What Is Information and Communication Technology (ICT)?

Information and communications technology (ICT) skills refer to one’s

ability to converse with people through various technologies. Similar
to information technology (IT), ICT refers to technology use for regular,
everyday tasks: sending an email, making a video call, searching the
internet, using a tablet or mobile phone, and more.

ICT skills could also include the ability to use older communication
technologies such as telephones, radios, and televisions.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is a broader term for Information

Technology (IT), which refers to all communication technologies, including the
internet, wireless networks, cell phones, computers, software, middleware, video-
conferencing, social networking, and other media applications and services enabling
users to access, retrieve, store, transmit, and manipulate information in a digital form.

ICTs are also used to refer to the convergence of media technology such as audio-
visual and telephone networks with computer networks, by means of a unified system
of cabling (including signal distribution and management) or link system. However,
there is no universally accepted definition of ICTs considering that the concepts,
methods and tools involved in ICTs are steadily evolving on an almost daily basis.

To define professional skill levels for its ICT professional education products, the IEEE
Computer Society has adopted, for example, the Skills Framework for the Information
Age (SFIA). The value of ICT strategies as a means of bridging the digital divide and as
a powerful tool for economic and social development around the world should not be
underestimated in agricultural and related sectors. Improving extension of ICT
services to farmers would effectively improve the transmission of global open data for
agriculture and nutrition for development of sensible solutions addressing food
security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture issues.

By using ICTs, there have already “been diverse types of innovations taking place in
the agriculture sector, which include commodity and stock market price information
and analysis, meteorological data collection, advisory services to farmers for
agricultural extension, early warning systems for disaster prevention and control,
financial services, traceability of agricultural products, agricultural statistical data
gathering, etc." (ICT for sustainable agriculture, FAO, 2013).

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.

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.
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.
Types of ICT Skills
Email Management and Setup

Being able to effectively and successfully communicate via email is critical to any
job. You will need to send emails to colleagues, employers, clients, vendors, and
so on. Companies expect their employees to write professional and well-written
emails, as well as respond promptly to messages received in their inboxes.

Online Research

Almost every job requires at least some online research. Whether you are
looking up new lesson plans in a subject or checking out the latest news on your
company’s competitor, you need to be able to sift through all the information
online to find what you need. This involves basic online information management
skills.

Social Media Management

Some jobs require you to use social media. For example, many people
working in marketing tend to manage or update a company’s social media
presence. Even if this is not a critical part of your job, employers increasingly
look for employees with basic social media literacy. The more you know about
the benefits of and limits to social media, the more you can begin to use that
media in valuable ways at work.

Online Collaboration

Online collaboration is a broad category that refers to any means of sharing

information with your coworkers (or supervisors, or clients) online. This includes
adding a meeting to a shared online calendar, providing feedback on a document
through a web-based document application, and holding an online video
conference with colleagues.

Desktop Publishing

Desktop publishing involves the creation of materials that need to be printed and
distributed. These might include fliers, brochures, newsletters, and more.
Because you can create so much using desktop publishing software, many jobs
require you to have some basic skills in this field. While people with a creative,
artistic eye might be particularly good at desktop publishing, anyone can get
better with practice.

Importance of Information and Communication Technology(ICT)

1. It creates an analytical mind of students that help them study and proffer
solutions to problems emanating from all related fields that employ it as a
learning tool.
2. Being an emerging academic field of study, it helps students to be
innovative and develop new ways of solving problems scientifically.
3. It makes information storage and retrieval easy.
4. It enhances computer networking globally known today as internet and
intranet.
5. It accelerates economic development nationally as it is a virile source of
national income for all nations that have fully embraced its usefulness.
6. It creates gainful employment, hence a viable source of livelihood.
7. It makes comprehension of other subjects easy. Virtually all fields of
learning are amenable to ICT such as the application of projector for
teaching in the classroom.
8. It creates an avenue for the exchange of ideas and inventions among
information technology scholars locally and internationally.
9. It is the basis for e-learning and online library. Hence information
dissemination is easier than ever.
10. It is pivotal to globalization in all its ramification and the realization of
the Millennium development goals as agreed by the United Nations in the
year 2000.
11. It is used at various offices for proper documentation of official
activities and administration.

Challenges of Information and Communication Technology

Information and Communication Technology is confronted by a number of

challenges which is characteristic of an emerging field. The following are
some of the challenges:
1. Expensive ICT materials: The requisite materials for practical knowledge of
ICT especially at the advanced level are costly e.g Computer, projector,
Internet machine e.t.c.
2. Highly technical and practical driven: It is technically driven. It requires a
great deal of logic and analytical reasoning for in-depth understanding and
application.
3. Poor orientation about the concept: The first challenge in embracing ICT as
a field of study for students who have no prior orientation from their
foundation education is that of speedy assimilation.
4. Underdevelopment: ICT is a global concept and in order to have an up-to-
date knowledge on the subject there must necessarily be technological
development nationally at least well established global information link on
the subject. Many nations are yet to attain this.
5. Universal acceptability as a compulsory field of study: The subject is yet to
be fully embraced by all institutions of learning from the cradle globally.
Although it is now compulsory at the high school level in some countries.
 Unless there are solid foundation and love for the subject, compliance for all
may still take a time to attain in line with the global millennial goals.
6. Hijack by unscrupulous persons: ICT is being used by some persons for evil
purposes such as cybercrime and malicious programs that can cause severe
damage to computers and similar gadgets.

