Types of Communication Equipment Most Commonly Used in The Industry Reservation Environment

A) VISUAL DISPLAY UNIT (VDU)
~ is an automated system access terminals comprise a cathode ray tube (CRT) screen and usually, but not necessarily a keyboard for system interrogation.

B) PRINTER TERMINALS
~ Used only to received messages from a system such as system responses or screen dumps from VDU or from a network such as interline messages and are therefore often referred to as Received Only Printers (ROPs).

C) TELEPRINTER
~ A machine similar to an electric typewriter. Used as a telecommunication system for the transmission and reception of messages by means of electrical impulses which are translated into printed characters.

D) TELEX MACHINE
~ A telephone which operates in the same manner as a telephone. For example, before transmitting any message, the sender must obtain temporary communication connection by "dialing" the recipient's telex number. The advantage, there is an answerback / feedback facility which confirms the connection is success.

E) FAX
~ A machine operates like teleprinter or telex machine but the date to be transmitted is presented to the machine already prepared on page copy (documents). It does not have to be typed into the machine. However, there is no answerback facility so a careful procedure must be given before transmitting documents.

F) ELECTRONIC MAIL (E-MAIL)
~ A new method in communication, overcomes the need for those trying to communicate urgent information to be physically contactable at the time of the intended communication.