Information System

1. Information systems are many and varied and depend on the transfer
of energy from place to place.

Outline the basic pattern of the information transfer process as

-Code common to both parties. Pictures, words and music are examples of
codes. The sender deliberately uses agreed conventions or codes, which
must be learned, to construct a message.
- Message. A message to be transferred electronically may have to be coded
again, so that it can alter the carrier current or wave in a systematic and
consistent way. By international agreement, the two ways of doing that are by
either analog or digital means. Nowadays, digital methods are preferred to
analog because they are more reliable.
- Transmission of coded message. Once the carrier current or wave has been
coded, it is sent to the required destination. Modern communication systems
use either (or both) an electric current or electromagnetic waves to carry
messages.
- Decoder. Two steps are now involved in extracting the message. The first
detects and separates the code from the carrier current or wave. The second
involves converting that code into a form that the receivers senses can detect
and interpret to make meaning. Once the message has been decoded and
understood, communication has taken place.

Identify a range of information systems used daily.

Sound, body language, scent/smell, touch, taste, telephone, mobile phone,

television, VCR, fax, e-mail, compact disc, internet.

Classify information systems as

System Verbal/nonverbal Short distance/long Electronic/non

distance electronic

Body language Non-verbal Short distance Non-electronic

Telephone Verbal Short/long distance Electronic

E-mail Non-verbal Long distance Electronic

Television Verbal Short/long distance Electronic

Recall phenomena and events where different forms of energy are
used.

- Energy is involved when a change to the physical or chemical state of a

material object occurs. Many phenomena are energy carriers (because they
have the capacity to cause changes when they encounter other objects).
When we are interested in their capacity to make a change, we describe the
phenomena as a form of energy. Energy exists in many different forms, e.g.
electromagnetic radiation, sound, thermal, electrical and potential.
- Electricity is a phenomenon related to the movement of electrically charged
particles (electrons or ions). An electric current is the movement of electrons
through materials and, because of their nature and their movement, they are
energy carriers. Batteries convert chemical (potential)energy to electrical
energy in many communication devices.
- Electromagnetism is used to produce motion from electric currents.
Electromagnetism is used to make sound from earpieces, electric bells and
loudspeakers.
- Semiconductors are materials whose resistivity is between that of a
conductor and an insulator. These devices are widely used in electronic
circuits found in many communication devices. Controlling excess thermal
energy is important to ensure the proper functioning of circuits containing
semi-conductor devices, such as LSI chips.
- Cathode rays (a continuous stream of electrons) have a number of
applications from the production of X-rays to the creation of images in cathode
ray tubes (CRTs) that are critical components of many television sets and
computer monitors.

Identify the transformation of energy at each stage of information

transfer in the following devices:

- Land connected telephones

KInetic energy electricalKinetic Energy
- Mobile phone
Soundelectricalradiowaveselectricalradiowaveelectricalsound
- Television
Light/soundelectricalradio waveselectricalligh/sound
- Radio
Soundelectricalradiowaveselectricalsound
- Compact disc
Rotation of disc= electricalkinetic
Censoring System= Lightelectricalsound

Discuss the advantages of using a range of information systems

Some systems lend themselves better to specific applications. For example,

the coding systems used in FM radio are not destroyed by natural
phenomena, such as electrical storms, during transmission. AM radio can be
transmitted over greater distances than FM radio but the signals may be
interfered with by electrical storms and other nearby communication
equipment. Access to a choice of systems is inherently more reliable. For
example, international telephone calls can go via cable or satellite. If one fails,
the other can take over. If you are an advertiser, the choice of radio, TV, print
or Internet means that your message is more likely to be received and
appropriately interpreted by the receiver.

Pracs

gather and process first hand and secondary information on the basic
pattern of the information transfer process in the following system:
- land connected telephones
- mobile phones
- television
- radios
 - compact disc players
To outline features that the systems have in common and use available
evidence to discuss the applications of these system
All the above systems have a basic pattern of
code message transmission decoder

