LIVING IN THE IT ERA

SECOND SEMESTER
SY. 2022-2023

LESSON 2: COMPUTERS IN OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 4. GOVERNMENT

WHAT IS ICT?
• Various government agencies and the government
Information and Communications Technology is an
holistically use computers to improve the quality and
infrastructure and a component that enables modern
computing. efficiency of their services. Examples are city planning,
APPLICATION OF ICT IN DAILY LIFE law enforcement, traffic, and tourism.

1. COMMUNICATION → Campaigning of public officials. Technology

plays an important role for them as they could
• Information and Communications Technology present themselves in a platform reaching a wide
provides a wide range of platforms for a more efficient network of people. In today’s generation, public
way of communication such as: e-mail, instant officials are using various social media networks
messaging applications, social media networks, and to post and promote their projects, even their
web blogs. services could also be provided virtually.
• We access these applications through mobile devices
which apparently are computers made by ICT. 5. TRANSPORTATION
• Modern technology eases communication, even • Computers are essential for the creation, operation,
before with a sole use of the old telephone, making it and maintenance of all sorts of vehicles.
available anywhere and anyway possible. • Computers are increasingly utilized to manage safety
→ Thus, communication constantly evolves and navigation systems, to drive, fly, or steer, in road
simultaneously with technology. vehicles, trains, planes, and boats.
• They can also point out issues that need to be
2. BUSINESS addressed, like low fuel levels, oil changes, or a broken
• Computers aid businesses in various ways namely mechanical component. Individual settings, such seat
maintaining accounts, storing employee records, sales configuration and air conditioner temps, can also be
monitoring, creating inventories, as well as when customized using computers.
creating presentations and reports.
• ICT helps businesses operate on a daily basis. 6. JOB OPPORTUNITIES
• Modern technology/ ICT can also be a useful tool for • Work from home. Working from home and other
businesses in terms of reaching a vast target market remote work arrangements are becoming more typical
essential for brand promotions. and convenient thanks to computers. Without traveling
to a physical office, employees can access the
→ Online Shopping. Consumers tend to purchase information they need, communicate with co-workers,
and shop products online thus allowing businesses and exchange information just with the use of
to widen their marketing capabilities and computers. The productivity of employees can also be
advertisements. remotely observed by managers.
3. HEALTHCARE • Rise of Unemployment. One of the worst
repercussions of ICT might be the loss of jobs or the
• Similarly with businesses, ICT aids healthcare rise in unemployment. Some workers are now being
institutions through digitizing its system including replaced by automation, such as robots or other
medical data and information making it easier for them machinery, which decreases job opportunities for
to store as well as access all the patient information, jobseekers.
even diagnoses are now analyzed by software.
• Seemingly, even online consultations with medical 7. EDUCATION
professionals are now practiced. • Computers aid both students and educators in
significantly enhancing the educational process. Some
→ Medical equipment and apparatus such as of these include better and more efficient interaction
laboratory and surgery machines are all products of between learners and instructors, easier access to
ICT. e.g., X-ray, MRI, CT Scanner, Ultrasound more information and educational materials, enabling
Machineries self-paced learning, and expanding educational
opportunities.
 LIVING IN THE IT ERA
SECOND SEMESTER
SY. 2022-2023

