Empowerment Technologies
Introduction:
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY A GLOBAL
COMMUNICATION TOOL
The term ICT, short for Information and Communication Technology, refers to the
various technologies, tools, and devices that are used to gather, create, edit, and
store information that are communicated or exchanged with others by means of
electronics.
In essence, ICT generally deals with the interconnection between different
technology-related platforms such as the Internet, the software’s and hardware’s
used, the cloud, the data being exchanged, and the transactions or the act of doing
the exchange itself.
ICT includes technologies such as computers (not limited to desktop, laptop,
netbooks, or notebooks), radio, television, video, DVDs, telephone (both fixed line
and mobile phones), personal digital assistants (PDAs), satellite systems, network
hardware and software, and the equipment and services associated with these
technologies, such as video conferencing, email, instant messaging, and blogs.
ICT is a result of economic and social or interpersonal transactions and
interactions. It is a change powered by the continuous revolution of the way people
live, work, communicate, learn, and experience things. Having been widely
accepted by both young and old, it has quickly gained its leverage as a formidable
human empowerment tool. It has become an integral part of our daily social
involvement and interaction.
Lesson 1:
THE INTERNET
The birth of the Internet has transformed the computer and communications
world like nothing before. It integrates the capabilities of the telegraph, the
telephone, the radio, and the computer into one and instantly makes possible
extensive broad casting capability, information dissemination, collaboration, and
interaction between individuals through their computers without regard for
geographic location. It represents one of the most successful examples of the
benefits of sustained investment and commitment to research and development of
information infrastructure.
On October 24, 1995, the Federal Networking Council (FNC) unanimously passed
a resolution defining the term Internet:
• as a logically linked together by a globally unique address space based on the
Internet
Protocol (IP) or its subsequent extensions/follow-ons; able to support Transmission
Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite or its subsequent
extensions/follow-ons, and/or the other IP-compatible protocols; and
• provides, uses or makes accessible, either publicly or privately, high-level
services layered on the communications and related infrastructure described
herein.
The Internet is composed of millions of small computer networks all brought
together to form the vast "Inter-Network." That word never caught on, so it was
shortened to the much easier-to-say "Internet." A large part of the Internet is the
World Wide Web (WWW). This is made up of websites that have one or more web
pages. This is the part of the Internet that you probably use most of the time.
But Internet isn't just web pages. It also includes other services such as instant
messaging, chat rooms, e-mail, file transfers, news groups, peer-to-peer networks,
and forums. No one owns the Internet because each part of it is made up of
individual networks that someone has put together and then linked to the Internet.
However, each network has to obey Internet standards in order to connect.
EARLY INTERNET TIMELINE
Mid 1960 - Papers on "Packet Switching" emerge.
End 1960s - ARPA sponsors the development of a packet-switching network
called the ARPANET. First four nodes of the ARPANET are University of
California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Stanford Research Institute (SRI), University of
California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), and University of Utah.
1974 - Robert Kahn and Vinton Cerf propose TCP/IP protocols and models
1980 - IPv4 is introduced.
1983 - ARPANET adopts TCP/IP. At this time, the ARPANET has 200 routers.
1984 - NSF funds a TCP/IP-based backbone network. This backbone grows into
the NSFNET, which becomes the successor of the ARPANET.
1995 - NSF stops funding of NSFNET. The Internet becomes completely
commercial.
USES OF THE INTERNET
The Internet is a fantastic source of information as well as a go-to tool for a
wide array of services
COMMUNICATION
The Internet opens up many different possible ways to communicate with
others. Some of these are e-mail, blogs social networking sites (eg Facebook,
Instagram, Bebo),chatrooms, forums and VOIP or Internet telephone.
SHOPPING
Nowadays, whatever you want to buy, you can pretty much guarantee that
you can find it for sale somewhere on the Internet.
LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT
There are many different ways that you can choose to spend your time
online and amuse yourself. Here are a few
Playing online games
Listening to music (mp3 downloading or live streaming)
Reading online books and e-books
Watching online movies or videos eg. YouTube .
Looking for holidays or concert tickets
Reading about your hobbies
Keeping-to-date with the news and sporting events
Watching catch-up television from the main channels
EXPLORING THE WORLD
The Internet age opened up the doors and the windows to the world. Getting
to places is as easy as a click of a button through online booking. One can opt
to be a digital traveler as well, going to and learning about many places at the
convenience of the computer screen. The Internet offers many services and
features that help you to explore places, faces, and experiences.
BENEFITS OF THE INTERNET
1. The Internet is always available.
People can access the Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a
year. It is unlike any business establishment that operates on a limited time where
the customer has to wait for the official business hours to get what they want or
need. Of course that doesn't mean every website is always open. There are always
exceptions.
2. The Internet offers a vast range of information.
All sorts of information can be found on the Internet. A keyword related to
any topic will almost always yield results. This is because the search engine finds
websites, relevant topics, and related information based on the word typed on the
search bar. Careful evaluation of the search results and information however,
should be exercised. Considering that uploading information is as easy as
downloading it, the room for erroneous information is quite big. Knowing which
websites are trustworthy is a key factor in getting good usable information.
Plagiarism is also a factor to consider. Since information is readily available, it
opens opportunities for people to easily copy whatever they want. Note that it is
but right to give credit to the creators of original work. Be a responsible Internet
user. Netiquette is the etiquette for the Internet users.
3. The Internet serves as a means to communicate with people.
The Internet provides many ways to let you to keep in contact with people
anytime and anywhere. Provided there is Internet connectivity, an email, multiple
format files, or data can be sent to anybody anywhere. Talking with somebody on
the other side of the world on real time is even possible using chat services, voice,
or video calls. This feature has given individuals and businesses the ability to
communicate at a much cost-efficient means as compared to the only available
means many years back, the telephone.
4. The Internet offers a wide access to learn about other cultures.
Many say that one can learn anything about anybody on the web. The
potential to learn about many cultures are unlimited. From literatures to pictures to
films about other cultures-these can be found readily and many times for free.
5. Information on the Internet is readily updated.
News articles-even videos, can be uploaded as it happens. Updates can be
added in real time. Nowadays, aside from posting one's thoughts or photos, social
media platforms allow users to share live video feeds at a click of a button-a
feature that was not possible a few years back.
