The Modem First of all I would like to start with an introduction I chose this topic because I thought it would be interesting to learn about how a modem works in a computer.
With modem we are able to access the Internet BBS' or Bulletin Board Systems. The MODEM is one of the smartest computer hardware tools ever created. modem is an abbreviation of Modulator De Modulator it is fairly simple to explain; through the telephone lines we are able to send messages between one single computer or a group of computers. The Originating computer sends a coded message to the Host computer which decodes it and there we have the power to access the Internet, talk to other people through terminal programs and retrieve files from other computers. The first patented computer modem was made by Hayes in the early eighties and from there they rapidly developed the first modem speed was 300 baud and from there a 600 baud than 1200 and so on.
The fastest modem made today is a 56k which is very fast. Not as fast as ISDN (The Wave offered through Rogers cable) or even as advanced as Satellite modem. Most people now have 14.4 or 28.
8 baud modems (Baud is "Slang" for Baud Rate Per Second) the reason for the increase in 14.4 and 28.8's is that they are cheap and fairly recent and haven't gone out of date yet. There are two types of modem external and external modems internal plugs into a 16 bit port inside your computer and external connects through either a serial (mouse)port or a parallel (printer)port most people like the external modems because they don't take up an extra space in your computer (according to PC Computing) prices in modems range price from $100 (28.
8bps) to $500(software upgradable 56k). Facsimile machines also have a form of modem in them, usually a 2400baud modem to decode the message. So imagine a world without the modem for a second; NO fax NO Internet NO direct computer communications whatsoever. The three major modem manufactures are Hayes (original modem) US Robotics and Microsoft. In conclusion life today it would be very hard to live without modems some businesses would cease to exist due to ill communications between offices and without modems we wouldn't have videoconfrencing e-mail and other tools we have come to rely on in the past 15 years not to mention the phone companies loss not having to put in all of those extra phone lines because normal "voice" lines are tied up due to modem use. I believe that the modem is a very important and interesting tool of communication and the Internet is wonderful for knowledge due to the fact that is where I got almost all of my information today.
Thank- -You for reading my independent study and I hope you learned something from it.
