CHAPTER TWO

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT)

What is ICT?
ICT (Information and Communication Technology)
is a branch of engineering that deals with the use of
Computers to retrieve, store and transmit
information in a digital form while IT (Information
Technology) is a phrase used to describe the use of
computers in everyday life
It is worth noting that terms ICT and IT are used
interchangeably and electronic devices such as a
computer of any classification must be used to
accomplish the objective of ICT and IT. ICT
systems are based on tools for handling information
and communication and thus they include
computers, networks, software and hardware
needed for management or transmission of
information. Personal computers, laptops, tablets,
mobile phones, transport systems, televisions, and
network technologies are just some examples of the
diverse collection of ICT tools.

Positive effects of ICT/IT to the

society
1. Increased interaction through e-mails, chart
rooms and video conferencing over the
Internet.
2. Increased sharing and access to common
databases within and outside the organizations
through networking.
3. Increased access to information through
Database Management Systems.
4. Increased inventions and innovations.
5. Improved and sustained quality of goods and
services.
6. Increased investment opportunities in
commercial tele-centers, Internet cafes, and
chart rooms.
7. More leisure as people get shorter working
hours.
8. Highly skilled jobs are being created like
programming, system analysis, software
engineering and security.
9. Many Information Technology products for the
 disabled have been developed
10. Improved corporate image

Negative effects of ICT/IT to the society

1. There is a risk of addiction to computer games and surfing.
2. Using a computer for many hours is harmful to human health e.g. eyesight loss and
repetitive strain injury.
3. Creativity skills and logical thinking can decrease due to over dependence on the
computer.
4. ICT can destroy the culture and thus moral decay of a certain group of people in the
society, especially youths.
5. Computers are still costly because the initial cost and maintenance cost of a computer are
very expensive.
6. Use of ICT requires additional efforts in form of training to use computers and their
programs.
7. Increased instability as people will use social networks to instigate political protests.
8. Excessive use of computers for communication with others threatens to reduce the
intensity of personal contact between people. For instance, the telephone calls
9. ICT has led to unemployment of people such as Tellers, shop workers, postal workers;
since many manual/repetitive jobs have been replaced by more effective ITs.
10. Electronic fraud, stealing money electronically through practices like Credit card cloning.
11. Computer manufacturing processes and computer waste (e-waste) are depleting natural
resources and polluting the environment.
12. Hacking: Unauthorized access into computers possibly to access information,
compromising privacy.
13. Software piracy slows economic growth since it discourages new innovative software
developers.
14. Files and programs in the computer become corrupted randomly due to infection by
computer viruses.
15. Computers are delicate and they must be given a great care.

Application areas of computers

Uses of computers in Supermarkets

1. Administration for quality control and stock control using hand held computers.
 2. Shelf Edge Computers are used for price changes, creating stock pictures and for
forecasting deliveries.
3. Located at each checkout is an Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) till. This EPOS till
comprises a keyboard, a digital display, a scanner which reads bar codes, a set of scales, a
printer, a credit/debit card reader and a till drawer.
4. The email is used for area initiatives, promotional planning, head office bulletins, and
warning about shoplifters.
5. Perform sales analysis.
6. Collecting data about customers using loyalty cards which offer points whenever money
is spent in the store. This data is used to analyze the spending habits of customers and
send them offers for the type of products that they buy regularly.

Uses of Computers in Business

1. Computers give businesses access to email, instant messaging and customer contact
systems for communication.
2. Accounting software allows businesses to manage financial data such as tax reports,
expenditure, payroll, profits and losses.
3. Data can be stored centrally for easy access from multiple computers or stored locally for
individual use.
4. Word processor programs allow businesses to create reports, memos, tutorials and
adverts.
5. Spreadsheet applications for organizing, analyzing, and managing data.
6. Businesses use computers to help educate employees on software use, company policy,
standard procedures and safety.
7. Search engines, forums, social networks and industry specific websites provide
businesses with a wealth of information and research data.
8. Decision making and planning through decision support systems.
9. Stock control and inventory management.
10. Security management for business and manufacturing installations through computer
guided cameras.
11. Computer controlled quality assurance and control.
12. Selling and buying of goods and services through electronic commerce.
13. Access to online banking services.

Uses of Computers in security

1. Computer aided cameras for domestic and business premises security
2. Location of enemy positions/targets
3. Flying and directing fighter/combat planes by use of radar systems
4. Manning of gates on business premises
5. Directing missiles and ammunition by use of military laser and guided missile systems.
6. Detecting weapons
7. Electronic news gathering and efficient communication have created the modern military
 Uses of computers at Home
1. Used for entertainment and leisure activities
through watching video and listening to audio
2. Instant communication systems through email
and Short Messaging Service
3. Accessing instant news updates from Internet
web services.
4. To play on-line and offline games.
5. Accessing Internet Chat services instantly on
Social sites like Facebook, Twitter
6. Pay bills through the Payment by Phone
Services (PPS) by phone or Internet.
7. Budgeting and personal financial
management.
8. Balancing cheque books.
9. Buying and selling stocks online.
10. Manage investments and family budgets.

