KAOMA YOUTH RESOURCE CENTRE

ICT MODULE
1. INTRODUCTION TO ICT
The letters ICT stand for Information and Communications Technology.

a. Information This is knowledge that is sent or received which deals with a

particular fact or circumstance.
b. Communication This is the sending and receiving of information which
can be in the form of words, symbols or signals through speaking, writing or
any other method.
Two technologies make up ICT, and these are:
– Information Technology
– Communications Technology
Information Technology
- IT is a combination of facilities for collecting, storing, retrieving and
processing of information.
- IT can be manual or electronic.
- The major component of electronic information technology is the
computer.
- Electronic information technology has many advantages as compared to
manual information systems
Communications Technology
- Communications Technology is a collection of facilities for transmission and
reception of information.
- Communications Technology can be manual or electronic.
- The major components of electronic Communications Technology are
computers and telecommunications facilities.
ADVANTAGES OF ICTS TO STUDENTS
- They make life easier and comfortable.

Mike Kafuti
ICT Instructor KYRC
 - They enable for faster communication.
- They enable huge tasks to be done quicker.
- They allow for work to be done collaboratively.
- They are very accurate and consistent – work can be done with almost no
errors.
- They can be used to automate tedious, routine and repetitive tasks.
- They can work for very long periods without requiring rest
DISADVANTAGES OF ICTS TO STUDENTS
- Some students place so much dependency on ICTs at the expense of their
human skills. ICT limits students’ imagination and critical thinking and
analytical skills.
- ICTs have been known to disrupt social fabrics in schools. For example, some
learners and teachers rarely interact with their colleagues
- They cause destructions because students are either playing digital games or
chatting on social media.
- The quality of work goes down because of “too much information available”,
especially on the web.
- Some social vices like pornography become more popular at the expense of
study materials.
- Over-use of computers may cause eye strain and other health hazards
collectively known as repetitive strain injury or RSI.

2. COMPUTERS

What is a computer?

A computer is a machine that performs tasks such as calculations or electronic

communication under the control of a set of instructions called a program.

Features of a computer

- Accepts data and instructions

- Stores the data and the instructions
- Retrieves data
- Processes data using the stored instructions
- Gives feedback or results in any desired format
Mike Kafuti
ICT Instructor KYRC
Understanding a computer.

- Strictly, a computer is not one item.

- A computer is a collection of different facilities which all work together to
accomplish a task.
- Therefore, a computer is a system.
- Generally, a computer consists of two main parts. The main parts are
hardware and software. Computer = Hardware + Software

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS

There are various classes of computers. It is important to understand the various

classes of computers for a number of reasons, e.g.

– Different computers are used for different purposes.

– Different computers have different processing power.
– Different computers have different costs.
– Different computers require different operating conditions.

Computers can be classified on the basis of many factors, e.g.

– Cost
– Speed of processing
– Amount of storage
– Operating environment
– Physical size

On the basis of the factors outlined above, computers are classified as follows:

- Microcomputers
- Servers
- Minicomputers
- Mainframe computers
- Supercomputers

MICROCOMPUTERS

– They are the most widespread.

– They are also called personal computers because of being single user.
Mike Kafuti
ICT Instructor KYRC
 – They include the following: • Desktops • Laptops • Notebooks • Netbooks •
Palmtops

FEATURES OF MICRO-COMPUTERS

- They are portable.

- They cost the least amount of money to buy.
- They use less sophisticated software and hardware.
- They can be upgraded easily.
- They do not necessarily require air-conditioned rooms.
- Their processing power can be increased by connecting them in a network.

Servers

Servers are not designed to be used directly. They make programs and data
available for people hooked up to a computer network, a collection of computers
connected together so that they can exchange data. See illustration below.

Mike Kafuti
ICT Instructor KYRC
Minicomputers

Minicomputers are multi-user systems that can handle the computing needs of a
smaller corporation or organization. Minicomputers were the second type of
computers to be introduced.

Mainframe computers

Mainframes are huge, multi-user systems designed to handle gigantic processing

jobs in large corporations or government ministries or departments.

Mike Kafuti
ICT Instructor KYRC
Supercomputers

Supercomputers are ultra-fast computers designed to process huge amounts of

scientific data then display the underlying patterns that have been discovered. They
are mainly used in research centres to help with the most advanced processing
operations. These computers are used in: Space exploration, Earthquake studies,
Weather forecasting, Nuclear weapons testing.

3. COMPUTER HARDWARE

- Computer hardware is the physical part of a computer.

- It consists of everything that can be touched, felt or seen.
- In general, computer hardware resources are in four categories as follows:
– Input – Processor – Storage – Output

1. INPUT DEVICES

Mike Kafuti
ICT Instructor KYRC
 - Input devices are used to capture data into the computer.
- Input devices are also used for entering commands.
- Commands are instructions that users give to the computer to initiate them
into action.
- Since the computer’s processor can only understand and do things in
machine language, an input device is used to convert data from human
language to machine language.

EXAMPLES OF INPUT DEVICES

There are many input devices in use. Examples are:

keyboard

These are input devices that have a range of keys for typing and performing other
functions. They resemble the typewriter keyboard in many respects. Some details
about keyboard devices are as follows:

• They are the most common input devices today.

• They are used to type data into the computer.
• They have special keys for giving the computer commands.

Mouse –is the most common pointing device.

A mouse, like all other pointing devices, is used for entering commands only.

Mike Kafuti
ICT Instructor KYRC
Joystick – is commonly used in computer games

Game controller - is also commonly used to play games.

Scanner

A scanner allows you to scan documents, pictures, or graphics and view them on
the computer. You can also use software to edit the items you scan.

