Introduction to Information and Communication Technology

Information and communications technology (ICT) refers to all the technology used
to handle telecommunications, broadcast media, intelligent building management systems,
audio visual processing and transmission systems, and network-based control and
monitoring functions. Although ICT is often considered an extended synonym for
information technology (IT), its scope is broader.

Information technology (IT) is the use of computers to store, retrieve, transmit, and
manipulate data, or information, often in the context of a business or other enterprise. IT
system is generally an information system, a communications system or, more specifically
speaking, a computer system – including all hardware, software and peripheral equipment
– operated by a limited group of users. The term is commonly used as a synonym for
computers and computer networks, but it also encompasses other information distribution
technologies such as television and telephones. IT is considered to be a subset of
information and communications technology (ICT).

ICT encompasses both the internet-enabled sphere as well as the mobile one
powered by wireless networks. It also includes antiquated technologies, such as landline
telephones, radio and television broadcast – all of which are still widely used today
alongside cutting-edge ICT pieces such as artificial intelligence and robotics. The list of ICT
components is exhaustive, and it continues to grow. Some components, such as computers
and telephones, have existed for decades but smartphones, digital TVs and robots, are more
recent entries.

Information Technology

Information technology (IT) is the use of any computers, storage, networking and
other physical devices, infrastructure and processes to create, process, store, secure and
exchange all forms of electronic data. Typically, IT is used in the context of enterprise
operations as opposed to personal or entertainment technologies. The commercial use of
IT encompasses both computer technology and telephony.

The term information technology was coined by the Harvard Business Review, in

order to make a distinction between purpose-built machines designed to perform a limited
scope of functions and general-purpose computing machines that could be programmed for
various tasks. As the IT industry evolved from the mid-20th century, computing capability
advanced while device cost and energy consumption fell lower, a cycle that continues today
when new technologies emerge.

According to Information Technology Trends in 2019, Information technology refers

to anything related to computing technology. The Internet, for example, comes under the
umbrella term IT. So does computer hardware, software, and networking. Software
includes all the computer programs – codes and instructions – within a computer.
Computers do not work without software. Hardware, in this context, refers to the physical
components of a computer system. The screen (monitor), mouse, and motherboard, for
example, are hardware items.

Evolution of Technology
The evolution of technology has always depended on one thing: the human
rationale. Humans tend to think of ways on how to discharge tasks or workload, or do daily
activities easily.
The concept of technology always starts with the basic tool. In order to build a
house, one cannot simply use his or her own two hands to cut wood and attach the wooden
pieces together. A hacksaw, hammer, and set of nails are needed to accomplish the task.
The concept of a wheel has also made transportation much easier, and enabled people to
move several objects from one place to another with ease.

By combining a set of tools, people have come up with machines that can do the
tasks faster and more efficiently. A Single-wheel transportation tool has inspired the
creation of a machine capable of transporting, not just objects, but also passengers. Thus,
vehicles have nowadays become more of a necessity rather than a form of luxury

Another type of machine that is considered a necessity is the computer. A computer

is an electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own
memory that can accept data, manipulate the data according to specified rules, produce
results, and store the results for future use. However, as technology evolves, so do
machines. Computers today are no longer the same computers your parents must have first
used. Most machines, including computers, have evolved through the process of
automation.

Automation is defined as "the technique of making an apparatus, a process, or a

system operate automatically." Automation includes a broad range of technologies
normally connecting computer systems to other systems, such as sensors, wireless
applications, expert systems, and systems integration, among others. The integration is
made in such a way that these interconnected systems are capable of self-acting or self-
regulation.

Automated systems can reduce the instances of errors, which are usually caused by
human-based decision and comprehension. Production companies often use automated
systems as part of their business process as automation increases productivity and lessens
the time to market.

However, an automated system is not the same as an intelligent system. Intelligent

systems are far more complex and are capable of learning. This is where the concept of
artificial intelligence comes in. One of the latest inventions in the automotive industry 1s
the intelligent car which is capable of driving and parking by itself.
Components of a Computer
What makes a computer work? By definition, a computer is an electronic device that
manipulates information or data. It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data. It
contains both hardware components and software applications.

The hardware pertains to the computer's physical devices, It is any part of the
computer that can be seen and touched. A computer's hardware consists of interrelated
electronic devices that are used to manipulate the computer's operation, input devices, and
output devices.

Input Devices
Working with a computer would be ineffective if one does not intermingle with it
because the machine cannot accept and receive instructions and/or deliver an output on its
own. Input devices enter or send data and instructions from the user or from another
computer system on the internet while output devices send back the administered data to
the user or to another computer system.
The following are some of the most common and important input devices of a
computer.

Keyboard - is the most common input device that accepts letters, numbers, and commands
from the user.

Mouse- lets one select options from on-screen menus. A mouse is used by moving it on a
flat surface, pressing its two buttons (left and right), and scrolling the wheel that is located
between the buttons. There are also alternatives to using a mouse.

A trackball has a ball that can rotate using a finger or the palm of a hand to move the
pointer.

A touchpad also called a trackpad is a touch-sensitive pad that lets the user move the
pointer by touching and dragging his or her finger on the pad. Touchpads are commonly
built-in on laptop computers.

