What are ICT and the Importance of ICT | ICT Material for APTET 2022
Concept of Information Communication Technology
1.1 I Information Communication Technology Versus Information System
information and Communications Technology or (ICT), is often used as an extended synonym for information technology (IT), but is a more specific term that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals), computers as well as
necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage, and audio-visual systems, which enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information. The term ICT is now also used to refer to the convergence of audio-visual and telephone networks with computer networks through a single cabling or link system. There are large economic incentives (huge cost savings due to elimination of the telephone network) to merge the audio-visual, building management and telephone network with the computer network system using a single unified system of cabling, signal distribution and management.
The term Infocommunications is used in some cases as a shorter form of information and communication(s) technology. In fact Infocommunications is the expansion of telecommunications with information processing and content handling functions on a common digital technology base.
Information technology (IT) is the application of computers and telecommunications equipment to store, retrieve, transmit and manipulate data, often in the context of a business or other enterprise. The term is commonly used as a synonym for computers and computer networks, but it also encompasses other information distribution technologies such as television and telephones. Several industries are associated with information technology, such as computer hardware, software, electronics, semiconductors, internet, telecom equipment, e-commerce and computer services.
In a business context, the Information Technology Association of America has defined information technology as “the study, design, development, application, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems”. The responsibilities of those working in the field include network administration, software development and installation, and the planning and management of an organization‘s technology life cycle, by which hardware and software is maintained, upgraded, and replaced.
Yekini and Lawal (2012) Sees ICT as: a powerful collection of elements which include computer hardware, software, telecommunication networks, workstations, robotics and smart chips, which is also at the root of information systems
1.2 Information System (IS)
An information system (IS) is the study of complementary networks of hardware and software that people and organizations use to collect, filter, process, create, and distribute data. The study bridges business and computer science using the theoretical foundations of information and computation to study various business models and related algorithmic processes within a computer science discipline. Computer Information System(s) (CIS) is a field studying computers and algorithmic processes, including their principles,
their software and hardware designs, their applications, and their impact on society while IS emphasizes functionality over design.
Any specific Information System aims to support operations, management and decision making. In a broad sense, the term is used to refer not only to the information and communication technology (ICT) that an organization uses, but also to the way in which people interact with this technology in support of business processes.
Some authors make a clear distinction between information systems, computer systems, and business processes. Information systems typically include an ICT component but are not purely concerned with ICT, focusing instead on the end use of information technology. Information systems are also different from business processes. Information systems help to control the performance of business processes.
An information system is a special type of work system. A work system is a system in which humans and/or machines perform work using resources to produce specific products and/or services for customers. An information system is a work system whose activities are devoted to processing (capturing, transmitting, storing, retrieving, manipulating and displaying) information.
An information system is a form of communication system in which data represent and are processed as a form of social memory. An information system can also be considered a semi-formal language which supports human decision making and action.
There are various types of information systems, for example: transaction processing systems, office systems, decision support systems, knowledge management systems, database management systems, and office information systems.
Critical to most information systems are information technologies, which are typically designed to enable humans to perform tasks for which the human brain is not well suited, such as: handling large amounts of information, performing complex calculations, and controlling many simultaneous processes.
“Information systems specialists are the people that integrate information technology solutions and business processes to meet the information needs of businesses and other enterprises.
Silver et al. (1995) provided two views on IS that includes software, hardware, data, people, and procedures. A second managerial view includes people, business processes and Information Systems.
1.3 ICT Literacy
Since we live in information society, everyone is expected to be ICT literate. The ICT literacy entails.
Awareness: As you study computers, you will become aware of their importance, versatility, pervasiveness, and their potential for good and ill in our society.
Knowledge: You will learn what computers are and how they work. This requires learning some technical jargons that will help you deal with the computer and with people that work with computers.
Interaction: This implies learning to use a computer to perform some basic tasks or applications.
1.4 Impact Of ICT On Society
There are both positive and negative impacts of ICT in this modern society. Some these impact are discussed below:
1.4.1 Positive Impacts
- Faster Communication Speed: In the past, it took a long time for any news or messages to be sent. Now with the Internet, news or messages are sent via e-mail to friends, business partners or to anyone efficiently. With the capability of bandwidth, broadband and connection speed on the Internet, any information can travel fast and at an instant. It saves time and is inexpensive.
- Lower Communication Cost: Using the Internet is cost- effective than the other modes of communication such as telephone, mailing or courier service. It allows people to have access to large amounts of data at a very low cost. With the Internet we do not have to pay for any basic services provided by the Internet. Furthermore, the cost of connection to the Internet is relatively cheap.
- Reliable Mode of Communication: Computers are reliable. With the internet, information could be accessed and retrieved from anywhere and at any time. This makes it a reliable mode of communication. However, the input to the computer is contributed by humans. If the data passed to the computer is faulty, the result will be faulty as well. This is related to the term GIGO. GIGO is a short form for Garbage In Garbage Out. It refers to the quality of output produced according to the input. Normally bad input produces bad output.
- Effective Sharing of Information: With the advancement of ICT, information can be shared by people all around the world. People can share and exchange opinions, news and information through discussion groups, mailing list and forums on the Internet. This enable knowledge sharing which will contribute to the development of knowledge based society.
- Paperless Environment: ICT technology has created the term paperless environment. This term means information can be stored and retrieved through the digital medium instead of paper. Online communication via emails, online chat and instant messaging also helps in creating the paperless environment.
- Borderless Communication: Internet offers fast information retrieval, interactivity, accessibility and versatility. It has become a borderless source for services and information.
Through the Internet, information and communication can be borderless.
- Create Employment: Although many employment areas have suffered job losses, other areas have grown and jobs have been created. Some examples of areas where jobs have been created: IT Technicians: All of the computers in a business need to be maintained: hardware fixed, software installed, etc. IT technicians do this work. Computer Programmers: All of the software that is now used by businesses has to be created by computer programmers. Hundreds of thousands of people are now employed in the ‘software industry‘ Web Designers: Much of modern business is conducted on-line, and company websites are very important. Company websites need to be designed and built which is the role of web designers.
1.4.2 Negative Effects
- Individualistic and introvert: Nowadays, people tend to choose online communication rather than having real time conversations. People tend to become more individualistic and introvert.
- Moral decedent and threats to the society: Some ICT users use ICT tools for, fraud, identity theft, Pornography, Hacking etc. That could result to a moral decedent and generate threats to the society.
- Health Problems: A computer may harm users if they use it for long hours frequently. Computer users are also exposed to bad posture, eyestrain, physical and mental stress. In order to solve the health problems, an ergonomic environment can be introduced. For example, an ergonomic chair can reduces back strain and a screen filter is used to minimize eye strain.
- Unemployment Situation: Some jobs have been lost as a result of computers being used to do the same work that
people used to do, for examples: Manufacturing: Many factories now have fully automated production lines. Instead of using people to build things, computer-controlled robots are used. Robots can run day and night, never needing a break, and don‘t need to be paid! (Although the robots cost a lot to purchase, in the long-term the factory saves money.) Secretarial Work: Offices used to employee many secretaries to produce the documents required for the business to run. Now people have personal computers, they tend to type and print their own documents. Accounting Clerks: Companies once had large departments full of people whose job it was to do calculations (e.g. profit, loss, billing, etc.) .A personal computer running a spreadsheet can now do the same work. Newspaper Printing: It used to take a team of highly skilled printers to typeset (layout) a newspaper page and to then print thousands of newspapers. The same task can now be performed far more quickly using computers with DTP software and computer-controlled printing presses.
