CS181: Application of Information and

Communication Technologies (ICT)

ICT Basic Definitions

 Recommended Books
‒ Introduction to Computers, Peter Norton, 6th Edition, McGraw Hill
‒ Discovering Computer by Shelly Cashman Series 2011 (latest Edition)
• Reference Books
‒ Computer Science Illuminated by Nell Dale and John Lewis (latest Edition)
‒ Using Information Technology: A Practical Introduction to Computer & Communications, Brian K, Williams & Stacey C.
Sawyer, 11th Edition, McGraw Hill.
‒ The Concepts of Information Technology by IT Series – 9th Edition

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 2
 In Today’s Lecture We Will Learn About …

DEFINE THE TERMS

Computer Computer Data and

Science Metadata Information

Communication Technology IT & ICT

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 3
 DEFINING COMPUTER
❑ COMPUTER:
Computer is an electronic machine that takes raw data as an input, process data into useful information
and display or store it for later use

Computer is a general-purpose programmable electronic device used to solve

different problems according to a given set of instructions

In regards to today’s computers, the “programmable” part of the computer is called

the software, while the “device” part is called the hardware

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 4
 DEFINING COMPUTER SCIENCE
❑ What is SCIENCE ?

Science is defined as the observation, identification, description, experimental investigation,

and theoretical explanation of natural phenomena

❑ COMPUTER SCIENCE:

The study of computers and computing, including their theoretical and algorithmic
foundations, hardware and software and their uses for processing information

Major Subfields of Computer Science:

Programming , Databases, Computer Architecture, Networking, Operating Systems, AI, Blockchain ….

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 5
 DEFINING COMPUTER SCIENCE (cont..)
❑ Computer Literacy (Digital Literacy) Some basic Computer Skills:
• Current knowledge and understanding of • Typing
computers and their uses • Email communications
• Creating and managing spreadsheets
• Those who are computer literate have the ability • Working with word processing documents
to perform basic tasks on the computer. This • Internet browsing / Online research
may include navigating a browser, operating • Programming
software systems, and completing any other • Etc….
tasks that make it possible to do your job.

• Having basic computer literacy skills can help an

individual to move onto more advanced skills
such as programming. Communication today is
mostly digital. Individuals need to understand
how to communicate with others securely,
appropriately, and effectively through various
communication tools.

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 6
 What is Data?
• A collection of raw Facts & Figures i.e. unorganized or meaningless form is called Data
▪ The word raw means that the facts have not been processed to get their exact meaning
▪ Data is collected from different sources for different purposes
▪ Data may consist of numbers, characters, symbols or pictures etc.

• Data is vital resource for any organization

▪ A resource is anything that is valuable for any organization including employees, furniture, office
accessories etc.
▪ It provides information for making proper and timely decisions
‒ It enables organization to utilize their resources effectively
‒ Incorrect or undesired format of data leads to misinformation and bad decisions

• Examples of Data: The college admission form consists of raw facts about the student i.e. Student name,
father’s name, address, date of birth, passport size photo, CNIC number and contact details etc..

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 7
 What is Metadata?
• Metadata is defined as Data About Data or data about the structure of the database
▪ It is used to define the properties and characteristics of some other data
▪ A photo is itself a picture data but the metadata of a photo can be the size, format, location, creation/modification or access date,
dimensions etc.
▪ It is very important to ensure the integrity of the data i.e. it is very helpful for law enforcement in investigations
EXAMPLE of Metadata in Database:
A student college record consists of Student Name, Student ID, Address, Email & Phone No.
Field Name Data Type Length Description Constraint

Student ID Integer 8 Roll No. of student Value from 1 to 1000

Student Name Alphabets 50 Name of student Example of a Database

Address Alphanumeric 100 Address of student

Email Alphanumeric 30 Email ID of student Must contain @ and .

Phone No. Numeric 11 Phone No. of student

Student ID Student Name Address Email Phone No.