gather and process information from secondary sources to develop a

timeline of communication systems introduced to society and use the
available evidence to analyse the impact these systems have had on
society and predict possible future directions in communication
technologies
900BC- a postal service is used in China
1597- the first newspaper is printed in Europe
1755- Samual Johnson dictionary standardized spelling English language
1793- claude chappe invented first long distance semaphone
1809- electrical telegraph
1830- first viable design for digital computer
1835- samuel morse invented morse code
1837- invention of electrical telegraph system in US and Britain
1861- Alexander Graham Bell invented telephone
1885- automobile
1888- electromagnetic waves
1895- wireless telegraph
1920s- first Australian broadcast
1946- mobile phone services in US
1957- sputnik, the first satellite is launched by USSR
1960- first earth communication satellite
1965- Silicon chip invented
1969- ARPANET went online and the linked the first two computers
1971- E-mail
1977- introduce first personal computer with keyboard and CRT display
1979- optical fibre, mobile phone in Sweden
1992- World Wide Web
2000- convergence of telephony, audiovisual technologies and computing
2003- digital only broadcast, Australia
The invention of the digital computer system in 1830 makes it possible to
access information and communication from nearly anywhere we happen
to be. The radio can communicate information to a large, sometimes
global, audience. Optical fibres carry much more information then
electrical wires, this is how we watch pay tv. The television helps us
communicate through programmes such as news, shows like a current
afair and commercials.

2. Electromagnetic radiation can be modulated to carry different types of

information.

Identify the types of waves in the electromagnetic spectrum currently

used for communication systems as

- Visible Light, optical fibres.

- Infra-red, used as a laser beam and in thermal imaging.
- Microwaves, for satellite communication and radar.
- Radio waves (tv, FM and AM radio waves), uses AM for the picture and FM
for the sound.

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of using microwaves and

radio waves in communication technologies

Type of wave advantage disadvantage

Microwave - pass through Ionosphere - absorbed very easily by other

suit for satellite transmission objects eg. Rain, concrete
can be modified to carry many can be absorbed by living tissue
signals special aerial needed

Radio - some are reflected off the - high energy loss

ionosphere
can travel around the earth
carry message instantaneously
aerials are simpler than those
required for microwaves
receiver must be tuned in correctly
range of frequencies that can be
accessed by existing technology is
limited

both - wires are not required - travel is a straight line, can be

broadcast to a huge audience reflected
Identify communication technologies that use energies from the
electromagnetic spectrum for communication purposes.

Comm. technology Description Part of the EMR used

Optical fibre Total internal reflection is the principle Visible light

behind optical fibres. Very small glass and
plastic fibres are used to transmit light.

Remote control Remote controls for a variety of electrical Infra-red

communication devices, such as TV, video, garage doors
and infra-red computer systems

Satellite technology This technology mostly makes use of Microwaves

frequencies in the super high frequency
(SHF) range and the extra high frequency
(EHF) range.

Mobile phone Its based on cell sites. Needs a transmitting Microwaves

network and receiving tower
Shortwave radio;
TV broadcasting TV stations transmit in the very high frequencies ranging
frequency (VHF) range and the ultra high from 1 Ghz 150 Mhz.
frequency (UHF) range.
Radio is used for a broad range of
Radio technologies including AM and FM Shortwave and
broadcasting and amateur radio. longwave radio;
frequencies ranging
from 10 Mhz 1 Mhz.

Pracs

perform a first hand investigation observe ways in which waves can be

modulated to carry different types of information
Wave audio Visual
Carrier 25htz Regular constant
AM 25htz Not regular, loud and soft
amp increase and decrease
FM Alien sound higher frequency
change

3. Electromagnetic waves have different properties which are utilised in a

range of communication systems through air and space.

Identify that where information systems cannot be physically linked the

information may be transmitted in wave form through the atmosphere
or space

Many information systems rely on physical links, such as cables and optic
fibres. In some instances, such links may not be physically possible, say for
geographic reasons, or may not be economically viable. Communication can
still be achieved by using electromagnetic waves, which carry the information
to be transmitted in the form of a code. A transmitting antenna produces
waves that travel through air or space at great speed and over a range of
distances. This may be several metres or many thousands of kilometres. A
receiving antenna tuned to particular frequencies will detect the signal and
relay this to the receiving communication device.

Identify the properties of energy from the electromagnetic spectrum

that make it useful in communication technologies including its:

- Speed of travel, Electromagnetic waves transmit energy from one place to

another at the speed of 300 million metres per second. The very high speed
of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) means that the time between sending,
receiving and decoding a signal is almost instantaneous for Earth-based
systems.
- Ability to travel in a straight line, Electromagnetic waves travel in a straight
line unless there is a change in the medium through which they are travelling.
This makes using them predictable.
- Ability to be reflected, Reflection is the change in direction of a wave due to
its bouncing off a boundary between two media. This effect is used by
shortwave AM radio frequencies. Signals are deliberately bounced off the
ionosphere. Scattering occurs when shorter wavelengths strike an object and
are reflected in many directions, e.g. microwaves can be scattered by rain.
Scattering weakens the signal.

