CHAPTER 9: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT)

9.1 COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

• Meaning of ICT: The convergence of Information Technology (IT), which focuses on handling and processing information, and Communication Technology (CT), which focuses on the transmission of that information.
• Types of ICT: Broadcasting (Radio, TV), Telecommunication (Telephone, Mobile Networks), Computer Networks (Internet, LANs).

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9.2 APPLICATION AREAS OF ICT

• Teleconferencing: Interactive meeting involving multiple participants in separate locations using only audio or simple video/text.
• Video Conferencing: Interactive meeting involving multiple participants with live video and audio transmission (richer experience).
• Messaging: Email, Instant Messaging (IM), SMS, MMS.
• ICT Gadgets: Smartphones/Tablets, ATM (Automated Teller Machine – banking), POS (Point of Sale – retail payments), Computers.

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9.3 INTERNET

• Definition: The global network of computer networks that communicate using the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) suite.
• Terms: Browser (software to view web pages, e.g., Chrome, Firefox), URL (Uniform Resource Locator – a website address), ISP (Internet Service Provider), Hyperlink (link to another resource).
• Internet Services: World Wide Web (WWW), Email, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Voice over IP (VoIP).
• Benefits: Global communication, massive information access, e-commerce, online education.

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9.4 EMAIL SERVICES

• Definition: A system for exchanging digital messages (electronic mail) over the Internet.
• Creating Email Account: Requires selecting a provider (Gmail, Yahoo), choosing a unique username, and setting a password.
• Opening Mailbox: Logging in with the username and password.
• Features: Compose (create new mail), Inbox (received mail), Outbox (pending mail), Sent Items (mail sent), Attachments (sending files), Spam/Junk Folder.
• Chatting: Real-time text-based communication.

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9.5 NETWORKING

• Definition: The interconnection of two or more independent computers to share resources (files, hardware, Internet connection).
• Types (by Geographic Scope):
  1. PAN (Personal Area Network): Few meters (Bluetooth).
  2. LAN (Local Area Network): Single building or campus.
  3. MAN (Metropolitan Area Network): City-wide.
  4. WAN (Wide Area Network): Country or global level (Internet).
• Topologies (Physical Layout):

• Star: All devices connect to a central device (hub/switch). If the switch fails, the whole network fails.
• Bus: All devices connect to a single central cable (backbone). Easy to install, but failure of the cable stops the network.
• Ring: Devices are connected in a closed loop. Data travels in one direction.
• Devices: Switches (connects devices in a LAN), Routers (connects different networks-LAN to WAN), NIC (Network Interface Card – connects PC to network), Hub (simple central connector), Modem (converts digital computer signal to analog for transmission over telephone lines).
• Advantages: Resource sharing (files, printers), faster communication, centralized data backup.

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9.6 WORLD WIDE WEB (WWW)

• Meaning: The application layer of the Internet that consists of a vast collection of interconnected documents (web pages) accessed via hyperlinks.
• Terminologies: Web Server (stores web pages), Web Client (the browser), Website (collection of web pages).
• Protocols: HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol – rules for web communication), HTML (HyperText Markup Language – defines the structure and content of a web page).
• Benefits: Global access to information, E-commerce, Marketing.
• Website Navigation: Following hyperlinks, typing URLs.
• Difference between Email & Website Addresses: Email addresses contain @ (e.g., user@service.com); Website addresses (URLs) contain the protocol (http/https) and the domain name (e.g., https://www.google.com).
• Web Development Software: HTML editors, Dreamweaver, Visual Studio Code.

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9.7 CABLES AND CONNECTORS

• Types of Network Cables:
  1. Twisted Pair (UTP/STP): Most common for LANs. Copper wires twisted in pairs to reduce interference.
  2. Fiber Optic: Uses light signals through glass or plastic threads. Extremely fast, immune to electrical interference, but expensive.
  3. Coaxial: Single copper wire surrounded by insulation and shielding. Used for older networks and cable TV.
• Connectors: RJ45 (for Ethernet/LAN connections), RJ11 (for telephone lines), USB (Universal Serial Bus – for peripherals), Serial (older connector for modems/mice).