CONNECTIVITY

The terms connectivity and network as provided by the www.merriam-webster.com online dictionary are used to describe respectively "the ability to connect or communicate with another computer or computer system.", and "to join (as computers) in a network."

"Using a modem, network, or communication lines (telephone, coaxial cable, etc.), computers are able to communicate with each other and give the user access to online information." (Gerhard)

Although we most often think of connectivity in terms of computer usage, it is also just as applicable to all forms of communication. Regardless of the type of medium used to send and receive messages, the increase in connectivity has bridged the gaps in communication that once existed between computers and people alike.

Below are a few of the products available to consumers that offer a wide range of usage.

Satellite internet access is now available for those who are too far from a telephone or cable company for a traditional connection. As the name implies, a satellite dish is used for internet access rather than dial-up or cable modems.

Required equipment can cost anywhere between $200-$800. Monthly fees can range from $50-$100 and require a 1-3 year contract.

Satellite internet access is available for both residential as well as business. Details can be viewed on the following sites: www.starband.com, and www.americansatellite.com.

Routers let messages travel between networks. To get from one point to another it is necessary for the information being sent to travel any number of routes to reach its destination. Routers determine the quickest, most effective route to be traveled. This route could be dependent on geographic location or the amount of traffic on a specific route or line. This is applicable in both telephone communications and is vital for the internet. Not only do routers determine the path, but it also makes sure that it gets sent to the right place. Since routers are the only devices that see all of the messages being sent between networks, they are the traffic management that keeps the information moving. Telephone numbers, IP addresses, and URLs are the identification methods that the routers use to determine the correct destination. Routers ensure that one computer's connection is not slowed by traffic that is not meant for that specific computer.

Routers can be purchased new or used through any computer hardware dealer. Some manufacturers of routers are Cisco Systems (www.cisco.com), Linksys (www.linksys.com), and Netgear (www.netgear.com). They range in price from $90 new for a single router. Single routers are useful for small companies that have separate computer networks and enough traffic to warrant a router to keep individual computer connections from slowing. Bundles of routers like the ones shown above can cost up to $6000 depending on the number and capacity level of the routers needed. These are used by large companies that have many networks. They are very effective at moving information between networks which are located within the same building or spread out over a large geographic area. One can also find used and rebuilt routers which can be purchased for nearly half the cost of new routers.

Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) are quickly becoming as commonplace among consumers as cell phones have in the last few years. Their compact design, compatibility, and available accessories make them one of the most versatile machines available to consumers today. Prices can range from anywhere between the $100 -$600 range. The cost will vary dependant on which features, and the amount of memory that the PDA or the Pocket PC has.

The PDAs and the Pocket PCs featured on www.hp.com, www.casio.com, www.compaq.com, and www.urthere.com all have a wide range in both price and capabilities. Apart from being an address or appointment book, these devices are digital cameras, MP3 players, GPS systems, telephones and can be connected to almost every kind of electronic device to exchange information. They can have color screens that are backlit, and most have built-in modems for connection to the internet. The modems require that these be physically connected to a computer. With satellite and wireless technology progressing as rapidly as it is, it may soon be possible to down- or upload information from the internet without physically connecting the device to a computer or telephone line. It is possible to download the contents of entire books. The ability may soon exist for students to pay to download entire textbooks in stead of having to carry around the actual books themselves. In the future it may even be possible to have access to satellite radio and television as well. A comparison of some of the PDA and Pocket PCs can be found at www.ect.downstate.edu/palm.

One very exciting aspect of this technology is in the field of medicine. Imagine a doctor being able to view and interpret an ultrasound or an EKG from a great distance through a wireless connection. An application of this could be used by medical workers in third world countries who have the machines necessary to perform certain functions but who need specialists or experts to interpret or make diagnosis from the data. Certainly the workers ability to help others would be greatly increased as well as the quality of life of those who are ill. Physicians can now refer to patient information without having to carry around numerous charts and papers. Information on medication can be referred to from a wireless connection rather than the physician having to check the Physician Desk Reference or Medical Dictionary which can be more than a 1000 pages long.

What an amazing time that we live in. Who doesn't want faster, wider access to the world's information and media? It's telling of a person's age if they can remember checking out numerous books at the library to do a report and those were the only sources of information available for research. Remember when you had only the postal system or a telephone with a cord, attached to the wall to communicate with someone? There are many reasons to feel nostalgic about "the good old days", but with the wonders of modern technology, those limited communications capabilities and limited access to information aren't numbered among them.

Connectivity now means that script, audio, and video can be sent almost instantaneously from one place to many other points in the world. Businesses now have greater access to the entire globe. Video conference meetings have cut down on extensive business travel. Companies can now meet face to face with their counterparts from any part of the world without either having to leave their respective offices. Computer networks allow for businesses to widen its consumer base and operate with tremendous flexibility and even greater efficiency.

