IT G7 ST (3) PDF

# Unit 1: Introduction to Information & Communication Technology ## Unit Outcomes - define ICT - define computer - differentiate between IT and ICT - explain the concepts of information technology - discuss the basic elements of ICT system ## Overview This unit draws students' attention to the impo...

# Unit 1: Introduction to Information & Communication Technology ## Unit Outcomes - define ICT - define computer - differentiate between IT and ICT - explain the concepts of information technology - discuss the basic elements of ICT system ## Overview This unit draws students' attention to the important role that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays in our daily lives. Nowadays, ICT is used in communication, education, entertainment and e-commerce. The unit also describes the basic terminologies such as information communication technology, and information technology. The basic elements of ICT including data, information, user, communication and technology are described in detail in the unit. In addition, the unit gives background knowledge about computers and their basic characteristics. # 1.1: Information and Communication Technology ## Brainstorming activity Have you ever thought what ICT is? How it works? The term Information Communication Technology (ICT) refers to all communication technologies, including the internet, mobile phones, television, computers, tablets, and cameras. It also refers to integrating telephone and audio-visual networks with computer networks to enable the users to access, retrieve, store, transmit, and manipulate information in a digital or electronic form. Information Technology (IT) refers to an entire industry that uses computers, networking, software and other equipment to manage information. It is the process of creating, maintaining, and using computer software, hardware, and networks. Although IT and ICT are related concepts, they are not the same. IT is a broader concept and a technology that is related to computing data whereas ICT is related technologies in communication. ## Activity 1.1 - Discuss the term ICT in groups and share your experiences of using ICT with your friends. - Write the difference between IT and ICT using your own words and present it to the class. # 1.2: Basic Elements of ICT System ## Brainstorming activity Can anyone tell us the difference between data and information? ## Information Technology ICT system consists of five basic elements such as data, information, communication, user, and technology. ### Data Data: It is one of the basic elements of ICT system. It can be defined as any type of representation of an object or an event. Numbers, text symbols, speech, image, and so on are all examples of representation. Data has to be processed, or provided with a context before it is given meaning for example Abebe, 15, Kebede, 17, Sara, 12, Mohammed, 16, Alemu, 20, Dawit, and 18. Figure 1.1 shows a list of raw and processed data. | Input Data | Output Information | |---|---| | [Abebe, 13, student, grade 7] | [Abebe is 13 years old and a grade 7 student] | **Figure 1.1: The differences between data and information** ### Information Information: is the result of processed data. Data processing occurs when data is collected and translated into usable information. This result allows the processed data to be put into context and give meaning. Data only takes meaning and becomes information when it is interpreted. Data interpretation is the process of reviewing data through some predefined processes which will help assign some meaning to the data and arrive at a relevant conclusion. Figure 1.1 shows how to process data to create meaningful information. A list of data and meaningful information is provided below in Example 1. #### Example 1 - Look at the examples of data given below: - Abebe, Kebede, Sara, Melat, Alemu, Dawit - 15,17, 18, 15, 14,2, 0 - Only when we assign a context or meaning to it, the data becomes information. - Abebe, Kebede, Sara, Melat, Alemu, and Dawit are names of grade 7 students. - 15,17,18,15.14,20 are the ages of grade 7 students. - The age of grade 7 students ranges from 14 to 20. ### User User: is a person who has access to ICT and utilizes it. It is humans who develop and operate the software, feed data, create and maintain the hardware, define the procedures, and finally determine if an ICT succeeds or fails. Figure 1.2 shows a person using a computer to perform daily activity. **Figure 1.2: A person accessing a computer** ### Communication Communication: is the process of passing information from one place to another. Providing information to computers, reading information from any system, or the transfer of message between two people are some of the examples of communication. To have communication among computers and other ICT systems, communication devices are mandatory. Communication devices are basically devices that allow computers and other ICT systems to communicate with one another. Figure 1.3 shows an example of ICT communication service. **Figure 1.3: Example of communication service** ### Technology **Technology:** refers to a set of tools and machines created by humans to solve problems. It allows humans to study and evolve the physical elements that are present in their lives. Technology can be found in our homes, in personal places, in industries, in business, and in the medical profession. For example, we can use mobile phones technology which enables us to communicate with other people who are far