UNIT-1

Introduction to Information & Communication Technology (ICT)

1.1. Information and Communication Technology
➢ The term Information Communication Technology (ICT) refers to all
communication technologies, including: -
Internet,
Mobile phones,
Television,
Computers,
Tablets, and
Cameras.
✓ It also refers to integrating telephone and audio-visual networks with computer
networks to enable the users to access, retrieve, store, transmit, and manipulate
information in a digital or electronic form.
➢ Information Technology (IT) refers to an entire industry that uses computers,
networking, software, and other equipment to manage information.
✓ It is the process of creating, maintaining, and using computer software, hardware,
and networks.
➢ Although IT and ICT are related concepts, they are not the same. IT is a broader
concept and a technology that is related to computing data whereas ICT is related
technologies in communication.
1.2. Basic Elements of ICT System
➢ ICT system consists of five basic elements such as data, information, communication,
user, and technology.
A. Data: It is one of the basic elements of ICT system. It can be defined as any type of
representation of an object or an event. Numbers, text symbols, speech, image, and so on
are all examples of representation. Data must be processed or provided with a context
before it is given meaning.
✓ For Example, Abebe, 15, Kebede, 17, Sara, 12, Mohammed, 16, Alemu, 20, Dawit,
and 18.
B. Information: is the result of processed data. Data processing occurs when data is
collected and translated into usable information. This result allows the processed data
to be put into context and give meaning.
✓ For Example, Abebe is 13 years old and a grade 7 student.
➢ Data only takes meaning and becomes information when it is interpreted. Data
interpretation is the process of reviewing data through some predefined processes
which will help assign some meaning to the data and arrive at a relevant conclusion.
C. User: is a person who has access to ICT and utilizes it. It is humans who develop and
operate the software, feed data, create and maintain the hardware, define the procedures,
and finally determine if an ICT succeeds or fails.
D. Communication: is the process of passing information from one place to another.
Providing information to computers, reading information from any system, or the
transfer of message between two people are some of the examples of communication.
➢ To have communication among computers and other ICT systems, communication
devices are mandatory. Communication devices are basically devices that allow
computers and other ICT systems to communicate with one another.
E. Technology: refers to a set of tools and machines created by humans to solve problems.
It allows humans to study and evolve the physical elements that are present in their lives.
Technology can be found: -
 In our homes,
 In personal places,
 In industries,
 In business, and
 In the medical profession.
✓ For example, we can use mobile phones technology which enables us to
communicate with other people who are far away from us. Television is also
another example of technology we use to watch movies and news.
1.3. ICT in our daily life
➢ ICT is a broad subject and an evolving concept. It has a great impact on our daily
lives. We encounter many new technologies in our everyday lives. We use ICT : -
 At home,
 At school,
 In the workplace,
 In the streets,
 In places we visit during holidays,
 On business, and
 In public spaces
1.3.1. ICT in Communication
➢ In the past, our parents used to write letters. However, with the help of ICT, it is now
easy to communicate with our loved ones.
✓ For example, humble online communication for experience sharing and
peacekeeping, short message service (SMS), email and social media are the most
common services of ICT that we use in our daily life to communicate with our
loved ones. Radio and television are also a kind of ICT for communication.
1.3.2. ICT in Education
ICT contributes greatly to education because it improves the way of education and provides
a better educational environment.

✓ For example, we can think of radio and television education programs prepared
by the Ethiopian Ministry of Education for primary schools, and plasma
educational channels for secondary schools.
➢ The use of computers, tablets, displays, interactive electronic boards, and ICT
technologies help to expand access to education. Through ICT, learning can occur
anytime and anywhere.
✓ For example, students can access textbooks and other educational resources from
the internet. These resources can be obtained through video clips, audio sounds,
and visual presentations.
➢ ICT enables an inclusive right for information access. For example, if someone has a
sight problem, he/she can access information by listening to audio sounds.
1.3.3. ICT in Entertainment
ICT provides a variety of entertainment and leisure activities that can be easily accessed from
our home.

✓ For example, from television, we can watch movies and music. We can also play
games on the internet in our free time.
1.3.4. ICT in in electronic commerce
Electronic commerce (E-commerce) is the buying and selling of goods and services, or
the transfer of funds and data through the internet.

Generally, ICT is all around us. It is becoming increasingly important in people’s lives, and
its importance is predicted to continue in the future.

1.4. What is computer?

A computer is any calculating device or machine. But these days, computers process not
only numbers but also texts and pictures. Therefore, the meanings of computers,
nowadays, are broader than computing concepts.

Functions of a computer
The basic functions of a computer are entering, processing, and producing processed
data (information).

Characteristics of computer
Though computers allow us to do many things, there are a number of physical and emotional
risks that will result in the overuse and incorrect use of computers. For example, if children
play computer games too much, they may experience particular physical problems such as
muscle and joint pain, overuse injuries of arms, wrist or hand and eyestrain.

Components of the computer system

A computer system, like a human being, can be viewed as a combination of body and mind.
The computer system has two parts: hardware and software.

