COMUNICATION

Introduction: As young children, we quickly learn thousands of words so that we can say what we mean. We practice writing them down with simple tools such as chalk and pencils, and we draw pictures to help to get our messages understood. We learn communicate. Getting in Touch: Humans communicate with one another in many different ways. Making gestures, or body movements, and talking were the first method that people used, and are still the simplest. But inventions such as writing, printing, postal services and telephones have introduced new ways for people to get in touch. Today, they can even send e-mails, or electronic messages, through their computers, just by touching a key.
Amazing fact- 200 years ago, it took about 2 months to send a letter from northern Europe to India. It is now possible to send a fax or e-mail in seconds.

Routing a Call: Every time a telephone number is dialed, signals pass to a local exchange. This routes, or sends, the call to its destination. Thousands of telephones are connected to an exchange, and all exchanges are linked together to form a worldwide network. Most parts of this network are linked by cables, but some are linked by radio waves. Longdistance calls are even bounced off satellites.
Amazing fact- The automatic telephone exchange was invented in 1891 by Almon B. Strowger, a funeral director, after he discovered that the local operator was putting his work calls through to a rival firm.

Satellites: Satellites are spacecraft that orbit or circle around, the Earth. Some travel around it quickly. Others travel at the same speed as the planet, so always stay above the same place. Communications satellites relay, or send television and telephone signals across the world. Other satellites take photographs so that scientists can look into space, find out about the Earth, or forecast the weather.
Amazing fact- The fastest satellites can travel right around the Earth in as little as 90 minutes.

 Using Computers: Computers were first designed to do difficult math, but now they can perform all kinds of tasks. Computers need instructions in the form of software, or programs, before they will work. They also need to be given data, or pieces of information, to work with. These may be letters, pictures, or signals. All computers can take in data, store them, and send out their results. Amazing fact- In less than 20 years, between 1981 and 1999, the average personal
computer became an incredible 2,000 times more powerful.

Computers in Communication: Large companies use networks of linked computers to help run their businesses. Computers in travel agents, for example, are linked to the central computers of big airlines. In this way, they keep track of flight seats available.