• Overview of ICT

• Importance and Applications of ICT in modern society

• Basic computer concepts
 Overview of ICT?
• ICT stands for Information and Communication Technology. It encompasses technologies that
provide access to information through telecommunications, including the internet, wireless
networks, cell phones, and other communication mediums.

• Components of ICT: These include hardware (computers, servers), software (operating

systems, applications), networks (LAN, WAN), and data.

• Examples of ICT Tools: Computers, smartphones, email, cloud services.

 Importance and Applications of ICT in modern Society

• Importance: ICT has transformed the way we live, work, and communicate. It facilitates real-
time communication, enhances business efficiency, and provides access to vast amounts of
information.

• Applications:
• Education: Online learning platforms, virtual classrooms, e-books.
• Healthcare: Telemedicine, electronic medical records, health monitoring devices.
• Business: E-commerce, digital marketing, remote working solutions.
• Entertainment: Streaming platforms, online gaming, social media.
 Basic Computer Concepts

• What is a Computer: A computer is an electronic device that is able to accept input,

store data, process data and is able to give a desired output.
Examples: Smartphone, Desktop Computer, Calculator etc.

The basic concepts/operations of computers are:

• Input: The data given to a computer via Input Devices like Keyboard, Mouse etc.
• Processing: It is the actual handling and manipulation of data using the CPU to convert input to
output (Data + Instructions -> Output)
• Storage: The saving of data in memory for later use with the help of storage devices.
• Output: The Information/results of processing that the computer give out.
 Basic Computer Concepts
The basic components of computers are:
• Hardware: These are all the physical components/parts of a computers which enable
it to perform all the required tasks on physical level.
Examples: CPU, Memories, Input Devices, Output Devices, Storage Devices,
supporting hardware etc.
• Software: These are the Logical components of a computer which instructs the
hardware to perform certain tasks and functions.
Examples: System Software, Applications Software etc.
 Data, Types of Data
• Data: Data refers to the raw facts and figures that do not have any context or
meaning. In other words, any facts and figures which lack the instructions about the
meaning/how to process it is called data.
Example: 59, AEZAKMI, 6B7A1C6D, etc.
• Types of Data: Computer are able to understand binary language (0,1) only. For our own
convenience, we have made some other types of derived data types which enables
programmers and users to efficiently use the computer.
Some of the basic datatypes are:
Boolean/Binary: The most basic datatype that can only hold value 0 and 1.
Integer: It can store whole numbers like 1,4,10,99,5678, etc.
Float: Used for numbers with decimal point. Example: 3.14, 556.789, etc.
Character: Used for storing single letter, digit, symbols, punctuation marks etc.
String: It stores sequence of characters, such as “Pakistan” ”Jahanzeb College” etc.
 Conversion of Data to Information
• Processing: Data can be converted to Information by processing it.
Processing occurs when data is collected, organized, analysed and then is
converted to a useful result.
Example: When we give 2+2 input to a computer. 2, + and 2 does not have any
meaning on their own but if the computer has the instructions of how to handle this
input, it can process it and give us the result, which is 4. Here, 2+2 is the data (Input)
and 4 is the Information (Output) that is derived from the data through processing.

• Role of Data in ICT: Data is the foundation of a computer. The computer take input as
data, stores data, processes it and even the output of a computer is data. Without
data, we can not have any meaningful way to represent information.
 Real-World Applications of ICT
• In Everyday Life: Computers are used in all walks of life. In our day-to-day life,
computers play an important role. We use smartphones for communication, ATM
Machines for easy banking, GPS Navigation for navigation and many more ways
computers help us achieve our goals efficiently.
• In Businesses: We use computers for Inventory Management (POS Systems), Digital
Marketing (Social Media Advertisements etc.) Cloud-based collaborations
(WhatsApp Channels/Groups etc) and other types of business applications.
• In Education: Online Classes, Remote Feedback and sharing platforms (email, chat
groups, etc.), Virtual Learning over the Internet (Search Engines like Google etc.) are
all of the ways we can use computers to easily help ourselves. It also reduces the
efforts required for teachers to better deliver their educational contents/lectures to
students (Presentations, Online Notes PDF etc.)
• ICT in other Sectors: ICT is also very prominent in sectors like Healthcare, Construction,
Safety, Public Services like E-governance, Online Portals etc.
 Input and Output Unit
• Input Unit: Also known as Input Devices, These are the hardware components
attached to a computer system, that sends data(input) to a computer.
Example: Mouse, Keyboard, Touch Screen, Temperature Sensor, Camera, etc.

