What is ICT?

Information Communication Technology (ICT) covers any products that will store, retrieve, manipulate, transmit or receive information electronically in a digital form. The example of ICT devices are computer, mobile phone, digital television and more. ICT is an extended synonym of Information Technology (IT). It stresses the role of communication and the integration of telecommunication (telephone lines and wireless signals) , intelligent building management systems and audio-visual systems in modern information technology. 

  

   The phrase of ICT has been used by academic researches since 1980, but it became popular after it was used in a report to the UK government by Dennis Stevenson in 1997 and in the revised National Curriculum for England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2000.

   ICT is important in our daily life in 21st century. ICT is an essential ingredient in managing business processes of most organizations. Without the help of ICT, many business transactions and commerce activities cannot be carried out. For example, if one organization do not have any computer, it cannot calculate its loss and profits, it cannot communicate with other organizations via email, it also cannot get the latest information about the share market. Therefore, most of the organizations need ICT to help them managing their business processes. 

   Besides, ICT also improve staff productivity. Some daily routine of the organizations can be speed up by using computer if compare to using labor. For instance, if one staff want to record the daily routine of an organization, it is more productive to use the computer worksheet or spreadsheet compare to hand-written. The staff can produce more in the same time if he use computer but not hand-written. 

   ICT also helps to reduce administration costs. Many paper work can be reduce by the use of ICT. This directly reduce the administration costs of an organizations. For example, if an organization want send a formal notification to others, they can send the document by using e-mail instead of posting. 

   Furthermore, ICT also creates opportunities for new services, products and business ventures. The invention of ICT devices such as mobile phones and computers had created many new business opportunities because almost every one need an ICT device. For example, the amount retail outlet of ICT devices had been increased rapidly these years due to the rapid advancement of ICT field. The amount service center of ICT devices will also increased by the way. All these business opportunities are created because of the advancement of ICT today.

   People cannot live without ICT in today's societies. We should utilize the advantages the ICT and avoid from being abuse using the ICT devices because it would also bring disadvantages to us.