away from us. Television is also another example of technology we use to watch movies and news. **Figure 1.4. Cell Phone Technology** ## Activity 1.2 - Identify the basic elements of ICT system and discuss each of them in groups with examples - Turn the given data below into information by giving any meaningful and appropriate title to them. - 0,2,4,6,8,10 - Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics # 1.3: ICT in our daily life ## Brainstorming activity Have you ever used IT before? For what purpose have you used it? ICT is a broad subject and an evolving concept. It has a great impact on our daily lives. We encounter many new technologies in our everyday lives. We use ICT at home, at school, in the workplace, in the streets, in places we visit during holidays, on business, and in public spaces. Figure 1.5 shows application of ICT in our daily lives. **Figure 1.5: ICT in daily life** ## 1.3.1: ICT in communication We all know that ICT plays an important role in our lives. In the past, our parents used to write letters. However, with the help of ICT, it is now easy to communicate with our loved ones. For example, humble online communication for experience sharing and peacekeeping, short message service (SMS), email and social media are the most common services of ICT that we use in our daily life to communicate with our loved ones. Radio and television are also a kind of ICT for communication. Figure 1.6 is a typical example for the applications of ICT in communication. **Figure 1.6: ICT in communication** ## 1.3.2: Information Communication Technology in Education ICT contributes greatly to education because it improves the way of education and provides a better educational environment. For example, we can think of radio and television education programs prepared by the Ethiopian Ministry of Education for primary schools, and plasma educational channels for secondary schools. The use of computers, tablets, displays, interactive electronic boards, and ICT technologies help to expand access to education. Through ICT, learning can occur anytime and anywhere. For example, students can access textbooks and other educational resources from the internet. These resources can be obtained through video clips, audio sounds, and visual presentations. ICT enables an inclusive right for information access. For example, if someone has a sight problem, he/she can access information by listening to audio sounds. Figure 1.7 shows an interactive electronic board which widely used for educational purposes. **Figure 1.7: Application of ICT in education** ## 1.3.3. Information Communication Technology in Entertainment ICT provides a variety of entertainment and leisure activities that can be easily accessed from our home. Directly from television, we can watch movies and music. As illustrated in Figure 1.8, we can also play games on the internet in our free time. **Figure 1.8: ICT in entertainment** ## 1.3.4. Information Communication Technology in Electronic commerce Electronic commerce (E-commerce) is the buying and selling of goods and services, or the transfer of funds and data through the internet. A typical example of ICT in e-commerce is shown in Figure 1.9 below. **Figure 1.9: ICT in e-commerce** Generally, ICT is all around us. It is becoming increasingly important in people's lives, and its importance is predicted to continue in the future. ## Activity 1.3 - Give some examples (examples that are not mentioned in this textbook) of the uses of ICT in daily lives. - Please make a small group and discuss the role of ICT in the following cross-cutting issues. Then present it to the class: - Child trafficking - COVID-19 - HIV/ADIS - Climate change and agriculture # 1.4: What is computer? **Figure 1.10: Definition of computer and its application** A computer is any calculating device or machine. But these days, computers process not only numbers but also texts and pictures. Therefore, the meanings of computers, nowadays, are broader than computing concepts. ## Functions of a computer The basic functions of a computer depicted in Figure 1.11 are entering, processing and producing processed data (information). **Figure 1.11. Four basic functions of computer** ## Characteristics of computer We use computers for a variety of purposes as shown below. ### Communication Computer becomes a good communication tool for human because it has some software that can make us communicate all around the world. ### Computation Computers performs complex mathematical computations and make comparisons. ### Storage Computers have a large storage capacity and can store a large amount of data unlike humans. ### Diligence Computers do not require to rest. They can do their own jobs for all day long. ### Speed and efficiency It can finish any given task with a very short time. (It can perform billions of tasks in a second.) Though computers allow us to do many things, there are a number of physical and emotional risks that will result in the overuse and incorrect use of computers. For example, if children play computer games too much, they may experience particular physical problems such as muscle and joint pain, overuse injuries of arms, wrist or hand and eyestrain. ## Components of the computer system A computer system, like a human being, can be viewed as a combination of body and mind. The computer system has two parts: hardware and software. In unit 2 and unit 3, you will learn more about hardware and software components of a computer system, respectively.