Information and Communication Technology
Information
and Communication Technology can simply be defined in its simplest form as an
electronic medium for creating, collecting, manipulating receiving and sending
information from one place to another. It makes message delivery faster, more
convenient, easy to access, understand and interpret. It uses gadgets such as
cell phones, the Internet, wireless network, computer, radio, television,
Satellites, base stations etc. These resources are used to create, collect,
communicate, transmit and manage information.
The
Scope of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Information
and Communication Technology is a field that has a wide coverage. It
extensively deals with communication technology and how it impacts on other
fields of human endeavour.
It
is the convergence of telephone and computer networking through a single
cabling system with ease of data storage, manipulation, management, and
retrieval.
It
is concerned with database management, computer programming, and software
development, Web designing, mobile application development, project management,
security networking analysis, media equipment, computer engineering, computer
studies, the internet, intranet, internet protocol (IP), system software,
application software, signal technology, base station management etc.
Uses
of Information Technology
We
can see the uses and role
of information technology in our society in many fields:
Business
Since
the arrival of computers, the entire face of the business world has been
changed. To run the different departments of business swiftly, use of
Information Technology is important and it is possible with computers and
software. The use of information technology can be seen in departments such as
finance, human resources, manufacturing, and security. Role of IT can’t be
ignored.
Education
Technology
enables teachers to be up to date with new techniques and help their students
to be updated with latest technologies such as use of tablets, mobile phones,
computers, etc. in education. Information technology helps students to learn
new things.
Finance
Information
Technology opens the doors for traders and common people to do online
purchases. Banks keep records of all the transactions and accounts through computers.
Unlike before, now the transactions and other deals have become faster and
easier.
Healthcare
With
Information Technology, the field of medicine and health has been seeing
tremendous improvements. For doctors, sending and receiving information, checking
patients, and discussing with other experts have become very convenient. Also,
it reduces the time taken in paperwork.
Security
Online
transactions and keeping records of all the online transactions are now more
safe than earlier times. Only proper management and a person responsible for
the system can access the data online. It prohibits any random person from
checking the details. All these have been made possible by keeping the system
passwords proof. Only permissible authority can access your information.
Communication
With
improvements in information technology, globalization has increased. The world
is brought closer, and the world’s economy is quickly becoming a single
interdependent system. Information can be shared quickly and easily from all
over the globe, and barriers of linguistic and geographic boundaries can be
torn down as people share ideas and information with each other.
Employment
With
Information Technology, new jobs have been introduced. It creates new jobs for
programmers, hardware and software developers, systems analysers, web designers
and many others. Information Technology has opened an entirely new fields and
thousands of jobs for IT professionals.
Benefits
of Information Technology
Information
technology has changed our lives drastically. You are only a single click away
from everything. So here is a list of the benefits of information technology in
our lives and also there is a need
of the Information Technology in every field.
1. With
the advancement in IT, one can access the system of the company from any place.
It is not necessary for the authority to be in the office only. They can submit
their work from home as well. Easy access to the system has surely increased
one’s productivity without any physical presence of the person in the office.
2. There
is a huge demand for IT professionals in various fields. The demand opens an
immense opportunity for IT professionals to explore the field and show their
talent. The IT field offers people to work for computer programming, system
analysis, testing, software and hardware development, web application design
etc.
3. With
the advancement of information technology, the education field has transformed
its outlook and has adopted a modern way of teaching and learning. Teaching on
the blackboard is now an old thing. Teachers and institutions are using modern
gadgets to teach their students. A computer with an internet connection helps
students to learn new things and understand the topics easily and deeply.
4. Information
technology helps patients as well. They can now connect with physicians and
take advice online. Also, there are many virtual healthcare applications
available to provide guidance. Electronic health records and tele-medicines are
delivering efficient and quality health to patients.
5. In the technology world,
with information technology, the drawback of time and distance in business
activities has been removed. Now, buying and selling are too easy. Customers
can buy online from their locals and international vendors as well.