Example of a Metadata of Student Record 190205 Ali Islamabad ali@bca.edu.pk 090078601

5205 Ahmed Lahore ahmed@bca.edu.pk 080078601

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 8
 What is an Information?
• The processed data i.e. processed form of data is called Information
▪ Information is more meaningful than data and is used for making decisions
▪ This information is used in some other processing and will be considered as data in that processing
‒ as data is used as input for the processing and information is the output of this processing

For Example:
1. The marks of students in different subjects is the data
2. To calculate total marks, marks of all subjects are used as data and the sum of all marks is the
information
3. Now to find the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Position of the class, the percentages and average marks will be
calculated based on this information. Here the sum of all marks will be used as data

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 9
 INFORMATION PROCESSING CYCLE

Accepts data Processes data into Produce and

Collection of Information stores/display
unprocessed Conveys meaning and is results
items useful to people (output)

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 10
 Quality of Valuable Information

Accurate Verifiable Timely Organized

Accessible Useful Cost-effective

Garbage in, Garbage out (GIGO) points out the accuracy of a computer’s output depends on the accuracy of the input

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 11
 How Data and Information are Related ?

DATA INFORMATION
• unprocessed raw facts • processed form of data
• Data is used as input to the computer • Information is the output of the computer
• Data is an independent entity therefore it is • Information depends on data and is meaningful
meaningless
• Information is normally short in volume
• Data is normally huge in its volume
• Information is normally publically available
• Data is the assets of the organization that is
• Information is easier to reproduce if lost. e.g. if the list
confidential
of failed students is lost, it can be reproduced from the
• Data is difficult or even impossible to reproduce stored data
Suppose Government loses data of survey. It is
• Information is very important for decision-making
almost impossible to reproduce it
• Data is not used in decision making

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 12
 How Data and Information are Related ? (cont..)

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 13
 What is Communication?
• Communication is the sharing of ideas, document or message imparting news, views, or information

• Communication requires a sender, a message and a receiver

• Communications occur over cables, telephone lines, cellular radio networks, satellites, and other
transmission media. Some transmission media, such as satellites and cellular radio networks are
wireless, which means they have no physical lines or wires

• A communications device is a hardware component that enables a computer to send

(transmit) and receive data, instructions, and information to and from one or more computers or
mobile devices. A widely used communications device is a modem.

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 14
 Process of Communication

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 15
 What is Technology?
Technology is the set of knowledge, skills, experience and techniques through which
humans change, transform and use our environment in order to create tools, machines,
products and services in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function.

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 16
 Stages of Technology?
• newer, more extreme, and even riskier than technologies
Bleeding Edge on the cutting or leading edge.

• technological devices, techniques or achievements that

Cutting Edge employ the most current and high-level IT developments

• the level of latest development or up-to-date technology (as of a

State of the Art device, procedure, process, technique, or science) reached at any
particular time usually as a result of modern methods.

• still useful, still sometimes implemented, but a

Dated replacement leading edge technology is readily available

• technology that is no longer useful, supported, or no

Obsolete longer manufactured.

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 17
 Information Technology (IT) ?
• The study or use of systems (especially computers and telecommunications) for
storing, retrieving, and sending information

• IT is a term that includes all forms of technology used to create, store, exchange, and
use information in its various forms, i.e. business data, voice conversations, still
images, motion pictures, multimedia presentations, and other forms

• IT refers to anything related to computing technology, such as networking, hardware,

software, the Internet, or the people that work with these technologies

According to the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), IT is:

The study, design, development, implementation, support or management of

computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 18
 Communication Technologies
Since the end of the 19th century, the way people communicate has been completely transformed.
People can now deliver massive amounts of data with the push of a button. New communication
technologies have connected not only people but also businesses, changing the way people interact on a
daily basis.

• Telephone – Alexander Graham Bell revolutionized the way people communicate with his patent on
the telephone in 1876.
• Over the past century, advancement in technology have replaced the heavy hardware and metal
wiring of the original design with lightweight micro circuitry.
• These advancements have also allowed for the transition from landlines to wireless, freeing people
to communicate from remote locations. All over the world, millions of people can talk to each
other, expanding businesses and improving relationships that might not otherwise have survived
across long distances. Telephones also allow for instant communication and new technology
integrates video and Internet.
• The first telephones, as well as their modern counterparts, consist of a ringer, transmitter, dialer,
switch hook, power source and anti-side tone circuit, all of which have been advanced by new
technology.

