ICT Lecture 1: Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

ICT Lecture 1:

Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

ICT refers to technologies and tools that provide access to information through telecommunications.  The information can be in printed form, audio, video or TV broadcast. The information is disseminating through the Internet, wireless networks, cell phones, and other communication mediums. ICT has applications in different areas like business, financial services, entertainment, public service and education.  

Information Technology (IT) is the use of any computers, storage, networking and other communication devices to create, process, store, secure and transmission all forms of electronic data.

IT is considered as subset of ICT.

A Computer is an electronic device that can solve different problems, process data, store & retrieve data and perform calculations faster and efficiently.

A computer is made up of multiple parts and components that facilitate user functionality. These are categorized as hardware and software.

• Hardware: Physical structure (or tangible part) that houses a computer's processor, memory, storage, communication ports and peripheral devices
• Software: The intangible part of computer which includes operating system (OS), other system software (like compiler, linker , loader) and application software (like Microsoft office, media players, games)

Charles Babbage is called the Father of the computer. The First mechanical computer designed by Charles Babbage was called Analytical Engine. It uses read-only memory in the form of punch cards.

A computer performs basically five major computer operations or functions irrespective of their size and make. These are:

1) it accepts data or instructions by way of input,

2) it stores data,

3) it can process data as required by the user,

4) it gives results in the form of output, and

5) it controls all operations inside a computer.

                                                   Figure 1: Block Diagram of Computer

1. Input unit – Input unit is a unit that accepts input from input device. The commonly used input devices are: keyboard, mouse, joystick, light pen, bar code reader, Optical Character Reader (OCR), Optical Mark Reader (OMR).

Function of input unit:

1.      It takes input from user

2.      It converts inputted data into binary codes

3.      It sends data to main memory of computer

2. Output Unit –Output unit is a unit that constituents a number of output device and provide output to user. The most commonly used output devices are: Monitor, Printer, Speaker, and Projector.

Function of Output unit:

1.      It accepts data or information sends from main memory of computer

2.      It converts binary coded information into HLL or inputted languages.

3.      It provides output to user

3. Central Processing Unit (CPU) – CPU is called the brain of a computer. It is an electronic circuitry that carries out the instruction given by a computer program. The CPU is also known as the processor or microprocessor.

CPU can be sub classified into three parts:

i .Control unit (CU)

ii. Arithmetic & Logic unit (ALU)

iii. Memory Unit (MU)

i. Control unit (CU)- The control unit  manages the various components of the computer. It reads instructions from memory and interpretation and changes in a series of signals to activate other parts of the computer. It controls and co-ordinate is input, output, memory and all other units.

ii. Arithmetic & Logic unit (ALU) – The arithmetic logic unit (ALU), which performs simple arithmetic operation such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division and logical operation such as AND , OR.

iii. Memory Unit (MU)- Memory is used to store data and instructions before and after processing. Memory can be Primary memory or Secondary memory. It is used to store data temporary or permanently.

Functions of CPU-

1.      It controls all the parts and software and data flow of computer.

2.      It performs all operations.

3.      It accepts data from input device.

4.      It executes programs stored in memory.

5.      It sends information to output device.

6.      It stores data either temporarily or permanent basis.

7.      It performs arithmetic and logical operations.

1. Which of the following statements, regarding the term ICT is/are TRUE? (July 2018)

P : ICT is an acronym that stands for Indian Classical Technology.

Q : Converging technologies that exemplify ICT include the merging of audio-visual, telephone and computer networks through a common cabling system.

(1) P only

(2) Q only

(3) P and Q

(4) Neither P nor Q

Answer: option (2) is correct

2. Read the following two statements:  (Jan 2017)

I: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is considered a subset of Information Technology (IT).

II: The ‘right to use’ a piece of software is termed as copyright. 

Which of the above statement(s) is/are CORRECT?

 (1) Both I and II
 (2) Neither I nor II
 (3) II only 
 (4) I only

Answer: option (4) is correct

3. Which of the following statements regarding the features of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is/are true? (August 2016)

 I. ICT are the main instruments for the creation of computer networks and the applications based on them.

 II. ICT support the spread of information and knowledge, separating the content from the place where it belongs physically.

 III. The digital and virtual nature of most of ICT products allow the expenditure for them to be maximized.

Codes : (1) I and II only
              (2) I and III only
              (3) II and III only 
              (4) I, II and III

Answer: option (1) is correct

4. The statement “the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer Hardware” refers to (July 2016)

 (1) Information Technology (IT) 

 (2) Information and Collaborative Technology (ICT)

 (3) Information and Data Technology (IDT) 

 (4) Artificial Intelligence (AI) 

Answer: option (1) is correct

5. ALU stands for (Dec 2012)

(A) American Logic Unit

(B) Alternate Local Unit

(C) Alternating Logic Unit

(D) Arithmetic Logic Unit

Answer: option (D) is correct

6. Where does a computer add and compare its data? (June 2010)

(A) CPU

(B) Memory

(C) Hard disk

(D) Floppy disk

Answer: Option (A) is correct

7. The 'brain' of a computer which keeps peripherals under its control is called: (Dec 2007)    

(A) Common Power Unit

(B) Common Processing Unit

(C) Central Power Unit

(D) Central Processing Unit

Answer: Option (D) is correct

8. Which part of the Central Processing Unit (CPU) performs calculation and makes decisions: (June 2007)

(A) Arithmetic Logic Unit

(B) Alternating Logic Unit

(C) Alternate Local Unit

(D) American Logic Unit

Answer: Option (A) is correct

9. Which of the following is the appropriate definition of a computer? (Dec 2006)

(A) Computer is a machine that can process information.

(B) Computer is an electronic device that can store, retrieve and process both qualitative and quantitative data quickly and accurately.

(C) Computer is an electronic device that can store, retrieve and quickly process only quantitative data.

(D) Computer is a machine that can store, retrieve and process quickly and accurately only qualitative information

Answer: Option (B) is correct