• Input System: It is basically all the hardware (Input Device), Software (the Input itself)
and the structure and mechanisms that enables both of these to take user actions or
Inputs and convert them to a computer-readable data.

• Output Unit: Also known as Output Devices, These are the type of hardware
components attached to a computer, which gives out results (Information) from a
computer to the user.
Example: Speaker, Display Screen (Monitor), Printer, etc.
• Output System: It is the combination of all the hardware(Output Device), software
(Output inself) and supporting components of a computer that helps it to deliver
information from the computer to the user.
 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• CPU: It is the brain of the computer, responsible for the actual processing in a
computer. It executes instructions and data (Input) to give information (Output).

• Components of a CPU: The CPU is comprised of the following hardware/physical

components:
• Control Unit (CU): It is the management part of a CPU which directs all the operations
within a computer and CPU.
• Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU): This is the actual part in a CPU that executes the
Arithmetic (+, -, /, *) as well as Logical Operations (AND, OR, NOT) on the data.
• Memory: The CPU has two types of Memories inside that helps it function efficiently:
• Cache Memory: It is a faster than RAM memory that has a lower capacity. It is
online with the ALU.
• Registers: It is the fastest memory inside the CPU. It is online with the ALU.
 Memory (RAM, ROM, Cache)
• Computer Memory: It is the storage part of a computer, responsible for storing the
data as well as information.
Example: RAM, ROM.

• Random Access Memory (RAM): It is a volatile memory of a computer that stores

data of actively running programs of a computer. It is a faster than ROM memory,
used to store data temporarily.
Example: SRAM (Synchronous RAM), DDR3 (Double Data Rate 3), etc.

• Read Only Memory (ROM): These are the types of memories that do not require
constant power to hold data (non-volatile). These are slower than RAM and are used
to store data permanently.
Example: Solid State Drive (SSD), Memory Card, USB Flash Drive, etc.

• Cache: It is a faster than RAM memory that has a lower capacity. It is online with the
ALU.
 Types of Computers
• Types of Computers: Computers can generally be classified on the basis of the
following criteria:

• On the basis of Technology Type:

• Digital Computers: The type of computers which processes data in binary language
(0,1) exclusively.
Example: Smartphones, Digital Clocks etc.

• Analogue Computers: These computers processes physical quantities. Physical

quantities like electrical voltage, mechanical motion, or hydraulics are used to take
input, store data, process data and give output in physical quantities.
Example: Mechanical Calculator, Analogue Clock, etc.

• Hybrid Computers: These computers are the combination of both the Digital
Computers and Analogue Computers. Some components of the hybrid computers
are digital while others are analogue. Example: Airplane Cockpit
 Types of Computers
• On the basis of Size:

• Microcomputers: Also known as personal computers, these are the smallest and most
affordable computers that are used in daily life to help us in our day-to-day tasks.
Example: Desktop Computers, Smartphones, Portable devices, etc.
• Minicomputers: These are computers which are smaller than mainframes with lower
speeds and costs. These computers are not confined to a single location and can
have multiple concurrent users.
Example: Attendance Machines, Security Systems in buildings, etc.
• Mainframe Computers: These are large computers that are primarily used for tasks
that require high processing, storage or the combination of it. These computers often
do not have direct users but are accessed remotely.
Example: Storage Servers, Processing Servers, etc. (UNIVAC I)
• Supercomputers: These are very powerful and most expensive computers that are
used for complex tasks. They are made from interconnected mainframes/processors
that can handle billions of operations per second.
Example: Microsoft’s Cloud Computing Super Computer, Youtube Processing
Computers, etc
 Types of Computers
• On the basis of Purpose/Application of the computer:

• General Purpose Computer: Computer that are designed to perform a wide range of
tasks and are able to run different kinds of software applications. These are versatile
and flexible computers, having the ability to be configured to perform new and latest
functions.
Example: Desktop Computers, Smartphones, etc.