NEGATIVE IMPACTS
✓ More efficient communication
✓ Reduced personal interaction and physical activity.
✓ Easier access to a wider range of learning
– Ironically, people are less inclined to interact or
materials
meet in person because of virtual communication.
✓ Enabling self-paced learning
Due to the convenience of working from home and
✓ Expanding educational opportunities
the entertainment options the internet provides,
• Learners can receive audio-visual materials, physical exercise is decreased, which might
interactive tasks, and remote learning, including online create health problems.
tutoring, by utilizing computers.
✓ Jobs loss or increase in unemployment.
• Students can use e-books, intranet, and internet
– One of the worst consequences of ICT is this.
resources to access educational content. In addition
– Less employees replacing and reducing the number
to creating projects and assignments, they can be used
of people needed to do the same number of jobs.
to manage and monitor student performance,
especially through the use of online tests. ✓ Security
– The internet connections must constantly be
8. SCIENCE protected against various assaults, including
• Information technologies have revolutionized science. denial-of-service attacks, identity/IP address
• Science's fundamental processes—observing and spoofing, data alteration, and password-based
gathering data, classifying and analyzing, modeling attacks.
and simulating, as well as speculating and theorizing— – Computers need to be shielded against the
have been greatly enhanced by information numerous viruses and malware that are launched
technology. practically daily.
• Computers are essential for the launch, operation, and THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND OUR EVERYDAY COMPUTERS
maintenance of other cutting-edge technology.
A. TYPES OF COMPUTER NETWORKS
IMPACTS OF ICT IN THE SOCIETY ➢ The computers are able to communicate with one
another over networks.
POSITIVE IMPACTS ➢ A computer network is an interconnection of two or
more computers. This interconnection gives them
✓ Improved access to education the capability to share information and resources.
– Learning management systems (LMS) are new
methods of instruction that incorporate educational 1. PAN malapit; for 1 person
improvements including online tutorials, virtual – Personal Area Network (PAN)
reality, and interactive multimedia. – It is a type of connection which is often limited to an
individual person and its or her personal devices.
✓ Access to information and communication – These devices are within the range of a few centimeters
– New tools have been advertised, including Chat, up to 10 meters with each other.
video chat, Instant Messaging, VoIP, and email. ICT is 2. LAN
used for pleasure and recreation such as gaming, – Local Area Network (LAN)
watching movies, reading articles and news stories, – is a group of computers and other devices which are
as well as for partnerships with global citizens. connected in a limited area such as school, laboratory,
home and office building.
✓ Security – It is a widely useful network for sharing resources.
– The creation of physical security systems like
biometrics and the usage of encryption are only a 3. WAN
few of the security issues that may be resolved by – Wide Area Network (WAN)
individuals and companies with the evolution of – is another computer network that is spread across a
ICT. large geographical area. WAN could be a connection of
a LAN which connects with other LAN’s.
 LIVING IN THE IT ERA
SECOND SEMESTER
SY. 2022-2023

4. MAN
– Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) Some applications of twisted pair cables:
– It is a computer network across an entire city, college 1. Telephone Systems: to provide voice and data channels.
campus, or a small region. 2. LANs use twisted pair cables.
3. The DSL lines used by telephone companies also use
unshielded pair cables to provide extremely high data rate
B. TYPES OF COMMUNICATION CHANNELS
connections.
TRANSMISSION MEDIA
b. Coaxial Cable for television
– A transmission media (also known as communication
– Coaxial cable is also termed coax.
media) transmits information from the
– It is made up of a single solid copper wire core that is
source/transmitter to the receiver through which covered by insulating material.
transmission signals travel. – This cable is the same cable used for television. It has
– Ensures computer connections and the transmission
two (2) types:
of information in a network. It is a physical path for data
• 5 mm thick coaxial cable
transfer through electromagnetic signals which can
• 10 mm thick coaxial cable
also mediate the propagation of signals that regulates
telecommunication. Some applications of Coaxial Cables:
– Signals are imposed on a wave that is suitable for the 1. Digital telephone networks
chosen medium. 2. Analog telephone networks
3. Cable TV networks
TWO MAIN TYPES OF TRANSMISSION MEDIA 4. Ethernet LANs