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 19
 Communication Technologies (Cont..)
• Radio – In 1906, Reginald Fessenden, creator of the first sophisticated radio transmitter, expanding on
the ideas of Guglielmo Marconi, sent music and speech across the airwaves.
• This invention of the radio allowed sound and information to be broadcast to an extremely wide
audience.
• Radio reached its golden age during the 1920s, and companies advertised their products to
consumers around the world. During the 1930s radio expanded further into news, politics and
sporting events, broadcasting into millions of homes every day.

• Television – Television was introduced to the public in 1946, even though it had been experimented
with since the late 1920s.
• Television exploded in homes around the world, going from 940,000 households in the beginning to
20 million by 1953.
• Corporations suddenly had the opportunity to show their products, not just describe them. Over
the following decades, television became the predominant source of communication to a wide
audience and it changed the political and cultural landscape forever. People were suddenly able to
witness iconic events, such as the first moon landing and the progression of the civil rights
movement.
Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 20
 Communication Technologies (Cont..)
• Internet – The creation of the Internet allowed computer networks from around the globe to network
with each other, giving individuals access to an incredible wealth of information.
• In 2010, about half of the world's population has access to the Internet, growing from only
6% of the population in 2000.
• Email, social networks, newsgroups and video transmission have connected the world like never
before.
• Privacy concerns have arisen with the proliferation of the Internet, especially with government
monitoring and certain social networking sites, but the Internet has woven itself into the fabric of
society and business.

• E-Mail – Electronic mail, commonly called e-mail or email, is a method of exchanging digital messages
from an author to one or more recipients.

• Voicemail – Also known as voice-mail, voice message, or voice bank is a computer based system that
allows users and subscribers to exchange personal voice messages; to select and deliver voice
information; and to process transactions relating to individuals, organizations, products and services,
using an ordinary telephone
Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 21
 Communication Technologies (Cont..)
• Groupware – Groupware refers to programs that help people work together collectively while located
remotely from each other. Programs that enable real time collaboration are called synchronous
groupware. Groupware services can include the sharing of calendars, collective writing, e-mail handling,
shared database.

• Faxes – Fax (short for facsimile), sometimes called telescoping, is the telephonic transmission of
scanned printed material (both text and images), normally to a telephone number connected to a
printer or other output device.
• The original document is scanned with a fax machine, which processes the contents (text or
images) as a single fixed graphic image, converting it into a bitmap, the information is then
transmitted as electrical signals through the telephone system. The receiving fax machine
reconverts the coded image, printing a paper copy.

• Teleconference – A teleconference or teleseminar is the live exchange and mass articulation of

information among several persons and machines remote from one another but linked by a
telecommunications system.

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 22
 Information Communication Technologies (ICT) (cont..)
• ICT – diverse set of technological tools and
resources used to transmit, store, create,
share or exchange information by
electronic means

• ICT is an umbrella term that includes any

communication device, encompassing radio,
television, cell phones, computer and
network hardware, satellite systems and so
on, as well as the various services and
appliances with them such as video
conferencing and distance learning

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 23
 Information Communication Technologies (ICT) (cont..)
Look at the following table to get an understanding of range if technologies that fall under the category of ICT

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 24
 Information Communication Technologies (ICT) (cont..)

Graphical Representation of ICT

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 25
 ICT Security
❑ ICT Security

Protecting information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification,
or destruction in order to provide confidentiality, integrity and availability

▪ ICT can also generate risks as it offers new means for malevolent activities, while the insecurity that
cybercrime generates has economic costs.

▪ The three key elements of an effective ICT security system include:

₋ Monitoring and controlling access to confidential information
₋ Safe transmission of data
₋ Secure storage and disposal of data

Course: Information Communication & Technologies (CY180) | Lecture 2 : Basic Definitions Department of Computer Science, AU A&AC, Kamra 26
Any Questions ?

Presenter: Muhammad Ahsan Qureshi | Database Fundamentals 27/35