Computerization of Communication Media Maintenance and Management; A Case Study of Kwara State Television Authority, Ilorin
Chapter One
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
This project is aimed at showing how computer system could be used in maintaining and managing the equipment use in the communication media sectors in lieu of other manual method formally used. The following are the objectives of this project:
- To enlighten the public on the objectives of this new system application of computer in communication media maintenance and management.
- To reduce the huge amount of money spent on communication media, maintenance and management.
- Top analysis the difficulties and problems of existing approaches to communication media maintenance and management.
- To assist the technicians or engineers who are concerned with managing and maintenance of these media equipment in their work for quick and efficient delivery.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF COMMUNICATION
The world of broadcasting is becoming more and more competitive year by year. Broadcasting is also becoming more international, requiring knowledge and an understanding of structures throughout the world.
The word Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and/or visual signals (programmes) to a number of recipients (listeners or viewers) that belong to a large group. This group may be the public in general or a relatively large audience within the public. Thus, an internet channel may distribute text or music world-wide, while a public address system in (for example) a workplace may broadcast very limited adhoc sound-bites to a small population within its range.
When broadcasting is done via the internet the term wedcasting is often used, Adam Curry and his associates the Podshow (2004). In 2004 a new phenomenon occurred when a number of technologies combined to produce podcasting. Podcasting is an asynchronous broadcast or narrow cast medium.
Broadcasting forms a very large segment of the mass media. Broadcasting to a very narrow range of audience is called narrow-casting. The term broadcasting was coined by early radio engineers from the mid-east United States.
A broadcasting station is so called waves radiate in every direction from its transmitting aerials, as ripples do when a stone is flying into a pond. But radio signals may also be directed in a particular direction like the beam of a car’s headlight. Beam radio stations of this kind were developed by post office engineers for overseas communication and linked to the ordinary telephone service. By the end of such a station a telephone subscriber in Britain can ‘ring up’ a number in America.
Man’s next step forward in the field of communication, the transmitting of a visual image, or television as we call it, owes something to two older development cinematography and transmitting of still pictures by telegraph. The story of television will therefore be clearer if we consider these older inventions first.
In 1826, the scientist, Sir John Herschel spun a coin on a dinner table and drew the attention of his guests to the fact that, while and it was spinning rapidly both side of the coins were visible, the ‘head’ and the ‘tail’ merging together. Many people must be noticed this odd effect in the way to or another long before Herschel, but he seems to have the first to realize that it was due to persistence of vision. When we look at a picture, the lens of the eye project its image on to the retina. If our view of the project is suddenly cut off its image does not, as such suddenly disappear but takes a fraction of time to fade from the retina. This is persistence of vision it means that if a quick succession of pictures is presented to the eye with only a little interval between each they will appear to merge into one another. In this way an illusion of movement can be created. For example, a series of picture of a man walking is presented. This is the principle of cinematograph.
The photographer simply created an elusion of movement, it the direct recording of sound on film that made possible with the aid of photoelectric cell, the talking picture; the recording of sound on film was achieved in the following ways, a mirror was suspended by a fine duralumin wire in the film studio, light reflected from this mirror was focused and photographed on a narrow band called sound track running beside the film pictures. So sensitive is duralumin wire to sound waves that the effect of this film actors, voice or music transmitted by microphone was to course the suspended mirror to twist slightly, thus varying the intensity of the reflected light and causing the sound track to appear as thread of alternating light and shape of varying depth.
In the projection room of the cinema a narrow beam of light is directed through the sound track into the aperture of a photo electric cell. This transmitted as the sound track pattern into electrical impulses that are amplified and transmitted to the diaphragms of the loud speaker behind the cinema screen, causing them to vibrate and bring to our ears the sound of speech or music.
LAUNCH OF GLOBAL COMMUNICATION
Robert & Michael, (1996). In the early 1960s, when communications satellites became possible, practitioners and policy-makers were already promoting the concept of worldwide communication systems.
In 1962, a new release from RCA Chairman, David Sarnoff said: ten years hence – rigorous foreign growth continuous there will be TV stations in virtually every nation of the earth telecasting to some hundred million receivers. And audience of billion people might then be watching the same program at the same time with simultaneous translation technique making understandable to all.
In a world where nearly half of the population is illiterate, no other means of mass communication could be equal television, its reach and impact on human mind. Since the early 1970s, many conference and organizations, such as International Association for Mass Communication Research, have stressed again and again how developing technology has required increasing corporation among national system, and how such increasing corporation as made it possible for the development of new global communication technology. Through the 1970s and 1980s, numerous individuals, formal and informal association, in many parts of the world pushed for the implementation of global televisions many had limited agenda but almost all saw positive political, social and or educational goals that will bring the people of the world closer through mutual understanding, sharing and solution to common needs and desires.