1. LINE-BASED/GUIDED TRANSMISSION MEDIA c. Fiber Optics ginagamit sa wifi networks

– Guided media are also known as wired or bounded – Also known as light pulse media.
media, these media consist of wires through which the – It uses a binary method of data transfer.
data is transferred. – Fiber is made up of thin glass fiber. A fiber optics
– This is a physical link between transmitter and consists of a very narrow fiber of glass called the core.
recipient devices. The signals of these media are – These contain multiple optical fibers and are very often
directed in a narrow pathway using physical links. used for long-distance communications.
– These media types are used for shorter distances since – Compared to other materials, these cables can carry
physical limitation limits the signal that flows through huge amounts of data and run for miles without using
these transmission media. signal repeaters. It has two (2) types:
a. Twisted Pair Wire for telephone • Single-mode Fibers - It is capable of one-way
– Most commonly used communication media in Local transmission with a rate of almost 50 times more than
Area Networks (LAN) for data communication among multimode fibers. Used in small-scale companies and in
the computers. Normally, these wires are used in local local area networks also.
• Multimode Fibers - It has higher bandwidth and cable
telephone lines to carry voice and data signals. It has
of two-way transmission capable of higher data
two (2) general types:
transmission. Used in local area networks, corporate
• Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) - made up of two sectors, and private networks also.
insulated copper wires twisted around one another. Some applications of Fibre-Optic Cables:
This cable can block interference and does not 1. One of the most popular and important uses of Fibre-Optic
require a physical shield for this purpose. It is cables is the INTERNET.
employed in telephonic applications. These are the 2. Television broadcasting These cables are very much suitable
most used twisted pair cables in computer networks for transmitting signals for high-definition televisions
as well as in telecommunication. because of their greater bandwidth and speed.
• Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) - This twisted cable 3. In surgical operations in medicine, these cables are used in
consists of a foil shield to block external interference. various fields of medicine and research purposes as their
The insulation within these types of twisted cable cost is low as compared to other cables.
allows greater data transmission rate. These are used 4. It is used in industries and in defense services also these
in fast-data-rate ethernet and in data and voice cables are of great use.
channels of telephone lines. These cables are used
for both analog and digital transmissions.
 LIVING IN THE IT ERA
SECOND SEMESTER
SY. 2022-2023

2. UNGUIDED/WIRELESS TRANSMISSION MEDIA c. Microwave System

– Communicates with each other through air or – These waves can transmit both voice and data through
space as a medium. space using high-frequency radio signals and it is
– This media is a lot advantageous to be used at important for the transmitter and receiver antenna to
each and every place where it is impossible to be aligned. This is why it is known as line-of-sight
install cables as it helps in transmitting transmission. Line-of-sight transmission means that
electromagnetic signals without the need for the signals travel in a straight way and cannot bend.
physical connectivity between transmitter and – The microwave stations or antennas are usually
receiver. However, despite the fact that it has long installed on tall towers or buildings. Due to this, they
distances, it is less secure. are suitable for shorter distances. And as distance
covered by the signal is proportional to the height of the
a. Broadcast Radio Signals antenna, for longer distances, the height of the tower
– Transmitted in every direction throughout free space should be increased.
over long and short distances. This requires a – Another characteristic of microwave systems is that
transmitter to send and to receive (antenna, they can carry large quantities of data at high rates of
transceiver) - wherein as these are omnidirectional, speed, but the signals become weak after traveling a
sent waves can be received by any antenna. On the certain distance and require power amplification.
other hand, some networks use a transceiver that can Microwave Systems has two (2) types:
both send and receive signals.
• Terrestrial Type Microwave Transmission - In this
– These waves are useful when the data is to multicast
type, from one terrestrial station to another, high
from one sender to multiple receivers. Radio waves directional antennas are used for line-of-sight
can cover large areas, penetrate obstacles such as propagation paths. These are parabolic antennas having
buildings and walls, and it can be easily generated. diameters that range from 12 inches to feet depending
However, due to its omnidirectional nature, issues on their spacing. Terrestrial stations are placed within
such as interference might arise when another signal 20-30 miles to each other as it processes by having each
with the same bandwidth or frequency is sent. station receive signals transferred by the previous
station and then transfer these signals to the next
Examples of Broadcast Radio Communications: station. This is the way data is transferred from one
1. Bluetooth place to another. However, we should always keep in
2. Cordless Phones mind that there should be no buildings or mountains
3. AM/FM Radios between microwave stations.
• Satellite Type Microwave Transmission - Signals are
b. Infrared Signals
transmitted to those spaces where satellites are
– Infrared (IR) enables signals to transfer data from
positioned, and they retransmit the signal to appropriate
one device to another using infrared light waves locations. Since they only receive and retransmit the
wherein it requires a light–of–sight transmission. signal, they act as repeaters. It is a much more flexible
– These waves are useful for only very short distance and reliable method of communication in comparison
communication. Unlike radio waves, they do not with cables and fiber systems.
have the ability to penetrate barriers. However, it is
advantageous in a sense that it can be used to Examples of Devices that use Microwave Systems:
transmit digital data at high transmission rates. 1. Mobile Phones
2. Televisions
Thus, these have less interference and are more
3. Satellite Networks
secure.
4. Wireless Networks

