Technological Processes
Technology means activities. This can easily be derived from the fact that technology is in constant
development. If technology were a static thing, it would not have activities as a characteristic. But
what kind of activities and processes do we find in technology? Children probably would at first think
of making things. Research has shown that they have more difficulties to associate technology with
designing things. But in the philosophy of technology there is no discussion about both being
essential activities in technology. Furthermore there is the use of technology. And use also
comprises: appreciation and assessment. How can these activities be characterized? And is all
designing and making technology? Or are only specific kinds of designing and making technological
in nature? Such questions will be the focus for this chapter on technological processes.
The technological process is the work method used by technology and consists of the
ordered sequence of steps that must be followed in order to meet a need or solve a problem
ICT is an acronym for “information communications technology”. Many people ask
what is ICT. What is the meaning or definition of ICT? The acronym ICT is often
used in many different contexts. For example, people refer to the ICT industry, ICT
sector, ICT companies, ICT law (laws like the POPI Act, the ECT Act, and
the Cybercrimes Bill), the ICT BEE Charter, ICT governance and ICT legislation.
But what is the acronym ICT actually short for? With the acronym you lose the “and”
and commas – this creates ambiguity. In my view, ICT should be a shortening for
“information, communication and technology” so that it is broad enough to include all
the different aspects of what the acronym stands for. Some people focus on the
“technology” whilst others focus on the “information” or “communication”. For
example, ICT governance is not only about the governance of “technology” (the
storage tanks and pipes), but also about the governance of “information” (the water).
What is ICT?
There are two options of what the acronym ICT could stand for:
1. information and communication technology
2. information, communication and technology
These might appear to be subtle distinctions, but there is a significant difference in
meaning – the second is much broader than the first.
Option 1
Most people will tell you that ICT is a shortening for “information and
communications technology” – option number one above. Let’s unpack that
phrase. So it is “information technology” or “communications technology”. It is not
“information” or “communication” standing on its own. “Information” or
“communication” has to go with technology – they cannot exist independently. You
could shorten information and communications technology to just technology.
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Option 2
In my view, it should be “information, communication and technology” – option
number two above. Each aspect of the acronym can stand on its own. So it
includes “information” or “communication”. It also includes technology or “information
and communications technology”. This interpretation is wider. Another way of
looking at it is that ICT stands for:
1. Information – (or data) in paper or electronic format
2. Communication – in person or electronically (electronic communications), in writing
or voice, telecommunications, and broadcasting
3. Information technology (IT) – including software, hardware and electronics
4. Communications technology – including protocols, software and hardware
What is Information and Communication Technology?
Information and communications technology (ICT)
refers to all the technology used to handle telecommunications, broadcast media, intelligent
building management systems, audiovisual processing and transmission systems, and network-
based control and monitoring functions. Although ICT is often considered an extended synonym
for information technology (IT), its scope is more broad.
Information technology (IT) is the use of computers to store, retrieve, transmit, and manipulate
data, or information, often in the context of a business or other enterprise. IT system is generally
an information system, a communications system or, more specifically speaking, a computer
system – including all hardware, software and peripheral equipment – operated by a limited
group of users. 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. IT is considered to be a subset of information and communications technology
(ICT).
ICT encompasses both the internet-enabled sphere as well as the mobile one powered by
wireless networks. It also includes antiquated technologies, such as landline telephones, radio
and television broadcast – all of which are still widely used today alongside cutting-edge ICT
pieces such as artificial intelligence and robotics. The list of ICT components is exhaustive, and it
continues to grow. Some components, such as computers and telephones, have existed for
decades but smartphones, digital TVs and robots, are more recent entries.
Components of ICT
• Cloud computing – The term is generally used to describe data centers available to many
users over the Internet. Large clouds, predominant today, often have functions distributed over
multiple locations from central servers. If the connection to the user is relatively close, it may be
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designated an edge server. Clouds may be limited to a single organization (enterprise clouds),
be available to many organizations (public cloud) or a combination of both (hybrid cloud). The
largest public cloud is Amazon AWS .
• Software is a set of instructions, data or programs used to operate computers and execute
specific tasks. Opposite of hardware, which describes the physical aspects of a computer,
software is a generic term used to refer to applications, scripts and programs that run on a
device. Software can be thought of as the variable part of a computer and hardware the
invariable part. Software is often divided into application software, or user downloaded programs
that fulfil a want or need, and system software, which includes operating systems and any
program that supports application software.
• Hardware – in the context of technology, refers to the physical elements that make up a
computer or electronic system and everything else involved that is physically tangible. This
includes the monitor, hard drive, memory and the CPU. Hardware works hand-in-hand with
firmware and software to make a computer function. Hardware is only one part of a computer
system; there is also firmware, which is embedded into the hardware and directly controls it.
• Digital Transactions can be broadly defined as online or automated transactions that take
place between people and organizations—without the use of paper. Digital transactions save
time and money, resulting in a better bottom line. Customer experiences are also enhanced
(think of the convenience of eSigning versus having to print a contract, sign it, and then return it
by mail or fax). And digital transactions improve tracking capabilities—which helps reduce errors.
• Digital Data is data that represents other forms of data using specific machine language
systems that can be interpreted by various technologies. The most fundamental of these systems
is a binary system, which simply stores complex audio, video or text information in a series of
binary characters, traditionally ones and zeros, or «on» and «off» values.
• Internet access is the process of connecting to the internet using personal computers, laptops
or mobile devices by users or enterprises. Internet access is subject to data signalling rates and
users could be connected at different internet speeds. Internet access enables individuals or
organizations to avail internet services/web-based services. The internet began to gain popularity
with dial-up internet access. In a relatively short time, internet access technologies changed,
providing faster and more reliable options. Currently, broadband technologies such as cable
internet and ADSL are the most widely used methods for internet access. The speed, cost,
reliability and availability of internet access depends on the region, internet service provider and
type of connection.
There are many different ways to obtain internet access, including Wireless connection, Mobile
connection, Hotspots, Dial-up, Broadband, DSL or Satellite.
However, ICT commonly means more than its list of components, though. It also encompasses
the application of all those various components.
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