Self-employment opportunities of a computer

at home
1. Music and video editing
2. Photo editing
Challenges of using a computer at home
1. High power consumption 3. Online advertising
2. Wasting time on unproductive computer 4. Commercial blogging
use 5. Computer home clinic for repair and
3. Exposure to illicit material leading to maintenance
moral decay 6. Selling personal and friends properties
4. Over dependence on computers to solve
through online auctioning sites
computing problems thus reducing
7. Communication services like bulk
creativity
5. Addiction to using computers among messaging, email and video conferencing
family members 8. Programming for phones and desktops
6. Expensive to repair and maintain 9. Call center support advisor for a specific
7. Destruction by small children at home company
10. Basic skills training at home
11. Legal software vending
Uses of computers in industry
1. Computer aided design in manufacturing firms.
2. Computer aided manufacture through robotics. A robot is a computer controlled device that
can move and react to feedback from the outside world.
3. Data sensing and logging i.e. for management of temperatures in certain manufacturing
areas
4. Clocking for employee man-hours through card reading computer systems
5. Accident arresting through smoke, fire, poisonous gasses emissions detecting computer
installations

Role of Computers in Hospitals

The importance of computers in hospitals have increased drastically due to the fact that the
procedures have to be speedy to cater to a larger population and the medical services have to be
more precise. There are a number of significant advantages of using computers in hospitals:
1. Hospital administration, where all the administrative processes are computerized. For
example, staff records, financial records, recording incoming and outgoing time of the
staff and the holiday records of the staff.
2. Many high tech surgical machines and instruments have inbuilt computer systems that
record and monitor every surgical process to avoid complications.
3. Many clinical imaging processes are conducted and examined with the help of
computers, such as X-ray and CT scan.
4. Computers also play a vital role in conducting various clinical and biological laboratory
tests in hospitals that help in correct diagnosis of the disease.
5. Many critical patients, whose heart rate, pulse rate, and brain readings need be recorded
and monitored continuously, are observed through computers.
6. It’s virtually impossible for humans to note down every movement of the internal organs
of the patients but computers do it with ease.
7. Importance of computers in medicine has grown so much that many patients who need to
be provided with life support system are also governed by the special computerized
system only.
8. Storage of Patient Data and Health Information. Computers are the excellent means for
storage of patient-related data. Hospitals employ computer systems to maintain patient
records.
9. Using Computers in Surgical Procedures. Computer-assisted Surgery (CAS) is a fast-
advancing field in medicine, which combines medical expertise with computer
intelligence to give faster and more accurate results in surgical procedures.
10. Using Computer Technology in Diagnostic Tests.
11. Communication between Medical Practitioners and Patients, Computers allow faster
communication between a patient and a doctor.
12. Knowledge Sharing between Doctors. Medical practitioners can discuss medical issues in
medical forums, they can blog, write articles, contribute to medical journals that are
available online.
13. Faster medical alerts with the help of real time processing systems, which are more
accurate time-wise.
14. Precision in billing, medical bills can be computer generated and hence, the chances of
miscalculation are less. Online transaction facilities are also essential through
technologies.
15. Automated updating of medical history on treatments, tests, diagnosis, and symptoms.
Such information comes handy for the doctor in case of emergencies and when a new
treatment is to be administered.

Uses of computers in the area of Communication

For example Electronic communications; Internet, www, electronic mail, fax, electronic
conferencing, portable telephones
 1. Electronic Mail can be sent from one person to the other using connected computers.
2. Instant messaging (IM) is the real time Internet communication service that allows users
to exchange messages with one or more online computer users.
3. Accessing information on the World Wide Web (WWW)
4. Teleconferencing and Videoconferencing enables people in different locations to conduct
meeting as if they are in the same location.
5. Internet telephony enables users to make phone calls to other users over the Internet
6. Computers are used for Faxing text and image documents electronically.
7. File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is an Internet protocol that allows users to upload files and
download files on the Internet.
8. Short message service (SMS) for typing and sending short text messages.
9. Multimedia Message Service (MMS) allows users to send graphics, audio, video.
10. Workgroup computing applications enables group members to communicate, manage
projects, schedule meetings, and make decisions over the Internet.

Role of Computers in Education

Right from elementary school students to PhD researchers, every educational system has been
influenced by computers. Some of the uses and advantages of computers in education are as
follows:
1. Large memory capacities of computer storage media enable them to store huge amount of
data in electronic format.
2. Quick data processing
3. Computers facilitate audio-visual representation of information, thus making the process
of learning interactive and interesting.
4. Better presentation of information using presentation software with graphics and
animation effects.
5. Access to the Internet, students find it easy to retrieve information from Internet hardcopy
books.
6. Quick communication between students, teachers and parents, through e-mail, chat
rooms.
7. Online education has made learning easy and convenient for people who have access to
Internet services.
8. Students who have gained good computer skills have better chances of job opportunities
as computers literacy is a need now.
9. School Management Systems for registration, records, and reports.
10. Students can be better prepared for the future technologies and it's easy to explain
abstract topics with 3-D images and other forms of multimedia objects.
11. Computers may provide a free environment for learning hence improving students'
performance and achievements.