Microphone- allows a user to speak into the computer to input data and instructions.
While there are available stand-alone microphones for computers, most of the time, users
buy a headset-a combination of microphone and earphones-for the sake of practicality.

Scanner-converts printed material (such as text and pictures) into a form the computer
can use. There are different types of scanners available; the most common is the flatbed
scanner. Scanners look like miniature printers with a flip-up cover protecting the glass
platen. They are often built into multi-function printers (MFPs). Another type becoming
common nowadays is the hand-held or portable scanners. Portable scanners can be small
enough to fit inside one's pocket. Pen scanners are just a bit bigger than fountain pens and
can scan the text of a document line by line. They do not give high-resolution scans and are
more expensive than flatbed scanners.

Digital camera - allows one to take pictures then transfer the photographed images to the
computer or printer instead of storing the images on a traditional film.

PC video camera - is a digital video camera that enables users to create a movie or take
still photographs electronically. With the PC video camera attached to the computer, users
can see each other as they communicate via the computer.

Output Devices
An output device is any hardware component that transmits information to one or
more people. The three commonly used output devices are as follows:

Printer- produces text and graphics on a physical medium such as paper. The two types of
printer are the impact printer and the non-impact printer. An impact printer makes contact
with the paper by pressing an inked ribbon against the paper using a hammer or pins . An
Printer example of an impact printer is the dot-matrix printer. A non-impact printer does
not use a striking device to produce characters on the paper, and because it does not
hammer against the paper, the printer produces less noise. Examples of non-impact
printers are inkjet printers and laser printers.

Monitor- displays text, graphics, and videos on a screen. Many monitors look similar to a
television. The three types of monitor available in the market are the following:
1. Cathode ray tube (CRT) - is a vacuum tube containing an electron gun at one end
and a fluorescent screen at another end. From this electron gun, a process called
thermionic emission generates a strong beam of electrons. These electrons travel
through a narrow path within the tube with high speed using various
electromagnetic devices and finally strike the phosphor points present on the
fluorescent screen, thus creating an image. Monitors employ the CRT technology
used most commonly in the manufacturing of television screens. A stream of intense
high-energy electrons is used to form images on a fluorescent screen.

2. Liquid crystal display (LCD) - is a flat-panel display that consists of a layer of color
or monochrome pixels arranged schematically between a couple of transparent
electrodes and two polarizing filters. Optical effect is achieved by polarizing the light
in varied amounts and making it pass through the liquid crystal layer.

3. Light-emitting diode (1ED)-is a flat-panel display that uses light-emitting diodes

for backlighting. The display is of LCD only but the backlighting is done by LEDs.
 LED monitors are said to use much lesser power than CRT and LCD, Thus, they are
also considered environment-friendly.

Speaker - allows one to hear music, voice, and other sounds. The signal used to produce
the sound that comes from a computer speaker is created by the computer's sound card.

System Unit
The system unit is the enclosure composed of the main elements of a computer that
are used to administer data. This can be referred to as a computer case or tower. The
circuitry of the system unit containing the primary components of a computer with
connectors into which other circuit boards can be positioned is recognized as motherboard.

Storage Devices
A computer can be utilized with only processing, memory, input, and output devices.
To make it very valuable, however, a Computer also needs a place to hold program files and
all related files when they are not in use. The goal of using a storage is to keep data
permanently.
There are many types of storage devices which include the flash disk drive, a small
portable storage device often referred to as pen drives, thumb drives, or jump drives. It has
a memory capacity of 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 1TB, and now up to 2TB,

Another type of storage is the hard disk drive. Most personal computers have at
least one non-removable hard disk that 15 regarded as a non-volatile memory which
permanently stores and retrieves data,
Another storage device is the compact disc. It is a flat, round, and portable metal
disc. One type of compact disc is a CD-ROM, which can be accessed using most CD and DVD
drives. Another type of compact disc is a DVD-ROM, which has enough storage capacity to
store a full-length movie.

Why Computers are Powerful

Computers are powerful for a variety of reasons. They work with remarkable speed,
reliability, consistency, and accuracy. Computers can store large amounts of data and
information. Also, computers allow users to communicate with other users or computers. A
user is anyone who communicates and interacts with a computer or makes use of the
information it generates.

Speed. ln the system unit, operations get done through electronic Circuits. When data,
instructions, and information drit along these circuits, they travel at incredibly fast
speeds.Most computers bring out billions of operations in a sing second. The world's fastest
computer can perform trillions operations in one second.

Reliability and consistency. The electronic components in modern computers are

dependable because they have a low failure rate. The high reliability of components
enables the computer to produce consistent results.
Accuracy. Computers process large amounts of data and generate error-free results,
provided the data is inputted correctly and the instructions work properly. If data is
inaccurate, the resulting output is also incorrect. A computing phrase known as garbage in,
garbage out points out that the accuracy of a computer's output depends on the accuracy of
the input.

Communication. It is unbearable to go through a day without Communication.

Communication happens between two or more people sending and receiving messages
from one another. The one sending the message is referred to as the sender while the one
receiving the information is known as the receiver. The message being transmitted can
contain facts, thoughts, perceptions, judgments, beliefs, attitudes, commands, and even
reactions. For example, two computers connected by a communications device, such as a
modem, can share stored data, instructions, and information. These two computers can be
located in the same room or thousands of miles away from each other in two different
countries.