INTRODUCTION TO ICT

Introduction

In this chapter you will learn about the meaning of ICT and appreciate its various applications in daily life. Just imagine the world without ICT! How would communication, transfer of money, security, transport, learning among others in our lives be like?

Meaning of ICT

ICT stands for:
I – Information,
C – Communication
T – Technology

Hardly a day passes when ICT does not intrude into our lives. ICTs are used daily in one way or another; people are connected through telephone networks, the Internet and the World Wide Web. Refer to Figure 1.1.

Imagine Mr. Kaboyo making a telephone call to his mother, Mukade Jalia, to send her New Year greetings. In this case, Mr. Kaboyo and his mother are communicating using technology (mobile telephone) and information is the New Year greetings. ICT can be compared with other systems. Let us compare ICT and a water system.

NOTE: ICT is electronic while a water system is mechanical

 Imagine a water system comprising a water tank, water, taps, pipes and water moving through the pipes. This can be related to ICT as follows.

1. In groups, look around your school or your community and identify at least 3 ICTs familiar to you. State the function of each of the ICTs identified in the table below.

Table 1.2: ICT tools and their functions

2. Select any two ICTs from Figure 1.1 and identify the information they handle, the nature of communication that takes place and the technology used.

3. With the available ICT tool, practice using it and identify the I, C, and T in it.

INTRODUCTION TO ICT

Common ICT Tools

At the beginning of this chapter, you learnt about the meaning of ICT. When we talk about ICT tools, we are referring to devices or objects used in ICT. As people need and use hammers, hoes, conveyor belts and pangas to produce, process and manufacture food, they similarly use tools for data capture and processing, information storage and communication.

Therefore, ICT tools are not one solid thing but rather a collection of several electronic tools.

Figures 1.2 – 1.5 show some examples of basic ICT tools we interact with in our day-to-day activities.

Activity 1.2: Common ICT tools

In groups, identify the ICT tool provided by name and characteristic(s). Summarize your findings in Table 1.3.

Activity 1.3: Identifying ICT tools with their specialized professional fields or areas Identify and state some ICT tools and what they can be used for in specialized fields such as communication, manufacturing, teaching and learning, health and medicine, security, climate and weather, management.

Note: A computer is a major component of ICT.

Use of ICTs in society /Application of ICT

At the beginning of this chapter, you learnt that ICTs are used to collect and share information. In all situations, the ICT devices are used by people or programmed by people to simplify work. In our society today, use of ICT is on the increase in all areas.

ICTs are used to collect and communicate information in our homes, schools, hospitals, banking halls and many other places. ICTs are also used in the entertainment industry, security, agriculture and transport.

In the security sector, ICTs are used to monitor sensitive areas like banking halls and airports, screening bags for unwanted materials and objects, and many others. However, good ICTs may, in some cases, pose challenges.

Activity 1.4: Application of ICTs

a) In groups, identify the ICT devices used in each of the application areas shown in Table 1.4 and what they are used for. Please note that each of the application areas can have as many ICT devices as possible.

b) Give any advantages and disadvantages of using ICTs in our society.

Most supermarkets, especially the big ones, have adopted the use of Electronic Point of Sales (EPOS) (Figure 1.6). If you have bought an item from a shop and it is scanned to determine the amount you need to pay, you have used an EPOS. An Electronic Point of Sales (EPOS) is self-contained, computerized equipment that performs all tasks of a store checkout counter. It allows payments by cash, bank or credit cards, verifies transactions and generates a sales
receipt. It also coordinates inventory data. With this technology, the shop owners are able to know the items that are bought most, what is left in the stores and the items that are running out.

Activity 1.5: Application of ICT in business

a) In groups, identify the ICT devices used in any business in your area and what they are used for.

b) Discuss and make a presentation on the different ways in which a mobile phone can be used as an ICT tool to support business activities.

Handling and Maintaining ICT Tools

Taking care of your ICT Tools is just as important as taking care of your books. The internal and external parts of the computer and other ICTs have to be cared for. Taking care of ICT tools is supposed to be done by all people who use them. However, as a learner you cannot do all care and safety activities. Activities that require one to open up these tools are left to people who have undergone specialized training on how to do it. As an ICT user, there are certain tasks you can perform to ensure your ICT tools are clean.

These include:

• Keep dust away: Dust your computer to keep it free of dust and dirt.
• Keep food away: Do not eat or drink while working on the computer.
• Use clean and dry hands: Make sure your hands are clean before you type on the keyboard of click the mouse.
• Treat with respect: If you are having problems with your computer, ask for help. Do not bang or hit the computer.
• Keep the Computer off power during a storm: When a computer is connected to electricity during a heavy downpour, there is a possibility of lightning being conducted to your computer through the electrical connection. For this reason, it is best not to use your computer during a storm.
• Stop virus attack: A computer virus is a program written by a person on purpose to harm other peoples’ computers. A computer virus is passed from one computer o another when you share and download files without the protection of antivirus software. For this reason, you should get permission before downloading files.
• Handle with care: The way you handle your CDs will determine how long they will last. Always hold the CD correctly as shown in figure 1.7.

Some Computer laboratory safety and maintenance tools and their functions are summarized in the Table 1.5.

Table 1.5: Maintenance tools and their functions

Activity 1.6: Handling and maintaining ICT tools

1. Other than a dust blower and an air conditioner identify any other ICT maintenance tools in the computer laboratory and state their functions.
2. Identify a computer which needs cleaning and clean it up with the necessary tools.
3. Make a report of the steps followed in 2 above and tools used in the cleaning process.

ICT Safety Precautions

As ICT users, it is very important to take precautions when using ICT tools to avoid getting health problems. We shall learn more about this in the chapter on Health and Safety. To ensure that ICT tools are used with caution, manufacturers provide user manuals for all ICT equipment.

Activity 1.7: ICT safety precautions

1. In groups, discuss “rules that govern the use of the computer laboratory”.
2. In your opinion what are some of the threats of not protecting ICT tools.

ICT Tools security threats and measures

ICT tools like any other tools, need protection because they can be exposed to a number of risks such as theft, virus, vandalism and others. However, care must be taken in terms of handling, when they are in use and after use to protect them and make them less expensive to maintain.

Physical security, Electronic security and Document/files and network security are very critical in addressing the measures of protecting and caring for ICT tools. Some examples of these security measures include burglar proofing for physical security, use of passwords for electronic security and use of firewalls for network security.

Activity 1.8: ICT tools security threats and measures

i) Take a walk around the school computer installations and identify some security and safety concerns.
ii) Assuming your school has just acquired new computers and these computers need protection in order to be used for a long period of time. In groups, discuss security and safety measures to safe guard these computers in line with Physical security, electronic security and Document/files and network security.

User Manuals

The teacher will give you a sample user manual. In groups, study and discuss its features. A user guide or user’s guide, also commonly known as a manual, is a technical communication document intended to give assistance to people using a particular system.

A User guide shown in figure 1.8 contains instructions on installing, using, or troubleshooting a hardware or software product.

Activity 1.9: ICT user manuals

Using a user manual from any new ICT device or one provided by the teacher:
a) identify the ICT for which the user manual is made.
b) summarize contents of the user manual in a) above including the safety precautions therein.

Activity of Integration

Chapter Summary

In this chapter, you have learnt about:
 The meaning of ICT
 Common ICTs at workplaces and their uses
 Application of ICTs in our daily lives
 Handling and maintaining of ICT tools
 ICT safety precautions and Security threats