• Special Purpose Computers: Computers which are designed to be used for a special,
pre-defined functions and applications.
Example: Digital Clock, Car’s infotainment System
 Common Input Devices
• Keyboard: Keyboards is a physical device that has a pre-arranged set of keys that
can be used to communicate and send data to a computer.

• Mouse: It is a pointing device that can be used to move the cursor on a computer
screen.

• Scanner: It is a device that converts a physical document to a digital version of the

document.

• Microphone: It is a device that is able to convert audio signals to digital recording.

• Camera: It is an imaging device used to capture images and record videos in

combination with a microphone.
 Common Output Devices
• Monitor: A computer display screen that is able to display images for visual output.

• Printer: It is used to convert the digital document to a produce a physical copy of the
document.

• Speaker: It is capable of converting digital recording to a physical sound.

• Projector: These type of output devices are able to convert digital images on a
physical screen.

• Vibration Motor: It is a type of output device that is able to give sensory output to the
user.
 Primary Storage
• Primary Storage: Also known as the Primary Memory, is a type of physical component
of a computer that is used to store data temporarily. It stores data that is actively in
use.
Below are some of the key features of a primary memory:
• It is a volatile memory that needs power all the time to hold data.
• It is attached directly to the processor.
• It is faster than Secondary Memory.
• It is more expensive than Secondary Memory.
• Compared to Secondary Memory, Primary Memory is present in a very lower
capacity in a computer.
Example: RAM, Cache, etc.
 Secondary Storage
• Secondary Storage: Also known as the Secondary Memory, is a type of physical
component of a computer that is able to store data permanently.
Below are some of the key features of a secondary memory:
• It is a non-volatile memory that does not need power all the time to hold data.
• It is not attached directly to the processor.
• It is Slower than Primary Memory.
• It is less expensive than Primary Memory.
• Compared to Primary Memory, Secondary Memory is present in a higher
capacity in a computer.
Example: Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Solid State Drive (SSD), USB Flash Drive, Optical
Disks, External Storages, etc.
 System Software
• System Software: The type of software program that manages, controls and maintains
a computer’s hardware and application programs. It also provides a basic platform,
structure and support for applications software to run on the hardware.
The System Software has direct interaction with the hardware and is able to instruct
the hardware on how to function and what to do, while also providing the same
functionality to application software.

Examples: BIOS, Operating System

• Basic Input Output System (BIOS): It is a very basic software component of a

computer whose sole purpose is to initialise the hardware components of a computer
as well as instruct them on how to perform basic operations and functions. It contains
various instructions and data related to the hardware components of a computer.

• Operating System: It is a computer program that manages a computer’s hardware

resources, provides control and management interface, User Interface, Configuration
Interface and all the support and service platforms for other applications to run on
the computer. Example: Windows, Android, iOS, MacOS, Linux, etc.
 Application Software
• Application Software: The type of software that is designed to perform a limited range
of functions on a computer. These software do not interact directly with the hardware
but require a basic platform(Operating System) in order to run on the hardware.
Example: Microsoft Word, Games, Web Browser, Instagram, YouTube, etc.
 Definition and role of an operating system
• Operating System: It is a computer program that manages a computer’s hardware
resources, provides control and management interface, User Interface, Configuration
Interface and all the support and service platforms for other applications to run on
the computer. Example: Windows, Android, iOS, MacOS, Linux, etc.

