PART-A: EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

UNIT 3- ICT SKILLS-I

Information Technology (IT) refers to the use of hardware, software, and networking
technologies to access, manage, and exchange information.
Communication Technology involves the transmission of information across networks
using wired or wireless media.
ICT, which stands for Information and Communication Technology, combines both IT
and communication technologies. It is the use of hardware, software, and networks to
exchange information—such as text, graphics, audio, video, and multimedia—on digital
platforms.

Role of ICT
In Personal Life
ICT at Home – Entertainment
ICT is widely used at home for various purposes such as playing games, browsing
information, listening to music, watching movies, sending and receiving emails, online bill
payments, and internet banking.
ICT in Education
Traditional chalkboards in classrooms have been replaced with interactive digital
whiteboards, enhancing the learning experience through multimedia and digital tools.
ICT in Healthcare
Hospitals use computer-based machines like MRI, CT scans, and ultrasound for accurate
diagnosis and efficient medical care.
ICT in Governance
 Electronic voting systems have taken the place of traditional paper ballots.
 E-governance portals allow citizens to complete tasks like filling out forms, applying
for passports, and paying bills or property taxes online.
ICT for Communication
ICT makes it easy to stay connected with others through emails, video conferencing, video
calls, and instant messaging.
In Professional Life
ICT in Business
ICT supports various business operations, including:
 Record Keeping: Maintaining stock inventories and employee records.
 Accounting: Creating financial statements and balance sheets.
 E-commerce: Buying and selling products online with 24/7 access.
  E-banking: Performing banking transactions anytime and from anywhere.
ICT in Our Daily Life - Examples
1. Smartphones – Calls, messages, video chats, apps.
2. Online Shopping – Buy products on Amazon, Flipkart, etc.
3. Internet Banking – Transfer money, pay bills online.
4. Online Learning – Attend classes via Zoom, Google Meet.
5. Healthcare – Book appointments, use fitness apps.
6. Work from Home – Online meetings, file sharing.
7. Smart Homes – Control devices with Alexa or Google Home.
8. Entertainment – Watch movies, listen to music, play games.
9. Navigation – Use GPS or Google Maps.
10. Social media – Share updates on Facebook, Instagram.
ICT Tools
 Smartphones
 Tablets
 Computers / Laptops
 Radio
 Television (TV)
 Email
 Internet
 Video Conferencing Tools (Zoom, Google Meet)
 Social Media Apps (WhatsApp, Facebook)
 Interactive Whiteboards
Basic Components of a Computer System
 A computer is an electronic device that takes input through input devices, processes,
and stores data, and gives the result through output devices.
Data vs. Information
 Data: Raw facts or figures (e.g., 99, "Artificial Intelligence")
 Information: Processed and meaningful data (e.g., Total marks and percentage of a
student)
Hardware and Software
 Hardware: Physical parts of the computer that we can see and touch.
Examples: Keyboard, Monitor, CPU
 Software: Programs that tell the hardware what to do. We cannot touch them.
Examples: MS Word, MS PowerPoint, Operating System
Main Physical Components (Hardware)
1. Input Unit – Devices like keyboard and mouse used to enter data.
2. Processing Unit – The CPU processes the data and controls other parts.
 3. Output Unit – Devices like monitor and printer used to display the result.
4. Storage Unit – Stores data permanently or temporarily.
Examples: Hard disk, SSD, USB drives

