When you use your personal computer to obtain information from other computers, whether across a town or a continent, you are telecommunicating. Much like people, computers can "talk" to each other over long distances, given the necessary technology. Telecommunications technology is rapidly growing and fairly complicated. Like any other technical field, it has its own special terminology. This help topic defines some of the more common and useful terms, without delving into complicated technical details. If you need or want more information, any bookstore with a computer section has many titles on the subject. See: Modems.