GE Elective Living in the IT ERA

Module 1: Introduction to Information and Communication Technology 1

Introduction to Information and Communication Technology

Introduction
This module will introduce the learners to the Information and Communication Technology. It
will allow the students to explore the History of ICT in the Philippines. This module with provide the
learners an understanding on the technicalities of computer specifically on the hardware and software
components. This module will also provide an understanding on the evolution of computer from the
first version of computer to the latest generation of computer.

Course Learning Outcomes:

After completing this course, learners will be able to
• Explain what is an Information and communication technology.
• Present the history of computer
• Explain the functionalities of computer hardware components
• Differentiate the characteristic of computer generations

A. Introduction to Information and Communication Technology

What is ICT?
ICT, or information and communications technology (or technologies), is the
infrastructure and components that enable modern computing.
Although there is no single, universal definition of ICT, the term is generally accepted to mean
all devices, networking components, applications and systems that combined allow people and
organizations (i.e., businesses, nonprofit agencies, governments and criminal enterprises) to
interact in the digital world.

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is technology that is used to handle

communications processes such as telecommunications, broadcast media, intelligent building
management systems, audiovisual processing and transmission systems, and network-based
control and monitoring functions(https://www.techopedia.com/).

Components of an ICT system

ICT encompasses both the internet-enabled sphere as well as the mobile one powered by
wireless networks. It also includes antiquated technologies, such as landline telephones, radio
and television broadcast -- all of which are still widely used today alongside cutting-edge ICT
pieces such as artificial intelligence and robotics.

ICT is sometimes used synonymously with IT (for information technology); however, ICT is
generally used to represent a broader, more comprehensive list of all components related to
computer and digital technologies than IT.

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 GE Elective Living in the IT ERA
Module 1: Introduction to Information and Communication Technology 2

The list of ICT components is exhaustive, and it continues to grow. Some components, such as
computers and telephones, have existed for decades. Others, such as smartphones, digital TVs
and robots, are more recent entries.

ICT commonly means more than its list of components, though. It also encompasses the
application of all those various components. It's here that the real potential, power and danger
of ICT can be found.

Image taken from https://venngage.com/templates/infographics/components-of-ict-informational-infographic-2c4526ae-d279-4025-aba9-dc64843f15ee

ICT's societal and economic impact

ICT is leveraged for economic, societal and interpersonal transactions and interactions. ICT has
drastically changed how people work, communicate, learn and live. Moreover, ICT continues to
revolutionize all parts of the human experience as first computers and now robots do many of
the tasks once handled by humans. For example, computers once answered phones and
directed calls to the appropriate individuals to respond; now robots not only can answer the
calls, but they can often more quickly and efficiently handle callers' requests for services.

ICT's importance to economic development and business growth has been so monumental, in
fact, that it's credited with ushering in what many have labeled the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

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Module 1: Introduction to Information and Communication Technology 3

ICT also underpins broad shifts in society, as individuals en masse are moving from personal,
face-to-face interactions to ones in the digital space. This new era is frequently termed the
Digital Age.

For all its revolutionary aspects, though, ICT capabilities aren't evenly distributed. Simply put,
richer countries and richer individuals enjoy more access and thus have a greater ability to seize
on the advantages and opportunities powered by ICT.

Consider, for example, some findings from the World Bank. In 2016, it stated that more than
75% of people worldwide have access to a cellphone. However, internet access through either
mobile or fixed Broadband remains prohibitively expensive in many countries due to a lack of
ICT infrastructure. Furthermore, the World Bank estimated that out of the global population of
7.4 billion people, more than 4 billion don't have access to the internet. Additionally, it
estimated that only 1.1 billion people have access to high-speed internet.

In the United States and elsewhere, this discrepancy in access to ICT has created the so-called
digital divide.

The World Bank, numerous governmental authorities and non-government organizations

(NGOs) advocate policies and programs that aim to bridge the digital divide by providing greater
access to ICT among those individuals and populations struggling to afford it.

These various institutions assert that those without ICT capabilities are left out of the multiple
opportunities and benefits that ICT creates and will therefore fall further behind in socio-
economic terms.

The United Nations considers one of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to "significantly
increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal
and affordable access to the internet in least developed countries by 2020."

Economic advantages are found both within the ICT market as well as in the larger areas of
business and society as a whole.

Within the ICT market, the advancement of ICT capabilities has made the development and
delivery of various technologies cheaper for ICT vendors and their customers while also
providing new market opportunities. For instance, telephone companies that once had to build
and maintain miles of telephone lines have shifted to more advanced networking materials and
can provide telephone, television and internet services; consumers now enjoy more choices in
delivery and price points as a result.