Input Devices
Input devices are used to enter data or instructions into the computer.
Examples: Keyboard, Mouse, Scanner, Microphone
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The CPU is known as the brain of the computer. It controls all operations and processes data.
It has three main components:
1. Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU):
o Performs all arithmetic operations:
+ (Addition), - (Subtraction), * (Multiplication), / (Division), ^
(Exponentiation)
o Handles logical operations:
< (Less than), <= (Less than or equal to), >= (Greater than or equal to), !=
(Not equal to)
2. Control Unit (CU):
o Manages and directs the flow of data between input devices, memory, and
output devices.
o It does not process the data but ensures everything works in coordination.
3. Main Memory Unit:
o Stores data and instructions temporarily while processing is happening.
Memory Unit
The CPU needs memory to store data and instructions during processing, and to save results
permanently after processing.
Types of Memory
1. Primary Memory (Main/Internal Memory):
o Directly accessible by the CPU.
o Temporarily holds data and instructions during processing.
o Includes:
 RAM (Random Access Memory) – Temporary and volatile memory.
 ROM (Read Only Memory) – Permanent and non-volatile memory.
Random Access Memory (RAM)
 RAM holds active data and instructions while the computer is working.
 It is temporary and volatile, meaning data is lost when the power is turned off.
 Known as read/write memory because data can be both read from and written to it.
 The contents can be changed or erased.
Read-Only Memory (ROM)
 ROM is permanent and stores instructions from the manufacturer, like system startup
routines.
 It is non-volatile, meaning data is not lost when power is off.
 The contents of ROM cannot be modified easily and are mainly used for booting the
system.
Functions of Primary Memory and Secondary Memory:
a)Primary Memory:
 Holds data before and during processing.
 Stores instructions needed for processing.
 Keeps intermediate and final results temporarily.
b) Secondary Memory (External Storage):
 Stores data permanently.
 Not directly accessible by the CPU.
 Examples: Hard Drive, SSD, CD/DVD, USB Drive.
Memory Units
 Bit – Smallest unit of memory (binary digit: 0 or 1)
 Nibble – 4 bits
 Byte – 8 bits (minimum space to store one character)
Memory Size Hierarchy:
 1 Byte = 8 bits
 1 Kilobyte (KB) = 1024 Bytes
 1 Megabyte (MB) = 1024 KB = 1024 x 1024 bytes
 1 Gigabyte (GB) = 1024 MB = 1024 x 1024 x 1024 bytes
 1 Terabyte (TB) = 1024 GB = 1024 x 1024 x 1024 x 1024 bytes
 1 Petabyte (PB) = 1024 TB = 1024 x 1024 x 1024 x 1024 x 1024 bytes
 1 Exabyte (EB) = 1024 PB = 1024 x 1024 x1024 x 1024 x 1024 x 1024 bytes
 1 Zettabyte (ZB) = 1024 EB = 1024 x 1024 x 1024 x1024 x 1024 x 1024 x 1024 bytes
 1 Yottabyte (YB) = 1024 ZB = 1024 x 1024 x 1024 x 1024 x1024 x 1024 x 1024 x
1024 bytes
Motherboard
 The motherboard is the main circuit board of a computer.
 It connects all parts of the computer system including input, processing, and output
devices.
 Contains a power connector to supply power from the SMPS (Switched Mode Power
Supply) to the CPU and other components.
 Includes slots for RAM (memory modules).
 Provides multiple ports and connectors to attach external hardware (e.g., USB
devices, monitors, keyboards, etc.).
 Performing Basic Computer Operations
Starting a Computer:
1. Press the Power button on the CPU or laptop.
2. The system runs a quick check called POST(Power-On Self-Test) to make sure
hardware like keyboard, RAM, and drives are working.
3. The computer loads the operating system (like Windows) from the hard disk into
memory. This is called booting.
4. The Windows Welcome Screen appears, followed by the desktop.
5. You can now start using the computer.

Shutting Down a Computer:

 Save and close all open files and programs first.
 Click the Start button, then choose Shut Down to turn off the computer completely.
 You can also choose:
o Sleep – uses low power and lets you resume quickly (for short breaks).
o Hibernate – uses even less power and restores everything when you turn it
back on (for longer breaks).

PERIPHERAL DEVICES AND THEIR USES

Peripheral devices are hardware components connected to a computer, either internally or
externally, that support its functions but do not carry out the core computing process.
Examples include: mouse, keyboard, monitor, printer, scanner.
Types of Peripheral Devices
Peripheral devices fall into three main categories:
1. Input Devices – Used to send data to the computer (e.g., mouse, keyboard).
2. Output Devices – Used to receive data from the computer (e.g., monitor, printer).
3. Storage Devices – Used to store data (e.g., flash drives, external hard drives).
1. Input Devices
 Keyboard: Used to type and enter data into the computer.

 Mouse: A pointing device that controls the cursor on the screen.

o Optical Mouse: Uses LED sensors to detect movement.

o Cordless Mouse: Works wirelessly using batteries.
o Touchpad: Found in laptops, works like a mouse.
 Joystick: Mainly used for gaming, it controls movement on the screen.
 Light Pen: A pen-shaped device used to draw or select items directly on the screen.

 Graphics Tablet: Used for digital drawing with a special pen called a stylus.

 Scanner: Converts physical documents and images into digital format.

 Barcode Reader: Reads information from product barcodes.

