2949774949

2.1 Developments - economic factors

Computer networks are put together from the basie building blocks of electronic components (including processors, memory), communication links (including copper, fibrę, radio), and software (including systems software, applications). Economic factors influencing any single part will have a overall effect.

The following apply to all types of network both local area networks and wide area networks, in both public and private sectors.

Local area networks and Wide area networks

These are some of the economic factors:

Law of supply and demand Economies of scalę Mass markets Production methods Competition v monopoly Advertising and marketing

The above factors have caused a reduction in the cost of:

Hardware

Communication links Software

Some of the implications of which are;

Geographical spread of contemporary organisations (teleworking)

Shared access to expensive eąuipment Increased demand for up-to-date information

The emphasis should be placed on the implication of the economic factors not on the naturę of the economic factors themselves.

2.2 Developments - technical factors

Computer networks are a major subject for academic, military and commercial research. There is therefore constant technical development arising from this research.

The following apply to all types of network both local area networks and wide area networks, in both public and private sectors.

Local area networks and Wide area networks

Some of the results of these technical developments are:

Advances in Computer technology New data transmission media and techniąues Improved ąuality of networking software Establishment of communication standards (OSI)

Adoption of Internet technology

15

Computing Support Materials: Computer Networking (H)