Fundamentals of ICT

IT – Information Technology

Information Technology is that of technology which helps in the collection, storage, processing, retrieval, use and transmission of information as accurately and effectively as possible for the purpose of enriching the knowledge and developing decisions on making as well as problem solving ability of the user.

ICT – Information and Communication Technology

Information and Communication Technologies consist of the hardware, software, networks, and media for collection, storage, processing, transmission and presentation of information (voice, data, text, images), as well as related services. ICTs can be divided into two components, Information and Communication Infrastructure (ICI) which refers to physical telecommunications systems and networks (cellular, broadcast, cable, satellite, postal) and the services that utilize those (Internet, voice, mail, radio, and television), and Information Technology (IT) that refers to the hardware and software of information collection, storage, processing, and presentation.

What is Information?

Data – Processing – Information( Processed Data)

Information is processed data on which decisions can be taken and appropriate actions initiated. The processed data which improves our knowledge and enabling us to do our work better. Therefore ‘information’ refers as knowledge, facts etc.

•  Four Types of Information – Text, Picture, Sound, Video

Basic Computer Hardware and Software.

⦿ Hardware is the hard physical components that are visible and touched. Hardware alone cannot do anything on its own. Hardware and software are interdependent. Computer hardware is made up of components like key board, VDU, Printer, CPU etc. These are connected by wires.

⦿ Software is a set of instructions that tells the computer how to do a specific task.

There are two types of software:

⦿ Systems software: the operating system.

Systems software is the control software that operates the hardware and allows the applications to run. (It can control overall operations of the computer, it acts as a link between the user and computer system.): Eg: - Windows, Linux, Unix etc

⦿ Applications software: the programs we use.

Application Software: A set of program which is written to perform general purpose application are called application software eg: - MS word, Excel, Power point etc.

Application Software: Used for a specific purpose or application.

›   Word processing;

›   Numerical analysis and storage;

›   Recording of data;

›   Designing and graphics;

›   Image processing;

›   Presentations;

›   Desk top publishing;

›   Web design.

Operating Systems: run in the background without the users being aware of it. It controls the inputs, outputs, interrupts, and storage of files as requested by the applications software.

›   Windows XP, Windows 7 – home and business

›   Windows 2000 – business network use

›   Mac Operating System – GUI, graphics

›   UNIX – general purpose, mainframe

›   Linux – alternative to Windows

›   Dos – command driven

Types of Software

1.  System Software

2.  Application Software

3.  Open source Software and

4.  Proprietary Software

1.  System Software includes the Operating System and all the utilities that enable the computer to function. System software is a term referring to any computer software which manages and controls the hardware so that application software can perform a task.

Example: Operating Systems, Compiler, Interpreter.

Compiler: A compiler is a program that reads a program in one language – the source language and translates into an equivalent program in another language – the target language.

Interpreter: An interpreter is a computer program that translates and executes instructions written in a computer programming language line-by-line, unit by unit etc., Example: Lisp systems, BASIC etc.,

2.  Application Software includes programs that do real work for user.

Example: Payroll systems, Inventory Control, Manage student database, Word Processor, Spreadsheet and Database Management System etc.,

Word Processors: Word processing is a tool that helps user in creating, editing, and printing documents. Word processors will normally have the following capabilities built into them:

🞄 Spell checking

🞄 Standard layouts for normal documents

🞄 Have some characters appear in bold print, italics, or underlined

🞄 Center lines, make text line up on the left side of the paper, or the right side of the paper

🞄 Save the document so it can be used again

🞄 Print the document.

Examples: WordPerfect and Microsoft Word

Spreadsheets: The spreadsheet packages are designed to use numbers and formulas to do calculations with ease. Examples of spreadsheets include:

🞄 Budgets

🞄 Payrolls

🞄 Grade Calculations

🞄 Address Lists

The most commonly used spreadsheet programs are Microsoft Excel and Lotus 123.

