ICT SPECIALIZATION Module 1
ICT SPECIALIZATION Module 1
The term Information and Communication Technology (ICT) includes various forms
of technologies that are used to create, display, store, process, transmit, share, or
change information by electronic means (UNESCO, 2007).
With the advent of new technologies, the modes and methods of communication
are changing very fast. Radio, television, computers, telephones, smartphones, digital
cameras, laptops, and interactive boards have revolutionized the ways of
communication. These are very fast and can link distant locations within no time.
One can easily send messages across the globe and learn about events all over
the world in the blink of an eye. Numerous technological tools have come up which
helps not only to communicate but to create, store and manage information.
ICT facilitates communication anywhere, anytime, and by anyone. It has become
easier to communicate worldwide through the use of ICTs, for example, social media
sites and apps, blogs, etc. The use of ICT is time-saving and cost-effective in various
ways.
Applications of ICT
∙ In Day-to-Day Routine
ICTs have become a way of life in the present-day world. We are using various
ICTs in our day-to-day life for reading e-newspapers, e-magazines, and e-books,
online shopping, paying bills for food, using mobile apps, or getting online
appointments from doctors, and so on.
∙ In Education
ICT finds presence and expression in almost all the functions of the schools,
such as admission, timetable, classroom instruction, evaluation, laboratory
management, learning resources management, examination, and academic
researches. It is also being used for office automation. E-resources like websites,
e-books, e-newsletters, etc., are used by most of the schools.
Transportation
ICT is used very effectively in the area of transportation. The GPS is installed
in vehicles provides a lot of security and easy navigation to the commuters.
Airplanes and trains use RADAR systems for their control and pathfinding.
Application-based services have modernized the experience of the transport
system by their users. Online reservations of flights, trains, buses, and other
services have further made our lives easier.
Health
The use of ICT in the health sector allows medical practitioners to become
more effective in performing highly precise medical findings. ICT is now utilized
in surgeries, medical research, and real-time communications for medical
emergency responses.
∙ In Business
Banking
ICT plays a vital role in business sectors through reliable and safety of money
deposits. Large amounts of money are monitored, accounted for, dispense
through the use of ICT. Today’s cashless money transactions such as online
payments, online money transfers, online banking have provided businesses
and individuals easiness in cash dealings.
Marketing
Online marketing through various websites and mobile applications is very
popular in today’s world. People find them useful and hassle-free. They are
cost-effective and save a lot of time and effort for the people. Online sales and
services have generated a new type of employment, which requires very less
investment at the source.
Tourism
Various online hotel booking systems have provided a great experience to the
users. With the advancement of ICT even checking the overall scenario of a
place before planning a visit has become feasible. Also, online payment facilities
have simplified the travel experience.
∙ Public Service
Public Safety
Deployment of ICT makes it possible for the authority to collect, store and
rapidly disseminate the information to enhance public safety. Nowadays, real
time monitoring systems and safety devices are installed for continuous
monitoring of the traffic, the streets, and offices.
Governance and Public Administration
e-Governance is generally understood as the use of Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) at all the levels of the Government to provide
services to the citizens, interaction with business enterprises, and
communication and exchange of information between different agencies of the
Government in a speedy, convenient efficient and transparent manner.
∙ In Art
Creative construction and connection are being done in various domains with
the advent of ICT. Creative composition, compilation, and communication can be
done quickly by compatible ICTs. The role of ICT is vital in disseminating
various art forms in showcasing creative works to a larger audience.
ICT Composition
Hardware
Hardware is the tangible entity of ICT that does the physical operation in
every system. Most hardware is plug-and-play devices that are fitted to function
as the input and output human interface. In a communication system,
hardware comprises the facilities and devices used in the transmitter side, the
receiver side, and the transmission medium. On large ICT systems, data center
facilities and computer servers are found. On the client-side, mobile gadgets
such as smartphones, laptops, and other network-capable gadgets are used.
Software
General Instructions:
∙ Write the questions and the corresponding answers in a separate paper with your
name, course, year level, and DATE answered. If your answer required multiple
sheets, write your name on the top-most side of each paper. ∙ Your submission
must be your handwriting;
∙ Follow the deadline of submission stated in the course outline given to you, and;
∙ Either if you are the source of your classmate’s answer or you copied from your
classmates, your paper will be marked zero (0).
1. Fill the table with the ICT systems that you observed that you or other people
are using based on your day-to-day experience. (1 point for the 1st column and 2
points for the 2nd column)
Location Device/Gadget used Observed specific purpose of gadget/device
In your
residence
or your
neighbor
’s house
Market
School
premises
Classroom
Restaurant
The block diagram in Figure 2.1 corresponds not only to computers but all
intelligent machines as well.
INPUT DEVICES
Fig. 2.2. A wireless keyboard and mouse still needs physical contact from the user to
operate
Non-contact input devices are usually wireless sensors embedded in electronic
modules, one example is the ultrasonic sensor shown in Figure 2.3.
Fig. 2.3. The ultrasonic sensor is one of the input devices used for mobile robots
2.4. Coded cards are used for cash transactions using card-reading machines
OUTPUT DEVICES
Output devices are the hardware that relays information to users either
through audio, video, or motion. They are the hardware that presents the
information to the user/client. The most common hardware is the computer
monitor for video display and the audio speaker for sound output. The latest
technology employs touchscreen display on television (TV), laptops, and mobile
phones.
audio
Fig. 2.7. 7-Segment Display is one of the basic displays in the digital era
Motors and actuators are also considered output devices wherein their
movement relies on the electrical power supplied. They are commonly used for
the industrial robotic arm.