6. With
wireless communication mediums, news broadcasts have become so easier. Only a
few seconds are needed to know the news from any corner of the world.
7. Use of
the internet on mobile phones, tablets, laptops, iPods, and other gadgets has
been offering us unlimited access to entertainment mediums. People can watch
movies or new songs on OTT platforms.
8. With
the Information technology, communication between people has become cheaper,
easier and faster than ever before. Texting, video calling, sending e-mails are
so easy nowadays. There are so many apps available online to provide these
services.
9. With
the Information technology, we have seen and understood the meaning of
globalization. Today, the world is on one platform and there are no physical
barriers between nations.
Importance
Information
and Communications Technology (ICT) has an important role in the world since we
are now in the information age era. With ICT, the company can make the business
easier to happen with the client, supplier, and distributor. It is also very
important in our daily lives. The lack of appropriate information at the right
time will result in low productivity, low-quality research works, and waste of
time to pursue information and even to do research which others had done or in
other countries. Nowadays ICT cannot be separated from our daily needs.
ICT has a
great impact on our daily lives. For example, we can read our local newspaper
using the online newspaper. Another example is we still can get connected with
our family, relatives, or colleges even if we are abroad by using electronic
mail, messenger, call conference, or video conference.
Digital
computer and networking have changed our economy concept to an economy with no
boundary in time and space because of ICT. It brings a lot of advantages for
economic development enabling millions of transactions to happen in an easy and
fast way.
ICT is one of
the economic development pillars to gain a national competitive advantage. It
can improve the quality of human life because it can be used as a learning and
education media, the mass communication media in promoting and campaigning
practical and important issues, such as the health and social area. It provides
wider knowledge and can help in gaining and accessing information.
ICT has become
an integral part of everyday life for many people. It increases its importance
in people's lives and it is expected that this trend will continue, to the
extent that ICT literacy will become a functional requirement for people's
work, social, and personal lives.
The use of ICT
in education adds value in teaching and learning, by enhancing the
effectiveness of learning, or by adding a dimension to learning that was not
previously available. ICT may also be a significant motivational factor in
students 'learning and can support students' engagement with collaborative
learning.
Information
and Communications Technology (ICT) is our society's efforts to teach its
current and emerging citizens valuable knowledge and skills around computing
and communications devices, software that operates them, applications that run
on them, and systems that are built with them.
We are living
in a constantly evolving digital world. ICT has an impact on almost every
aspect of our lives - from working to socializing, learning to playing. The
digital age has transformed the way young people communicate, network, seek
help, access information, and learn. We must recognize that young people are
now an online population and access is through a variety of means such as
computers, TV, and mobile phones.
It is in this
graduation that educational technology and e-learning are taught in or out of
the classroom since educational technology is used by learners and educators in
homes, schools, businesses, and other settings.
Challenges
of Information and Communication Technology
Information
and Communication Technology is limited by a number of challenges which is
characteristic of an emerging field. The following are some of the challenges:
1. Expensive ICT materials: The
requisite materials for practical knowledge of ICT especially at the advanced
level are costly e.g., Computer, projector, Internet machine etc.
2. Highly technical and
practical driven: It is technically driven. It requires a great
deal of logic and analytical reasoning for in-depth understanding and
application.
3.Poor orientation about the
concept: The first challenge in embracing ICT as a field of study
for students who have no prior orientation from their foundation education is
that of speedy assimilation.
4. Underdevelopment: ICT
is a global concept and an up-to-date knowledge on the subject there must
necessarily be technological development nationally at least well-established
global information link on the subject. Many nations are yet to attain this.
5. Universal acceptability as
a compulsory field of study: The subject is yet to be
fully embraced by all institutions of learning from the cradle globally.
Although it is now compulsory at the high school level in some countries.
Unless there are solid foundation and love for the subject, compliance for all
may still take a time to attain in line with the global goals.
6. Hijack by Hackers: ICT
is being used by some persons for evil purposes such as cybercrime that can
cause severe damage to computers and similar gadgets.
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