CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT)

OVERVIEW

The concept of technology has evolved throughout the years. As the rate of human progress
continues to increase, society has adapted in such a way that technology no longer appeals to
mechanical or electrical systems alone. The term technology presently includes advancements in
communication and how information is handled, thus enabling governments, organizations, industries
and ordinary individuals to improve on their decision-making, business processes and everyday living.

IT versus ICT
When do we use the term ICT and how does it differ from IT? ICT, or information and
communications technology, is often used in a more general sense, and is described as using computers
and other digital technologies to assist individuals or institutions in handling or using information. ICT is
technology that supports activities involving information such as gathering, processing, storing and
presenting data. Increasingly, these activities also involve collaboration and communication.
IT, or information technology, pertains to the industry that involves computers, software,
networking, and other IT infrastructure to help relay or manage information important in modern-day
living as seen primarily in large companies or corporations. Simply put, IT is a subset of ICT as the
technology used in the field of IT aids in the use of ICT (Wang,2016).

Breakdown of ICT
ICT is made up of three words, namely information, communications, and technology.
 Information
Information refers to the knowledge obtained from reading, investigation, study, or
research. Some of the tools that transmit information are the telephone, television, and radio.
Not to be confused with data, information is regarded as processed data.
Information is needed to make decisions and to foresee the future. For example,
scientists can detect the formation of tsunami using the latest technology and warn the public to
avoid disasters in the affected areas.
Processed information is called knowledge. Knowledge helps fulfill daily tasks.

 Communication
Communication is an act of transmitting messages. It is a process in which information Is
exchanged between individuals through verbal and non-verbal means.

 Technology
Technology has evolved in ways that improve people’s daily activities. As mentioned
above, technology has made communication much easier and faster through telephones, fax
machines, mobile devices, and the internet. It has also made broadcasting of information, such
as news or weather reports, more effective. Radio, television, satellites, and the World Wide
Web are powerful tools that can be used in their office, school or house work, or in simple day-
to-day activities.
Evolution of Technology
The evolution of technology has always depended on one thing: the human rationale. Humans
tend to think of ways on how to discharge tasks or workload, or do daily activities easily. The concept of
technology always starts with the basic tool.
By combining a set of tools, people have come up with machines that can do the tasks faster
and more efficiently.
A type of machine that is considered a necessity is the computer. A computer is an electronic
device, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory, that can accept data,
manipulate the data according to specified rules, produce results, and store the results for future use.
However, as technology evolves, so do machines. Most machines, including computers, have evolved
through process of automation.
Automation is defined as “the technique of making an apparatus, a process, or a system operate
automatically.” Automation includes a broad range of technologies normally connecting computer
systems to other systems such as sensors, wireless applications, expert systems, and systems integration
among others. The integration is made in such a way that these interconnected systems are capable of
self-acting or self-regulation.
Automated systems can reduce the instances of errors, which are usually caused by human-
based decision and comprehension. Production companies often use automated systems as part of their
business process as automation increases productivity and lessens the time to market.
However, an automated system is not the same as an intelligent system. Intelligent systems are
far more complex and are capable of learning. This is where the concept of artificial intelligence comes
in.

History of Computer
Computers have evolved based on the type of components used in the design. At
present, scientist and researchers have identified five generations based on design, suitability, and
reliability. These generations of computers are briefly defined below.

 First-generation Computer (1946-1959)

The first electronic computer was developed in 1946. Designed by J. Presper Eckert and John W.
Mauchly from the University of Pennsylvania and financed by the United States Army, the Electronic
Numeric Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC) is considered to be the first-generation computer. ENIAC
was a modular computer, composed of several panels capable of performing different functions.
However, it could store only limited or small amount of information and only do arithmetic operations
such as addition and subtraction of up to 10 digits. The computer was roughly 167 square meters in size,
and weighed 27 tons.

 Second-generation Computer (1959-1965)

In the second generation, the transistor was used as the interior sections of the computer.
Transistors were much smaller, faster and more dependable than the vacuum tubes of the first-
generation computer. They generated less heat and consumed less electricity but were still very costly.