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 GE Elective Living in the IT ERA
Module 1: Introduction to Information and Communication Technology 4

The significance of ICT in enterprises

For businesses, advances within ICT have brought a slew of cost savings, opportunities and
conveniences. They range from highly automated businesses processes that have cut costs, to
the big data revolution where organizations are turning the vast trove of data generated by ICT
into insights that drive new products and services, to ICT-enabled transactions such as internet
shopping and telemedicine and social media that give customers more choices in how they
shop, communicate and interact.

But ICT has also created problems and challenges to organizations and individuals alike -- as
well as to society as a whole. The digitization of data, the expanding use of high-speed internet
and the growing global network together have led to new levels of crime, where so-called bad
actors can hatch electronically enabled schemes or illegally gain access to systems to steal
money, intellectual property or private information or to disrupt systems that control critical
infrastructure. ICT has also brought automation and robots that displace workers who are
unable to transfer their skills to new positions. And ICT has allowed more and more people to
limit their interactions with others, creating what some people fear is a population that could
lose some of what makes it human.

Advantages and Disadvantages of ICT

Advantages:

1.Communication - Speed / time – money can be saved because it’s much quicker to
move information around. With the help of ICT it has become quicker and more
efficient.
2. Globalization - Video conferencing saves money on flights and accommodation. ICT
has not only brought the countries and people closer together, but it has allowed the
world's economy to become a single interdependent system to contact either a business
or family member.
3. Cost effectiveness - It feels free to send an email (although it isn’t); it’s without doubt
cheaper than phone calls. ICT has also helped to automate business practices, thus
restructuring businesses to make them exceptionally cost effective.
4.Greater Availability - ICT has made it possible for businesses to be automated giving
clients access to a website or voicemail 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
5.Bridging the cultural gap – Greater access to technology has helped to bridge the
cultural gap by helping people from different cultures to communicate with one
another, and allow for the exchange of views and ideas, thus increasing awareness and
reducing prejudice.
6.Creation of new jobs - Probably, the best advantage of ICT has been the creation of
new and interesting jobs.

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 GE Elective Living in the IT ERA
Module 1: Introduction to Information and Communication Technology 5

7.Education – Computer’s along with their programs and the Internet have created
educational opportunities not available to previous generations.

8.Through ICT , images can easily be used in teaching and improving the retentive
memory of student.
9.Complex structure - through ICT, teachers can easily explain complex structure,
instruction and ensure students comprehension.
10.Through ICT , teachers are able to create interactive classrooms and make the lesson
more enjoyable.

Disadvantages:

1.Education – Computer’s along with their programs and the Internet have created
educational opportunities not available to previous generations.
2.Lack of job security – Experts in a wide variety of fields believe that ICT has made job
security a big issue, since technology keeps on changing nearly every day. This means
that individuals need to be constantly studying or at least keeping up with changes in
their profession, if they want to feel secure in their jobs to be secure.
3.Overriding Cultures - While ICT may have made the world a global village, it has also
contributed to one culture consuming another weaker one. For example, it is now
argued that teenagers in the US influence how most young teenagers all over the world
now act, dress, and behave
4.Privacy - Though information technology may have made communication quicker,
easier, and more convenient, it has also brought along privacy issues. From cell phone
signal interceptions to e-mail hacking, people are now worried about their once private
information becoming public knowledge.
5. Reliance on Technology – Professor Ian Robertson, a neuropsychology expert based
at Trinity College Dublin who carried out the study, said: “People have more to
remember these days, and they are relying on technology for their memory but the less
you use of your memory, the poorer it becomes. people don’t bother learning to spell
because they use spell-checker, or need a calculator do perform minor addition or
subtraction.
6. Reliability of Information – Anyone with access to a computer and an internet
connection internet can start a blog or post something up on a website, so just because
something’s on the web doesn't mean it’s reliable. A prime example of this is the open
source encyclopedia, Wikipedia, although considered a good source of information it is
not recognized by academic institutions as a trustworthy reference.
7.Computer viruses, worms, Trojans, malware, spam, phishing- any or all can cause
chaos and disrupt our daily lives
8.Setting - setting up the device can be very trouble some.
9.Expansive - too expansive to afford.
10.Lack of experience - hard for teachers to use with a lack of experience using ICT tools.

