Communications and the Computer

Abstract

It is well and good to become involved in the technology of computer communications — as we shall later in this chapter — and wonder at it all like a complete innocent. But we should remember that computer communications requires spending money; at least in limited, but what frequently seems unlimited, amounts of capital expenditure as well as annual rental, maintenance and — with many kinds of communication — a cost each time the communication occurs. Therefore, it can be assumed that information which is to be passed about computer networks (groups of linked computers) or over computer lines should be valuable to the organisation which carries out the communication. If it is not, then it is very unlikely that the organisation would continue spending on that communicating facility.