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL IMPLICATION OF WORLD TELECOMMUNICATION
The political and social implication of telecommunication in relation to reflecting and affecting democratic movements, are significant in terms of changing systems and system changes. Robert E. Burke, President Worldwide Telecommunication News said he believed that a significance by product of technological communication change is that TV and other media, including the fax machines, are great for democracy. They make it more difficult for government to keep out information they don’t want people to have. One of the many conferences in recent years along this line is an international meeting development in 1994 by Professor Dor Shinar, Dean of the School of Media Studied, “Communication as Instruction of Peace”. The discussion included the potential impact of “The Impending Communication revolving, which may, within a decade completely change the established pattern of broadcasting”. The conference explores the key issues that are just now. In the 1990s demanding revolution includes private Vs public control, the pursing out of the existing technology, freedom of speech and the free flow of information overload, the nee of developing countries, and the impact if international communication exchange on traditional cultures.
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY AND ANALYSIS OF THE SYSTEM
METHODOLOGY
Data collection method is indispensable in any new system design. The method of data collection used was personal interview. The manager of the Kwara State Television Authority gave us the basic facts pertaining to the organization. Later, we were directed to the Chief Engineer who also gave us the basic knowledge needed both on the practical and theoretical aspects of communication media maintenance and management.
All members of staff of the engineering Department of the Kwara State Television Authority, Ilorin were accommodating, encouraging, entertaining, cheerful and co-operative. The information here is based solely on the distilled data collected from the engineering department of Kwara State Television Authority, Ilorin.
ANALYSIS OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM
The basic operation originated from the control where the program to be aired is gathered and organized. In this case, the entire floodlight is put on to light and brightened up the studio. Input devices like video camera and microphone are used to gather image and sound respectively. The image and sound are inputted differently. They are however, mixed up in the control room.
After this is done, it is now sent across through the use of microwave emitter to the transmitting stations. At the transmitting station, the transmitter sends the audio-visual signal into air. This will now allow the antenna of the television set of different homes to catch the signal and the program which is now on can now be watched by at home.
CHAPTER FOUR
DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF THE SYSTEM
SYSTEM DESIGN
System design is highly necessary in a large organization that has a lot of people working for it. Every worker should perform his/her duties so that the work will flow smoothly in order to save time.
Also, it is the term used to describe the process of collecting and analyzing facts in respect of existing operation, procedure and system in order to obtain a full appreciation of the prevailing situation so that an effectively computerized system may be designed and implementation of proved feasible.
The aim of system analysis is to provide an indepth study of the objective and problem of existing procedure in an organization and to produce a specification that is flexible to allow further application to be wedded to it without duplication of work procedure or records.
System design is a detailed documentation of the new system which specifies the documents and files that the new system will need. It is the best of decision stating exactly what the system processing is, what has to be done and approximately how.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
SUMMARY
As this project work reflected management and maintenance of communication media, especially when computerized, we make the tasks less burdensome and bring out the professionalism in the communication media.
The exposure of the personnel handling the maintenance and management of equipment to the latest development of computer technology in order to know the best application of computer in the area of maintenance and management of the equipment must be consistently done as soon as the need arise.
The project work, however, is not without limitations in the aspects of implementation, both the old and the new system has to be used simultaneously. This is because the new system is complementing the old system.
EXPERIENCE GAINED
Its application in communication media system may be developed to increase accuracy in operation which seems to be tedious in the old system but made easy in the new system.
The computerization of the system was written in a standardized and simplified format so that it will be easy for more programmers to operate. Also, the time spent on maintenance and management is highly reduced.
The computerized communication process provides a better means of maintenance and an updated management of equipment.
RECOMMENDATIONS
This is an important aspect of any computerized system because it is of no use and a waste of time, money and energy if after completing a project the new system designed does not perform up to expectation.
Therefore, to ensure consistency and operational efficiency of the new system design, some precautions must be taken among which are:
- There must provision for UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) to guide against surges and pulse which can cause damage to the system
- Checking the cable for wear and replace when necessary.
- Check the accuracy of operating A.C. (Alternating Current) voltage as specified in the power supply manual.
- Prevention of unauthorized users from being having aces to the computer room.
- Remove dust and light debris in the computer equipment and laboratories using vacuum cleaner and cleaning kits.
- Clearing of litters in the computer system.
- Check the input and output devices for proper functioning.
- In case of any problem like inefficiency of new system design, consult a qualified system manager.
- The right kind of personnel should be employed to manage the new system.
- In a situation whereby members of staff are to manage the new system, they must be educated on how to use the new system.
- The computer room should be air conditioned.
If all these activities are strictly adhered to, the consistency and operational efficiency of the new system design is guaranteed.
CONCLUSION
It is obvious that the world is going computerized day-by-day. That is why the world is said to be becoming a global village. The communication media sector is not left out in this occurrence.
Computer has proved to be a reliable electronic device in the communication industry. Operations such as table conferencing, internet operation such a e-mail and browsing of information has made communication easy and also in the aspect of maintenance and management of equipment, computer will no doubt play a leading, accurate and effective role in making maintenance and management a huge success to the country.
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