INFORMATION TRANSMISSION - MEANING, METHODS, MEANS AND MODES OF RECEIVING INFORMATION

 INFORMATION TRANSMISSION 

MEANING, METHODS, MEANS AND MODES OF RECEIVING INFORMATION

MEANING, OF INFORMATION TRANSMISSION

Information Transmission is the process of sending out processed data from one person or place to another in a meaningful form through a communication medium.

Methods of Information Transmission

There are two methods of transmitting information, namely:
A. Ancient Method of Information Transmission
B. Modern Method of Information Transmission

Ancient Methods of Transmitting Information

These are the methods used by our forefathers before the development of modern technology in passing on information .
They include the following:
a. Oral (Face to Face) Communication

This is a method whereby the sender (informant) meets with the receiver (recipient) face-to-face to pass information across.
b. Beating Drums

Drum beating is another way of transmitting information from the sender to the receiver. Drums are used to informing the Villagers of certain invents such as hunting, farming, death announcements etc. Every event has its unique tune that the villagers can understand.
c. Smoke Signals

This method is used to pass information by bush burning to alert the people in the environment of the incoming danger.
d. Making representation
Information could be sent from one village to another with the use of representation. E.g. tying a cutlass with a red cloth will inform the receiver that something bad is coming if proper attention is not taken.
e. Town Crier

Information is transmitted by the town crier by shouting the information repeatedly around the town.
f. Drawing diagrams

The diagram will be drawn on the walls or the backs of trees. The messages are always understood by the person it was made for.
g. Carrier pigeons:

 These are specially trained pigeons that were used to transmit messages over long distances. They can fly back to their home loft, even if they were released in a foreign location. This method was especially useful for military purposes.

Modern Methods of Transmitting Information

With the development in technology, it is now possible to pass information straight to the audience. Modern means of transmitting information include:
a. Writing
b. Printing Machine
c. Radio
d. Television

e. Internet
f. Fax Machine
g. Telephone
h. Telex
A telex machine is used to transmit textual information from one person to another usually over a long distance.
i. Satellite
A satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human  in other to improve sending radio, telephone and internet signals to any part of the world.
j. GSM
GSM means Global System for Mobile Communication. We use this to send and receive phone calls. One benefit of a GSM phone is the addition of a SIM card or Subscriber Identification Module.

Means of Information Transmission

There are two means of transmitting information
i. Electronic Means of Information Transmission

Examples of Electronic Means of Transmitting Information

They include
a. prints
b. Telephone
c. Radio
d. Television
e. Fax
f. Satellite
g. Internet
h. GSM
ii. Non-Electronic Means of Transmitting information
The means do not require electrical signals for information to be transmitted.

Examples of non-electronics means of transmitting information

They include:
a. Oral
b.Beating of drums
c. Fire lighting
d. Whistling
e. Drawing diagrams
f. Making representation

Modes of Receiving Information

Messages can be received by three major ways. These include:
i. Audio
ii. Visual
iii. Audio-visual
i. Audio: This is a mode of communication where data are received via sound or voice without seeing the pictures. E.g. through Radio, Telephone, Beating of drums, Town crying (except the town crier is closer) etc
ii. Visual: This is a mode of receiving information through prints or pictures alone without sound or voice e.g. prints, Drawings, Computer printers, Telex, fax machines etc
iii. Audio-visual: This is a mode of receiving information in both visual and audio form; i.e. both hearing sound and voice, and seeing pictures. E.g. Television, Oral, etc

Class Activities

1. What is information transmission?

2. Differentiate between ancient and modern methods of transmitting information and list three (3) examples for each.

3. Differentiate between visual and audio visual.