WORLD OF ICTS

The meaning of ICTs

The term Information and communication Technology (ICT) combines three items i.e. [Information, Communication, and Technology]

Communication in this regard refers to the electronic transfer of data from one point to another.

Technology refers to the technique and way of doing something.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFabyFx5dWw

So, What is Information? We shall define this ahead…

GENERAL DEFINITON

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) refers to the broad range of hardware, software, network infrastructure and media that enable the processing, storage and sharing of information among humans and computers, locally and globally”

ICT devices range from radio, television, cellular phones, compact disks, Fax machines, computers, biometric devices, internet and network hardware and software platforms, satellite systems and so on.

It involves to all means which facilitate information or data capture processing storage and output.

THE USE OF ICTS IN SOCIETY

Today people use ICTs in almost every walk of life.

However, along with these advancements of science there arises the dilemma of development of technology as it affects human individuals.

They have come with both positive and negative impacts to our society.

Computers are applied in the areas of

• 1) Education,
• 2) Business,
• 3) Health,
• 4) security,
• 5) Politics, E.t.c
• 6) Communication,
• 7) Entertainment / leisure,
• 8) Technical and scientific uses

Uses Of ICTs In the Area of Education

In education, we use Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI), Computer Aided Learning (CAL) and Computer Aided Assessment (CAA)

Schools use computers to create school websites for sharing information with the public.

Productivity tools like desktop publishing and presentation software are used in projects and other school activities.

Computers are used for calculating mathematical arithmetic by students and teachers in class.

Students’ Report Cards can be produced electronically by use of computers instead of hand written ones.

With Use of School Administration and Management Systems. (SAMS) Records management is made easier because all details of learners can be held on computer, and easily retrieved, reducing administrative costs.

Distance learning through computer based training. People get award such as degrees without going to class.

Teachers use simulation software to perform difficult or dangerous experiments in class.

Use of special facilities for students with disabilities like text to speech and speech recognition to help blind students.

Uses Of ICTs In the Area of Business

Computers enable people to Working from home, using a computer connected to the employer’s network or via the Internet. This is known as Telecommuting.

Computers have created more jobs such as Computer technicians, Computer teachers, etc.

Buying and selling Computers and its components is a source of income to individuals, and companies.

Through, Computer Aided Design (CAD), scale drawings, and excellent designs can be created easily.

Computers are used for sending and receiving Mobile Money and making world wide money transfers.

Banks use Computers to manage transactions and Automatic Teller Machines ATMs for 24 hours banking.

Computers help in Business Advertisement through creating websites, internet, flyers, brochures and billboards.

Computers are used in typesetting business for production of document printouts and publication of Books for sale.

Computers are used for E-Commerce: the sale of goods and services over the internet.

Hospitals use computers for managing and storing Records electronically, rather than paper files.

Hospital Administration is also aided by printing labels, allocating beds, make appointments, staff rotas, etc.

Internet helps us get Web sites for information on health care, treatments, conditions, etc.

Monitoring/Diagnosis such as Heart rate, blood pressure, etc. is aided by Computer Expert systems.

Medical Training is facilitated by Simulation software and on-line data sources.

Uses Of ICTs In the Area of Security

Computers aid monitoring security through cameras, Automatic number plate recognition, etc.

Communication systems are widely used in the military to coordinate the personnel.

Some computer systems can detect temperatures and alarm in case of danger of fire outbreaks.

Computers are used for capturing data for Police National Computer Databases –, vehicle number plates, criminals fingerprints, etc.

Computers are used to detect presence of illegal devices such as bombs.

Computers are also used for controlling dangerous weapons such as missiles.

Uses Of ICTs In the Area of Politics

Paying government tax online through a government website

Online forms such as vehicle registration and passport forms

Advertising government tenders and Applying for government tenders

Public records – A maintained database of statistical information such as electoral register and census data can be availed online.

Use of electronic voting during elections

Government departments can use a computer based platform to get feedback from the citizens.

Uses of ICTs In the Area of Communication

E-mail: Electronic Mail sent from one person to another using connected computers helps a lot in the area of communication.

Video Conferencing enables people in different locations to conduct meeting as if they are in the same location.

Computers are used for Faxing: Sending an image of a document electronically.

Computers enable people to send voice, image, text and data though telephones and mobile cell phones.

Social Networks such as Facebook, and Twitter enable people to stay in touch with their relatives, friends and interests.

Technical and Scientific Uses of ICTs

In Astronomy, Computers are essential tools to study the behavior of the complex systems in space as regards to their movements, interactions etc.

Through Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM), computers can be used to control the production of goods in factories.

Computers perform Telescope pointing and tracking (including error correction), Camera operation, image download and storage, Image reduction (the measurement of the image), and Data processing.

Monitoring highway traffic

Computers are used to tell schedules of water vessels, train, buses to their respective stations. You only need to use your PDA device or cello phone and check it out.

Computers are used very extensively in design of roads. Roadways and bridges are designed using software programs like CAD etc.

SEARCHING THE INTERNET

The internet is a global connection of computer networks.

The internet connects together billions of computers and other ICT devices, to exchange and share information all over the world.

To find the information that we want, we search or ‘browse’ or ‘surf’ the World Wide Web (WWW).

The WWW is a service on the Internet that consists of Websites, containing hyperlinked electronic documents (webpages) with different kinds of information.

You can open a Web page by entering a Web address in the Address bar of a web browser.

A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is another term for Web address. Web addresses uniquely identify websites on the www, for example http://www.newvision.co.ug

Web browsers are software programs that are used for displaying Webpages on computers.

Examples Include:

• – Mozilla Firefox,
• – Internet Explorer,
• – Safari,
• – Opera
• – Google Chrome, etc.

If you don’t know the URL of the website you want to visit, you can use a web search engine

Search Engines are Software programs or systems that look through the www to locate sites matching a keyword entered by the user.

Keyword: A string of letters or words that indicates the subject to be searched.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW63ypUGsrA

Popular search engines include Yahoo, Bing and Google.(www.google.com)

PRACTICAL ACTIVITY: Open a web browser and use the Google search engine to search about the various uses of ICTs in society today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW63ypUGsrA