Unit 3: Basic ICT Skills

NOTES
1. In what ways do we deal with information. Explain very briefly.
Information is dealt with by us in following ways:
1. Accessing the information: Various means like computers, communication networks, smart
phones help us access information through world wide web.
2. Creation of information: Computers, digital cameras, digital recorders, smart phones,
scanners etc. help us create information in various forms like text, audio-video and image.
3. Sharing and distributing information: The internet, communication networks and tools like
video conferencing, video chat platforms, smart phones and computers are the tools to
disseminate information.
4. Storing and managing information: Databases, computers, storage devices like disks, pen
drives,
online drives are the means to store and manage information.
2. Explain any 2 roles of ICT in our personal daily life.
Entertainment
Presentation of content today has gained completely a different level. Entertainment, news and
field of journalism are greatly supported by computers. Sports, online games, movies, songs,
web series, video interaction with others have taken the entertainment to a next level.
Social Media
Sharing ideas, information, your personal views, achievements, setbacks or any news with
almost anyone and everyone across the globe in moments over internet is due to the World
Wide Web running on networks of computers. Integrated chat services, photo sharing services,
video upload and video interactions are a routine today. Facebook, Whatsapp, Snapchat, Skype
and YouTube have entirely changed the way we connect with people. Writing, photography,
filmmaking, singing, video editing, video consulting, online coaching, relationship advice are
new opportunities today.
3. In which 2 industrial or business areas ICT is playing an important role and how?
Health Care
Online diagnostic services, creatively designed medical equipment, consultancy services,
personal doctor on-call, personal online physical trainer etc. are the examples of ICT
intervention in healthcare.
Banking Industry
Entire financial industry all over the world relies and runs over computers and sophisticated
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communication infrastructure. Computers are used by banks to maintain the financial
database, customers and day to day transactional details. Instant online transactions, secured
transfer of funds, encrypted communication of data, verifying authenticity, efficient customer
support, reaching out with financial schemes to mass – this all has been greatly revolutionised
using computers.
4. Why is keyboard called standard input device?
Most of the input is given in the form of commands and text to the computer. Since the advent
of modern computers, keyboard has been the device used to give input to the computer hence
it is called the standard input device which completes the computer system.
5. What is swift triple mouse click?
Swift triple mouse click selects the whole paragraph.
6. How do ALU and CU aid in data processing by computer?
The arithmetic-logic unit (ALU) performs all arithmetic operations and logic operations. Logic
operations test various logical conditions encountered during processing.
Control Unit (CU) is the circuitry that issues commands to other hardware components to
execute programs. It manages the execution of program instructions by fetching instructions
from memory, parsing those instructions as necessary and then scheduling the appropriate
hardware components to act on those instructions.
7. List any 2 main functions of CPU.
Functions of CPU
1. The CPU accesses and stores the relevant data and instructions during processing.
2. The CPU controls the sequence of operations.
8. Why ROM and RAM called primary memory?
RAM is used to store primary working data of the user and ROM stores instructions required
to start up and boot the computer. Without these two computers cannot start up and function
hence they are called primary memory.
9. How is ROM different from RAM?
RAM is main working memory of the computer. It stores the working data of the user as long
as computer is powered on while ROM contains permanent instructions. RAM is Read/Write
memory as data can be read and written on it while ROM is Read Only memory. Storage
capacity of RAM is higher than that of ROM. RAM is upgradable.
10. Why printer is called a peripheral device while not the keyboard?

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Computer can still work in absence of a printer. If a printout is required, printer can be attached
and installed with the computer anytime. Printer only extends the functionality of the computer
but it is not very necessary part of it.
11. Explain any 2 storage devices.
Digital Card Reader-Writer
Digital card readers are found in devices like laptops, digital cameras and smart phones. These
devices have slots to read from and write on the memory cards. These cards are available in
various storage capacities ranging from 16 GB to 1 TB.
External Hard Drives
In addition to computer's main storage device – Hard disk there are external hard drives
available. They can be easily connected with the computer through USB port. External drive
is the best suited device for keeping backup of the computer data since it can store data in the
range of 500 MB to 2 TB or even more in near future.
12. Explain the optical disks briefly.
Optical discs can store information or data like video, audio, text, images, games, software etc.
Various types of optical discs are available which can store up to 8 GB data.
CD-ROM stores data for distribution for example, music CDs. It is read-only storage media.
It stores data up to 700 MB.
There are 2 types of CDs:-
CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable): Data can be written once but read many times from it.
CD-RW (Compact Disc Re-Writable): It allows us to erase previous data and write new data
on them.
13. What is the basic difference between a printer and a plotter?
Printer prints out the hard copy of the documents and images over variety of medium like
paper, plastic sheets etc. while plotters draws or plots building maps or product designs. It is
used by architects and product designers. A Plotter prints high-quality graphics or drawings.
14. What is operating system? List any 2 functions of operating system.
Operating system controls entire functionality of the computer system. Operating system
allows the user to interface with the computer hardware and make use of other software
applications on the computer.
Two Functions of Operating System
Managing hardware devices: Controls functioning and interaction among devices.
Managing software and scheduling programs: Keeps track of installed software and allocates/
deallocates memory to the required programs.

