Information Communication Technology - Essay Example

TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction.2 2. Uses of ICT...2 3. The ICT Network ification with Diagram.2 4. Types of Networks with Diagram3 5. Typical Library Network.4 6. Conclusion5 PRINCIPALS OF ICT Introduction: Information Communication Technology (ICT) allows users to participate in rapidly changing world in which work and other activities are increasingly transformed by access to varied and developing technologies. "ICT tools can be used to find, explore, analyze, exchange and present information responsibly and without discrimination. ICT can be employed to give users quick access to ideas and experiences from a wide range of people, communities and cultures."(Rice, MF 2005) Uses of ICT: Facilitating communications: Using a network, people can communicate efficiently and easily via e-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms, telephony, video telephone calls, and videoconferencing. Sharing hardware: In a networked environment, each computer on a network can access and use hardware on the network. Suppose several personal computers on a network each require the use of a laser printer. If the personal computers and a laser printer are connected to a network, each user can then access the laser printer on the network, as they need it. Sharing files, data, and information: In a network environment, any authorized user can access data and information stored on other computers on the network. The capability of providing access to data and information on shared storage devices is an important feature of many networks. Sharing software: Users connected to a network can access application programs on the network. The ICT Network Classification: The Network is classified into Wired Technology and Wireless Technology Wired Technology: "It is very reliable and cheap. It is not affected by other wireless signals like portable/cellular phones, microwaves; etc.It has high life expectancy, high speed with Quality of Service." (Erik Rodriguez, 2005 ).At the same time the length of wire runs limited, Can be affected by noise generated by machinery and magnetics, affected by moisture and other weather conditions. The wired Technology is of several type like Twisted paired wire, Coaxial Cable, Fiber Optic Cable. Wireless technologies: Terrestrial Microwave - Terrestrial microwaves use Earth-based transmitter and receiver.. Microwave antennas are usually placed on top of buildings, towers, hills, and mountain peaks. Communications Satellites - The satellites use microwave radio as their telecommunications medium which are not deflected by the Earth's atmosphere. Cellular and PCS Systems - Use several radio communications technologies. The systems are divided to different geographic area. Wireless LANs - Wireless local area network use a high-frequency radio technology similar to digital cellular and a low-frequency radio technology. Bluetooth - A short range wireless technology. Bluetooth is an open wireless protocol for data exchange over short distances. The Wireless Web - The wireless web refers to the use of the World Wide Web through equipments like cellular phones, pagers, PDAs, and other portable communications devices. The wireless web service offers anytime/anywhere connection. Diagram of Network Classification: Types of Network: "Networks are often classified into different types as local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), personal area network (PAN), virtual private network (VPN), campus area network (CAN), storage area network (SAN), and others, depending on their scale, scope and purpose. Usage, trust level, and access right often differ between these types of network. For example, LANs tend to be designed for internal use by an organization's internal systems and employees in individual physical locations (such as a building), while WANs may connect physically separate parts of an organization and may include connections to third parties." (Bradley Mitchell, 2010) Table of Types of networks: NETWORK USES Personal area Network(PAN) Used for communication among computer devices, including telephones and personal digital assistants, in proximity to an individual's body. Local area Network(LAN) Connects computers and devices in a limited geographical area such as home, school, computer laboratory, office building, or closely positioned group of buildings. Home area Network It is used for communication between digital devices typically deployed in the home. Campus area Network(CAN) Made up of an interconnection of local area networks (LANs) within a limited geographical area Metropolitan area Network(MAN) A large computer network that usually spans a city or a large campus. Wide Area Network(WAN) It covers a broad area i.e. any network whose communications links cross metropolitan, regional, or national boundaries . Global Area Network Is a global Satellite Internet Network with telephony using portable terminals. The terminals are normally used to connect a laptop computer to broadband Internet in remote locations Virtual Private Network(VPN) It is layered on top of an underlying computer network Internet Global system of interconnected governmental, academic, public, and private computer networks Intranets and Extranets Intranet is the generic term for a collection of private computer networks within an organization and Extranet is a computer network that allows controlled access from the outside for specific business or educational purposes. Storage Area Network Connects servers to data storage devices through a technology like Fiber Channel. System Area Network Links high-performance computers with high-speed connections in a cluster configuration. Typical library network, in a branching tree topology and controlled access to resources The above diagram shows the typical network used in Universities like wherein The bright green color computers can get to the color printer, checkout records, and the academic network and the Internet for the staff which can access only those connected .The yellow color computers are for the students who can assess the library catalog, wanted material and printer to which they are connected. Several students can login at once and do different tasks according to their requirements, can give prints, search for the required material from library catalog as well as by using the web. It facilitates students accessing internet and university resources. It connects two or more LANs but that is limited to a specific and contiguous geographical area such as collage campus which is implemented in Anglia Ruskin University and with more facilities like uninterrupted power supply, personal computers,networking,internet connectivity etc. Web based application: "It is an application which is assessed via a web browser over network such as Internet or an Intranet." (Alex Chaffee, 2008) .Web-based applications are often personal and therefore require users to Login. The ability to update and maintain web applications without distributing and installing software on potentially thousands of client computers is a key reason for their popularity, as is the inherent support for cross-platform compatibility. Common web applications include web mail, online retail sales, online auctions, wikis and many other functions. Users can perform complex tasks such as reading and writing emails, placing orders, managing a bank-account. In most cases there are 'objects' involved that belong to the users which the users need to create, change, delete or update. CONCLUSION: ICT facilitates in communicating, sharing hard wares, files, data, information, software etc. This Technology has made life more comfortable for every one especially the students who can learn more faster, pass without cheating, revise faster, get essays and course work done quickly on time and some times making people lazy, as they get everything at one place and comfortably. "ICT has been identified by many international development institutions as a crucial element in developing the worlds' poorest countries, by integrating them into the global economy and by making global markets more accessible."(Walsham, G 2001) The Internet which is a global system of interconnected governmental, academic, public, and private computer networks has brought a drastic change in the society. The wired and wireless technologies has made people choose accordingly considering their economic status and usage as wired is cheaper and affordable the wireless. The recent Mobile technology made the internet available on mobiles which made access to net more. The Information Communication Technology is mainly used for development, education, planning, environmental sustainability for wellbeing of the society but at the same time it has its drawbacks wherein the new generation and children would be exposed to unwanted information's and sites which is harmful which shall be checked .The Technology shall be utilized for development of the society and not for destruction and invite troubles. BIBILOGRAPHY 1. Pountain, Dick (2001). The New Penguin Dictionary of Computing. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-051-4376. 2. Rice, MF 2005, ' Information and Communication Technologies and the Global Digital Divide Technology Transfer, Development, and Least Developing Countries' , Comparative Technology Transfer and Society, vol.2, no.2, pp.72-87. 3. Walsham, G 2001, 'Globalization and ICTs: Working Across Cultures', University of Cambridge, and Cambridge. 4. Wired versus Wireless By Erik Rodriguez,2005 5. LAN,WAN and Other Areas of Network .By Bradley Mitchell, About.com Guide.2010 6. Alex Chaffee (2000-08-17). "What is a web application (or "webapp")" http://www.jguru.com/faq/view.jspEID=129328. Retrieved 2008-07-27. Diagram of Network Classification Diagram of Types of networks Diagram of Typical library network Read More