Application of Networks

Computer networks have made a major impact on the society as a whole but we will discuss only of the important ones.
1. Sharing. The potential advantage of network is to provide an easy and flexible means of
sharing. There are three distinct types of sharing.
(a) Peripherals. These are often expensive. It is impractical for each computer on the network to have both its laser printer (for quality printing) and dotmatrix printer (for all general printouts). A main frame may have one of each connected to it allowing all users con¬trolled access in a cost effective manner.
(b) Users of a multiuser system can share and exchange information in a number of ways. Examples are sending electronic mail or having controlled access to the same files or data base.
(c) In a traditional time sharing system, all control is performed centrally ; if the processor fails then the entire system fills. In a network system, this need not be the case. The failure of one node should not have a ‘domain’ effect on the rest. This is called distributed control and is a very lively area of research at present.
2. Access to remote database. Another major area of network use is access to remote database.
It is easy for the average person sitting at his PC to make reservation for airplanes, trains, hotels and so
on anywhere in the world with instant confirmation.
3. Communication facilities. A third category of potential widespread network use is as a communication medium. It is possible for everyone, not just people in the computer business, to send and receive electronic mail. This mail is also able to contain digitized voice, still pictures and even moving television and video images.
Using computer network as a sophisticated communication system may reduce the amount of travelling done, thus saving energy. The information revolution is expected to change society as much as the Industrial Revolution did.