Meaning of Information Transmission

Information transmission means the process by which information is sent or transferred from one person, place, or device (called the sender) to another (called the receiver) through a medium or channel.

In simple terms, when one person or device sends a message and another receives it, information transmission has occurred.

For example, when a teacher talks to students, when a radio station sends out news, or when you make a phone call, information is being transmitted.

This process involves five main elements:

1. Sender (Source): The person or device that originates the message.


2. Message: The actual information that is being sent.


3. Medium or Channel: The path through which the message travels, such as air, wires, or radio waves.


4. Receiver: The person or device that receives the message.


5. Feedback: The response from the receiver showing that the message was understood.

1. It helps us to share knowledge and ideas with one another.


2. It helps us to educate, inform, and entertain others.


3. It helps us to warn people of danger.


4. It helps us to build relationships and maintain communication between people.


5. It helps us to make quick and accurate decisions.

Means of Information Transmission

The means of information transmission are the tools or methods that people use to send information. There are two main means:

1. Ancient (Traditional) Means — used in the olden days before the invention of electronic devices.


2. Modern (Electronic) Means — used today with the help of electricity and technology.

Ancient methods of transmitting information are the ways people used to communicate before electricity and modern devices were discovered. These methods depended mainly on the human senses (sight, hearing, and speech) and natural materials.

1. Oral Communication

Oral communication means using spoken words to send messages from one person to another. It is the oldest and most natural form of communication.

Examples: A mother instructing her child, a teacher speaking to students, or a town crier making announcements.

Advantages of Oral Communication:

1. It is the simplest and easiest way to communicate.


2. It allows quick feedback and immediate understanding.


3. It does not require any special equipment.


4. It helps to build a personal relationship between the sender and receiver.


5. It allows the sender to adjust speech or tone for better understanding.


6. It is useful in informal situations and for small groups.


7. It saves time because the message is delivered instantly.

Disadvantages of Oral Communication:

1. It cannot reach far distances unless the people are close.


2. The message can easily be forgotten or distorted.


3. It cannot be recorded permanently.


4. It depends on the ability of both parties to speak and hear clearly.


5. Noise can disturb and change the meaning of the message.


6. It is not suitable for complex or long messages.


7. It is difficult to prove what was said later.

2. Beating of Drums

In many African societies, drums were used to pass messages from one village to another. Each drumbeat had a specific meaning that people in the community understood.

Examples: Calling people for meetings, announcing funerals, warning of enemies, or celebrating events.

Advantages of Beating of Drums:

1. Drum sounds can travel long distances.


2. It is effective for large gatherings or community announcements.


3. It does not require modern equipment or electricity.


4. It is part of cultural tradition and strengthens social unity.


5. It can attract attention quickly.


6. It can be used to send emergency messages, such as warnings.


7. It can be understood by trained listeners across villages.

Disadvantages of Beating of Drums:

1. Only trained people can interpret the drum language correctly.


2. The message may be misunderstood by strangers.


3. It cannot convey complex information.


4. It can be affected by weather such as rain or wind.


5. It cannot be used secretly because everyone can hear it.


6. It may disturb people at odd hours.


7. It requires physical energy to beat for long.

3. Fire Lighting and Smoke Signalling

This method involves lighting fire or producing smoke to send messages to people far away. The message is understood by the pattern, color, or number of smoke signals.

Examples: Lighting a fire to show danger, to announce a meeting, or to celebrate a victory.

Advantages of Fire Lighting and Smoke Signalling:

1. It can be seen from a very long distance.


2. It is easy to prepare and does not require machines.


3. It is effective in open areas or mountains.


4. It can be used to send simple coded signals.


5. It does not depend on language or speech.


6. It is cheap and makes use of available materials.


7. It can serve as a warning signal in emergencies.

Disadvantages of Fire Lighting and Smoke Signalling:

1. It cannot be used during rain or windy weather.


2. Smoke can be blocked by trees or buildings.


3. The meaning of the signal must be agreed upon beforehand.


4. It cannot send detailed or complex messages.


5. It can cause fire accidents if not controlled.


6. It can be misunderstood by others.


7. It cannot be used at night for smoke signals.

4. Whistling

Whistling uses sound from the mouth or instruments to send messages. Some communities have a special way of whistling to call people or send short messages.

Advantages of Whistling:

1. It is fast and easy to use.


2. It requires no cost or special equipment.


3. It is good for short distances.


4. It can be used for secret messages in small groups.


5. It is very useful in noisy environments.


6. It can be used to signal animals or people.


7. It can attract attention immediately.

Disadvantages of Whistling:

1. It cannot be used for long or detailed messages.


2. It cannot reach long distances.


3. It may be misunderstood.


4. It cannot be recorded or stored.


5. It may be considered rude in some cultures.


6. It depends on clear hearing.


7. It is limited to those who understand its meaning.

5. Town Crying

In many African communities, the king or chief had a town crier who announced important news. He usually rang a bell or beat a gong while shouting messages in the streets.

