Introduction
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 broader. ICT has more recently been used to describe the
convergence of several technologies and the use of common transmission lines
carrying very diverse data and communication types and formats.
Converging technologies that exemplify ICT
include the merging of audiovisual, telephone and computer networks through a
common cabling system. Internet service providers (ISPs) commonly provide
internet, phone and television services to homes and businesses through a
single optical cable. The elimination of the telephone networks has provided
huge economic incentives to implement this convergence, which eliminates many
of the costs associated with cabling, signal distribution, user installation,
servicing and maintenance costs.[1]
Definition of
Information Communication Technology
ICT is defined as any technology used to
support information gathering, processing, distribution and use. The definition
taken in this paper classifies ICT into information technologies,
telecommunications technologies and networking technologies. This covers all
forms of technologies such as computers, Internet, websites as well as
fixed line telephones, mobile phones and
other wireless communications devices, networks, broadband and various
specialized devices.[2]
In the past few decades, information and
communication technologies have provided society with a vast array of new
communication capabilities. For example, people can communicate in real-time
with others in different countries using technologies such as instant
messaging, voice over IP (VoIP), and video-conferencing. Social networking
websites like Face book allow users from all over the world to remain in
contact and communicate on a regular basis. Modern information and
communication technologies have created a "global village," in which
people can communicate with others across the world as if they were living next
door. For this reason, ICT is often studied in the context of how modern
communication technologies affect society.[3]
Importance of
information and communication technology[4]
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 the 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 actually others had done or in other
countries. Nowadays ICT cannot be separated with our daily needs.
·
ICT has a great impact in 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 colleagues even if we
are abroad by using the electronic mail, yahoo messenger, call conference, or
video conference.
·
Digital computer and networking has changed our economy
concept to the 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
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 add 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 basically
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.
As a matter of fact, we are living in a
constantly evolving digital world. ICT has an impact on nearly 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 premise that educational technology and e-learning
is taught in or out of the classroom since educational technology is used by
learners and educators in homes, schools, businesses, and other settings.
Different Types of
Communication in ICT
The different types of communication in ICT
include electronic mail, video conferencing, facsimile and telephone
conferencing. ICT communication deals with storage, retrieval transmission and
manipulation of digital information. ICT communication uses ICT devices to
connect businesses, organizations and individuals.[5]
Electronic mail is the common form of
electronic communication used for transmitting and receiving digital
information. Emails are essential in sending messages, pictures files and other
attachments. Firms and organizations use emails for business purposes and as a
medium for communication with employees, personnel and clients. Facsimile is
another common means of ICT communication used for sending messages over the
telephone network. Modern fax machines are digital, making it possible to send
a message over a wireless connection. Faxes can be sent over a wireless
connection and received by the fax machine of the recipient.
Video conferencing is the best communication
medium when companies want to reach different people across different time
zones or countries. This medium uses a camera, loudspeakers, Internet
connections and microphone to connect different people at the same time. The
equipment used allows everyone to see, speak and listen to each other. Another type
of ICT communication is telephone conferencing. Phone conferences allow
participants to listen to each other. They are connected through a phone call
using an option of conferencing. Participants enter a unique code or number to
bridge the call.
Advantages and
Disadvantages of ICT
There are advantages using Information
Communication Technology:[6]
Communication
Speed/time and money can be saved because it is
much quicker to send/share information around. Communication is more efficient
to contact either business partners or friends and family members all over the
world. ICT expands availability for communications. Social network sites and
Social media such as Skype allows making video-conference calls with immediate
response. Messages can be send to numerous people/companies across distances.
Lives have been affected by ICT in most positive way’s bringing families
together across the world.
Cost effectiveness
Numerous offers from telecommunication
companies and smart phones therefore making far cheaper than in the past. For
business ICT saves incredible amount of money on business flights and
accommodations. Only few years ago there was no way to send free message
through to the phone, but now people uses social network for free communication
e.g. Viber, Skype, Facebook. Saving time and money for petrol as people can go
shopping from home through online shopping.
