I.C.T

I.C.T

What is I.C.T?

          I.C.T is an acronym that stands for information and communication technology.

I.C.T covers any product that will store, retrieve, manipulate, transmit, send or receive information electronically in a digital form.

     Products of I.C.T includes: Personal computers (PC), digital television, e-mail, robots etc.

TYPES OF I.C.T

1.       Broadcasting

2.       Telecommunications

3.       Data networks

4.       Information systems

5.       Satellite communication

BROADCASTING

 It is the distribution of audio and video content in a dispersed audience through a medium such as radio, television etc.

The three basic types of broadcasting are:

1.                 Radio broadcasting

2.                 Television broadcasting

3.                 Satellite TV system broadcasting.

·  RADIO BROADCASTING: It is an audio (sound) broadcasting service, broadcasting though the air as radio waves from a transmitter to an antenna and therefore to a receiving device. Broadcasting by radio may be via AM (amplitude Modulation) or FM (Frequency Modulation)

·  TELEVISION BROADCASTIG: Not until 20^th century broadcast TV programs. TV were generally transmitted as an analogue television signal, but in recent years public and commercial broadcasters have been progressively introducing digital television broadcasting technology.

            Digital television broadcasting is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals (in IS and OS) while analogue transmits audio and video using analog signals (Signals with varying amplitude or frequency). Broadcasting on TV is usually on VHF (Very-high Frequency) or UHF (ultra-high frequency).

·  SATELLITE TELEVISION SYSTEM BROADCESTING: It is a form of transmission that sends television signals directly to the home of the viewers. The signals are usually received by a satellite dish. The dish serves as an outdoor antenna.

TELECOMMUNICATION

 Telecommunication is the exchange of information over significant distances using electronic medium such as telephones, cables, and telegraph etc. A telecommunication system is any system that is used for communicating over distances. The types of telecommunication systems are:

·  PUBLIC SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK (PSTN) {LANDLINE}: PSTN is the network which allows any telephone in the world to communicate. It uses copper wires to transmit voice in analog form. Telephone service that uses PSTN is often called Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS)

·  MOBILE PHONE SYSTEM (GSM): This is a digital telecommunication system. Example of a mobile phone device is the GSM (Global system for mobile communication).The GSM can be used for voice communications, text messaging, data transfer etc.

·  CIRCUIT SWITCHED PACKET TELEPHONE SYSTEMS (CSPT): Most telephones are CSPT. CSPT is a telephone system that uses circuit switching technology i.e. a reliable connection between communication channels. Once a call is initiated on CSPT, the call remains as long as the caller dose not disconnects the call.

·  SATELLITE TELEPHONE SYSTEM: This is the type of mobile phone that connects to orbiting satellite unlike mobile phone that gets their signals from a typical telecommunication mast. An example of this device is thuraya.

·  FIXED WIRELESS TELEPHONE SYSTEM: These are telephone systems that are situated in a fixed location such as offices or homes unlike mobile devices such as the GSM. They do not required cables or wires for transmission of data; they transmit signals through the air.

DATA NETWORK

 Data network is an electronic communication system that allows the transmission and reception of data such as: letters, documents etc.

The basic type of data networks are:

·        PERSONAL AREA NETWORK (PAN): It is a computer network around an individual. A user can transfer data on this network using a computer, a cell phone or hand held computing devices such as PDA etc. A cable may not be necessary for this type of data network, Bluetooth or infrared are mainly used.

·        LOCAL AREA NETWORK (LAN): A LAN connects network devices over a relatively short distance, example is within a school. Users on this network can send and receive data on a personal computer or laptop using cable or wireless medium.

·        METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORK (MAN): This is a computer network that covers a metropolis such as a city, campus etc. Users can exchange data on their computers within the MAN.

·        WIDE    AREA NETWORK (WAN): This is a network that covers several cities, states and even countries.

·        INTERNET: An internet is a global data communication system that interconnects different networks.

INFORMATION SYSTEM

Information System is the collection of components such as people, data, database, telecommunication systems, software and hardware that are used to gather and analyze digital information.

The following are two important types of information systems that are used to together and analyze digital information.

1. DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM: This is also known as transaction processing system (TPS) They are used to process data in firms and organization that are not online. Examples of these processing systems are:

·        Billing System e.g. PHCN billing System for calculating Customer’s electricity bills at the end of every month.

·        System used to computer taxes

·        Payroll System: This is used to compute workers salary etc.

2. GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM: This is a global information system that uses satellite to transmit signal information to the earth via GPS receivers. GPS receiver determines.

·  Users exact location on the globe

·  Time difference

·  Sunrise and Sunset Time.

·  Trip distance: This is commonly used by airplane