Examples of Devices that use Infrared Signals:

1. Mouse
2. Keyboard
3. Printer
 LIVING IN THE IT ERA
SECOND SEMESTER
SY. 2022-2023

d. Communication Satellite IMPORTANT FEATURES:

– A Communication Satellite is a space station. It is
a. High Speed
a satellite that receives microwave signals from
the earth station and acts as a relay station by – If a system software doesn’t function properly, the
receiving data, amplifying it, and then whole computer will be corrupted.
retransmitting it to another earth station. – This is due to the responsibility of system software in
– Simply put, communication satellites magnify the doing various tasks, especially controlling the CD-
signals and retransmit them back to earth. The ROM, CPU, memory, floppy disk, and other computer
communication satellite is established in space parts.
that is very far near about 22,300 miles above the
b. Versatile
earth. But still, the data transfer speed of the
communication satellite is very high. – System software can run different programs at the
– The transmission from the earth station to a same time and even simultaneously.
satellite is called an uplink. The transmission from – Its versatility ranges from simple to complex functions.
the satellite to the earth station is called the
c. Hard to Manipulate
downlink.
– A lot of new models of software systems are user-
e. Cellular Radio
friendly when it comes to interfaces which allows the
– Cellular Radio is a telephone system that uses
users to change the setting to their preferences.
radio waves for mobile communications like
However, in order to manipulate the system, a user
carrying voice conversations. It is specifically used
must have advanced skills in doing it. Otherwise, there
in wireless modems and cellular telephones which
might be malfunctions that may occur while running
uses high-frequency radio waves to transmit voice
the computer if done improperly.
and digital data. Some connect notebooks or
mobile computers to their cellular telephone to d. Closeness to the System
access the Web or send and receive an email, etc.
– The separated system software from the system unit is
We also have Personal Communications Services
not directly connected to it and cannot access any files
(PCS) which is a set of technologies used for digital
which are contained by the system. They are
cellular.
independent.
C. TYPES OF COMPUTERS SOFTWARES – While the software systems which are dependent or
inside the computer require less space compared to
1. System Software
the independent system software.
- System software is a computer program which
deals more with running and facilitating the 2. Application Software
hardware and application programs of a
– Application Software is a computer program which
computer.
works on specific functions. Each application software
- These are the programs which compose the
serves its respective purpose.
operating system of a computer.
– heir functions might be for educational, work,
- System softwares include configuration files such
personal, or even business purposes.
as set of functions, and drivers for printers and
– Each program is made to help users of it do a range of
hardware devices.
activities, some of which could be connected to
Examples:
productivity, creativity, or communication. Devices
• Operation Systems
• Game Engines like Handheld computers, cellular telephones, etc.
• Industrial Automation
• Search Engines
• Computational Science Software
• Software as service applications
• BIOS and UEFI
• Firmware
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SECOND SEMESTER
SY. 2022-2023

Categories:
a. Educational
– Users of educational software benefit from a high
degree of engagement and the integration of
multimedia information. These two characteristics
set them apart from conventional instructional
methods.
– Students are more actively engaged in lessons
when multimedia content is included, such as
graphics, photos, and sound.
b. Business
– The application software category includes
business application software. These programs
are designed to speed up certain business
processes and increase operations' accuracy,
efficiency, and effectiveness through time savings
and productivity.
c. Governance
– Application software gives agencies a framework
for coordinating their development plan with the
broader company strategy by employing a formal
framework that enables them to track and assess
performance against specified strategic goals.
– Nevertheless, choosing the appropriate set of
goals is essential for success.
d. Personal
– There are applications software which are used for
personal growth and productivity of users.
– One good example of this is the set of application
for different exercises and yoga sessions which
can be installed in laptops, phones, and desktop
computers.

Examples:
● Microsoft Suites
● Music Software
● Internet Browsers
● Communication Software
● Google Suites