Greater availability
Websites are open for communication in every
minute of the year. This means that a business can be open anytime anywhere
giving a customer the capability to make purchase from different sites and
different countries.
Bridging the cultural gap
Greater access to the ICT has helped to build
the bridges between different cultures giving them opportunity to exchange
views and ideas. Also, educate both sides of communication bridge thereby
increasing awareness and reducing prejudice.
Creation of jobs
The best advantage of ICT has been a creation
of new and interesting jobs in IT sectors. Computer programmers, web designers
etc. have great employment opportunities created through the advancement of
technology.
Education
There is new opportunity for further education
to improve qualification in so many economic sectors. A degree can be completed
online from person’s home. It is possible to hold a job and still do degree.
Disadvantages.
Lack of Security/Privacy
Though IT may have changed and more convenient,
it also brought along privacy and security issues. From email hacking, phone
signal interception etc. people are worried that personal information may
become public knowledge. IT keeps changing almost every day which means that
the individuals must be up to date in IT to secure their jobs. There is also
risk factors with the systems computer viruses, malware, spam, Trojans etc.,
attacking.
Unemployment
While IT may have streamlined the business
process, it has created job redundancies and subcontracting. Using the
computers instead of human resources employers save huge amount of money but
employees are losing their jobs as not needed anymore.
Social media
The network pages are open to everyone
including teenagers and young children’s which can affect their mental and
physical health by watching and playing violent games. They became addicted to
the phones, iPod, gaming consoles forgetting about outside activities and
communication in the society.
Cyber bulling
It is so easy now bullying and threatening
others in social network pages that this has become much easier for internet
users all over the world. They don’t realize what the consequences are to those
reading/hearing unpleasant comments. In the recent past there have been so many
investigation cases regarding cyber bullying with lethal consequences.
In modern society ICT is ever-present, with
over three billion people having access to the Internet. With approximately 8
out of 10 Internet users owning a Smartphone, information and data are increasing
by leaps and bounds. This rapid growth, especially in developing countries, has
led ICT to become a keystone of everyday life, in which life without some facet
of technology renders most of clerical, work and routine tasks dysfunctional. ICT
has yet to penetrate the remote areas of some countries, with many developing
countries dearth of any type of Internet. This also includes the availability
of telephone lines, particularly the availability of cellular coverage, and
other forms of electronic transmission of data. The latest "Measuring the
Information Society Report" cautiously stated that the increase in the
aforementioned cellular data coverage is ostensible, as "many users have
multiple subscriptions, with global growth figures sometimes translating into little
real improvement in the level of connectivity of those at the very bottom of
the pyramid; an estimated 450 million people worldwide live in places which are
still out of reach of mobile cellular service.
Information communication technologies play a
role in facilitating accelerated pluralism in new social movements today. The
internet according to Bruce Bimber is "accelerating the process of issue
group formation and action coined the term accelerated pluralism to explain these
new phenomena.”[8] ICTs are tools for
"enabling social movement leaders and empowering dictators” in effect
promoting societal change. ICTs can be used to garner grassroots support for a
cause due to the internet allowing for political discourse and direct
interventions with state policyas well as change the way complaints from the
populace are handled by governments. Furthermore, ICTs in a household are
associated with women rejecting justifications for intimate partner violence.
According to a study published in the resent years this is likely because access
to ICTs exposes women to different ways of life and different notions about
women’s role in society and the household, especially in culturally
conservative regions where traditional gender expectations contrast observed
alternatives.
[4]https://pcdreams.com.sg/importance-of-information-and-communications-technology-ict
[8]Bimber, Bruce (1998-01-01). "The Internet
and Political Transformation: Populism, Community, and Accelerated
Pluralism". Polity. 31 (1): 133–160.
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