• Role and Function of an Operating System: The functions of an operating system vary
depending on the type and application of the operating system.
Generally, operating system does the following basic functions:
• File Management: Perform files, data and related management operations on data.
• Process Scheduling: It decides when to run a process on the CPU.
• Memory Allocation: It has memory allocation techniques and algorithms for proper
and efficient memory management.
• Device Control: It provides the basic device/hardware controls and management
configurations.
• Other: Operating System is also responsible for all of the services and basic support
structure that application software needs.
 Types of Operating System
Generally, Operating Systems are classified into the following basic types:

• Single-User: The type of Operating System that can only have one user at a time.
• Multi-User: The type of Operating System that can have more than one user at a
single time (concurrent users).
• Desktop OS: The type of Operating System that is designed to be used in a Desktop
Computer.
• Mobile OS: The type of Operating System that is designed to be used in a Mobile
Computer.

In more advanced classification, we can have:

• Realtime-Sharing Operating System: Which allows multiple users to access a
computer concurrently, share same data, processing etc. quickly and on time.
• Distributed Operating System: In which applications run on multiple interconnected
computers
• Network Operating System: Designed to support computers that are connected on a
LAN (Local Area Network)
• Batch Operating System: The type of operating system that allows multiple user to use
it concurrently remotely. It is mainly used for large amount of processing applications.
 Computer Network and Types
• Computer Network: The system of communication between two or more computers
that follow a common protocol over a communication medium is called a computer
network.
A computer network consists of communication device (nodes) that are able to
send and receive data over the network.

The computer networks are normally classified into the following types:

• Local Area Network (LAN): The type of network that is located in a confined space. It
has limited number of nodes.
Example: Home Wi-Fi Network, Smartphone Hotspot Network, etc.
• Metropolitan Area Network (MAN): A computer network that spans over a large area
like city or district.
Example: Cable TV network, Cellular Tower network, etc.
• Wide Area Network(WAN): Network that is comprised of network of networks.
Example: The Internet (Global Network of Networks), internet (Local Network of
Networks)
 Network Elements
• Router: It is a network device that is able to route data between network nodes and
across networks.
Example: Home Wi-Fi Router
• Switch: Network device that is able to connect devices in a Local Area Network
(LAN).
Example: 8 Port Switch(converts single LAN port to 8 ports)
• Modem: A network device that enables users to connect to Wide Area Network
(WAN)
Example: PTCL Broadband Modem, Wi-Fi Broadband Device, etc.
 Database, Relational Database
• Database: The collection of data in an organised form that enables it to be
accessed, modified and managed easily and efficiently is called database.
Databases are managed by Database Management Systems (DBMS).
Example: College Students Database, NADRA Citizens’ Database etc.

• Relational Database: A database where data is organised in pre-defined

relationships, where data is stored in one or more tables with relations of rows,
columns etc.
Example: Microsoft SQL, MySQL, Oracle Database etc.
• Characteristics of Relational Database:
• Tables: Data is stored in tables (rows and columns)
• Primary Keys: A table must contain at least one unique identifier.
• Relationships: These are links between data in tables for easy access.
 Internet and its Applications
• Internet: It is the global network of networks (WAN) that connects all of the associated
devices with each other across the world.
Example: The global internet that we use to communicate with each other.

