My TN Connection

The term ‘media conversion’ can be easily misinterpreted by those who are unfamiliar with data networking technology and the wide range of hardware equipment and software programs that support computer networks. Alternate meanings can be applied to each of the words which make up the term, and as a result, media conversion is used to reference a wide variety of technology based equipment and/or software.

This particular article will simply define the meaning of the term ‘media conversion’ as it relates to the data networking industry and the transfer of data on a computer network.

Part I – Media

Media, which is plural for ‘medium’, is a word which can be applied to any number of tools, or instruments, used in communication, such as art and design, broadcasting, internet applications and the transfer of electronic data. The most common use of the word refers to radio, television, newspapers and magazines. See media as defined by the Random House Unabridged Dictionary below:

(Usually used with a plural verb) the means of communication, as radio and television, newspapers, and magazines, that reach or influence people widely: The media are covering the speech tonight.

The definition above clearly has nothing to do with data networking, which supports the reasoning for proper clarification of the fore-mentioned terminology.

In this case, we must refer back to the word, medium, which has multiple definitions. To review the variety of definitions, refer to search results for the keyword ‘medium’, on dictionary.com.

One particular definition of ‘medium’ is very close to the meaning that is intended for the word ‘media’ as it is used in the data networking industry. See medium, as defined by The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition below:

An intervening substance through which something else is transmitted or carried on.

This simple definition best describes what is meant when the word media is used to describe the object or item that is to be converted on a computer network.

Part II – Conversion

The word ‘conversion’ also has numerous definitions, ranging from a change in spiritual belief to changes in mathematical expressions. The most common use of the word conversion is to describe a change, or as defined by the Random House Unabridged Dictionary:

Change in character, form, or function.

Random House includes additional definitions which are more relevant to computer systems, data and software. These are the meanings that normally apply when referencing computer data networks and equipment:

a. the process of changing software designed to run on one computer system to run on another.

b. the change from an existing computer system to a new computer system.

c. the act of transferring or copying data stored on one storage medium to another storage medium.

d. the process of changing the base that a number or numbers are written in.

By combining the listings above, we learn that conversion can be translated as “the process of changing.” To create a simple definition, this basic translation will be used as the foundation for the second part of the term.

In addition, when we combine the two words and follow rules of the English language, we know that it would be incorrect to say “medium conversion”. Therefore, we translate it into the grammatically correct, plural form, which is “media conversion”.

Part III – Media Conversion

Media conversion is the transferring or changing of data from one physical substance to another. Each substance, known as media, will transmit the same data through a computer network or legacy network. One specific example of a media conversion application would be to convert copper cabling to fiber cabling through the use of a hardware device, or media converter. The data is initially transmitted over a copper cable and then converted to a fiber cable.

For educational purposes, Transition Networks defines media as “a flexible cable made up of either metal or glass wire, or group of wires, which is insulated with a material such as plastic or rubber and is used as the medium to transport data communication signals in a computer network.” This definition is very specific and was designed to clarify the term for use in the TN Now presentation, Introduction to Media Conversion Technology. If you desire to learn more about media conversion, this self-paced training presentation allows you to learn at your own convenience. You can also find additional information about media conversion at transition.com.

Based on the study of the combined words, and the provided example application, a simplified version of the definition for media conversion can be formed. Media conversion simply defined is the process of changing the substance through which data is transmitted.

This definition offers a simplified version of the term based on an interpretation of words. What is your interpretation of media conversion?

Keywords: Computer Network, Data Networking, Definition, Electronic Data, Equipment, Fiber Cable, Hardware, Media Conversion, Media Converter, Medium, Software, Systems, Transition Networks

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.