LESSON 1 INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION .

1.0 ICT AND SOCIETYLESSON 1INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONTECHNOLOGY (ICT)EVOLUTION OF COMMUNICA TIONCommunication has improved and evolved to facilitate our daily activities. Inthe 21st century, everything related to communication utilizes technology to‘send out’ or disseminate information to a wider audience. Information canbe ‘sent out’ in many ways. The inventions of cellular phones, television andother electronic devices are important in enhancing communication.WHAT IS ICT?ICT is the technology required for information processing, in particular, theuse of electronic computers, communication devices and softwareapplications to convert, store, protect, process, transmit and retrieveinformation from anywhere, anytime.INFORMATIONInformation refers to the knowledge obtained from reading, investigation,study or research.The tools to transmit information are the telephone, television and radio.1

1.0 ICT AND SOCIETYWe need information to make decisions and to predict the future. Forexample, scientists can detect the formation of a tsunami using the latesttechnology and warn the public to avoid disasters in the affected areas.Information is knowledge and helps us to fulfill our daily tasks. For example,forecasting the stock exchange market.COMMUNICATIONCommunication is an act of transmitting messages. It is a process wherebyinformation is exchanged between individuals using symbols, signs or verbalinteractions. Previously, people communicated through sign or symbols,performing drama and poetry. With the advent of technology, these ‘older’forms of communication are less utilised as compared to the use of theInternet, e-mail or video conferencing.Communication is important in order to gain knowledge. With knowledge, weare more confident in expressing our thoughts and ideas.TECHNOLOGYTechnology is the use of scientific knowledge, experienceand resources to create processes and products that fulfillhuman needs. Technology is vital in communication.2

1.0 ICT AND SOCIETYAiding CommunicationTelephone and fax machines are the devices used in extendingcommunication.Spreading InformationTo broadcast information such as news or weather reportseffectively. Radio, television, satellites and the World WideWeb (www) are powerful tools that can be used.TECHNOLOGY TIMELINETechnologyYearIn 3500 BC, the Sumeriansdeveloped cuneiform writing.In 1500 BC, the Phoeniciansdeveloped the alphabetIn 105 BC, Tsai Lun of Chinainvented paper.In 1454, the first printing beganwith the creation of a printingmachine.3

1.0 ICT AND SOCIETYTechnologyYearIn 1793, the telegraph line wasinvented.In 1876, the first telephone wasintroduced.In 1925, television was madeknown to public.In 1941, the computer wascreated.In 1958, the photocopier machinewas introduced.4

1.0 ICT AND SOCIETYTechnologyYearIn 1963, the communicationsatellite wasintroduced.In 1969, the first Internet knownas ARPANET was introduced.5

1.0 ICT AND SOCIETYLESSON 2EVOLUTION OF COMPUTERSIn the early years, before the computer was invented, there are severalinventions of counting machines.YearCreatorMachines200BCCHINESE ABACUS500BCEGYPTIAN ABACUS1620JOHN NAPIERNAPIER'S BONESBLAISE PASCALPASCALINE16536

1.0 ICT AND SOCIETYYearCreatorMachines1673LEIBNIZ'S RECHNERGOTTFRIED WILHELM VONLEIBNIZ1801JOSEPH MARIE JACQUARDWEAVING LOOMCHARLES BABBAGEMECHANICAL CALCULATORMACHINE18231941HARVARD UNIVERSITYMARK 17

1.0 ICT AND SOCIETYCOMPUTER GENERATIONSFIRST GENERATION (1940-1956)The first generation of computer were huge, slow, expensive and oftenunreliable. In 1946, two Americans, Presper Eckert and Willian Mauchly buildthe ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer). It use vacuumtube instead of mechanical switches of the MARK 1.Vacuum tubeMARK 1Presper EckertWillian MauchlyIn 1951, Eckert and Mauchly build theUNIVAC, which could calculate at therate of 10,000 addition per seconds.UNIVAC – UNIVERSAL AUTOMATIC COMPUTERHardware TechnologyNew invention of hardware were needed with the new computer technology.TechnologyVACUUM TUBEPUNCHED CARDMAGNETIC TAPEDetailsThe vacuum tube was an extremelyimportant step of the advancement ofcomputers.In a computer, a vacuum tubewhich is an electronic tube about the size oflight bulbs, was used as the internalcomputer components. Thousands of themwere used.Punched card was used to store data.Magnetic tape was introduced in 1957. Itwas a faster and a more compact method ofstoring data. Using magnetic tape becamemore reliable and cost-effective.Problems8

1.0 ICT AND SOCIETY····the vacuum tubes generated a great deal of heat causing manyproblems in temperature regulation and climate controlthe tubes also burnt out frequentlypeople operating the computer did not know that the problem was inthe programming machinethe second generation computer scientists invented something newdue to lots of problem created by vacuum tubesSECOND GENERATION (1956-1963)The famous computer scientists during the second generation era were:The creation of transistor spark the production of a wave of secondgeneration computer. Transistor was small devices use to transfer electronicsignals across a resister. Transistors had many advantages compared toother hardware technology.·····transistors were smaller than vacuum tubesthey needed no warm up timeconsumed less energygenerated much less heatfaster and more reliableTHIRD GENERATION (1964-1971)In the third generation era, the IBM 370 series wereintroduced in 1964. It came in several models andsizes.It was used for business and scientific programs.Other computer models introduced were CDC 7600and B2500.The development of integrated circuit (IC), signal thebeginning of the third generation computers. Siliconechips were manufactured in 1961 at the Silicone Valley.Then came the integrated circuit technology, which hadreduced the size and cost of computers.It is a complete electronic circuit on a small chip of silicone. Which is alsoknown as semi conductor. Other than that, the Magnetic Core Memory9