Describe the individual properties of visible light, radio waves (AM, FM,
TV waves) and microwaves and relate these to their use in
communication systems.

Type of EMR Use in communication system

Visible light The frequencies of light are the highest available for practical
communication systems. Light has the highest information carrying capacity
 of all the communication systems currently in use. Light can be refracted
and reflected to achieve total internal reflection. Optical fibres are used to
transmit light pulses generated by an electrical signal. The use of the fibre
ensures privacy and an energy efficient way of sending information.
Microwaves Microwaves are easily absorbed and scattered by particles in the
atmosphere. Thus they need directional aerials for transmission and
reception to ensure sufficient signal strength.
Special equipment is needed to generate microwaves.
T.V. Signals have to be able to carry both sound and visual information and so a
wider bandwidth is required for each TV station than for the radio stations.
For best reception, external aerials are designed precisely to match the
wavelengths used by the TV stations. They also need to be orientated
carefully to receive the signal at the optimum angle.
F.M. Radio The audio signal changes the frequency of the carrier wave producing an
FM signal. FM waves are affected less by electrical interference and
produce a higher quality transmission of sound.
A.M. Radio Easy to do with existing technology. Historically, practical considerations
were important. The size of components for transmitters and receivers
dictated the wavelengths that were selected for use. This part of the
electromagnetic spectrum is not greatly affected by the atmosphere (i.e. not
absorbed or scattered).

Pracs

plan, choose equipment or resources for, and perform a first hand
investigation to compare the quality of reception of AM and FM radio
waves
Aim- to see which radio (AM or FM) is easier to get a frequency
Materials- radio, foil, blanket
Method- find an AM radio station, see if by rapping it with blanket or foil
enhances the quality, repeat with FM radio station
Results- both modulations worked better with the foil
Conclusion- Foil conducts electricity therefore making the sound better quality

4. Geostationary satellites relay and transmit information from the other side
of the world.

Explain why the Earth-based satellite dish must face a fixed direction if
it remains in the same location with respect to the geostationary
satellite

A geostationary satellite is one that orbits the Earth once every 24 hours, in an
equatorial orbit, and therefore remains over the same point on the Earth at all
times. The size and weight of the antennae (transmission and receiving) is too
great to allow them to be easily or quickly moved to stay pointing at each
other. The signals are in the microwave region, so the satellite dish must face
the same direction at all times to ensure that signals are received and
retransmitted in the correct directions to intended receivers.

Explain why the satellite must be at a height where its revolution period
is the same as that of the Earths period of rotation

In order for a satellite to remain in orbit over the same point on the Earths
surface at all times, it must be located 36 000 kilometres above the equator. In
this orbit, the satellite travels at a speed that keeps it in the same position
relative to the Earths surface and so the signal can be sent directly to and
from the dish antenna on the Earth to the satellite. The Earths gravitational
pull keeps the satellite in orbit. they are travelling with exactly the correct
speed, they never actually get any closer to the Earths surface. Tracking
stations on Earth use radio signals to activate small rockets on the satellite to
keep them in the correct orbit.

Pracs

gather, process and analyse information from secondary sources to

identify the satellite used for live telecasts from other regions of the
world to Australia and vice versa and to present reasons why
communication satellite have different aerials and positional orbits
Australias first satellites were first sent up in 1985, these satellites are
now used for television, international telephone calls and data
transmission, serving remote areas of Australia as well as the south-west
Pacific region. Different positional orbits are, geostationary, when the
satellite is always positioned over the same spot on the earth.
Asynchronous, when they pass over head at different times of the day.
Polar, when the satellite generally flies at a low altitude and passes over
planet poles on each revolution.

5. Information can be transmitted in the form of electrical impulses.

Identify communication technologies that transform one type of energy

into electrical energy
Communication Type of energy transfrmed
technology into electrical energy
Microphone Sound
TV camera Light
Scanner Light
keyboard Kinetic
Receiving antenna EMR
Photoelectric cell light
Describe the transmission of images using digital technologies in terms
of scanning of the input image along very thin lines

The essential parts of scanning digital technologies are: a transmitting device,

which translates the visual matter (text and graphics) of the copy into
electrical impulses according to a set pattern. A synchronised receiving
device, which translates these impulses and prints an exact copy.
To transmit a message by fax the pages of the document are put into a
machine, the pages are moved across a light source. The fax machine scans
the document along very thin lines, which change the light and dark parts of
the written message into electrical signals. The signals are then converted to
digital signals. The digital signal is then amplified and used to modulate the
frequency of a carrier wave, which can then be sent via a modem to the
telephone exchange or directly by cable.
 Explain how the coding of the image into a series of zeros and ones
allows its transmission and ultimate decoding.

