ADVANTAGES OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICT’S)

Man is a really intelligent creature. Through his intelligence he has learned to invent new things that will help him survive and perform his important tasks and chore on a day to day basis. We now live on a very complex world nowadays. We always or most of the time rely on technology and other innovations that we, humans, considered very useful in accomplishing simple up to the most complex tasks and obligations of our life.

Computers, television sets, radios, E-mails, fax machines and cell phones are just few examples of the technologies that make our life faster and comfortable to live in. Internet has provided us so much help when it comes to gathering information and other data vital to business, school works and office works. Finding a missing person can be aided by Internet due to the presence of social networking sites. Acquisition of job opportunities, on-line shopping and purchasing of products ranging from luxuries up to our basic needs can be done on-line using the Internet basically with the use of a computer or other gadgets that can access thru Internet.

Modern society is characterized by sudden growth and development of information technology (IT) resulting in large dependence of the society, in a wider sense, on the individual knowledge and competence of a person in the IT area (Kuo, 2011).

 Information-communication technology (or ICT) is a common expression for a variety of different computer, information and communication devices (hardware), applications (software), networks (internet), and services. It is a general concept which encompasses all communication devices of the modern society and their usage. Its primary purpose is mediating information and enabling the communication process. The broad ICT definition also includes a variety of everyday technologies, like: electronic toys, interactive whiteboards, playing consoles, various players and digital cameras.  Because of its nature, ICT already has numerous advantages. Besides using it for pleasure and entertainment, we also use it for study and work purposes (Lepičnik-Vodopivec, 2012).

ICTs are technologies and tools that people use to share, distribute, and gather information and to communicate with one another, one on one, or in groups, through the use of computers and interconnected networks. In addition ICTs are mediums that utilize both telecommunications and computer technologies to transmit information (Kushwaha, 2011).

ICTs are also of great help when it comes to the system of education. In Watson’s description, (2001) as cited by (Mikre, 2011) ICTs have revolutionized the way people work today and are now transforming education systems. As a result, if schools train children in yesterday’s skills and technologies they may not be effective and fit in tomorrow’s world. This is a sufficient reason for ICTs to win global recognition and attention. ICTs are making dynamic changes in society. They are influencing all aspects of life. The influences are felt more and more at schools. Because ICTs provide both students and teachers with more opportunities in adapting learning and teaching to individual needs, society is, forcing schools aptly respond to this technical innovation. In recent years however, there has been a growing interest to know how computers and internet can best utilized to improve effectiveness and efficiency of education at all levels and in both formal and non-formal settings. As there is a shift of theories explaining learning processes, ICTs become handmaiden for learning activities (Mikre, 2011).

Basically, computers are intended for scientific purposes like number calculations and interpretations, and eventually also proved its usefulness in office works and industrial purposes.  Simplified models are also present nowadays that can be utilized by almost everybody whenever we are at the schools or our homes that helps us accomplishing various  tasks and applications, Madu (2000) as cited by  (Ogbomo & Ogbomo, 2008).

The Internet is wide range interconnected types of computers and computer networks that are linked together on a global basis. Problems related to many information, information exchange, and marketing is assessed or given solution most particularly by the Internet,  Adesanya (2002) as cited by  (Ogbomo & Ogbomo, 2008).

 Eseyin (1997) as cited by  (Ogbomo & Ogbomo, 2008) describes the Internet as a mixture of many services with the two most commonly used being electronic mail (e-mail for short) and the World Wide Web (www). It plays a significant role in education, health, political processes, agriculture, economy, businesses and newsgroups.

Woherem (2000) as cited by  (Ogbomo & Ogbomo, 2008) states that with Internet connectivity, business transactions are possible in places even in other parts of  the world despite the absence of physical contact between the buyer and seller without the need for a business middlemen or sales agents.

Bittner (1989) as cited by  (Ogbomo & Ogbomo, 2008) defines mobile phones as a telephone system that can move or be moved with ease and fast pace from one place to another. These gadgets were once luxuries and only those rich and busy executives who could afford. Mobile phones are also perfect example of ICT that continually reshape and revolutionize the communications globally. Phenomenal impact is very visible when it comes to economic activities of nations, businesses, and small entrepreneurs. According to Marcelle (2000) as cited by  (Ogbomo & Ogbomo, 2008) mobile phones can help restructure relations between states and countries economically, politically, and culturally.

 

Bibliography

Ana Dzaja, V. K. (2011). Basic Concepts of Information and Communication Technology. Open Society for Idea Exchange (ODRAZI), Zagreb , 1-15.

Kuo, V. (2011). Basic Concepts of Information and Communication Technology,. Open Society for Idea Exchange (ODRAZI), Zagreb , 1-15.

Kushwaha, G. S. (2011). COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE THROUGH INFORMATION AND. International Journal of Enterprise Computing and Business Systems , 1-13.

Lepičnik-Vodopivec, J. P. (2012). ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF INFORMATION-COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY USAGE FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN, AND THE CONCEQUENCES OF ITS USAGE FOR THE CHILDRENS’ DEVELOPMENT. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science , 54-58.

Mikre, F. (2011). The Roles of Information Communication. Ethiop. J. Educ. & Sc. , 1-16.