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 GE Elective Living in the IT ERA
Module 1: Introduction to Information and Communication Technology 6

5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Information and Communication Technology in Business

1. IT Improves Communication
Emails changed the way that employees interacted with one another during the 90s.
Many flocked to America Online to convey messages and found that responses to digital
communication were much faster than that of sending someone a letter. The only thing
that surpassed the old days of email communication was that of a telephone call.

Now, thanks to smartphones and social media, an employee can get a response from
colleagues within a matter of seconds if they use the right means. Information
technology has also given birth to cloud computing, which lets employees access
important information when they are not in the office. There is no need to connect to a
hard drive when you are using cloud storage. The world of IT, then, cuts through the
extra steps to make communication faster.

Efficient communication is key to the success of a company, and IT helps to streamline

communication. In a rapidly connected and vast business landscape, hiring, leveraging,
and retaining employees requires continuous communication and collaborative efforts.
A crucial benefit of IT is in its ability to streamline communication both externally and
internally.

For instance, video conferencing and online meeting platforms such as GoToMeeting,
Zoom and Skype offer businesses the work remotely in real-time, greatly reducing costs
that come with having clients on-site or interacting with employees who work remotely.
Thanks to IT, businesses are able to connect and communicate almost effortlessly with
international consumers and suppliers.

2. IT Cuts Costs
Of course, when you talk about eliminating steps in business, there is the possibility of
saving money. One of the major 5 advantages of information technology is its ability to
keep money in your company’s bank account. Some people are scared off by the notion
of IT because of the upfront costs that sometimes feel overwhelming. The truth, though,
is that an updated system pays for itself within a matter of weeks. Improved
communication alone leads to more productivity and, thus, increased earnings.
Information technology is an investment that all business owners should pursue.

While it may initially appear expensive to implement IT, in the long run, it will however
become significantly cost-effective by streamlining an organization’s managerial and

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Module 1: Introduction to Information and Communication Technology 7

operational processes. Basically, implementing information and communication

technology in business allows businesses to achieve more with less, without
compromising value or quality.

3. IT Encourages Strategic Thinking

Better communication leads to more critical thinking. Employees are less concerned
with how to get into contact with co-workers when they know that they can relay
information through the cloud. Thus, with the stress of figuring out how to communicate
lifted, workers can take in the information shared and create better strategies for
improvement. One of the advantages of data communication is, therefore, more time,
which leads to more effective planning.

IT can help an organization to enhance their competitive edge in the marketplace, by

encouraging knowledge transfer and strategic thinking. For instance, by leveraging
subscription databases and social networks, companies are enabled to organize,
interpret and transmit data like never before. This has provided enterprises with
unmatched access to consumers and customers, assisting companies to deliver better
and innovative products.

4. IT Protects Information
There will always be a place for traditional files in the corporate sector. Leaving a paper
trail, however, may not be the best idea when it comes to sensitive information. Identity
thieves have a way of taking the simplest information, such as a name or birthdate and
transforming it into a weapon that victimizes unsuspecting individuals. It is best, then to
invest in information technology with encryptions and other security measures that
keep unauthorized eyes from viewing classified information.

In protecting classified information, information technology works to ward off lawsuits.

Victims of identity theft often track down the source where thieves were able to steal
information. It is not uncommon for such persons to sue companies responsible for
damages related to the crime. Your decision to keep up-to-date with the latest
technologies can essentially keep legal fees for negligence at bay.

5. IT Cuts through Cultural Barriers

Diversity is something that corporations continue to strive for despite laws in the United
States that prohibit discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, age and
other factors that make a person uniquely different. The good thing about the IT world
is artificial intelligence, which does not automatically come with the same filters of
which humans are accustomed.

A computer does not care if a person is a man or a woman if the potential candidate’s
resume meets the predetermined qualifications for the job. Information technology,
therefore, can contribute to diversity by design of operating systems.

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 GE Elective Living in the IT ERA
Module 1: Introduction to Information and Communication Technology 8

Disadvantages of information and communication technology in business

1. Reduction in available job opportunities for humans
Organizations consider technology a better “employee” when it’s utilized in the
production processes of the business. Not only can work be finished on time, but also
certain processes can be automated for ease of operation. Hence, software tools have
the capacity to perform tasks that are meant for human employees. The implication of
this is that they have become a competition for humans as companies don’t see the
need to hire as many individuals for jobs that can be carried out by fewer employees
and a smart software.

While this decrease in the demand for human labor may be good news to business
employers, it is however not advantageous to human workers. When technology is
employed instead of humans, business ventures see no essence of hiring them.
Consequently, the rate of unemployment increases and the society has more people
who are struggling to feed their household and pay their bills. It is thus important that
companies understand how to employ human workers instead of simply laying them off
as a result of technological advancements.

