Information and Communication Technology

Information technology
• Information technology (IT) is the study, design, development, implementation, support
management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications,
computer hardware and mobile devices.
• IT deals with the use of electronic computers and computer software to convert, store,
protect, process, transmit and security retrieve information.

• Information technology is the technology used to store, manipulate, distribute or create

information
• The main tool in ICT or IT is
the electronic devices, that
processes data according to a
set of instructions which is a
computer.
 Definition of Computer
• A programmable machine.
• Any device which aids humans in performing
various kinds of computations or calculations.
Three principal characteristics of
computer
• It responds to a specific set of instructions in well-
defined manner.
• It can execute a pre-recorded lists of instructions.

• It can quickly store and retrieve large amounts of

data.
Where does the word computer come
from?
History of computer: Basic Computing Period
Earliest computers originally calculations were computed by humans, whose job titles was
computers.
• These human computers were typically engaged in the calculation of mathematical
expression.
• The calculations of this period were specialized and expensive, requiring years of training in
mathematics.
• The first use of the word “computer” was recorded in 1613, referring to a person who carried
out calculations, or computations, and the word continued to be used in that sense until the
middle of the 20th century.
Tools in Computing
Tally sticks- an ancient memory aid device to record and
document numbers, quantities, or even messages.

Abacus is a mechanical device used to aid an individual in

performing calculations.
• The abacus was invented in Babylonian in 2400 B.C.
• The abacus in the form we are most familiar with was
first used in China in around 500 B.C.
• It is used to perform basic arithmetic operations.
 Napier’s Bones
• Invented by John Napier in 1614.
• Allowed the operator to multiply, divide and calculate square and
cube roots by moving the rods around and placing them in
specially constructed boards.

Slide Rule
• Invented by William Oughtred in 1622.
• Is based on Napier’s ideas about logarithms.
• Used primarily for –multiplication – division – roots –
logarithms – trigonometry
• Not normally used for addition or subtraction.
 Pascaline
• Invented by Blaise Pascal in 1642.
• It is too expensive.

Jacquard Loom
• The jacquard loom is a mechanical loom, invented by
Joseph-Marie Jacquard in 1881.
• It is an automatic loom controlled by punched cards.
 Z1
• The first programmable computer.
• Created by Konrad Zuse in Germany from 1936 to 1938.
• To program the Z1 required that the used insert punch tape
into a punch tape reader and all output was also generated
through punch tape

ENIAC
• ENIAC stands for electronic Numerical Integrator and
Computer
• It was the first electronic general-purpose computer.
• Completed in 1946.
• Developed by John Presper Eckert and John Mauchly.
 UNIVAC 1
• The UNIVAC 1 ( UNIVersal Automatic Computer 1) was the
first commercial computer.

EDVAC
• EDVAC stands for Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic
Computer
• The first stored program computer
• Designed by John Von Neumann in 1952.
• It has memory to hold both stored program as well as
data.
The first portable computer
• The first computer company was the Electronic
Controls Company.
• Founded in 1949 by John Presper Eckert and
John Mauchly.
History of Computer: Generations of Computer
Hardware
• Any physical device or equipment used in or
with a computer system
• External hardware- any hardware device
that is located outside the computer.
o Input device-a piece of hardware device,
which is used to enter information to a
computer for processing.
o Output device- a piece of hardware

device that receive information from a

computer.
• Internal hardware- any piece of hardware
device that is located inside the computer.
Software
• A set of instructions or programs that
tells a computer what to do or how to
perform specific task
• Main types of software- system
software and application software
• Application software- a computer
program that provides users with tools
to accomplish a specific task.
• System software- it is designed to run
computer’s hardware and application
software and make the computer
system available for use. It serves as
the interface between hardware,
application software and the user.
• Main functions of system software-
allocating system resources, managing
storage space, storing and retrieval of
files, providing security, etc.
• Main types of system software –
operating system, device driver, utility
software, programming software, etc.
• Operating system (OS)- a software that
controls and coordinates the computer
hardware devices and runs other
software and application on a
computer. It is the main part of system
software and computer will not
function without it.

• Main functions of an operating

system- booting the computer,
managing system resources,
managing files, handling input
and output, executing and
providing services for application
software.
• Device driver- software program that is
designed to control a particular
hardware device that is attached to a
computer.
• The main purpose of device
driver- it acts as translator
between the hardware device and
operating systems or applications
that use it.
• It instructs computer on how to
communicate with the device by
translating the operating system’s
instructions into a language that a
device can understand in order to
perform the necessary task.
• Utility software- a type of software that
helps set up, analyze, configure
strengthen, maintain a computer and
performs a very specific tasks.
Activity
Instructions: Identify each of the following items as hardware or software. If hardware
specify if it is external or internal, and if software system software or application software.

1. Flash drive- 8. ATM-

2. Central processing unit- 9. RAM-

3. Twitter- 10. Speaker-

4. Motherboard- 11. Google Chrome-

5. Printer Driver- 12. Database-

6. Microsoft PowerPoint- 13. Keyboard-

7. Avast- 14. Touchpad-

15. Adobe Photoshop-

Supercomputer
• The biggest and fastest
computers.
• Designed such that they can
process a huge amount of data,
like processing trillions of
instructions or data in just a
second.
• First developed by Roger Cray in
1976.
Mainframe computers
• Designed in such a way that they can support
hundreds or thousands of users at the same
time.
• It also supports multiple programs
simultaneously.
• It has high storage capacity and great
performance.
Minicomputer
• A medium size multiprocessing computer.
• There are two or more processors, and it
supports 4 to 200 users at one time.
• Used in places like institutes or
departments for different work like billing,
accounting, inventory management etc.
Workstation Computer
• Designed for technical or scientific
applications.
• It consists of a fast microprocessor, with
large amount of RAM and a high speed
graphic adapter.
• It is generally used to perform a specific
task with great accuracy.
Personal Computer (PC)
• Also known as a microcomputer.
• It is basically a general-purpose
computer designed for individual use.
Tablet and
Smartphones
• The types of computers that are
pocket friendly and easy to carry is
these are handy.
• These devices have better hardware
capabilities, extensive operating
systems, and better multimedia
functionality.