Electronic digital devices work by digitising an image or information, i.e.

dividing it into a grid of dots. Each dot is either on or off. Electronically, each
dot is represented by a bit (binary digit ------ bit) that has a value of either 0
(off) or 1 (on). In this way the device translated into a series of zeros and ones
(called a bit map). On the receiving side, a device reads the incoming data,
translates the zeros and ones back into dots, and reprints the image. The
difference between a bit and a byte is a binary number can be expressed as a
series of electrical pulses, each on and off pulse is a bit. There 8 bits are
known as a byte.

Pracs

gather, process, analyse and present information from secondary

sources to identify energy transfers involved in coding and decoding
information by digital technologies
Digital device Coder (energy transfers) Decoder (energy transfer)
Fax lightelectricaldigital digitalelectricallight
Digital camera lightelectricaldigital digitalelectricalimage
Bar code lightelectricaldigital digitalelectricalcomputer

6. Electrical energy can be converted to light energy for use in optical fibre
communication systems.

Outline properties of optical fibres as communication carriers.

The glass in optical fibres is made so that light is unable to emerge side ways
from the glass. This is achieved by covering the glass with a cladding of
denser glass or plastic. As light travels from the inner glass core to the denser
cladding, it bends so much that, instead of leaving the glass, it is reflected
back into it. This process is known as total internal reflection.
 Outline the principle of total internal reflection and relate this to the
advantages of fibre optics over more conventional carriers of
information

Total internal reflection occurs when light travelling from a more-dense to a

less-dense medium hits the boundary between them. Some degree of
reflection back into the denser medium (internal reflection) always
accompanies refraction. When the angle of incidence is greater than the
critical angle, total internal reflection occurs, i.e. all the light is internally
reflected.
Optical fibres, using laser generated light, can transmit many more messages
at one time than coaxial cable or microwaves. The pulses of light are
produced millions of times per second and pass along the optical fibre being
reflected from the walls several thousand times per metre.
Glass and plastic fibres as thin as a few micrometres in diameter can be used
to transmit light with very little loss of intensity. Even if the fibres are bent the
critical angle is rarely exceeded and the signal will be transmitted. There are
two types of optical fibre: single mode, multi mode.

Outline the differences and the relative merits in the use of fibre optic
cables and metal cables to transmit and receive information

Fibre optic cables have the following advantages when compared to wire
based (or radio wave based) systems:
- have a much greater bandwidth than metal cables. This means that they can
carry more data per second, e.g. can transmit several gigabytes of data per
second.
- are not affected by radio waves, so there is no static.
- are much thinner and lighter than metal wires.
- are less susceptible to corrosion than metal cables.
- can handle digitally coded light (the natural form for computer data), as well
as analog signals.
- can multiplex thousands of voice channels together over a single optical
fibre.
- more secure as information cannot be intercepted easily.
The main disadvantage of fibre optics is that the cables are:
- expensive to install. In addition, they are more fragile than wire and must be
spliced together precisely and carefully.
- repeaters need to be added every 5565 kilometres to boost the signal
strength.
- a fibre optic system is a particularly popular technology for local area
networks. In addition, telephone companies are steadily replacing traditional
metallic telephone lines with fibre optic cables.
 Pracs

perform a first hand investigation to demonstrate the transmission of

light through an optical fibre
Aim- to demonstrate total internal reflection of light
Materials- ray box, transformers, 3 glass prisms, length of optical fibre
Method- connect ray box to power source, shine a single beam of light at a
glass prism, rotate the glass prism, make a path of light using all three glass
prisms.
Results-

Conclusion- Total internal reflection can be shown using these devices

process and analyse information from secondary sources to compare

and contrast copper cables with fibre optic cables in relation to:

Property Optical fibre Copper cables

Carrying capacity Many signals plus multiplexing Limited capacity for multiplexing
Cost Getting lower Getting more expensive
Rate of info transfer Up to 100km and beyond, Amplified every 4 km
depending on quality of core
security Difficult to tap Easily tapped
Signal quality Little interference Electrical interference
durability Resist corrosion, but not as stron Will corrode, but very strong