Advantages of Town Crying:

1. It reaches a large number of people at once.


2. It allows direct questions and feedback.


3. It helps to spread official or government messages quickly.


4. It promotes unity and awareness.


5. It does not require machines or electricity.


6. It ensures that even illiterate people receive information.


7. It can be used to make urgent public announcements.

Disadvantages of Town Crying:

1. It requires physical movement and can be tiring.


2. The town crier must have a loud and clear voice.


3. It cannot reach people who are far away.


4. The message may be forgotten after delivery.


5. It is not suitable for private or confidential messages.


6. It depends on good weather conditions.


7. It cannot be recorded for reference.

6. Drawings, Diagrams, and Representations

People used pictures, carvings, and symbols to express ideas or record events. These could be drawn on walls, rocks, or animal skins.

Examples: Cave paintings, maps, and carvings.

Advantages of Drawings, Diagrams, and Representations:

1. It preserves information for many years.


2. It can be understood by people who cannot read or write.


3. It can be used to teach and explain ideas visually.


4. It is a good way to record history.


5. It does not require electricity.


6. It is a form of art that can beautify the environment.


7. It can be interpreted across languages if symbols are clear.

Disadvantages of Drawings, Diagrams, and Representations:

1. It takes time and skill to produce.


2. Some people may misinterpret the meaning.


3. It cannot be sent quickly.


4. It may fade or be destroyed with time.


5. It cannot carry detailed or spoken information.


6. It needs space for drawing.


7. It cannot be used in darkness.

Modern methods use electricity, electronics, and digital technology to send information quickly and efficiently across any distance.

1. Telephone

A telephone converts voice into electrical signals and sends them through wires or wireless signals to another phone where the sound is reproduced.

Advantages of Telephone:

1. It allows real-time conversation between two people.


2. It works over very long distances.


3. It is fast and reliable.


4. It allows private communication.


5. It is portable and easy to use.


6. It supports both voice and text messages.


7. It can be used in emergencies to call for help.

Disadvantages of Telephone:

1. It requires electricity or battery power.


2. It depends on network coverage.


3. It can be expensive for long-distance calls.


4. Calls can be intercepted by hackers.


5. It may not work during network failure.


6. It requires some technical knowledge to use smartphones.


7. It can distract users from other tasks.

2. Radio

Radio transmits sound through electromagnetic waves to reach many listeners.

Advantages of Radio:

1. It can reach millions of people at once.


2. It provides entertainment and education.


3. It is cheap and widely available.


4. It is portable and can work on battery.


5. It can reach rural and urban areas easily.


6. It is useful for emergency broadcasts.


7. It can be received even while on the move.

Disadvantages of Radio:

1. It transmits only sound, not pictures.


2. It is one-way; listeners cannot reply.


3. It depends on power supply or batteries.


4. It can be affected by bad weather or interference.


5. It cannot be used for personal communication.


6. It requires clear frequency tuning.


7. The message can be missed if the listener is not tuned in.

3. Television

Television combines sound and pictures to send information to viewers.

Advantages of Television:

1. It allows both hearing and seeing the information.


2. It educates, informs, and entertains.


3. It can show real events live.


4. It helps in learning new ideas visually.


5. It is useful for advertisements and public awareness.


6. It can reach a very wide audience.


7. It keeps people updated with current affairs.

Disadvantages of Television:

1. It is expensive to buy and maintain.


2. It needs constant electricity.


3. It can expose children to harmful content.


4. It does not allow direct feedback.


5. It can distract people from work or studies.


6. It depends on network and signal strength.


7. It can cause eye strain when watched too long.

4. Internet

The Internet connects millions of computers and phones together globally.

Advantages of Internet:

1. It is the fastest way to send and receive information.


2. It allows communication through email, chat, and video call.


3. It provides unlimited access to knowledge and learning materials.


4. It allows online business and shopping.


5. It helps people to connect across the world.


6. It allows cloud storage of documents.


7. It supports multimedia such as text, audio, and video.

Disadvantages of Internet:

1. It can spread false or harmful information.


2. It can lead to cybercrime and hacking.


3. It requires electricity and data connection.


4. It can cause addiction and distraction.


5. It can expose personal privacy.


6. It needs digital skills to use effectively.


7. It can be expensive in areas with poor network.

5. Satellite Communication

Satellites in space send and receive signals from the earth to different locations.

Advantages of Satellite Communication:

1. It provides global coverage.


2. It allows broadcasting over large distances.


3. It supports weather forecasting and navigation.


4. It can reach remote or rural areas.


5. It enables international television and internet links.


6. It transmits data very fast.


7. It is reliable and durable.

Disadvantages of Satellite Communication:

1. It is expensive to launch and maintain.


2. Signals can be delayed slightly.


3. It needs ground stations and special equipment.


4. It can be affected by space conditions.


5. It requires technical expertise.


6. It cannot be easily repaired once in orbit.


7. It contributes to space debris when abandoned.

Classifying Information by Mode of Transmission

A. By the Mode (How it is received by the senses)

1. Audio Transmission — Received by hearing such as radio and oral communication.


2. Visual Transmission — Received by sight such as drawings, newspapers, and posters.


3. Audio-Visual Transmission — Received by both hearing and sight such as television and video call.

B. By the Direction of Flow

1. Simplex Transmission: One-way communication, for example radio or television.


2. Half-Duplex Transmission: Both parties can communicate but not at the same time, for example walkie-talkie.


3. Full-Duplex Transmission: Both can send and receive messages at the same time, for example telephone.