2. Communication

Earlier, means of transport and communication were the same. Transfer of information was done by man or animals or birds. Inventions of telegraph and telephone have given a new shape to communication system. But the revolution in the field of communication came after the invention of radio and television. This has made impossible things possible.

Major revolution in communication came when Samuel Morse invented telegraph in 1844. It played a significant role in colonisation of Western America in the 19th century. Invention of telephone in 1975 by Graham Bell and radio in 1894 by Marconi gave new direction to communication. The news was transmitted throughout the world with the help of radio and without using wire. Marconi sent the message across the Atlantic Ocean in 1901. After the fully

developed television in 1945, transmission of picture becomes possible. Modern information technology has given many forms to communication. Now, the whole world has come closer together with the help of these communication aids such as cellular phone, E-mail, Fax, Internet, etc. Compared to means of transport, the means of communication have transformed the world into a 'global village'.

Internet is today the world's most important means of communication. It has added new dimensions to international trade, banking, remote sensing and other aspects. Today, the Internet is used in a variety of fields like, education, trade, banking, management, industry, communication, health and surgery, scientific research, meteorology, administration and in hundreds of other fields. Internet is a huge reservoir of knowledge. According to one estimate, almost half of the world's population will be connected by internet by 2020.

On the basis of scale and quality, the mode of communication can be divided into following categories: a) Personal Communication System and b) Mass Communication System.