Fig. 2.8. Servo motors and actuators enable a robotic arm to move
A biometric machine on the other hand is used to create a personal profile
through the physical characteristic of a person. Existing machines are capable of
profiling a person either through its fingerprint, eye retina, or the whole person’s
face. The main component of this machine includes a scanner, a processor, and
a display screen. The scanner may depend on what type of biometric machine.
There are fingerprint scanner, eye retinal scanner, and a camera for facial
recognition.
PROCESSOR
Known computer processor manufacturers are the Intel Corporation and the
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). Both these processors implement the single-core,
dual-core, quad-core, and octa-core technologies to perform much faster. The
latest processor speed, which defines how fast it processes data, can reach up to
3.8 GHz (Gigahertz). Table 2.1 shows the known computer processor
manufacturers.
Table 2.1. Intel and AMD processor releases for laptops, desktop, and server
computers.
Processor Manufacturer Processor
Generation (Old ones
not included)
8 Series (latest)
Fig.
The memory system is categorized into two types, which are the Read-Only
Memory (ROM) and Random Access Memory (RAM). An intelligent machine cannot
operate without the software. A device is in its idle state without the logical
process that makes it execute a command. ROM is software that is usually
embedded in the processor chips themselves. The already deployed machine
language in the chips is designed to make the internal logical process in
the electronic board make the device ready to accept high-language programming
to work as a device. If one asks why a computer continuously takes note of the
time even when it is turned off, that is because of the non-volatile ROM internally
working. ROM is permanent, meaning it cannot be rewritten or erased by other
programming languages.
RAM on the other hand is a memory that allows the CPU to read and write
data and instructions. It is temporary storage for data, whether input, output, or
intermediate results. An example of a RAM working on the computer is through
retention of the text in word processing software such as Microsoft Word.
Imagine how one can complete a whole sentence when each word after typing will
be automatically deleted without the memory system. The modern RAM size
extends from 4 GB up to 32 GB. Gaming computers need more RAM size due to
the high graphical requirement of the gaming software. Similarly, higher RAM in
smartphones also means more capability in operating mobile apps.
PERIPHERAL DEVICES
Peripheral devices are the auxiliary hardware that is not considered the main
part of the machine. In other words, the machine can still function without the
peripherals. In a computer system for example, although considered important, a
printer is not included as the main component. Moreover, input devices in the
form of a keyboard and mouse, and output hardware in the form of the computer
monitor are still considered peripheral devices. Memory system technologies such
as hard disk drives, flash drives, external hard drives are peripheral devices that
are capable of storing a large amount of data. Plug-and-play expansion cards
installed in a computer’s motherboard are also considered peripheral hardware.
Cash cards are also peripheral materials.
Some devices, however, are considered peripheral to other systems while being
the main component to another. An example for this case is the speakers and
microphones wherein it is just miscellaneous hardware for computer systems but
considered a primary component in a Voice Over IP (VoIP) system.
Quiz #1 (25 items, 25 points total)
General Instructions:
∙ Write the questions and the corresponding answers in a separate paper with your
name, course, year level, and DATE answered. If your answer required multiple
sheets, write your name on the top-most side of each paper. ∙ Your submission
must be your handwriting;
∙ Follow the deadline of submission stated in the course outline given to you, and;
∙ Either if you are the source of your classmate’s answer or you copied from your
classmates, your paper will be marked zero (0).
1. Fill the table with 5 items that can either be found in the given machine or
as a miscellaneous peripheral for the machine. (1 point each)
Machine Peripheral Devices
Desktop Computer 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
ATM 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Smartphone 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
System Software
System software is the one that is primarily installed on a machine to make it
operable by the user. Generally, this software is termed Operating System (OS)
software. The OS contains a system menu wherein a user can configure the
machine according to its preference. All other software rides along once the OS
had been completely installed in the machine. Computer OS was created by
developers from Microsoft, Apple Company, and open-source Linux.
Table 3.1. The list of the common computer OS with their version releases
OS Developer Versions Year Released
Windows XP 2001
Windows 7 2009
Windows 8 2012
Windows 10 2015
Windows 11
Windows NT 1993
Catalina TBA
Linux Ubuntu
Red Hat
Debian
Gentoo
Linux Mint
CentOS
Fedora
Kali Linux
Arch Linux
OpenSUSE
Symbian 3 Nokia N8
MeeGo Nokia N9
(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_operating_system )
Programming Software
There are more or less 700 programming languages that are available today.
The list below shows some of the popular ones.
Application Software
Device Drivers
Device drivers are the supporting software to make the internal components of
the machine works. The OS alone cannot make the computer and its peripherals
work. Some drivers have their software developed by their manufacturers.
Compatible device drivers bring enhanced performance to the parts that they
support. Examples are the device drivers for the video adapter, sound adapter,
network adapter, etc.
Assignment #2 (30 items, 30 points total)
General Instructions:
∙ Write the questions and the corresponding answers in a separate paper with your
name, course, year level, and DATE answered. If your answer required multiple
sheets, write your name on the top-most side of each paper. ∙ Your submission
must be your handwriting;
∙ Follow the deadline of submission stated in the course outline given to you, and;
∙ Either if you are the source of your classmate’s answer or you copied from your
classmates, your paper will be marked zero (0).
Fill the table with 3 software names that correspond to the given software. (1
point each)
Example:
Word Processing
1. Microsoft Word
2. Office Libre
3. Notepad
Software Type Software Name
Graphics software
Smartphone app
Videoconference software
Security software
Mobile phone OS
Microsoft OS
Programming software
Web browser