DIMENSIONS OF INFORMATION AND

COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT)

 HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT)
Technology - a manner of accomplishing a task especially using technical processes,
methods, or knowledge.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) – the tools and the processes to
access, retrieve, store, organized, manipulate, produced, present and exchange
information by electronic and other automated means (Marquez, 2018).
Communication - a process by which information is exchanged between individuals
through a common system of symbols, signs, or behaviour.
Information - knowledge obtained from investigation, study, or instruction.
Digital Divide – the natural consequence of advancements in ICT. It refers to the
discrepancy in people’s access and skill related to ICT.

 THE HISTORY OF ICT

 In placing a brief history of the development of ICT, abacus was first invented
around 3000 B.C., even though that we are aware today that it was first developed
during the early 19th century, after the discovery of electricity in 1780s.
 In 1833, Charles Babbage created the initial designs of the computer but it was not
until 1931 that the first electronic calculator was assembled by Konrad Zuse.
 In 1894, Guglielmo Marconi invented “wireless telegraphy” which covered the
development of the radio in 20th century. Television had its origins from early
transmission systems developed in the late 19th century.
 The earliest television transmission was made in the 1920s. Color television was
developed in 1940s and became prevalent in the 1960s.
 The telephone was invented in 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell.
 Mobile phone technology was introduced in the 1970s and the earliest mobile
phones were sold in the 1980s. Advancements in digital technology led to the greater
popularity of mobile phones, gaining widespread use during the early 2000s.
 The first microprocessor was introduced by INTEL in 1971 and the initial versions
of the computers that we see today was manufactured by IBM in 1981.
 Regarded as the defining moment for ICT was the creation of the World Wide
Web - what we know today as the Internet – in 1991 by Tim Lee.

 THE DIMENSION OF ICT

Philippines is one to have the slowest internet connectivity in the whole world.
It is said that in terms of mobile internet speed, the Philippines ranks 103rd among
139 surveyed countries.
The country’s average mobile internet download speed of 15.06 Megabits per second
(Mbps) was far below the global average of 26.12.
Norway has the fastest mobile internet with a speed (67.54 Mbps), followed by
Canada, Qatar, the Netherlands, and South Korea.
In terms of fixed line internet, the Philippines ranked 101st among 179 countries.
The country’s average speed of 19.51 Mbps was much slower than the global
average of 57.91 Mbps.
Bangladesh was slightly ahead of the Philippines at 100th place, while Laos was
at 84th.
Singapore was the runaway winner in terms of fixed-line internet as it registered
average speeds of 199.77 Mbps.

 FUNCTIONS OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

 Data Capture – Data capturing, storage and transmission is important function of
ICT. With the aid of computer devices such as hardware and software, usually data is
captured by key board, bar codes, video camera, mouse etc.
 Data storage – is an issue of covering space, which depends on following factors
such as disk space availability and flexibility of ICT in terms of making the data
available for use.
  Data transmission – data can be transmitted from one place to another place or
from one computer to another computer. For this purpose various devices like
modem, cables are used. For transmitting data, various types of networks like Local
Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), Metropolitan Area Network (MAN),
internet, intranet, extranet etc. are used.
 Data Processing – is the method of conversion of data into meaningful information.
The processing is done in sequence of operations which translates inputs such as
geographical maps, images, satellite imageries, aerial photographs or in the form
tabular data collected from in-site survey, government records or personal
observations into output in the form of dimensional model or in other visual forms.
 Data Manipulation – is the process of summarizing, re-arranging, improving or
scientific designs achieved either physically or by processor software. ICT helps in
operating the information and makes new information from present information.
 Data Retrieval – is the process of discovering required information. ICT supports the
recovery of information’s either in the form of features or characteristic or both in a
computer-generated form. Data can be retrieved from one source to another source
with the help of computer software.
 Data Display – Data display includes presenting of information in the form of text,
graphics, audio, and video. Display can be made through computer screen, speakers
and printers. (Prasad & Prasad, 2009).