 Third-generation Computer (1965-1971)

IN 1965, Jack Kilby invented the integrated circuit (IC) that was used instead of transistors as the
interior sections to build the computer. A single IC has many transistors, resistors, and capacitors, that
even the full circuit board of a transistor can be replaced entirely with one chip. This chip made the
computers smaller, unfailing and effective. In this third generation, remote processing, time-sharing, and
multiprogramming operating system were used.
  Four-generation Computer (1971-1980)
From 1971 to 1980, very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuits were used to build computers.
These circuits have about 5,000 transistors and other circuit elements with their connected circuits on a
single chip known as the microprocessor. These fourth-generation computers such as personal
computers became more powerful, dense, reliable, and inexpensive. The other application of this
microprocessor technology can be used and applied for pocket calculators, television sets, automotive
devices, and audio and video appliances.

 Fifth-generation Computer (1980-onwards)

In this fifth generation, the VLSI technology has evolved into what is called ultra-large-scale
integration (ULSI) technology, with the manufacture of microprocessor chips having 10 million electronic
components. This generation involves computer intelligence which is associated with artificial
intelligence (AI), natural language, and expert systems that interpret the means and practices of
producing computers that think like human beings.

Components of Computers
What makes a computer work? By definition, a computer is an electronic device that
manipulates information or data. It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data. It contains both
hardware components and software applications.
The hardware pertains to the computer’s physical devices. It is any part of the computer that
can be seen and touched. A computer’s hardware consists of interrelated electronic devices that are
used to manipulate the computer’s operation, input devices, and output devices.

Input Devices
Input devices enter or send data and instructions from the user or from another computer system on
the internet while output devices send back the administered data to the user or to another computer
system.
The following are some of the most common and important input devices of a computer:
o Keyboard – is the most common input device that accepts letters, numbers, and
commands from the user.
o Mouse – lets one select options from on-screen menus. A mouse is used by moving it on
a flat surface, pressing its two buttons (Left and right), and scrolling the wheel that is
located between the buttons.
There are also alternatives to using a mouse. A trackball has a ball that can rotate using
a finer or the palm of a hand to move the pointer. A touchpad also called a trackpad is a
touch-sensitive pad that lets the user move the pointer by touching and dragging his or
her finger on the pad. Touchpads are commonly built-in on laptop computers.
o Microphone – allows users to speak into the computer to input data and instructions.
While there are available stand-alone microphones for computers, most of the time,
users buy a headset – combination of microphone and earphones – for the sake of
practicality.
o Scanners – converts printed materials (such as text and pictures) into a form the
computer can use. There are different types of scanners available; the most common is
the flatbed scanner. Scanners look like miniature printers with a flip-up cover protecting
the glass platen. They are often built into multi-function printers (MFPs). Another type
 becoming common nowadays is the hand-held or portable scanners. Portable scanners
can be small enough to fit inside one’s pocket. Pen scanners are just a bit bigger than
fountain pens and can scan the text of a document line by line. They do not give high
resolution scans and are more expensive than flatbed scanners.
o Digital camera – allows one to take pictures then transfer the photographed images to
the computer or printer instead of storing the images on the traditional film.
o PC Video camera – is a digital video camera that enables users to create a movie or take
still photographs electronically. With the PC video camera attached to the computer,
users can see each other as they communicate via the computer.

