Practical work on telecommunications

Hi, people!!! I know you're learning about telecommunications at school. I've found this article very interesting and I'd like to share it with you.
If there are words you don't understand, use the dictionary or on-line ones.

Read it and then, answer the following questions:
1) How important is telecommunication?
2) Draw the telecommunication system.
3) In your own words, describe
networks
channels
modulation
4) How has communication developed through time?
5) Describe the modern operation in not more than 150 words.

This task must be done in pairs for June 12th.

Telecommunications

Telecommunication is the assisted transmission of signals over a distance for the purpose of communication. In earlier times, this may have involved the use of smoke signals, drums, semaphore, flags, or heliograph. In modern times, telecommunication typically involves the use of electronic transmitters such as the telephone, television, radio or computer. Early inventors in the field of telecommunication include Antonio Meucci, Alexander Graham Bell, Guglielmo Marconi and John Logie Baird. Telecommunication is an important part of the world economy and the telecommunication industry's revenue has been placed at just under 3 percent of the gross world product.
Contents
1 Key concepts
1.1 Basic elements
1.1.1 Analogue or digital
1.1.2 Networks
1.1.3 Channels
1.1.4 Modulation
2 Society and telecommunication
3 History
3.1 Early telecommunications
3.2 Telegraph and telephone
3.3 Radio and television
3.4 Computer networks and the Internet
4 Modern operation
4.1 Telephone
4.2 Radio and television
4.3 The Internet
4.4 Local area networks
5 Telecommunications by region

What is technology?

viernes 16 de mayo de 2008
What is Technology?

Technology is the process by which humans modify nature to meet their needs and wants. Most people, however, think of technology in terms of its artifacts: computers and software, aircraft, pesticides, water-treatment plants, birth-control pills, and microwave ovens, to name a few. But technology is more than these tangible products.Technology includes all of the infrastructure necessary for the design, manufacture, operation, and repair of technological artifacts, from corporate headquarters and engineering schools to manufacturing plants and maintenance facilities. The knowledge and processes used to create and to operate technological artifacts -- engineering know-how, manufacturing expertise, and various technical skills -- are equally important part of technology.Technology is a product of engineering and science, the study of the natural world.
Science has two parts:
(1) a body of knowledge that has been accumulated over time and
(2) a process-scientific inquiry-that generates knowledge about the natural world.Engineering, too, consists of a body of knowledge-in this case knowledge of the design and creation of human-made products-and a process for solving problems. Science aims to understand the "why" and "how" of nature, engineering seeks to shape the natural world to meet human needs and wants. Engineering, therefore, could be called "design under constraint," with science-the laws of nature-being one of a number of limiting factors engineers must take into account. Other constraints include cost, reliability, safety, environmental impact, ease of use, available human and material resources, manufacturability, government regulations, laws, and even politics. In short, technology necessarily involves science and engineering.
The Nature of TechnologyTechnology and ScienceTechnology and Innovation
Source: http://www.nae.edu/nae/techlithome.nsf/weblinks/CTON-557R5V?OpenDocument

1. Define technology in ONE sentence.
2. Name some limiting factors engineers must take into account.
3. Name 2 synonyms used in the text for SCIENCE.
4. Name 3 important parts of technology.5. Do you consider yourself to be "technologically literate"? To learn more about this concept click here.