INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ICT

IMPLEMENTATION INCLUDING THE

SELECTION OF HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

Aiswarya Vijayakrishnan
1 Sem MBA-IB
School of Management
Studies
CUSAT,kochi – 22
E-mail:smsmbaib@gmail.com

Abstract: Information and communication technology

implementation is very essential for economic
development. In this we discuss about the components,
elements, developments and life cycle of ICT. The major
types of hardware and software’s are also discussed.

Key Words : elements, components, ICT life cycle, types

of hardware and software’s.
1.0 INTRODUCTION

As defined by the Information

Technology Association of America
(ITAA), ICT is "the study, design,
development, implementation,
support or management of computer-
based Information Systems,
particularly software applications and
computer hardware.
ICT is an umbrella term that covers all
the means of processing and
communicating. The term has gained
popularity partially due to the
coveranges of Information technology
and telecom technology . ICT covers a
broad range of technologies, including
methods of communication
(communication protocols,
transmission techniques,
communication equipment as well as
the technique for storing and
processing information. ICT allows
users to participate in a 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.
1.2 ELEMENTS IN ICT

The two definitions of ICT are IT and IS. IT means any form of technology to
organize information ( hardware and software). Eg windows, web publishing,
telecommunication network etc. Information system includes integrated
components of processing, storing and disseminating information ( study of
systems that provide information to the users).

1.3 COMPONENTS OF ICT

The main components of ICT are as given below:

a) personnel :ICT implementation offers the company an opportunity o
upgrade and promote personnel after training. Jobs may be restructured at
higher levels by using the computer to handle routine procedures that were
traditionally handled by people.
b) hardware : Hardware (computer) components, equipments involved in the
function of a computer. Computer hardware consists of the components that
can be physically handled. These parts of computer can be touched and
seen. The function of these components is typically divided into three main
categories: input, output, and storage.

c) software : software is the set of electronic instructions a computer uses to

manipulate data, such as a word-processing program or a video game. These
programs are usually stored and transferred via the computer's hardware to
and from the CPU. These instructions tell the hardware what to do.

d) telecommunication : Telecommunications, also called telecommunication,

is the exchange of information over significant distances by electronic means.
A complete, single telecommunications circuit consists of two stations, each
equipped with a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter and receiver at
any station may be combined into a single device called a transceiver. The
medium of signal transmission can be electrical wire or cable (also known as
"copper"), optical fiber or electromagnetic fields. The free-space transmission
and reception of data by means of electromagntetic fields is called wireless.

e) data : it’s a collection of raw facts. This data is processed to get

information.
ICT also includes
• Capturing technologies like camera’s ,tape recorders etc which are
used to capture data’s.
• Storage trechnologies like CD-ROMS, digital medias etc which is
used to store data’s and informations.
 • Processing technologies which facilitate the transformation of raw
facts into meaningful information.
• Communication technologies like telephones, local area networks.
• Display technologies like monitors which displays the information.

1.4 BENEFITS OF ICT

There are many benefits of ICT implementations. Some of them are as given
below:
• ICT allows users to participate in a 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.
• It helps in the social and economic development of the country.
• It also support the central nervous system of complex societies.