Role of ICT in organizations

Communication Between Employees, Suppliers and Customers
For many companies, email is the principal means of communication
between employees, suppliers and customers. Email was one of the early
drivers of the Internet, providing a simple and inexpensive means to
communicate. Over the years, a number of other communications tools
have also evolved, allowing staff to communicate using live chat systems,
online meeting tools and video-conferencing systems. Voice over internet
protocol (VOIP) telephones and smart-phones offer even more high-tech
ways for employees to communicate.
Inventory Management Systems
When it comes to managing inventory, organizations need to maintain
enough stock to meet demand without investing in more than they require.
Inventory management systems track the quantity of each item a company
maintains, triggering an order of additional stock when the quantities fall
below a pre-determined amount. These systems are best used when the
inventory management system is connected to the point-of-sale (POS)
system. The POS system ensures that each time an item is sold, one of that
item is removed from the inventory count, creating a closed information
loop between all departments.
Data Management Systems
The days of large file rooms, rows of filing cabinets and the mailing of
documents is fading fast. Today, most companies store digital versions of
documents on servers and storage devices. These documents become
instantly available to everyone in the company, regardless of their
geographical location. Companies are able to store and maintain a
tremendous amount of historical data economically, and employees benefit
from immediate access to the documents they need.
Management Information Systems
Storing data is only a benefit if that data can be used effectively.
Progressive companies use that data as part of their strategic planning
process as well as the tactical execution of that strategy. Management
Information Systems (MIS) enable companies to track sales data, expenses
and productivity levels. The information can be used to track profitability
over time, maximize return on investment and identify areas of
improvement.
Managers can track sales on a daily basis, allowing them to immediately
react to lower-than-expected numbers by boosting employee productivity
or reducing the cost of an item.
 Customer Relationship Management
Companies are using IT to improve the way they design and manage
customer relationships. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
systems capture every interaction a company has with a customer, so that
a more enriching experience is possible. If a customer calls a call center
with an issue, the customer support representative will be able to see what
the customer has purchased, view shipping information, call up the
training manual for that item and effectively respond to the issue.

The entire interaction is stored in the CRM system, ready to be recalled if

the customer calls again. The customer has a better, more focused
experience and the company benefits from improved productivity.

ICT equipment and facilities found in organizations

 Desktop, and laptops, Projector, Digital cameras, Printer, Photocopier,

tablets, Ipods, Scanners, Ipads, Microphones,

Elements of an ICT networks

Communication devices
1.Network interface card
2.Hub
3.Switch
4.Router
Standards and procedures
1.Enable devices to communicate with each other
2.Ensures the security of the system N
Networking software
1.Network operating systems
2.Network management software
Data transfer media
1.Metal wires
2.Fibre optic cable
3.Wireless

Networks
Intranets
1.Private network
2.Uses same technology as internet
3.Only used by employees
Extranets
1.Not restricted to just employees
2.Suppliers, customers and other trading partners can access it
3.Can use public or private communications
4.Uses same technology as internet Networks
Relative advantages and disadvantages of network
Advantages
1.Ability to share files
2.Ability to share hardware resources
3.Ability to share software
4.Lower software costs
5.Improved security
6.Easier to back up files
7.Easier to implement acceptable use policies
8.Improved communications
9.Central maintenance and support
Disadvantages
1.Technical knowledge needed
2.Lack of access when file server fails
3.Cost

Hot spot – a region where the internet can be accessed wirelessly

Wi-Fi – a trademark for the certification of products that meet certain
standards for transmitting data over wireless networks
Extranet – an external network that can be used by the customers,
suppliers and partners of an organisation as well as the organisation itself
Intranet – a private network used within an organisation that makes use of
internet technology

LAN computers, local area network computers, are computers that are all
connected together under one geographical area for example one particular
building.
Stand-alone computers are computers that have no internet connection and
is not connected to any other computer. Students using a LAN rather than a
stand-alone computer are advantaged because they are able to get onto the
internet which will help them complete more work and also it will help them
exchange work through e-mail. Students using a WAN rather than a stand-
alone computer are disadvantaged because they have less privacy from the
other people on the system and they are able to get virus’s from each other.
Two differences between LAN and WAN is that LAN is a local area network
at it is confined to one geographical area like a building rather than a wide
area like multiple buildings or sites. Another difference is that in WAN,
third party communications equipment is used where hardware will be
placed in many sites. The purpose of a network interface card is to prepare
data for sending over the network, to send the data and to control the flow
of data from the computer terminal to the transmission medium.