ICT(Information and communication technologies) for development

is the phrase used to describe a range of technologies for gathering, storing, retrieving,
processing, analysing, and transmitting information. This includes the Internet, wireless networks,
cell phones, and other communication mediums
Information and communications technology or information and communication technology,
[1]
usually called
ICT, is often used as an extended synonym for information technology (IT) but is usually a more general term that
stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless
signals), intelligent building management systems and audio!isual systems in modern information technology" I#T
consists of all technical means used to handle information and aid communication, including computer and network
hardware, communication middleware as well as necessary software" The term ICT is now also used to refer to the
merging (con!ergence) of audio!isual and telephone networks with computer networks through a single cabling or
link system"
$%&'( )* I#T I+ ,&I-. -I*(
(,$#&TI)+
/ #omputer are used in the sector of education because they can offer0
Interacti!e experiences"
(nhanced learning"
#ogniti!e de!elopment"
/ In education0
1) Teachers
Teachers use computers to research for teaching materials, participate in online
forums and online conferences as well as to aid their teaching"
1) %tudents
%tudents use the computers as reference tool" They use computers to browse
the Internet to look for information"
2) 3esearchers
3esearchers use computers to collect and process data"
4) %chool &dministrators
%chool administrators use computers for administrati!e purposes to make sure that
the entire operation runs smoothly"
5&+6I+'
/ The computer is the ner!e centre of the banking system around the world" It functions
to control the entire banking system that also includes 7(lectronic banking %er!ices8"
In banking0
1) #ustomers can make any transactions at the 1 4 hour ser!ice centres or !ia online"
1) 5usinessmen can sa!e their time by using the online ser!ices offered by banks"
They can access company accounts for loan applications, business transactions
and update on their cash flow at any time"
2) 5ank administrators can o!ersee the entire banking acti!ities such as
reconciliations, interbranch transactions (I5T), telegraphic transfer and others
by referring to the banking system"
I+,$%T3.
/ #omputers are used to facilitate production planning and control systems, to support
7chain management8 and to help in product design in the industrial sector"
/ In Industry0
1) 9orkers use machine that are connected to computers to operate" In some
productions, robots are used to take o!er :obs that are dangerous to the workers"
1) 3esearchers use computers to analyse and collect research data for future
reference"
2) &dministrators use computers to o!ersee the entire operations in the plant or
factory to detect specific errors or defects that occurred in the process"
#);;(3#(
/ (commerce helps in boosting the economy" It makes buying and selling acti!ities
easier, more efficient and faster" *or this application, computers, internet and shared
software are needed"
/ In #ommerce0
1) #ustomers use computers to be connected online with suppliers to purchase
products" This method can sa!e time and cost as they do not ha!e to go to any
outlets"
1) %uppliers use computers to keep track of their transactions" &ll products are bar
coded and can be read by the computer scanner to help in determining prices
and managing in!entory"
2) (mployees use computers and telephones to communicate with their
customers for any en<uiries" The system helps employees to get the latest
updates on in!entory to be informed to the customers"
)T=(3 %(#T)3%
1) &rchitecture
1) &rts
2) #areer
4) 'o!ernment
>) =ealthcare
?) =ome
@) -aw (nforcement
A) Transportation
B) Tra!el"
*&%T(3 #);;$+I#&TI)+ %C((,
/ 9ith the Internet, news or messages are sent !ia email to friends, business
partners or to anyone efficiently"
/ 9ith the capability of bandwidth, broadband and connection speed on the Internet,
any information can tra!el fast and at an instant" It sa!es time and is inexpensi!e"
-)9(3 #);;$+I#&TI)+ #)%T
/ $sing the Internet is cost effecti!e" It allows people to ha!e access to large
amounts of a data at a !ery low cost"
/ 9ith the Internet we do not ha!e to pay for any basics ser!ices pro!ided by the
Internet" *urthermore, the cost of connection to the Internet is relati!ely cheap"
3(-I&5-( ;),( )* #);;$+I#&TI)+
/ #omputers are reliable" Information could be accessed and retrie!ed from
anywhere and at anytime"
/ 'I') is a short form for 'arbage In 'arbage )ut" It refers to the <uality of output
produced according to the Input"
(**(#TID( %=&3I+' )* I+*)3;&TI)+"
/ 9ith the ad!ancement of I#T, information can be shared by people all around the
world"
/ Ceople can share and exchange opinions, news and information through discussion
groups", mailing list and forums on the Internet"
/ (xample of popular discussion groups on the Internet are0
'oogle 'roups (www"goo leg groups"com )
.ahooE 'roups (www"yahoo groups" com )
C&C(3-(%% (+DI3)+;(+T
/ I#T technology has created the term paperless en!ironment" This term means
information can be stored and retrie!ed through the digital medium instead of paper"
5)3,(3-(%% #);;$+I#&TI)+
/ Through the Internet, information and communication can be borderless"
%)#I&- C3)5-(;%
/ There are some negati!e effects of I#T" It has created social problem in the society"
/ +owadays, people tend to choose online communication rather than real time
con!ersations"
/ Ceople tend to become more indi!idualistic and intro!ert"
/ 5orderless information at times can be negati!e"
=(&-T= C3)5-(;
& computer may harm users if they use it for long hours fre<uently"
#omputer users also exposed to bad posture, eyestrain, physical and mental stress
In order to sol!e the health problem, an ergonomic en!ironment can be introduced"
COMPUTER UER I! OCIET"
The > categories of computer users are0
1) =ome users
1) %mall office F home office (%)=)) users
2) ;obile users
4) Cower users
>) -arge business users
#OME UER
/ The computer is a basic necessity" (ach home user spends time on computer for
different reasons0
business
entertainment
communication
education
M$%% O&&ICE ' #OME O&&ICE (O#O) UER
/ %mall )ffice or =ome )ffice users include0
&ccounting firms, tra!el agencies, florist and many more
/ These O#O (mall Office #ouse Office) users0
$se desktop or notebook computers as well as telephone, hand phones and C,&s
in completing their task and communicating"
9ork is a small company or work as an indi!idual at home"
MO(I%E UER
/ Include real estate agents, insurance agents and :ournalists"
/ $se notebook computers, Internetenabled C,&s or smart phones"
/ 9ork with basic business software such as word processing and spreadsheet business
software"
/ $se presentation graphics software to create and deli!er presentations to a large audience
by connecting a mobile computer or de!ice to a !ideo pro:ector"
G G G mobile windows based de!ices can be di!ided into 2 categories which are 0
) *indo+s Mo,ile),ased Poc-et PC
) *indo+s Mo,ile),ased Poc-et PC Phone
) *indo+s Mo,ile),ased martphone.
& window ;obile based de!ice can help people keep in touch with friends and organiHe daily task"
PO*ER UER
Cower $sers0
/ Include engineers, scientist, architects and !irtual reality animators"
/ $se computers with extremely fast processor, bigger storage and customiHed software"
/ 9ork with mini computers that uses design to meet the organiHational needs
/ $se software such as #&,, #&; and ;&T-&5
%$R/E (UI!E UER
-arge business users0
/ 5ank, insurance company, hypermarket etc"
/ $se computers for basic business acti!ities
/ =a!e ecommerce that allow customers, !endors and other interested parties can access
information on the web"
/ =a!e email and web browsers to enable communications among employees, !endors
and customers"
/ Cro!ide kiosk in public location"