Uses of computers in Entertainment

1. Planning a vacation
2. Read a book or magazine online
3. Retouch a photograph
4. Compose and edit a video which involves recording, synthesizing and adding special
effects to music.
 5. Watch a video or a movie: computers produce highly simulated and animated movies,
generate scenes and actors to make the movie interesting.
6. Listen to audio and video music
7. Playing computer games many games simulate sports such as driving, war combat. The
games give a player maximum pleasure in a virtual environment on the screen.

Uses of Computers in Agriculture

Computers and their applications have changed the face of most traditional occupations
including agriculture. From computerized milk collection and seed estimators to weather
predictions and automated farmland assessment, computers have revolutionized farming
practices.

Applications of Computing Technologies in Agriculture

In today's times, agriculture is not just about crop production or livestock farming and associated
activities. The challenges brought forth by ecological factors affecting the environment need to
be a major consideration for any kind of farming activity. Farmers need to preempt
environmental impact due to climate change and this is where modern technology comes to the
rescue.
1. Farmland Assessment using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
2. Self-directed Farm Equipment such as Tractors, Automated feeding systems,
computerized milk collection and milking machines.
3. Farm Software for accounting, record keeping, herd recording, simulations, revenue and
productivity estimation.
4. Internet agricultural forums, Social Networking and Online Knowledge Bases.
5. E-agriculture focuses on coming up with innovative ways and best practices to use the
existing information and communication technologies (ICTs).
6. ICT tools can be used in irrigation schemes to determine and control amount moisture in the
soil.

Use of Computers in politics and governance

1. A government provides society with direction by making and administering policies.
2. To provide citizens with up-to-date information
3. Employees of government agencies use computers as part of their daily routine.
4. Legislatures are using computers to manage proceedings and records keeping, and
enhance the communication process.
5. ICT has been used in Electronic Voting.
6. ICT also helps to make courts system more accessible to the public.

Applications of computers in education

Computers in Education refer to educational computing. The computer has created a revolution
in the content of education and in the nature of the learning process. Various applications of
computers in education include:
1. Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) 3. Computer Based Teaching (CBT)
2. Computer Assisted Learning (CAL) 4. Computer Managed Learning (CML)

This is a program of instructional material presented by means of a computer. CAI is a method of

instruction in which there is a purposeful interaction between a learner and computer device to
help the individual learner to achieve the desired instructional objective at their own pace and
ability.
The following are the characteristics of CAI:
 It has the capacity to initiate flexible interactions with the student.
 The computer is able to record and store all the responses of the students.
 It can use the available information in deciding what information to give the student next.
 It can branch not just in terms of one answer but also in terms of a whole series of
previous answers.
 It can also record the time taken to answer a question and the degree of correctness of the
student‘s response.
 It uses information in planning to determine which branch to take.

Concept of Computer Assisted Learning (CAL)

Computer Assisted Learning (CAL) is used to denote the flow of information between the
student and computer so as to provide instruction to the student on specific topics. CAL is used
to denote a broader function of the computer in mediating the learning environment of the
student in different ways. CAI is at times considered to be an aspect of CAL which deals with
instruction.

Concept of Computer Based Teaching (CBT)

Computer-Based Trainings (CBTs) are self-paced learning activities accessible via a computer or
handheld device. CBTs typically present content in a linear fashion, much like reading an online
book or manual. For this reason they are often used to teach static processes, such as using
software or completing mathematical equations. The term Computer-Based Training is often
used interchangeably with Web-based training (WBT) with the primary difference being the
delivery method. Where CBT is typically delivered via CD-ROM, WBT is delivered via the
Internet using a web browser

Concept of Computer Managed Learning (CML)

Computer Managed Learning (CML) is used to indicate the use of a computer to perform the
tedious and time consuming tasks of learning. There are four broad areas in CML in which
computers provide management support to the teacher. They are used to:
 Construct, score and analyse tests.
 Keep record of student performance and progress through courses.
 provide guidance to the student advising them on the choice of next course
 Report on the performance and progress of the students to individual students and
administrators of the institution.

Test your progress

1. (a) Explain the various application areas of computers in the society.
(b) Briefly explain three applications of computers in each of the following areas:
i. Home iii School
ii. Entertainment iv Business
2. Discuss developments in ICT that may have an impact on how lessons could be taught in the
future in schools.
3. The overseas agency is considering using Computer Aided Learning (CAL) or Computer Based
Training (CBT) to train the volunteers.
(a) Explain how these two methods differ from each
(b) Describe the disadvantages of using these methods to train the volunteers.
4. ICT is used throughout the entertainment theatre. Discuss the impact that ICT has had on the
customer when deciding what to see, booking a ticket and watching a performance.
5. Outline any five dangers of using computers at home.
6. Explain five factors a teacher should consider when planning for a complete based lesson
7. Discus six importance of computer technology in any education system