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15. Describe any 2 types of operating system.
Single User OS: Such operating systems allow one user at a time on a system. Examples:
DOS and Windows 95
Multi-User OS: Such operating systems support more than one user at a time on the same
computer.
Examples: Windows 7, Windows 10, Linux, Unix.
16. How is application software different from an operating system?
Application software are used to perform various tasks in a variety of fields while operating
system controls the functioning of the computer system.
17. Why operating system needs to be loaded first in computer's memory when it is
switched on?
Operating system controls entire functionality of computer system, it manages other software
applications on the computer, devices connected to it and memory. It also provides user an
interface to work with computer. Until the operating system is loaded in computer’s memory,
user cannot work on the computer therefore operating system should load very first.
18. List any 4 parts of a GUI.
Desktop, Start Menu, Task bar, Icons, windows etc.
19. What do you see on a desktop generally?
Every GUI component appears over the desktop. On the desktop, icons of shortcuts of various
programs, Recycle Bin, Computer and Network are seen. In the background either colour is
set or a wallpaper is there. At the bottom, Taskbar is situated.
20. What is the role of folders?
Folders store files and other folders called sub-folders. They help us organise our data in
various folders.
21. Describe the use of taskbar in Windows.
Taskbar is usually found on the bottom of the desktop and displays Start button and system
tray.
Various parts of the taskbar are:
1. Start Button: The Start button is found on the left side of the taskbar. When we click on the
Start button, a menu appears which is known as the Start menu. We can find and open all the
programs from the Start menu.
2. Quick Launch toolbar: The Quick Launch toolbar provides an easy access (in single- click)
to our favourite programs. These programs can be opened in one click.

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3. Middle Section: The Middle Section shows us the programs and files we have opened and
allows us to quickly switch between them.
4. System Tray: The System Tray is used to show the date and time and various other
notifications.
22. List the advantages of email over traditional mail.
E-mail offers many advantages over traditional mailing system listed below:
1. Sending and receiving e-mail is very fast. It is received and delivered within seconds across
the world.
2. E-mail is an affordable means of communication as compared to other systems.
3. Sending and receiving e-mail is very easy and convenient. Any type of files can be sent as
an attachment through e-mail.
23. What is the structure of an email address? Give an example.
E-mail addresses or E-mail ID identifies the receiver. It has username followed by @ sign and
then name of the email service provider website. [email protected] is an example of an e-
mail address.
24. How will you forward an email along with an attachment?
Steps to forward the mail are:
1. Click on mail, which you want to forward.
2. Now, click on arrow next to the Reply option. A menu appears.
3. Select Forward option. A new frame appears below the mail details, to forward the message.
4. Type the email address of the recipients in To text box and type the text in the message.
5. Click on the Attachment The File Upload dialog box appears after clicking on Attachment
option to select the attachments.
6. Click on Send button.
25. What is a blog?
Blog is an online platform which allows a person to post his/ her views on a particular topic
or issue in the form of an online article for other people to visit and go through. Readers can
post their comments on the article and this way threads of interaction and dialogues begin.
Blog is an excellent way to showcase your writing and reporting talents or just to share your
thoughts and views in an structured way. A person who writes and maintains a blog is called
blogger.
Any person who has basic computer knowledge and has drafting skills can create a blog. Some
popular blog services are Wordpress, Blogadda, Blogger, Tumblr etc.
26. How is facebook a popular social media platform?

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Facebook is one of the most popular social website that allows people interact with each other
for free. Sending and accepting friend requests, sharing videos, pictures and posts, creating
pages, events and photo albums and online chat are some exciting features which make
Facebook popular.
27. In what manner can you interact with people on Facebook?
We can post comments on other people’s posts. We can share videos, pictures, pages and
events with others. We can respond with likes and other responses to other’s posts. Facebook
chat is another way to interact with others.
28. What is tweeting and re-tweeting?
A post on Twitter is called tweet. Someone reposting anybody’s tweet is called retweet.
29. Explain Youtube channel and its advantage.
Youtube channel allows people to create a collection of uploaded videos. Channel is a series
or collection of related vidoes. The advantage of having a channel for creator is that popularity
of multiple videos can analysed as one channel. It is easier to manage a channel as compared
to individual videos. For users, it is easier to subscribe the channel so that they get reminder
about any new video updated by the channel owner.
Users can create a playlist of their favourite channels depending on their interests like
education, sports, cookery etc.
30. What are various Digital India initiatives taken by Indian government?
1. Multi channel, multi-lingual, multi-service mobile app Unified Mobile Application for New
Age Governance (UMANG) to access all government services over handheld devices.
2. Adhaar number has enable to access digital signature service eSign.
3. People can keep digital copies of their important documents over DigiLocker.
4. eHostpital application to for enquiring about blood donation services, appointments for
checkup diagnostics, registration and payment for fees of the service availed.
5. Swachh Bharat Mission app to promote cleanliness as a nationwide mission.
6. eSampark application to promote communication in regional language.
7. Pradhanmantri Digital Saksharta Abhiyan to make rural households digitally literate.

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