 TWO CONVERGING TECHNOLOGIES OF ICT

Computation technology - it provides a capability for processing data to be
converted into information.
Communication technology - it enables the required information to be coded and
transmitted through communication channel for intended users.

 SCOPE OF ICT
 ICT in Agriculture - E-Agriculture is an emerging field focusing on the enhancement
of agricultural and rural development through improved information and
communication processes.
 ICT in Education - Teaching learning process can be made more interactive and
hence resulting in more efficient. With the help of presentations, designing and
simulation several tough topics can be taught and learned in easier way.
 ICT in Society - With the help of ICT people are spending considerable time on social
networks on the virtual world through e-mail, mobile, blogs, downloading etc. This
has changed the social behavior which is the emergence of a society of digital age –
the Information Society.
 ICT in Balanced Regional Growth - ICT sector can give employment and generate
revenue for smaller cities by spreading its business operations to those cities. It can
assist in improving the supply of talent pool and development of physical and social
infrastructure.
 ICT in Corporate Governance - Global exposure has created good corporate
governance practices with the IT companies. This encourages other industries to
follow better governance and embrace higher standards of disclosure.
 ICT in Healthcare - Health area can have several critical and important ICT
solutions like tele-medicine consultation in rural areas, consultation from expert
doctors through teleconferencing or video conferencing, reports can be send to the
doctor through e-mail etc.
 ICT in Banking and Insurance - Banks and insurance agents have diversified into
Mutual funds, retail banking, and merchant banking and so on. This has in turn led
to computerization of information related to all the banking transaction such as e-
banking in order to save time and to have effective utilization of available
information.
 ICT in Business Communication - Invention of computers, the miniaturization of
electronics and the development of wireless communication have all altered the
business world. Business communication, in particular, has seen some of the
greatest advancements due to technological developments.
 BENEFITS OF ICT
A. Facilitating public and private sector activities areas such as in:
1. Public Administration - ICT brings transparency and efficiency in the administrative
work. Online working system will leave no scope for laziness and dishonesty in work.
2. Urban and Rural Development - telecentres in rural areas can facilitate economic
liberation. Mobile telephony can also help rural entrepreneurs in keeping in touch with
their market outside their communities.
3. Transport - used to improve road, air and rail transportation. These operations include
payment for parking meters, identification of authorized parking space occupants.
B. Improving the quality of life for citizens in:
1. Health - it supports efficient exchange of information between health professionals,
enable transfer of patient records between sites, telemedicine and thus improve clinical
effectiveness, continuity, and quality of care by health professionals.
2. Special Needs (for the Physically Challenged) - can be extremely useful in providing
access to communication, education and open up opportunities for them. Examples are
Braille keyboards can help visually impaired or blind people, Short Message Service (SMS)
can be used to send and receive messaged by the hearing impaired, the voice activated
dialling service can be used by visually impaired.
3. Education - it helps in facilitating learning and exchange of educational materials. The
online learning system is another web-based application that is revolutionizing the learning
platform of education.
4. Environment – it helps collecting data about environmental issues. They allow access to
information and provide support system to manage and monitor environmental issues.
5. Agriculture - can be used to impart information directly to farmers and the farming
community. It can handle agricultural issues such as water utilization and management,
pest control, harvest management and so forth.
C. Facilitating Activities in the Business Sector such as:
1. Manufacturing - linking the process chains in manufacturing as opposed to improving
or facilitating single steps in the production lines. The mass production of goods and
services is gradually giving way to a network-based production and manufacturing system.
2. Electronic Commerce - Electronic commerce (e-commerce) is the use of internet or
telecommunications to carry out business of any type. Common examples of e-commerce
are online shopping, online banking, online stock trading etc.
3. Travel and Tourism - It is used to provide multimedia information about destination to
prospective travelers. With the aid of ICT applications, prospective travelers can view a
destination, book accommodation, book the flight and other forms of transport and pay for
all these without leaving their homes.

 IMPACT OF ICT
The impact of information technology can be visualized at local, national, regional and
global level both in positive and negative form. The followings are the major affected
areas due to information technology.