UNIT-2
Computer Hardware
2.1. Introduction to Computer Hardware
Computer hardware is the physical part of the computer that you can see and touch. It
can be categorized based on the nature of their functions: -

 Input devices
 Processing (Central processing unit)
 Output devices
 Storage devices
2.2. Input Devices
Input devices are parts of computer hardware that are used to insert data into computer
system. Common input devices are: -

 Keyboard: Keyboard is the most common and widely used input device for entering
data into a computer.
 Mouse: Mouse is commonly known as a pointing device, allows you to point to things
on the screen, click on them, and move them around.
 Scanner: Scanner is used to convert a hardcopy document such as photographs to
softcopy.
 Touch Screen: a touch sensitive screen is a pointing device that allows the user to
interact with the computer by touching it.
 Light pen: Light pen is a pointing device in the shape of a pen. It can be used to select a
menu item or to draw on the monitor screen.
 Camera: Camera is used to capture photographs and save them in its memory.
 Barcode reader: Barcode reader is used to read a barcode. A barcode is a pattern made
up of different thickness lines. This technology allows for quick and error-free data
entry into the computer.
 Microphone: it is a device used to input spoken word as input data or commands.
2.3. Central Processing Unit (CPU)
CPU is the brain of the computer which performs all arithmetic, logical and control
operations. It is responsible for all functions and processes. The CPU consists of three
components: -

 Arithmetic-logic unit,
 Control unit, and
 Register.

Arithmetic-Logic Unit (ALU): ALU is responsible for performing arithmetic and logical
operations and comparing data. Arithmetic calculation is used to perform addition,
subtraction, multiplication, and division whereas logical operation is used to compare
numbers, letters, or special characters.

Control Unit: The control unit controls and directs the operation of the whole computer
system.

Registers: Register is a special and a small high-speed memory of CPU which is used to store
temporary results and control information.

2.4. Output devices

➢ An output device is computer hardware that allows a computer to communicate the
results of data processing to the outside world.
 ➢ A computer’s output device allows data to be easily understood by a human. The
following are some of the important output devices used in a computer.
 Monitor  Plotters
 Printer  Speaker
Monitor: Monitor is a device that displays information in pictorial or text form. The visual
and graphics information generated by the computer is shown on the monitor via the video
card.

Printer: Printer is a type of output device that prints data on paper. A hard copy is created
when you print something.

Plotter: Plotter is an output device like a printer used to produce highly graphical pictures
or posters.

Speaker: Speaker is a hardware device that outputs sounds generated by the computer. It
can be used to play music.

2.5. Storage devices

A storage device is used to store data in a computer system. It can store data either
temporarily or permanently. There are two types of storage devices: -

1. Primary storage device, and

2. Secondary storage device.
1. Primary storage devices: Primary storage, also known as main memory, is the part of
the computer that stores current data, programs, and instructions that can be accessed
by the processor as needed.
There are two common types of primary storage: Random Access Memory (RAM) and
Read Only Memory (ROM).

RAM: RAM is responsible for storing the instructions and data that the computer is using at
that present moment in time. It is usually described as temporary (volatile) memory
because its contents can be lost when the computer is turned off.

ROM : ROM refers to computer memory containing permanent data. ROM stays active
regardless of whether a computer is turned on or off.

2. Secondary storage devices: Secondary storage stores data and information

permanently. Any nonvolatile storage device, whether internal or external to the
computer is referred to as a secondary storage device. Secondary storage devices can
be used as input and output devices. Examples of Secondary storage devices are:
 Hard Disk  USB flash disk
 Optical Disk  Secure digital (SD) card
Hard Disk: is the most common and usually largest data storage device in a computer
system.

Optical Disk: is any computer disk that uses optical and laser technologies to read and write
data. Some examples of optical disk include:

 Compact Disc (CD) and

 Digital Video Disc (DVD).
NB: CDs can store up to 700 megabytes (MB) of data and DVDs can store up to 8.4 GB of data.

USB flash disk: USB flash drive is used for storage, data back-up and transferring of
computer files.

Secure digital (SD) card: Secure digital (SD) card is a type of removable memory card used
to read and write data in a wide variety of mobile electronics and cameras.

❖ Units of data storage measurements are used to express the size of the data that is
going to be stored in our storage device. The smallest unit used for measuring data is a
bit while a byte is used as the fundamental unit of measurement for data. Kilobyte (KB),
megabyte (MB) and gigabyte (GB) are the commonly used data measurement units. Bit
is a Single Binary Digit (1 or 0).
 One byte = 8 bits
 One kilobyte (KB) = 1,024 Bytes
 One megabyte (MB) = 1,024 Kilobytes
 One gigabyte (GB) = 1,024 Megabytes
 One terabyte (TB) = 1,024 Gigabytes

UNIT-3
Computer Software
3.1. Introduction to Computer Software
Computer software is a collection of computer instructions or programs that tell the
computer what to do and how to perform tasks. Computer hardware cannot perform any
tasks without software.

 For example, without an operating system, we cannot start a computer. The

hardware is designed to accomplish a variety of tasks, and the software
instructs the hardware on how to complete each task.

Both computer hardware and software are interdependent, and neither can be used on
their own. There are two types of software: System software and Application software.
3.1.1. System software
System software is responsible for controlling, integrating, and managing the individual
hardware components of a computer system.