1.5 TYPES OF HARDWARE

Computer hardware is a physical part of a computer that executes within

the hardware. It is unlike computer software or data that can be frequently
changed, modified or erased on a computer. Computer hardware is not
frequently changed and so is stored in hardware devices such as read only
memory (ROM) where it is not readily changed.
Most computer hardware is embedded and so is not visible to normal
users.
Below are the different types of hardware’s found in a computer.
-- Motherboard: It is the central or primary circuit board making up a
complex electronic system such as a computer. A motherboard is also
known as a main board, logic board or system board.
-- Central processing Unit: A CPU is the main component of a digital
computer that interprets instructions and process data in computer
programs.
-- Random Access Memory: A RAM allows the stored data to be accessed
in any order. RAM is considered as the main memory of the computer
where the working area is used for displaying and manipulating data.
-- Basic Input Output System: BIOS prepares the software programs to
load, execute and control the computer.
-- Power Supply: Power Supply supplies electrical energy to an output load
or group of loads.
-- Video Display Controller: It converts the logical representation of visual
information into a signal that can be used as input for a display medium.
-- Computer Bus: It is used to transfer data or power between computer
components inside a computer or between computers.
-- CD-ROM drive: It contains data accessible by a computer
-- Floppy disk: It is a data storage device
-- Zip Drive: It is a medium capacity removable disk storage system.
-- Hard Disk: It is a non-volatile data storage system that stores data on a
magnetic surface layered unto hard disk platters.
1.6 TYPES OF SOFTWARES

Software, or program, enables a computer to perform specific tasks, as

opposed to the physical components of the system (hardware). This
includes application software such as a word processor, which enables a
user to perform a task, and system software such as an operating system,
which enables other software to run properly, by interfacing with hardware
and with other software or custom software made to user specifications.

Practical computer systems divide software into three major classes:

system software, programming software and application software, although
the distinction is arbitrary, and often blurred. System software helps run the
computer hardware and computer system. It includes operating systems,
device drivers, diagnostic tools, servers, windowing systems, utilities and
more. The purpose of systems software is to insulate the applications
programmer as much as possible from the details of the particular
computer complex being used, especially memory and other hardware
features, and such accessory devices as communications, printers,
readers, displays, keyboards, etc.

Programming software usually provides tools to assist a programmer in

writing computer programs and software using different programming
languages in a more convenient way. The tools include text editors,
compilers, interpreters, linkers, debuggers, and so on. An Integrated
development environment (IDE) merges those tools into a software bundle,
and a programmer may not need to type multiple commands for compiling,
interpreter, debugging, tracing, and etc., because the IDE usually has an
advanced graphical user interface, or GUI.

Application software allows end users to accomplish one or more specific

(non-computer related) tasks. Typical applications include industrial
automation, business software, educational software, medical software,
databases, and computer games. Businesses are probably the biggest
users of application software, but almost every field of human activity now
uses some form of application software. It is used to automate all sorts of
functions.

1.7 DEVELOPMENTS IN ICT

Before the last two decades mainframe computers were used. The users
used to work with terminals. But today decentralized computing and shared
database, at any location and at any time can access information. ICT is
very useful and is very essential in the present scenario. Its useful in job
training, health care, education etc.
1.8 INNOVATIONS IN ICT

1. Microelectronics : Microelectronics is a subfield of electronics.

Microelectronics, as the name suggests, is related to the study and
manufacture, or microfabrication, of electronic components which are very
small (usually micrometre-scale or smaller, but not always). These devices
are made from semiconductors. Many components of normal electronic
design are available in microelectronic equivalent: transistors, capacitors,
inductors, resistors, diodes and of course insulators and conductors can all
be found in microelectronic devices.
2. Telecommunication and electronics : Telecommunication is
transmission over a distance for the purpose of communication. In earlier
times, this may have involved the use of smoke signals, drums,
semaphore, flags or heliograph. In modern times, telecommunication
typically involves the use of electronic devices such as the
3. Microprocessors : A silicon chip that contains a CPU. In the world of
personal computers, the terms microprocessor and CPU are used
interchangeably. At the heart of all personal computers and most
workstations sits a microprocessor. Microprocessors also control the logic
of almost all digital devices, from clock radios to fuel-injection systems for
automobiles.
4. semiconductors : A semiconductor is a solid whose electrical
conductivity can be controlled by adding impurities. A semiconductor is a
material that has an electrical resistivity between that of a conductor and an
insulator.
These innovations enable processing and storage of enormous amounts of
information, plus rapid distribution of information through communication
networks.

1.9 REFERENCES

1. Robert G Murdick, Joel E Ross, James R Claggett 1988,

Information systems for modern management
2.