 Microphone: Records sound and converts it into a digital file.

2. Output Devices
 Monitor: Displays information in the form of text and images.
o Types include: CRT, LCD, LED, and Touchscreen monitors.
o

 Printer: Produces a physical copy (hard copy) of digital documents.

o Types: Dot matrix, Inkjet, Laser printers.
 Plotter: Prints large-sized engineering and architectural drawings.

 Speaker: Outputs sound; can be built-in or external.

3. Storage Devices

 CD/DVD: Optical discs used to store and read data.

 Pen Drive (Flash Drive): Small, portable device to store and transfer data (1 GB to
64 GB and more).
 External Hard Drive: Portable storage device with large capacity (1TB, 2TB, etc.).

Ports
Ports are connectors on the computer used to attach peripheral devices.
 Internal Ports: Connect internal components like hard disk, CD drive.
 External Ports: Connect external devices like printers, mouse, USB drives.

INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET
The Internet is a global network connecting millions of computers. It allows sharing of
information, communication, and services worldwide.
Key Terms:
 WWW (World Wide Web): A network of interlinked web pages accessible via the
Internet.
 Protocol: A set of rules for data communication (e.g., HTTP, HTTPS).
 HTTP: Used to transfer web content (text, image, video).
 HTTPS: A secure version of HTTP, used for safer browsing.
 URL: Unique web address (e.g., https://www.google.com).
Applications of the Internet
 Email
 Chatting
 Video conferencing
  Social Networking
 E-learning
 E-shopping
 E-banking
 Online reservations
INTERNET BROWSER
A web browser is a software used to access websites. Examples:
Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Opera
Functions of a browser:
1. Connects to web servers and requests information.
2. Displays websites and their content.
Websites and Webpages
 Website: A collection of related webpages linked through hyperlinks.
 Webpage: A single page on a website, written in HTML.
 Home Page: The main or first page of a website.
 Static Webpage: Same content every time (e.g., tutorial sites).
 Dynamic Webpage: Content changes each time (e.g., shopping sites).

Email (Electronic Mail)

Email allows sending and receiving messages via the Internet.
Benefits:
 Fast communication
 Eco-friendly (no paper)
 Send bulk messages
 Attach files (documents, images, etc.)
Email Address Structure:
 Format: [email protected]
Example: [email protected]
Email Terms:
 To: Main recipients
 Cc (Carbon Copy): Sends copy to others – all recipients can see each other.
 Bcc (Blind Carbon Copy): Sends copy to others – recipients can’t see who else got
the email.
 Subject: Short description of the email.
 Attachment: Add files to your message.


Popular email providers: Gmail, Yahoo, Rediffmail

Introduction to Social Media

Social media refers to websites and online platforms that allow people to connect,
communicate, and share information, ideas, photos, and interests with others. A social
networking site helps users stay in touch with friends, build relationships, and form
communities around shared interests.
Benefits of Social Networking Websites
 Enable people to connect globally and stay in touch.
 Help reconnect with old friends and maintain family relationships.
 Provide a platform for launching business ideas and promoting products or services.
  Allow easy sharing of information, photos, videos, and opinions.
Disadvantages of Social Networking Websites
 Exposure to false or unverified information.
 Sharing personal details (like your location) can pose safety risks.
 Can lead to cyberbullying and peer pressure, especially among teens.
 Reduces face-to-face social interactions, affecting communication skills.
 May distract from studies and work, leading to poor academic performance.
 Excessive use can cause a sedentary lifestyle and related health issues.
 Misinformation and fake news can spread quickly.
Tips for Staying Safe on Social Media
To protect your privacy and security online, follow these best practices:
 Avoid sharing personal information like phone numbers, addresses, or your real-time
location.
 Understand and adjust privacy settings to control who can view your profile and
posts.
 Create strong and unique passwords for each social media account.
 Don't accept friend requests from people you don’t know personally.
 Be cautious when clicking on links, pop-ups, or attachments.
 Install and update antivirus software on your device to protect against malware.
 Always log out of your account after use, especially on shared computers.

Popular Social Media Platforms

 Blog: A personal website maintained by an individual (Blogger).
 Twitter: Used to share short updates with followers.
 Facebook: Popular for connecting with friends, sharing photos, and messages.
 YouTube: For watching and sharing videos.
 WhatsApp: A free app to send text, voice, photo, and video messages using the
internet.