A computer system is a basic, complete and functional computer, including all the hardware and software required to make it functional for any user.
It should have the ability to receive user input, process data and with the processed data, create information for future storage and/or output.
A computer system allows users to input, manipulate and store data. Computer systems typically include a computer, monitor, keyboard, mouse and other optional components. All of these components also can be integrated into all-in-one units, such as laptop computers.
During the data processing stage, instruction sets, known as programs, are provided to let the system know what to do with the entered system data. Without these programs, the computer would not know how to process data that enters the system, and the data might be discarded. Known as a stored program computer, this type of computer is the most common in use today. It is very flexible, as it can process any task by loading a program from storage. Computer systems can work by themselves or access other devices that are external or connected with other computer systems.
Alternatively referred to as the net or web, the Internet was initially developed to aid in the progress of computing technology by linking all the best academic computer centers. The Internet as we know it today first started being developed in the late 1960's and transmitted its first message on Friday, October 29, 1969. In 1993, the Internet experienced one of its largest growths to date and today is accessible by people all over the world. The Internet contains billions of web pages created by people and companies from around the world, making it a limitless place to locate information and entertainment. The Internet also has thousands of services that help make life more convenient. For example, many financial institutions offer online banking that enables a user to manage and view their account online. The picture is a representation and map of the Internet done by The Opte Project.
Why is the Internet considered a network?The Internet is the world's largest network because it is a collections ofcomputersandserversthat are connected to each other usingroutersandswitchesaround the world. The Internet works the same way a network would in a home or office just with millions of more computers and other routers and switches.
There has been a tremendous streamlining in the travel related processes through ICT. At the same time the world has adopted various initiatives that have now enhance traveller’s experience through ICT. Some of the ways how this redefining has come into effect is illustrated below.
A)Improving user(traveller)experience through ICT.
While GPS trackers were initially used in the military and adventure sports, they have become common place in many metropolitan cities to enhance the user experiences in public transport. Real time information about timings and schedules are updated stop by stop to reduce user frustration and also bring in transparency. A stark example of the GPS, GIS initiative is the BMTC- Bangalore Metropolitan transport Corporation which is rolling out a tender to adopt GPS tracking technology for its buses to improve schedule transparency and convenience trough real time information display boards( http://www.indianexpress.com/news/get-on-the-bangalore-bus/929156/0). Other developed countries such as Germany and US already have GPS tracking in place for a lot of transportation activities.
Information and communications technologies (ICTs) can play a critical role in improving health care for individuals and communities. By providing new and more efficient ways of accessing, communicating, and storing information, ICTs can help bridge the information divides that have emerged in the health sector in developing countries—between health professionals and the communities they serve and between the producers of health research and the practitioners who need it. Through the development of databases and other applications, ICTs also provide the capacity to improve health system efficiencies and prevent medical errors.
A physician in a remote rural hospital is initially unable to diagnose a patient with a complex array of symptoms. However, using his MEDLINE search training and the hospital’s Internet connection, he is able to diagnose and successfully treat the patient for a tropical disease the patient picked up while traveling abroad.
Another physician looks at her hospital’s prescription trends using the newly created electronic health record system and finds that other physicians are not using the post-surgical antibiotic that is shown to be most effective according to the current international guidelines. She speaks to the administration about advocating a switch in antibiotics that will improve patient recovery outcomes and thereby save the hospital money.
A neonatologist, who transmits CT-scans and other medical images by e-mail to his network of personal contacts around the world to help in diagnosing and treating premature newborns, estimates that teleconsultations have helped him to save numerous lives during the past year.
A young woman, too embarrassed to ask her physician about reproductive health issues and the risks of sexually transmitted infections, anonymously contacts physicians at a woman’s health clinic, where they’ve set up e-mail accounts for staff in order to support these types of physician-patient interactions
Each of these examples demonstrates how information and communications technologies (ICTs) can play a critical role in improving health care for individuals and communities. By providing new and more efficient ways of accessing, communicating, and storing information, ICTs can help bridge the information divides that have emerged in the health sector in developing countries—between health professionals and the communities they serve and between the producers of health research and the practitioners who need it. Through the development of databases and other applications, ICTs also provide the capacity to improve health system efficiencies and prevent medical errors.
ICT for health (or e-health) programs are often considered to be expensive, time-consuming, risky, and otherwise distracting from the primary focus and intent of health sector programs. In some cases these criticisms may be valid. There are, however, a wide range of low-cost and sustainable ICT for health program components that can augment capacity and improve the overall effectiveness of health development programs. These are the types of programs that HealthConnect International is specialized to help deliver.
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) can impact student learning when teachers are digitally literate and understand how to integrate it into curriculum.
Schools use a diverse set of ICT tools to communicate, create, disseminate, store, and manage information.In some contexts, ICT has also become integral to the teaching-learning interaction, through such approaches as replacing chalkboards with interactive digital whiteboards, using students’ own smartphones or other devices for learning during class time, and the “flipped classroom” model where students watch lectures at home on the computer and use classroom time for more interactive exercises.
When teachers are digitally literate and trained to use ICT, these approaches can lead to higher order thinking skills, provide creative and individualized options for students to express their understandings, and leave students better prepared to deal with ongoing technological change in society and the workplace.
ICT issues planners must consider include: considering the total cost-benefit equation, supplying and maintaining the requisite infrastructure, and ensuring investments are matched with teacher support and other policies aimed at effective ICT use.
ICT applications, such as e-Government, e-Commerce, e-Education, e-Health and e-Environment, are seen as enablers for development, as they provide an efficient channel to deliver a wide range of basic services in remote and rural areas. ICT applications can facilitate the achievement of millennium development targets, reducing poverty and improving health and environmental conditions in developing countries. Given the right approach, context and implementation processes, investments in ICT applications and tools can result in productivity and quality improvements. In turn, e-applications may liberate technical and human capacity and enable greater access to basic services.
ICT Stands for "Information and Communication Technologies." ICT refers to technologies that provide access to information through telecommunications. It is similar to Information Technology (IT), but focuses primarily on communication technologies. This includes the Internet, wireless networks, cell phones, and other communication mediums.
In the past few decades, information and communication technologies have provided society with a vast array of new communication capabilities. For example, people can communicate in real-time with others in different countries using technologies such as instant messaging, voice over IP (VoIP), and video-conferencing. Social networking websites like Facebook allow users from all over the world to remain in contact and communicate on a regular basis.
Modern information and communication technologies have created a "global village," in which people can communicate with others across the world as if they were living next door. For this reason, ICT is often studied in the context of how modern communication technologies affect society.
