International Encyclopedia of Communication Online

Extract

Communication technology standards are technical specifications that enable technological components from different suppliers to work together within a given communication system. Some standards refer to the physical interfaces between network and terminal equipment. Others refer to logical elements expressed in algorithms and embodied in software. In digital systems, many standards involve both physical and logical elements: a standardized physical interface is supported by standardized software elements. Standards are essential to telecommunication, broadcasting, and computer networks. More recently they have become crucial elements in the integration of digital networking and services environments. Much standardization is limited to physical and/or logical interfaces between components and functions. However, it is often the case that systems or networks that adhere to common standards also may incorporate specific implementations that are not fully compatible. Indeed, an essential institutional dynamic in the standardization process involves determining the limits to standardization. Such factors add strong socio-economic and often political dimensions to the process of defining and adopting communication technology standards ( Schmidt & Werle 1998 ). Generally it is understood that standards have strong collective characteristics; that they are applied across entire product ... log in or subscribe to read full text