Output Devices
An output device is any hardware component that transmits information to one or more
people. The three commonly used output devices are as follows:
o Printer – produces text and graphics on a physical medium such as paper. The two types
of printer are the impact printer and the non-impact printer. An impact printer makes
contact with the paper by pressing an inked ribbon against the paper using a hammer or
pins. AN example of an impact printer is the dot-matrix printer. A non-impact printer
does not use a striking device to produce characters on the paper, and because it does
not hammer against the paper, the printer produces less noise. Examples of non-impact
printers are inkjet printers and laser printers.
o Monitor – displays text, graphics, ad videos on a screen. Many monitors look similar to a
television. The three types of monitor available in the market are the following:
1. Cathode ray tube (CRT) – is a vacuum tube containing an electron gun at one end
and a fluorescent screen at another end. From this electron gun, a process called
thermionic emission generates a strong beam of electrons. These electrons travel
through a narrow path within the tube with high speed using various
electromagnetic devices and finally strike the phosphor points present on the
fluorescent screen, thus creating an image. Monitors employ the CRT technology
used most commonly in the manufacturing of television screens. A stream of
intense high-energy electrons is used to form images on a fluorescent screen.
2. Liquid crystal display (LCD) – is a flat-panel display that consists of a layer of color or
monochrome pixels arranged schematically between a couple of transparent
electrodes and two polarizing filters. Optical effect is achieved by polarizing the light
in varied amounts and making it pass through the liquid crystal layer.
3. Light-emitting diode (LED) – is a flat-panel display that uses light-emitting diodes for
backlighting. The display is of LCD only but the backlighting Is done by LEDs. LED
monitors are said to use much lesser power than CRT and LCD. Thus, they are also
considered environment-friendly.
o Speaker – allows one to hear music, voice and other sounds. The signal used to produce
the sound that comes from a computer speaker is created by the computer’s sound
card.

System Unit
The system unit is the enclosure composed of the main elements of a computer that are used to
administer data. This can be referred to as a computer case or tower. The circuitry of the system unit
containing the primary components of a computer with connectors into which other circuit boards can
be positioned is recognized as motherboard.

Storage Devices
A computer can be utilized with only processing, memory, input, and output devices. To make it
very valuable, however, a computer also need a place to hold program files and all related files when
they are not in use. The goal of using a storage is to keep data permanently.
There are many types of storage devices which include the flash disk drive, a small portable
storage device often referred to as pen drives, thumb drives, or jump drives. It has a memory capacity of
2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB 1TB, now up to 2TB. Another type of storage is the hard disk
drive. Most personal computers have at least one non-removable hard-disk that is regarded as non-
volatile memory which permanently stores and retrieves data.
Another storage device is the compact disc. It is a flat, round and portable metal disc. One type
of compact disc is a CD-ROM, which can be accessed using most CD and DVD drives. Another type of
compact disc is a DVD-ROM, which has enough storage capacity to store a full-length movie.

Why Computers Are Powerful

Computers are powerful for a variety of reasons. They work with remarkable speed, reliability,
consistency, and accuracy. Computers can store large amounts of data and information. Also, computers
allow users to communicate with other users or computers. A user is anyone who communicates and
interacts with a computer or makes use of the information it generates.
 Speed
In the system unit, operations get done through electronic circuits. When data, instructions, and
information drift along these circuits, they travel at incredibly fast speeds. Most computers bring
out billions of operations in a single second. The world’s fastest computer can perform trillions
of operations in one second.
 Reliability and consistency
The electronic components in modern computers are dependable because they have a low
failure rate. The high reliability of components enables the computer to produce consistent
results.
 Accuracy
Computers process large amounts of data and generate error-free results, provided that data is
inputted correctly and the instructions work properly. If data is inaccurate, the resulting output
is also incorrect. A computing phrase known as garbage in, garbage out points out that the
accuracy of a computer’s output depends on the accuracy of the input.
 Communication
It is unbearable to go through a day without communication. Communication happens between
two or more people sending and receiving messages from one another. The one sending and
receiving messages from one another. The one sending the message is referred to as the sender
while the one receiving the information is known as the receiver. The message being transmitted
can contain facts, thoughts, perceptions, judgements, beliefs, attitudes, commands, and even
reactions.

