ICTs: device to device communication

Introduction

This unit is from our archive and it is an adapted extract from Networked living: exploring information and communication technologies (T175) which is no longer in presentation. If you wish to study formally at The Open University, you may wish to explore the courses we offer in this curriculum area. [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]

This unit looks at communication systems where devices are the main players, passing information to and from each other and possibly acting on that information to produce some kind of outcome. In these interactions, people may not be involved at all, or may have roles that are limited only to the initial setting of schedule (such as when certain tasks should be performed) and parameters (such as particular conditions that should be satisfied before a task is performed). Some people may see this as liberating – relieving humans from the tedious tasks of everyday living. Some may see it as threatening – taking control away from humans and placing it with the computers and machines.

How do devices ‘talk’ to each other? What technologies and processes are involved? What kind of world does it create? These topics, and others, will be explored in this unit.

We then look at wired and wireless communication technologies, introducing you to some of the key methods currently in use.