| A recent development is the local area
network (LAN). {{U}}(21) {{/U}}its name implies, it{{U}} (22)
{{/U}}a local area—possibly as small as a single room, typically an area
like an university campus or the premises of a particular business. Local area
networks were developed to{{U}} (23) {{/U}}a need specific to
microcomputers—the sharing of expensive resources. Microcomputers are cheap,
{{U}}(24) {{/U}}highcapacity disc stores, fast and/or good quality
printers, etc. are expensive. The object of the LAN is to allow{{U}} (25)
{{/U}}microcomputers shared access to these expensive resources. Since the
microcomputers are{{U}} (26) {{/U}}, it is a necessary feature of a LAN
that the method of connection to the network, and the network hardware{{U}}
(27) {{/U}}, must also be cheap. A local area network links a number of computers and a number of sewers{{U}} (28) {{/U}}provide communal facilities, e. g. file storage. (A server usually includes a small microprocessor for control purposes.) The computers and servers are known{{U}} (29) {{/U}}stations. There are two methods of{{U}} (30) {{/U}}in common use, tings and broadcast networks. In the ring method( often called a Cambridge Ring)all the stations are linked in a ring, {{U}}(31) {{/U}}includes one special station, the monitor station. In broadcast networks, all the stations are{{U}} (32) {{/U}}to a single linear cable (usually co-ax cable), and any transmission will be received by all stations. {{U}} (33) {{/U}}technology is used, local area networks are a development of the greatest importance. {{U}}(34) {{/U}}as programming is simplified by an approach that thinks in terms of small procedures or programs, each doing a well-defined job, the computer system of tomorrow is likely to be{{U}} (35) {{/U}}lots of small systems, each doing a specific job, linked by a local area network. |