:The transformation of the signal into a suitable form in which it can be transmitted.
2.Modulation:To superimpose the signal on an H.F. carrier, so that the signal can travel long distances.

  • Receiver: It receives the information, e.g., radio receiver, T. V. receiver,telephone receiver, etc. It consists of:

1.Decoding: It is the reverse of coding, e.g., to regain the original form of the signal.
2.Demodulation: It is the reverse of modulation, i.e., to separate the original signal from the carrier.

Modern Communication System Scheme

  • A basic communication system provides a link between the information source and its destination.
  • The process of electrical communication involves sending,receiving, and processing information in electrical form.
  • The information to be transmitted passes through a number of stages of the communication system before it reaches its destination.
  • Fig. 2 shows a block schematic diagram of the most general form of basic communication system.
Figure 2
  • The main constituents of basic communication system are:

1.Information source and input transducer
2.Transmitter
3.Channel or medium
4.Noise
5.Receiver
6.Output transducer and final destination

Information Source and Input Transducer

  • A communication system transmits information from an information source to a destination.
  • Hence the first stage of a communication system is the information source.
  • A communication system transmits information in the form of electrical signals.
  • If the information produced by the source is not in an electrical form, one will have to use a transducer to convert the information into electrical form.
  • A transducer is a device that converts a non-electrical energy into its corresponding electrical energy called signal and vice versa.
  • An example of a transducer is a microphone.Microphone converts sound signals into the corresponding electrical signals.
  • Similarly, a television (TV) picture tube converts electrical signals into its corresponding pictures.
  • Some other examples of transducers are movie cameras, Video Cassette Recorder (VCR) heads, tape recorder heads, and loudspeakers.
  • The information produced by the information source is applied to the next stage, termed the information or input transducer.
  • This in turn, produces an electrical signal corresponding to the information as output. 
  • This electrical signal is called the baseband signal.It is also called a message signal, an information signal, an intelligent signal,or an envelope.
  • In the communication theory, the baseband signal is usually designated by 𝑠(𝑡).

There are two types of signals:

1.Analog signal
2.Digital signal

1.Analog signal

  • An analog signal is a function of time,and has a continuous range of values.
  • However, there is a definite function value of the analog signal at each point of time.
  • Examples: a pure sine wave form, a voice signal.

 

2.Digital signal

  • A digital signal does not have continuous function values on a time scale.
  • It is discrete in nature, i.e., it has some values at discrete timings.
  • In between two consecutive values, the signal values is either zero, or different value.
  • Example: the sound signal produced by drumbeats.
  • Digital signals correspond to a binary digital signal, where the discrete amplitude of the signal is coded into binary digits represented by ‘0' and '1’.
  • The analog signal is converted to digital using Analog to Digital Converters (ADC).
  • ADC involves Sampling and Quantization.
  • Sampling – converts analog time to discrete time
  • Quantization – converts analog amplitude to discrete amplitude

Modes of Digital Communication

1. Point-to-Point Communication

Point-to point model involves passing of information from one entity to another. All this may involve anything from simple acts such as mailing determined writing to extremely intricate communication between devices in a network.
 

2. Broadcast Communication

A means of broadcasting is the transmission between a sender to several reception units. The classical examples include television and radio broadcasting while the modern digital includes streaming or online contented delivery.
 

3. Multipoint Communication

Multipoint communication facilitates concurrent interaction of multiple entities. Multipoint communication is observable in the form of video conferencing, online meetings and collaborative platforms on digital landscape.

Digital Communication Technologies

1. Internet Communication

The internet – the global system of interconnected computers, is a huge reservoir of digital communication. Major instruments of Internet communication include transatlantic mail email, instant messaging social media and video conferencing.
 

2. Mobile Communication

The range of Mobile Communication is huge as communication over mobile just does not refer only to voice calls but it covers all the functionality like texting, mobile internet and also app based communications. Connectivity is about advancement on the mobile technologies like 4G and latest one of all that his even came into much usage today only after in continues other generations still are not fully implemented yet connectivity.
 

3. Wireless Communication

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth under the category of wireless technology allow devices to communicate without cables. These technologies, thus critical in the age of devices interconnected smartly.

Digital Communication – Its Effect

1. Global Connectivity

Geographical obstacles were wiped away by digital communication. The web has also turned out to be an inexhaustible digital marketplace of thoughts and data.
 

2. Efficiency and Accessibility

The fast paced nature of digital communication makes it efficient. Data is, indeed, just an eye-click away allowing us to work even in real time – collaboration facilities are available everywhere accessible through various optic networks and the web.
 

3. Transformation of Industries

Digitized communication has transformed industries from the medical field to education. The examples of the industries which underwent such transformation include telemedicine, online education as well as e-commerce.

Challenges and Considerations

1. Security and Privacy

The online world offers us serious concerns of information security and privacy. Secure information and privacy of users are the optical issues in regard to cyber security.

2. Digital Divide

Even though digital communication is embraced and enjoyed everywhere, a gap between those who have technology as well the ability to be connected online exists. Closing this gap is necessary to achieve equal opportunities and participation in the digital age.

Conclusion

Digital communication is the lifeblood of our connected globe, throbbing with information signaling in (a)/the language of digits. While we move through the virtual world- from Internet to our palms, with mobile devices-, digital communication language is constantly changing and has changed how people interact communicate, work together as a society in this digital era.
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