Understanding Modern Telecommunications and the Information Superhighway (Artech House Telecommunications Library)

530 Pages·1999·6.22 MB·English

by  John G. Nellist

Understanding Modern
title: Telecommunications and the Information
Superhighway
author: Nellist, John G.; Gilbert, Elliot M.
publisher: Artech House, Inc.
isbn10 | asin: 0890063222
print isbn13: 9780890063224
ebook isbn13: 9781580532372
language: English
Computer networks, Information
subject
superhighway.
publication date: 1999
lcc: TK5105.5.N45 1999eb
ddc: 384
Computer networks, Information
subject:
superhighway.
Page i
Understanding Modern Telecommunications and
the Information Superhighway
Page ii
For a complete listing of the Artech House Telecommunications
Library, turn to the back of this book.
Page iii
Understanding Modern Telecommunications and
the Information Superhighway
John G. Nellist
Elliott M. Gilbert
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Nellist, John G.
Understanding modern telecommunications and the information superhighway /
John G. Nellist, Elliott M. Gilbert.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-89006-322-2 (alk. paper)
1. Computer networks. 2. Information superhighway. I. Gilbert, Elliott M. II. Title.
TK5105.5.N45 1999
384dc21 99-10793
CIP
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Nellist, John G.
Understanding modern telecommunications and the information superhighway.-
(Artech House telecommunications library)
1. Telecommunication 2. Information superhighway
I. Title II. Gilbert, Elliott M.
621.3'82
ISBN 0-89006-322-2
Cover design by Lynda Fishbourne
Design and graphics by Matthias Chan
ã 1999 ARTECH HOUSE, INC.
685 Canton Street
Norwood, MA 02062
All rights reserved. Printed and bound in the United States of America. No part of
this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage
and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be trademarks or service
marks have been appropriately capitalized. Artech House cannot attest to the
marks have been appropriately capitalized. Artech House cannot attest to the
accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as
affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark.
International Standard Book Number: 0-89006-322-2
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 99-10793
Page v
Contents
Introduction xi
1 1
From Telegraph to Terabits
In the Beginning 1
The Wire Telegraph 1
Printing Telegraphs and the Teletypewriter 3
The Telephone 5
Telephone Switching 6
Automatic Telephone Switching 7
Voice Telecommunication without Wires 8
AT&T and Western Union Separate 8
Wire Line Carrier 9
Telecommunications Regulation 10
Semiconductors Arrive 10
Advances in Switching 10
Coaxial Cables 11
Microwave Radio Arrives 12
First Transatlantic Submarine Telephone Cable 13
The Digital Transmission Era Begins 13
Satellites Relay Communications 17
Community Antenna Television (CATV) 18
Communications through Glass Fibers 19
The Breakup of Ma Bell 20
Advances in Fiber Optic Technology 20
New Network Technology 24
Telecommunications Act of 1996 25
Bibliography 28
2 29
The Computer and the Internet
A Brief History 29
Computer Miniaturization 30
Page vi
Microprocessor Size 31
Microprocessor Speed 31
From Megabytes to Gigabytes and Beyond 31
The Millennium Bug 34
The Internet 35
Cyberspace 36
Web Browsers 37
Marketing on the Internet 39
Hardware 40
Software 41
Internet Service Providers 41
Retail Services 42
Equity Trading 42
Content 43
Electronic Transactions 43
Education 45
Internet Access 47
On-Ramp Congestion 49
Conclusion 51
Bibliography 52
3 53
Who Uses the Information Superhighway?
A Brief History 53
Types of Communications Services 54
Interactive Services 55
Distribution Services 56
The Internet 57
Business and the Internet 59
Computer-Telephony Integration 60
Telecommuting 62
The Virtual Office 64
Video Applications 65
Distance Learning 65
Wired Campuses 66
The Virtual College 67
Control of Electrical Power Transmission 67
Finance 68
Electronic Banking 68
Investment Transactions 69
Telemedicine 69
Transportation 70