For instance, it’s better if business enterprises can retrain their workers, and after the
training, the employees should be reassigned to execute other roles and occupy new
positions that machines cannot. Moreover, it’s pertinent to remember that
technological devices will only function optimally when they are operated by skilled
human employees.

2. Advancement in technology has made employees anti-social

Technology has introduced channels for individuals to communicate with each other
without necessarily having to be within the same region. This is possible thanks to
several communication tools such as Skype. As a result, business colleagues can hold
conference meetings from different parts of the world.

As wonderful as this is, the problem is that the bulk of human communication has moved
online. Meanwhile, employees who have adopted the use of technological devices for
the vast majority of their communications experience a deterioration in their social
skills. There’s been a change in individual behaviors because they are used to spending
most of their time using technological devices like laptops and mobile phones.

But there is something businesses can do to resolve the issue. Not all conferences and
communications should be carried out online. Business owners should organize
particular periods in the year when their employees can meet physically and interact.

3. Excessive dependence on technological devices

As we all know, technological devices are useful in the automation of complicated
enterprise processes. This is great for your company. However, all machines can

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 GE Elective Living in the IT ERA
Module 1: Introduction to Information and Communication Technology 9

breakdown at any point due to several factors. When that happens, production
operations are suddenly halted and this can throw your business into a state of panic.

When work is automated, people tend to depend too much on technological devices. As
a result, they feel it is unnecessary to understand how these processes can be carried
out manually. The entire business operation comes to a halt whenever there’s a problem
with the technological devices. This is why as a business owner, you should not allow
your operations to be solely dependent on technological applications.

Train your workers so they know what to do whenever the technological applications
are malfunctioning. In addition, you should have full manuals that specify what should
be done to get the company and business operations ruining in the unforeseen case of
a device failure.

4. Costs of implementation and regulatory compliance

It takes time and money to get new solutions implemented. Typically, business services
become interrupted as new phases of the operations are implemented. Extra employee
training is needed and customers may have to endure a decline in the quality of service
during the process of the implementation.

Organizations typically hire external contractors to execute the implementation of new

hardware and software solutions. While Information Technology solutions have become
less expensive with the improvements in technology, organizations that have extensive
compliance requirements must ensure that they adhere by all regulations or they will
stand the risk of legal actions and penalties.

5. More and more data regulations

In the modern world, information is huge business. This is why data protection and
ethical usage of it are of paramount significance to regulatory authorities and
lawmakers. Enterprise owners can not afford to be ignorant of what is involved in client
data protection. Some sectors have much higher regulations than others, such as the
financial services and healthcare industries, because in their day-to-day business
operations, these businesses accumulate private and sensitive information from
patients and clients.

Nonetheless, just because you own a fashion store doesn’t mean you are free of
regulations. The way you handle email lists; the process of confirming the age of the
individuals you gather information on; and how you manage credit card data, is all
regulated. Having preparation and adopting standard protocol is key to protecting your
company and your clients.

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module is intended for educational purposes only.
 GE Elective Living in the IT ERA
Module 1: Introduction to Information and Communication Technology 10

ICT in education advantages and disadvantages

Information taken from https://getrevising.co.uk/grids/ict_in_education

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module is intended for educational purposes only.
 GE Elective Living in the IT ERA
Module 1: Introduction to Information and Communication Technology 11

References

Books and Journals

1. Burgess, M. (2004) Principles of Network and System Administration, 2nd Edition,
Online Resources
1. Prat (n.d.). ICT (information and communications technology, or technologies),
Retrieved February 17, 2022 from
https://www.techtarget.com/searchcio/definition/ICT-information-and-
communications-technology-or-technologies
2. White D. (2021, April 14), 5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Information and
Communication Technology in Business, https://www.techfunnel.com/information-
technology/5-advantages-of-information-and-communication-technology-in-business/
Online video resource/s
1. Eye on Tech (2020, March 9) What is ICT (Information and Communications
Technology)? . Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PDQKu2-bAc
Online site links:
1. https://sites.google.com/site/eportfolioduaa/home/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-
i-c-t
2. https://getrevising.co.uk/grids/ict_in_education
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-
SRMHvaurA&list=PLN2vKr_NwAR4QjrlXkxFObhIdkF3Vfn-P
4. https://venngage.com/templates/infographics/components-of-ict-informational-
infographic-2c4526ae-d279-4025-aba9-dc64843f15ee

The information, image/s, text or contents used in this learning module do not belong to me. This learning
module is intended for educational purposes only.