What is Data Transmission? Whenever one of your devices shares data with something else, a system or other device for instance, that is data transmission. It is the movement of data between two ‘things’, where a thing could be your computer or phone, a printer, a piece of software, a server and so on. Perhaps the most common data transmission we all use every day is between a browser and a website, but data transmission may be wireless, through a wired connection or fiber-optic cables. Its not just the obvious thinks like web browsing either, data transmission is a part of almost everything we do today. Take your car, if it has telematics, then it is transmitting data all the time while you drive. Through sensors, the car will collect data such as location, speed, engine performance and so on, and then transmit it to a central location for analysis. This uses wireless network connectivity, but other examples may use Bluetooth for short range data transmission, Wi-Fi and so on. All these connected devices use data transmission to provide the service they are designed for. Types of Data Transmission There are two distinct types of data transmission you can use: Simplex — In this form of data transmission, the data only flows one way. We use this type every day when we listen to the radio or watch TV. Duplex — Here, data can flow in both directions between the connected devices. If you play an online game or make a phone call, that is duplex data transmission. Methods of Data Transmission There are also two main methods you can use to transmit data reliably, these are: Serial Transmission — Each bit of data is sent in sequence, one after the other. It is the slower method, however, it is more reliable over longer distances and is how your modem sends and receives data. Parallel Transmission — Here, multiple bits of your data are sent at once. It is faster than serial, and is often used for short distance data transmission where data loss tends to be minimal. It is how data moves from, say, your hard drive to your CPU in your PC. Modes of Transmission This describes the technology used to send the data down the wire or through the wireless network or whatever you are using. Analog Transmission — Here, the data is transmitted along a continuous signal. This is how your FM radio in your car works. Digital Transmission — Your data is transmitted along a discrete signal, making it less vulnerable to noise and interference. Optical Transmission — Data is transmitted using light waves, most commonly using optical fiber cables. This approach offers both high speed and high-capacity data transmission. Error Detection and Correction Data transmission is only successful if it arrives at its intended destination intact. Your devices and systems can use a range of ways to maintain data integrity, checking that the received data is the same as the transmitted data, including parity checks and checksums. Conclusion Pretty much everything you do today, from checking messages to setting a route in your car navigation system, online shopping to backing up your photos to the cloud, involve data transmission. Without it, the digital world we all use couldn’t exist, and as our online and offline worlds become more integrated, the reliance on data transmission will online increase.
Cloud Login