Graphic Presentations: The presentation programs can make giving presentations and using overheads easier. Other uses include:

🞄 Slide Shows

🞄 Repeating Computer Presentations on a computer monitor

🞄 Using Sound and animation in slide shows

The most recognized graphic presentation programs are Microsoft PowerPoint and Harvard Graphics.

Database Management System (DBMS):

⦿ A DBMS is a software tool that allows multiple users to store, access, and process data into useful information.

⦿ Database programs are designed for these types of applications:

🞄 Membership lists

🞄 Student lists

🞄 Grade reports

🞄 Instructor schedules

All of these have to be maintained so you can find what you need quickly and accurately. Example:Microsoft Access, dBASE, Oracle.

3.  Open source software (OSS) is computer software whose source code is available under a license that permits users to use, change, and improve the software, and to redistribute it in modified or unmodified form. It is often developed in a public, collaborative manner.

Well-known OSS products are Linux, Netscape, Apache, etc.,

Free Software – Richard Stallman

“Free software” means software that respects users’ freedom on software. It means that the users have the freedom to use, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. Thus, “free software” is a matter of liberty, not price.

Freedoms of free software

1.  The freedom to use the program, for any purpose and any where.

2.  The freedom to study how the program works, and modify it as you wish.

3.  The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your friends.

4.  The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others.

4. Proprietary software (also called non-free software) is software with restrictions on using, copying and modifying as enforced by the proprietor. Restrictions on use, modification and copying is achieved by either legal or technical means and sometimes both. Proponents of proprietary software are Microsoft. Ex: CAD, Nortan Antivirus etc.,

Computer Memory

› Computer memory is binary (0 or 1) (on or off).

› The byte is the standard unit of measurement.

› A byte is composed of 8 bits (binary digits).

Typical units of measurement: 1 KB (Kilo Byte) = 1000 Bytes

    1 MB (megabyte) =1000 kilobytes or 1 million bytes

    1 GB (gigabyte) =1000 megabytes or 1 billion bytes

›   RAM (random access memory) stores data that is processing. This type of memory is erased when the computer is turned off.

›   ROM (read only memory) contains special instructions for the computer to operate.

GUI (Graphic User Interface) is a set of images and icons seen on the desktop used to operate a program. The GUI makes the programs loaded on the computer easier to access and use. Basic Windows GUI. Icons are small pictures that represent files, commands, or windows. Windows is a GUI operating system unlike UNIX, which uses text commands.

Ports and Peripherals: Ports are an interface between the computer and another peripheral device such as a disk drive, mouse, printer, modem, monitor, camera, FLASH drive or keyboard.

Examples: Serial, Parallel, USB

§  Peripherals are devices that plug into a computer and are not housed internally.

Examples: Printers, Scanners, Cameras

LAN and WAN

›   LAN: are networks usually in the same company or building. The Local Area Network is connected via telephone lines or radio waves.

›   WAN: are systems of LANs that are connected. (Wide-area network)

Multimedia: Multimedia software programs include sound, pictures, video, text, and hypertext to create presentations. Software includes PowerPoint,  Macromedia Director, FLASH

The meaning of Information Communication Technology

⚫I.C.T widely used in the context of education. It mainly refers to utilizing digital technologies such as Computer, Television, E-mail etc to help individuals or organisations to work with digital information. Technology used to communicate required information at the right place & time by means of communication media.

⚫Information communication technology is a diverse mixture of technology tools & resources to create, differentiate, store & manage information for communication.

⚫Information and Communication Technologies consist of the hardware, software, networks, and media for collection, storage, processing, transmission and presentation of information (voice, data, text, images), as well as related services. ICTs can be divided into two components, Information and Communication Infrastructure (ICI) which refers to physical telecommunications systems and networks (cellular, broadcast, cable, satellite, postal) and the services that utilize those (Internet, voice, mail, radio, and television), and Information Technology (IT) that refers to the hardware and software of information collection, storage, processing, and presentation.