INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION

AND COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY (ICT)
LIVING IN THE IT ERA | CHAPTER 1
 Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Define ICT
2. Trace the evolution of technology, particularly computers
3. Identify the different parts of the computer system, and categorize
the different computer peripherals
4. Assess why computers are considered powerful thinking machines
5. Explain the role of technology in media and how it affects
communication
6. Recognize the current trends in information technology
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY: AN OVERVIEW
The term information and communications technology or ICT is defined
as “related to technologies that facilitate the transfer of information and
various types of electronically mediated communication” (Zuppo, 2012)

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

 Availability

Mobile Signal Access

Infastructure

Economic Development Crisis/Disease

Management

Mobile Devices Phones, Tablets, Pagers,

Others

Goods
Produced/Manufactured

Economic Sector Related Services

Figure 1.1 ICT Hierarchy

Digital Economy Metric
by Colrain Zuppo
ICT

Skills and Competencies

Education Devices/Tools Phones, Tablets, Pagers,

Includes Computers

Pedagogies

Networks

Architectures

Support Systems
Business/IT

Devices Phones, Tablets, Pagers,

Others Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY: AN OVERVIEW
The need for devices is perhaps due to the human need to “belong.”

The “belongingness hypothesis” states that people have a basic

psychological need to feel closely connected to others. (Baumeister &
Leary, 1995)

This need can be fulfilled through the different modes of

communication.

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

ICT is technology that supports IT pertains to the industry that
activities involving information involves computers, software,
(such as gathering, processing, networking, and other IT
storing, and presenting data), infrastructure to help relay or
collaboration, and communication. manage information.

INFORMATION AND INFORMATION

COMMUNICATIONS VS TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

BREAKDOWN OF ICT
Information
• Refers to the knowledge obtained from reading, investigation, study,
or research
• Regarded as processed data
• Needed to make decisions and to foresee the future
• Processed information is called knowledge. Knowledge helps fulfil
daily tasks.

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

BREAKDOWN OF ICT
Communication
• Act of transmitting messages
• Process in which information is exchanged between individuals
through verbal and non-verbal means
• With technology, communication is faster, more convenient and more
efficient

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

EVOLUTION OF TECHNOLOGY
The evolution of technology always depended on one thing: human
rationale.

The concept of technology always start 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.

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

EVOLUTION OF TECHNOLOGY
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.

Most machines including computers have evolved through the process

of automation.

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

EVOLUTION OF TECHNOLOGY
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.

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

EVOLUTION OF TECHNOLOGY
Intelligent systems are far more complex and are capable of learning.
This is where the concept of artificial intelligence comes in.

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HISTORY OF COMPUTER
Fifth-
generation
Fourth Computer
generation (1980
Third- Computer onwards)
generation (1971-1980)
Computer
Second- (1965-1971)
generation
Computer
(1959-1965)
First-
generation
Computer
(1946-
1959)
Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1
FIRST-GENERATION COMPUTER
ELECTRONIC NUMERIC INTEGRATOR AND CALCULATOR (ENIAC)

• 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
• A modular computer, composed of several panels
• Could store only limited or small amount of information and only do
arithmetic operations (e.g. addition and subtraction of up to 10 digits)
• Roughly 167 sq. meters in size, and weighed 27 tons

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

 Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

Figure 1.10 ENIAC showing the vacuum tubes

SECOND-GENERATION COMPUTER
(1959-1965)

• 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

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

Figure 1.11 IBM 7094

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THIRD-GENERATION COMPUTER
(1965-1971)

• In 1965, Jack Kilby invented the integrated circuit (IC) that was used
• A single IC has many transistors, resistors, and capacitators 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.
• Remote processing, time-sharing, and multiprogramming operating
system were used.

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 Figure 1.12 Xerox Alto

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FOURTH-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

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FOURTH-GENERATION COMPUTER
(1971-1980)

• These fourth-generation computers such as personal computers

became more powerful, dense, reliable, and inexpensive.
• The other application of these microprocessor technology can be
used and applied for pocket calculators, television sets, automotive
devices, and audio and video appliances.

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

Figure 1.13 Macintosh 128K

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

FIFTH-GENERATION COMPUTER
(1980-ONWARDS)

• 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
• 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.

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

Figure 1.13 Dell Latitude 3420

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COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER
HARDWARE

• Pertains to the computer’s physical devices.

• 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 operations, input devices, and
output devices

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

INPUT
DEVICES
Enter or send data and
instructions from the user or
from another computer system
on the internet.
KEYBOARD
• The
most common input device that accepts letters, numbers, and
commands from the user

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MOUSE
• Lets one select options from on-screen menu
• 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
• A trackball has a ball that can rotate using a finger or the palm of a
hand to move the pointer
• A touchpad/trackpad is a touch-sensitive pad that lets the user move
the pointer by touching and dragging his/her finger on the pad.

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MICROPHONE
• Allows a user to speak into the computer to input data and instructions
• While there are available stand-alone microphones for computers ,
most of the time users can buy a headset for the sake of practicality.

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

SCANNER
• Converts printed material (such as text and pictures) into a form the
computer can use
• Flatbed scanners look like miniature printers with a flip-up cover
protecting the glass platen. They are often built into multi-function
printers (MFPs)
• Hand-held/portable scanners can be small enough inside one’s
pocket

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

DIGITAL CAMERA
• Allows one to take pictures then transfer the photographed images in
the computer or printer instead of storing the images on a traditional
film

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

PC VIDEO CAMERA
• 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.