Utilization of increased connectivity has enabled the media to output the news at an amazing rate. During World War II for example, the only visual images of the war that were available to the public were through photographs that were published in newspapers and magazines, or with film footage that was shown in movie theaters. These weren't usually seen by the public until days or even months after the fact. Compare that to the year 2003. On Saturday February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated while re-entering the atmosphere. The news and media footage of this event were made known to the public almost as soon as it had happened. Those living in Indiana could find out about the story at approximately the same moment as someone living in Europe or Asia. For the media consumer it means that we can be more informed about world events than ever before.

This influx of news and other types of communication are made possible through a variety of ways. Probably the best known and most widely used is the internet. It allows communication from one person or group to an unlimited number of people simultaneously. It combines all of the best qualities of radio, television, and personal computers. With any number of modes of connection, all manner of media can be sent or received on demand. As connectivity increases, so to does the quality of the media being sent. In an article on connectivity found at www.satn.org, Bob Frankston writes:

The rise of the Internet in the 1990's (though the process actually started decades earlier) has demonstrated that we can now treat both telephony and television as streams of bits over a packet network. In the network itself all packets are treated the same with no special handling for audio or video streams. The network doesn't even have the notion of a circuit since successive packets needn't go to the same destination.

It also means that now telephony and television can be treated as streams of packets built upon the connectivity layer. There is a caveat in that we need sufficient capacity in our networks to carry this traffic. Early efforts to send audio and video over the Internet were limited by the capacity of the network but it is now becoming common and accepted to listen to live events over the Internet and, unlike radio, there is no predefined limit on the quality.

While cable systems can physically connect various geographic points, satellite transmissions and wireless connectivity show how easy it is to access information from anywhere on earth. One extreme example of this occurred in 1996 when a climber, who was stranded atop Mount Everest, used his cell phone to communicate with fellow climbers who were at base camp. He was also able to call and talk to his wife who was in Australia. That capability was not possible for consumers even as little as 15 years earlier. Today, one would be hard pressed to find many physical places on the globe that one could not check their e-mail, get stock quotes, or, as shown in the above example, communicate with another person regardless of either person's geographic location.

There is a downside to all of this however. It used to be that the only way to publish or make information known on a large scale was through expensive or very time consuming means. The increase in connectivity now means that practically everyone has a quick and inexpensive way to get information out on a mass scale. There are very few laws to monitor the type or accuracy of the information being put out. The lack of, or inability to regulate information, has reduced the idea of a code of ethics to a seldom occurring fantasy. This can be a serious pitfall in the reliability of what is fact. As we become better connected through various technological means we also give others greater access to our personal information and their ability to exploit that information for nobody's benefit but their own.

Connectivity does not only mean an increase in the amount of information and the speed with which it is communicated. It also means that the tools which gather and send information are becoming more compatible with one another. Televisions and computers have merged, pocket calculators can now be connected with a computer to download mathematical formulas. Video cameras and telephones have integrated and even video game systems can play DVD and audio CDs as well as video games. It's quite possible that all of the modern technology may soon be integrated in to one multi-purpose machine. Often when an improvement is made on an existing technology, not only is the physical design made more efficient and portable, but there is also an increase in the speed and capability of its specific functions.

A recent article published on the U.S. Government, Department of Energy's website, in the Science News section, (www.sc.doe.gov) explains how liquid crystal coupled with existing fiber optics has created better, more accurate transmission of media. Not only has the quality been increased but the smaller, more precise nature of the medium has been improved as well.

Technology continues to progress and advance at a pace that exceeds any other point in history. Indeed, it is quite possible to get a hold of the most recent version of any given software or technological gadget only to have it become outdated before all of its options can be fully explored or utilized. As our ability to reach and communicate with others throughout the world increases, it is common to hear people refer to the world as becoming a very small place.

Our ability to connect with others technologically seems to be constantly trying to outpace the necessity to do so. Whether done locally, or globally, people and businesses are continually seeking ways to gain greater, faster, and more efficient access to information and to one another. It is said that necessity is the mother of invention and evidences of this constant evolution have been witnessed throughout history. From the use of ships and the Pony Express to deliver mail, to the invention of the telegraph and telephone, then radio and television and FAX machines using phone lines. Later came computers with modems, computer networks, access to the internet with dial-up and cable modems, and now even wireless connections. The list goes on and on.

The world is continually perpetuating its need for greater connectivity. As quickly as somebody can improve on an existing idea, somebody else immediately starts looking for ways to modify on that idea for an even faster and more efficient way to communicate and gain access to all of the world's information. Virtual medicine, where a surgeon can operate on a patient who is in a completely different location is becoming a reality as is the ability to access a patient's information without the need for a phone line for connection to a network. Satellite uplinks mean that the flow of information on the internet can be accessed from even the most remote location.

Years from now will we all look back on 2003 with wonder at how we were able to get along with the communication technology that is currently available to us? It may seem hard to imagine such a time but then again, looking back only 10-15 years it's hard to believe how far and how rapidly things have progressed. As we embrace the possibilities and remain aware of the pitfalls, our ability to increase connectivity with the world will constantly be bringing our future ever closer to the present.