• WWW (World Wide Web): A collection of public data (web pages) that are accessible
through the Internet. These contents are accessible through a system called www,
where every web page has an address (web address) and can be accessed through
a web browser. It includes Websites, Web Servers, Web Pages etc.
Example: www.google.com, www.facebook.com, www.jc.edu.pk, etc.
• Email Services and protocols:
• Electronic Mail, that can be used to deliver message across computer networks.
Email is a secure way of one-to-one communication between two
computers/users.
• Email Protocols: These are the pre-defined set of instructions and rules that govern
how emails are sent, received and stored.
Example: SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), a text based protocol that finds
best path to deliver an email.
 Internet and its Applications
• Social Media Applications: The Internet can be used to communicate with other
people and socialise with them in a way that was never possible in human history.
We can use internet to send messages, share photos, express views through public
posts, and give feedback on posts (likes, reactions, comments, etc).
Example: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Signal, Snapchat, etc.
 Common Security Threats
• Viruses: These are malicious programs that are able to replicate, spread and make
un-desirable changes in a computer that might put the integrity of a computer at risk.
Virus needs to be sent/transferred to a computer by a user in order to infect the
computer.
Example: Shortcut Virus: Replicates and create un-wanted shortcuts in Desktop
Computers. It mainly targeted Microsoft Windows.
• Worms: A malicious programs that are able to replicate as well as spread to other
computers through a computer network on its own. It targets both computer systems
as well as computer networks.
Example: Email Worms: These could be spread over email as an email attachment.
• Malware: Those software which are intentionally designed to harm a computer’s
security, cause disruptions, disturb normal flow of processes on a CPU, and perform all
related malicious activity.
 Basic Security Practices
• Antivirus Software: These are software that are designed to detect and handle other
software, programs, data, etc. which could potentially harm a computer. It can
detect Viruses in a computer and is able to remove or quarantine them.
Example: Windows Defender/Security, Kaspersky Antivirus, etc.
• Firewall: It is a network strategy to protect networks from unauthorized access.
Example: Windows Firewall, Phone Network Restrictions, etc.
• Security Passwords: It is always recommended to use strong/complex passwords to
enhance security of computers.
Example: Phone Lock Screen Password, FaceID, Fingerprint, etc.
 Decimal Number System
• Definition: It is a standard numerical system commonly used by humans. It is also
known as base-10 system due to the 10 digits (representations) ranging from 0 to 9:
0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9.
It operates on powers of ten. Each digit in a decimal number system represents a
multiple of a power of ten, depending on its position (or place value).

For instance, in the number 546, starting from the right most digit;
6 represents 6 x 10^0 (ones)
4 represents 4 x 10^1 (tens)
5 represents 5 x 10^2 (hundreds)
 Binary Number System
• Definition: It is a basic numerical system that represents number using only two digits: 0
and 1. It is also known as base-2 system. It is also called machine language because
internally, computer uses only 0 and 1 to store and process data.
It operates on powers of two. Each digit (bit) in a binary number system represents a
multiple of a power of two, depending on its position (or place value).

For instance, in the number 1101, starting from the right most digit;
1 represents 1 x 2^0 = 1
0 represents 0 x 2^1 = 0
1 represents 1 x 2^2 = 4
1 represents 1 x 2^3 = 8

If we take sum of the resultant numbers, we will get 8+4+0+1=13 in decimal.

 Octal Number System
• Definition: It is a numerical system commonly used in networks where 8 bits (binary
digits) combine to form 1 byte. It is also known as base-10 system due to the 8 digits
(representations) ranging from 0 to 7:
0,1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7.
It operates on powers of eight. Each digit in an octal number system represents a
multiple of a power of eight, depending on its position (or place value).

For instance, in the number 761, starting from the right most digit;
1 represents 1 x 8^0 = 7
6 represents 6 x 8^1 = 48
7 represents 7 x 8^2 = 448

If we take sum of the numbers, we will get 7+48+448 = 503 in decimal.

 Hexadecimal Number System
• Definition: It is a standard numerical system. It is a base-16 system due to the 16 digits
(representations) ranging from 0 to F:
0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,A,B,C,D,E and F. Here, 10 is represented by A, 11 by B, 12 by C, 13 by
D, 14 by E, and 15 by the alphabet F.
It operates on powers of sixteen. Each digit in a hexadecimal number system
represents a multiple of a power of sixteen, depending on its position (or place value).

For instance, in the number 39C, starting from the right most digit;
C represents 12 x 16^0 = 12
9 represents 9 x 16^1 = 144
3 represents 3 x 16^2 = 768

If we take sum of the numbers, we will get 12+144+768 = 924 in decimal.