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

OUTPUT DEVICES
Send back the administered data to the
user or to another computer systems
PRINTER
• Produces text and graphics on a physical medium such as paper.
• An impact printer makes contact with the paper by pressing an inked
ribbon against the paper using a hammer or pins. Ex: 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. Ex: inkjet and laser printers

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

 MONITOR
Displays text, graphics,
and videos on a
screen.

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CATHODE RAY TUBE (CRT)
• A vacuum containing an electronic 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.

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1
LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY (LCD)
• 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.

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1
LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE
• 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.

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1
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

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

SYSTEM UNIT
• 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.

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

STORAGE DEVICES
• A computer can be utilized with only processing, memory, input, and
output devices.
• To make it very valuable, a computer also needs 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.

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

STORAGE DEVICES
• 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, and now up to
2TB.
• Another type of storage is the hard disk dive. Most computers have at
least one non-removable hard-disk that is regarded as a non-volatile
memory which permanently stores and retrieve data.

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STORAGE DEVICES
• 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.

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

Figure 1.16. Storage devices – flash
drive, hard drive, and compact disc

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WHY COMPUTERS ARE POWERFUL
• They work with remarkable speed, reliability, consistency, and
accuracy.
• Can store large amounts of data and information
• Allow users to communicate with other users or computers. A user is
anyone who communicates and interacts with a computer or makes
use of information it generates.

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CLASSIFYING COMPUTERS
• 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 device 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.

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CLASSIFYING COMPUTERS
• 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.

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

Figure 1.17 NASA’s Pleiades supercomputers

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CLASSIFYING COMPUTERS
• To compare, a computer with an Intel Core i3 processor, has only two
cores for running its programs and applications. Core i5 and i7 models
usually have only four cores. Core i7 extreme processors can have six
to eight cores; however, most applications cannot use all the cores to
full advantage. Thus, they do not operate at full capacity. Imagine
having more than 245,000 cores.

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CLASSIFYING COMPUTERS
ACCORDING TO SPECIFIC USES

• Desktop computers
• Laptop computers
• Tablet computers
• Smartphones
• Wearables
• Smart TVs

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DIGITAL AGE, INFORMATION AGE,
AND COMPUTER AGE
• Characterized by the shift from traditional industry to information
technology-based economy brought by industrialization during the
Industrial Revolution
• Characterized by the digital industry creating a knowledge-based
society surrounded by a high-tech global economy that exerts its
influence on how the manufacturing process and the service sector
work in an efficient and convenient way

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MEDIA IN THE DIGITAL AGE
• Media normally refers to the means of communication that uses
unique tools to interconnect among people.
• In the digital age, media can be considered as the message, the
medium and the messenger.

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EVOLUTION OF MEDIA
• The media has transformed itself based on two things – (1) how
information is presented; and (2) how the connection is established.
• Woodcut printing on cloth or on paper was used in the early 15th
century. It was in 1436 when Johannes Gutenberg started working on
a printing press which used relief printing and a molding system.
• Now, the modern printing press delivers messages in print, such as
newspapers, textbooks, and magazines.

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1

 Figure 1.21 Telegraph in the 1800s

Figure 1.20 Printing press

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1
EVOLUTION OF MEDIA
• In the 1800s, the telegraph was developed followed by the telephone
which made the two-way communication possible.
• At the beginning of the 1900s, broadcasting and recorded media was
introduced.
• Later on, a combination of both audio and video information made the
audiences viewing experience more exciting. Films and movies
became popular as they catered to larger audiences.

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Figure 1.22 A screenshot from the 1902 French film Le
Voyage dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon)

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EVOLUTION OF MEDIA
• As communication devices also evolved and became pervasive, so
did information distribution.
• Community websites lets its users buy and sell items online. This
eliminates the need for going to physical stores.
• The audience regardless of their professions can now interact with
one another and are no longer disconnected.

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OVERVIEW OF CURRENT TRENDS
1. IoT and smart home technology
2. Augmented reality and virtual reality
3. Machine learning
4. Automation
5. Big data
6. Physical-digital interactions
7. Everything on demand

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 IMPACT OF ICT ON INDIVIDUALS,
ORGANIZATIONS, AND SOCIETY

POSITIVE EFFECTS NEGATIVE EFFECTS

• Improved access to education • Reduced personal interaction
• Access to information and and physical activity
communication • Job loss or increase in
• Security unemployment
• Security
ETHICAL ISSUES IN ICT
1. Plagiarism
2. Exploitation
3. Libel
4. Software Piracy

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CHAPTER KEY POINTS
• With the evolution of technology, people are now living in a period in
which the economy is based on information computerization. This
industry that involves computers, software, and networking, among
others is called Information Technology (IT). It is a subset of
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) which pertain to
the use of technology that supports the activities involving not only
information such as gathering, storing, and presenting data, but also
collaboration and communication.

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CHAPTER KEY POINTS
• The computer, being the main tool or equipment in IT, has evolved in
many ways, from the first-generation computer to the present fifth-
generation computer.
• The power of the computer, coupled with the introduction of the
internet, cannot be underestimated with its speed, reliability and
consistency, accuracy, and ability to handle communication.

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CHAPTER KEY POINTS
• Communication and information creation and distribution have
developed. Among the major trends is the so-called Internet of Things
(IoT), the expansion and application of networks and internet to
everyday objects.
• ICT, however, has both positive and negative impacts on individuals,
organizations, and society.

Living in the IT Era | Chapter 1