1.0 ICT AND SOCIETYwas replaced by a device called the microchip. Also the first 256 bit RAMwas introduced and it was the basis for development of 1K bit RAM.AdvantagesA new concept in this generation was that of a family of computer whichallowed computer to be upgraded and expanded as necessary.···Silicone chips were reliable, compact andcheaper.Sold hardware and software separatelywhich created the software industry.customer service industry flourished(reservation and credit checks)FOURTH GENERATION (1971-PRESENT)It took only 55 years for the 4 generations toevolve. The growth of the computer industrydeveloped technologies of computer inventions.There are many types of computer models such as:· Apple Macintosh· IBM· DELL· ACERIn 1971 Intel created the first microprocessor. In 1976, Steve Jobs built thefirst Apple computer. Then, in 1981, IBM introduced its first personalcomputer.Steve JobsBill GatesMicheal DellDuring the fourth generation, hardware technology such as silicone chips,microprocessor and storage devices were invented. A microprocessor is aspecialized chip which is developed for computer memory and logic.10

1.0 ICT AND SOCIETYMicroprocessorSilicone ChipsThe microprocessor is a large-scale integrated circuit which containedthousands of transistors. The transistors on this one chip are capable ofperforming all of the functions of a computer's central processing unit.Advantages· Computers became 100 times smaller than ENIAC (ElectronicNumerical Integrator and Computer) the first computer· Gain in speed, reliability and storage capacity· Personal and software industry boomedFIFTH GENERATION (PRESENT & BEYOND)The fifth generation computers are technologicallyadvance and are still being development to becomemore efficient.The inventions of new hardware technology in thefifth generation have grown rapidly including manyother modern computer devices such as :· silicone chips· processor· robotics· virtual reality· intelligent systems· programs which translate languages11

1.0 ICT AND SOCIETYNEW ERA COMPUTERAfter the fifth generation computer, the technology of computer has becomemore advanced, modern and sophisticated. The latest invention in the era ofcomputers are :·····Super ComputersMainframe ComputersMini ComputersPersonal ComputersMobile ComputersIn the new era of computers, expert system such as teleconferencing andspeech-recognition system have been invented as part of modern worldcommunication tools.Super ComputersMini ComputersMainframe ComputersMobile ComputerPersonal Computers12

1.0 ICT AND SOCIETYLESSON 3USAGE OF ICT IN DAILY LIFEEDUCATIONToday, most schools and higher educational institutions have computers inthe classroom for teacher and students. In education, teachers, students,researchers and school administrators benefits from the usage of ICT.Teachers use computers toresearch for teaching materials,participate in online forums andonline conferences as well asto aid their teaching.TeachersStudents use the computers as areference tool. They usecomputers to browse theInternet to look for information.Students13

1.0 ICT AND SOCIETYResearchers use computers tocollect and process data.ResearchersSchool administrators usecomputers for administrativepurposes to make sure that theentire operation runs smoothly.School administratorsBANKINGThe computer is the nerve centre of thebanking system around the world. It functionsto control the entire banking system that alsoincludes 'Electronic Banking Services'.Electronic banking provides 24 hour services.The services include :······Automated Teller Machine (ATM)Cheque DepositElectronic Fund TranferDirect DepositPay by phone systemPersonal computer banking/ internetbankingIn the banking sector, customers, businessmanand bank administrator benefits from theusage of ICT.14

1.0 ICT AND SOCIETYCustomers can make anytransactions at the 24 hourservice centres or via online.Theseservices allow them to dotransaction at anytime they want.CustomersBusinessmen can save their timeby using the online servicesoffered by banks. They can accesscompany accounts forloan applications, businesstransactions and update on theircash flow at any time.BusinessmenBank administrators can overseethe entire banking activities suchas reconciliations, inter-branchtransactions (IBT), telegraphictransfer and others by referring tothe banking system.Bank administratorsINDUSTRYComputers are used to facilitate productionplanning and control systems, to support chainmanagement and to help in product design in theindustrial sector.In the industrial sector ,workers,researchers and administrator benefits from theusage of ICT.Workers use machines that areconnected to computers tooperate. In some productions,robots are used to take overjobs that are dangerous to theworkers.Workers15

1.0 ICT AND SOCIETYResearchers use computers toanalyse and collect research datafor future reference.ResearchersAdministrators use computers tooversee the entire operations inthe plant or factory to detectspecific errors or defects thatoccurred in the process.AdministratorsE-COMMERCEE-commerce helps in boosting the economy. Itmakes buying and selling activities easier, moreefficient and faster. For this application,computers, Internet and shared software areneeded.In the e-commerce sector ,customers r, suppliers and employees benefitsfrom the usage of ICT.Customers use computers to beconnected online with suppliers topurchase products. This methodcan save time and costas they do not have to go to anyoutlets.Customers16

1.0 ICT AND SOCIETYSuppliers use computers to keeptrack of their transactions. Allproducts are bar coded and can beread by the computerscanner to help in determiningprices and managing inventory.SuppliersEmployees use computers andtelephones to communicate withtheir customers for any enquiries.The system helps employees toget the latest updates oninventory to be informed to thecustomers.EmployeesOTHER SECTOR17