Some facts about scanners are as follows:

• They are used to put printed pictures and text into a computer.
• They convert an image into dots that the computer can understand.
• To scan text, optical character recognition (OCR) software is needed.

Mike Kafuti
ICT Instructor KYRC
Digital Camera

• It is used to take electronic pictures of an object.

• The pictures taken by a digital camera can be used directly by a computer.

Microphone

• It is used to put sound into a

computer.
• The computer must have sound
recording/playing or editing
software, e.g. Windows Media
Player and Audacity, respectively.
• A sound card may also be required on the computer.
• The sound card converts analog signals to digital signals and vice versa.

Video camera

A video camera can be used to put moving pictures into the computer. In order to
be able to edit movies, the computer must have video editing software such as
Windows Movie Maker or Pinnacle Studio.

Mike Kafuti
ICT Instructor KYRC
Touch Screen
A touch screen is a computer screen or other screen that you can touch with your
finger to enter information. Nowadays you have come across cell phones and e-
readers that have touch screens.

Bar Code Scanner/Reader

A bar code scanner or reader scans a little label that has a bar code on it. The
information is then saved on the computer. Bar code scanners are used in libraries,
bookshops and supermarkets a lot.

Drawing Tablet
A drawing tablet is similar to a white board, except you use a special pen to write
on it, and it's connected to the computer. Then the word or image you draw can
be saved on the computer.

Mike Kafuti
ICT Instructor KYRC
Machine Language
Machine language is a programming language that can be understood directly by a
computer’s central processing unit. It consists of codes of characters in binary.
(Binary is base two.) In machine language, characters are represented by bits (i.e.
binary digits) which consist of ones (1) and zeros (0). For example, in a coding
scheme called ASCII, A is 01000001, B is 01000010 and C is 01000011. A binary
representation of a character represents the type of current that must flow when
the character is being entered from the input to the processor. Each 1 in the code
represents high current, and each 0 represents low current. Therefore, for a code
101010101, the current has the wave form

2. OUTPUT DEVICES

An output device is a device used to give feedback to the person using the
computer.

Types of output devices

Output devices are classified as softcopy output devices and hardcopy output
devices. Softcopy output devices give feedback that is intangible.

Examples Output Devices:

MONITORS AND DISPLAYS
These show the processed information on a screen. The are two type of monitors
CRT and LCD.

Mike Kafuti
ICT Instructor KYRC
 - A CRT (i.e. Cathode Ray Tube) monitor uses a Picture Tube like a television
with the image displayed on the front of the tube, which is called the
screen.

CRT Monitor

• Monitors used to be called Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) because of the picture
tube, which is a large vacuum tube.
• A monitor or display produces a soft copy. When the device is turned off the
information is erased.
• CRT monitors are being replaced by flat panel displays.

LCD Monitor

CRT Monitors

They have the cathode Ray Tube as shown below.

Advantages:
Mike Kafuti
ICT Instructor KYRC
 • They are cheaper than LCD monitors.
• They are easy to repair.

Disadvantages:

• They occupy a lot of space on the desk.

• They consume a lot of electrical energy.

LCD Monitors

They use liquid molecules.

Advantages:

• They occupy less space on the desk.

• They consume less electrical energy than CRT monitors.

Disadvantages:

• They are more expensive.

• They are not easily repaired when they develop faults.

Printers

• Printers produce a hard copy.

• The information is printed on paper and can be used when the device is off.
• Printed information is also called a printout.

Dot-matrix printers (impact printer)

Mike Kafuti
ICT Instructor KYRC
Facts about impact dot matrix printers:
1. They have a knob for advancing paper.
2. They use an inked ribbon.
3. They print by striking a pattern of dots on paper through the inked ribbon.

Advantages:
• They can be used with carbon paper to print multiple copies at once.
• Their ribbons are not very expensive.
• They are durable.
• They are excellent for high volumes of printing where high quality is not
essential.
• The ribbons fade gradually instead of abruptly running out of ink like in a
deskjet printer.
• The ribbon does not dry out easily, so the print looks good even if the
printer is rarely used.
• They can use fanfold paper, i.e. paper that is connected in a long
continuous sheet.

Disadvantages:
• They are very slow; they print one line or one character at a time.
• They make so much noise when printing.
• Print heads are difficult to replace when they get worn out.
• Their printout has low quality.
• They can print in black only.
• They are more prone to paper jamming, and their jams are more difficult to
clear.

Mike Kafuti
ICT Instructor KYRC
Ink jet printers (non-impact printer)
They use ink cartridges to print.

Advantages:

• They can print in colour.

• They are less expensive to buy.
• They make less noise when printing.
• They are very light; some are portable.
• Their printout has good quality.

Disadvantages:

• Their ink is expensive.

• They cannot be used with carbon paper.
• Their ink runs when touched with wet hands.
• Sometimes inkjet cartridges get clogged with dirty which either blocks the
ink droplets or causes them to land incorrectly.

Laser printers (non-impact printer)

They use toner and laser light.

Advantages:

Mike Kafuti
ICT Instructor KYRC
 • They print very fast.
• They print more quietly.
• They can print in colour or black.
• Their printout is of high quality.

Disadvantages:
• They are expensive to buy.
• Their toner is costly as well.
• They use laser light which is harmful when one is exposed to it.
• They consume more electrical energy.

How the laser printer produces an image

1. Firstly, a laser makes dots on a light sensitive drum
2. Toner (very tiny particles of carbon) is made to stick to the drum where the
dots where made
3. Paper is pressed against the drum and the toner is placed on the paper
4. The paper is heated and the toner melts into the paper

Mike Kafuti
ICT Instructor KYRC