Classifying Computers
Computers can be classified based on size and computing power. However, as technology
advances, these classifications tend to overlap as modern computers have become smaller, yet more
powerful, and relatively cheaper.
The general classifications of computers are as follows:
  Personal computer – is a small, single-user computer based on a microprocessor. IN addition to
the microprocessor, a personal computer has a keyboard for entering data, a monitor for
displaying information, and a storage dev ice for saving data.
 Workstation – is a powerful, single-user computer. A workstation is like a personal computer,
but it has a more powerful microprocessor and a higher-quality monitor.
 Minicomputer – is a multi-user computer capable of supporting from 10 to hundreds of users
simultaneously.
 Mainframe – is a powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of
users simultaneously.
 Supercomputer – is an extremely fast computer that can perform millions of instructions per
second. NASA’s Pleiades supercomputer that has 245,536 CPU core and a total memory of
935TB.

Different Types of Computers

Computers are also categorized into several types due to the introduction of mobile devices and
the proliferation of internet-capable devices. Specialized computers are now classified according to
specific uses. The different types of computers are as follows:
 Desktop computers – are computers designed to be placed on a desk, and are normally made
up of few different parts, including the computer case, central processing unit (CPU), monitor,
keyboard, and mouse.
 Laptop computers – are battery-powered computer devices whose portability makes them
possible to use almost anytime, anywhere.
 Tablet computers – are hand-held computers with touch-sensitive screen for typing and
navigation.
 Smartphones – are hand-held telephones which can do things that computers can do, including
browsing and searching the internet and even playing console games.
 Wearables – include fitness trackers and smartwatches that can be worn throughout the day.
 Smart TVs – are the latest television sets that include applications present in computers. For
example, videos can be streamed from the internet directly onto the TV. The TV can also be
used as a computer monitor and gaming monitor.

Digital Age, Information Age, and Computer Age

Digital age, information age, and computer age, used interchangeably, capture this ubiquitous
nature of computing and prolific use of technology in almost all aspects of human activity such that
digital interaction is a defining characteristics of human activity.
It is a period in human history characterized by the shift from traditional industry to information
technology-based economy brought by industrialization during the Industrial Revolution.

Media in the Digital Age

Media normally refers to the means of communication that uses unique tools to interconnect
among people. The forms of media include television, radio, cellular phones, and internet (which
involves the access and use of various social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and
YouTube, among others). In the digital age, however, media can be considered as the message, the
medium, and the messenger.

The Message
 Media is considered to be the message itself for those who create and own the rights of
content. The forms of content can be user-generated or professionally-produces. User-generated
content (UGC) is a form of content created and owned by the users of a system. UGC has grown
exponentially especially with the wide internet coverage or easy WiFi access, increased social media
participation, and affordable smart devices.
 Blog
Keeping a diary of a journal is a traditional method of recording one’s thoughts or expressing
one’s emotions through writing. With the advent of the internet, expressing one’s feelings and
thoughts was given a new concept through online writing or blogging. A blog is a combination of
two words – web and log. It works the same way as pen and paper would but privacy becomes
irrelevant given that a blog post can be seen by anyone online. A person who writes blogs is
called a blogger.

The Medium
The medium used refers to the tool or tools used in sending a message from the source to the
destination. Traditionally, for example, professionals send messages to the audience, such as a news
anchor delivering the news on TC and/or radio. However, with the latest technologies, the so-called
social media has become an avenue for information dissemination even taking over news sites in
bringing the latest or up-to date content.

The messenger
The messenger is the one who delivers the message. This is why broadcasters, for example,
being the messenger of news are called” media”.

Impact of ICT on Individuals, Organizations, and Society

ICT brings both positive and negative effects to individuals, organization and society. It improves
education, access to information and security. However, it limits personal interaction and physical
activity and poses problems in employment and security
Positive Effects
o Improved access to education
o Access to information and communication
o Security

Negative Effects
o Reduced personal interaction and physical activity
o Job loss or increase in unemployment
o Security

Overview of Current Trends

A trend refers to something hip or popular at a certain point in time. It can be a particular style
in fashion, devices, or entertainment. A new trend may always come along to replace the old one.
In an article from Forbes.com, DeMers (2016) identified seven major trends in 2017
1. IoT (Internet-on-Things) and smart home technology
2. Augmented reality and virtual reality
3. Machine learning
4. Automation
5. Big data
6. Physical-digital integrations
7. Everything on demand