Data transmission

The sending of data, such as text, images, audio or video, from a sender device to a receiver device.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Digital Systems & Security — Module 21, 7-8 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Digital Systems and Security — Module 22, IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 2.1 Data Transmission Types and Methods — Module 2, IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 2.2 Methods of Error Detection — Module 1, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Wired and Wireless Networks — Module 2

Understanding Data transmission in Years 5–6 Digital Systems

What it does: Images can be transmitted. The phone is the sender, the photo is the data and the tablet is the receiver. Data transmission is the sending of data from one digital system to another, such as from a phone to a laptop. Digital systems can transmit many types of data, including text, images, audio and video. Data transmission happens when data moves between devices. A note that stays on one device is not transmitted.

Common mistakes: A single = is needed to store the receiver device in the variable. == compares values instead of assigning one. It should be receiver = "Tablet". The type of data is text, so it needs quotes. Without them Python looks for a variable called image. It should be data_type = "image".

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 21–30) and word search (Modules 21–52).

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Learning

Duo

What is data transmission?

Deleting data from a digital systemSending data from one digital system to another

Matches

Data transmission is when a computer saves a file only on its own hard drive

↓

This describes storage, not transmission. Transmission means sending data to another digital system.

Applying

Meanings

Term

data transmission

Meaning

The sending of data, such as text, images, audio or video, from a sender device to a receiver device.

Practice

sender <- "Laptop"

Testing

Gaps

(message, receiver)

Check Answer

Spots

1sender = "Laptop"

2receiver == "Tablet"

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Quick Questions

1. What is data transmission?

A. Deleting data from a digital system

B. Sending data from one digital system to another ✓

Data transmission is the sending of data from one digital system to another, such as from a phone to a laptop.

2. Which device is the sender when you email a photo to a friend?

A. Your device, which sends the photo ✓

B. Your friend's device, which receives the photo

The sender is the device that sends the data. Your friend's device is the receiver.

3. Which device is the receiver when a laptop sends a text message to a tablet?

A. The laptop

B. The tablet ✓

The receiver is the device that gets the data. In this case the tablet receives the message and the laptop sends it.

4. Which of these can be sent by data transmission?

A. Text, images, audio and video ✓

B. Only text

Digital systems can transmit many types of data, including text, images, audio and video.

5. How many devices are needed for data transmission between two devices?

A. Two: a sender and a receiver ✓

B. One: the sender only

Data needs to be sent from one device and received by another, so at least two devices are involved.

Match the Pairs

data transmission → The sending of data from one digital system to another

sender → receiver → Data travels from the device that sends it to the device that gets it

A phone sends a photo to a tablet, so the photo is the data being transmitted → sender = phone; data = photo; receiver = tablet

Data transmission between two devices can carry different kinds of data, such as text, audio and video → send(text); send(audio); send(video)

Data transmission is when a computer saves a file only on its own hard drive → This describes storage, not transmission. Transmission means sending data to another digital system.

receiver → sender: a laptop starts sending a video to a phone, so the phone is the sender → The roles are mixed up. The device that sends the video (the laptop) is the sender and the phone that gets it is the receiver.

Key Term

data transmission

The sending of data, such as text, images, audio or video, from a sender device to a receiver device.

Fill in the Blanks

1. send(message, receiver)

Hint: Type the function name that transmits data to another device.

2. send(photo, receiver)

Hint: Type the name of the device that gets the data.

3. sender = "phone" receiver = "laptop" transmit(audio, sender, receiver)

Hint: Type the variable for the device that sends the audio data.

4. photo = "beach.jpg" send(photo, receiver)

Hint: Type the variable that holds the image data being transmitted.

5. sender.send(video) receiver.receive()

Hint: Type the method name the receiving device uses to accept the data.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A sender = "Laptop"

B receiver == "Tablet"

C message = "Hi there"

D send(message, sender, receiver)

Line B — A single = is needed to store the receiver device in the variable. == compares values instead of assigning one. It should be receiver = "Tablet".

Question 2

A sender = "Phone"

B receiver = "Laptop"

C data_type = image

D print(sender, "sends", data_type)

Line C — The type of data is text, so it needs quotes. Without them Python looks for a variable called image. It should be data_type = "image".

Question 3

A text = "Hello"

B send(text, "Laptop", "Phone"

C print("Message sent")

Line B — The send call is missing its closing bracket, so the data cannot be sent. It should end with ) like send(text, "Laptop", "Phone").

Question 4

A data = "photo.jpg

B sender = "Camera"

C receiver = "Computer"

D print(sender, "sends", data)

Line A — The text for the image file name is missing its closing quote. It should be data = "photo.jpg".

Question 5

A sender = "Tablet"

B receiver = "Speaker"

C audio = "song.mp3"

D send(audio, receiver, sender)

E print(receiver, "got", audio)

Line D — The sender and receiver are swapped, so the audio would travel the wrong way. It should be send(audio, sender, receiver).

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