Information and Communication Technologies.

ICT deals with the use of different communication technologies

•  When we make a video call, we use internet
•  When we send a text message or make call, we use cellular networks.
"Having a unified way to communicate is one of the goals of ICT."
 
Difference between IT and ICT
IT utilizes computer hardware, existing operating systems and applications to create a larger
system that solves a specific business problem.
ICT refers to technologies that provide access to information through telecommunications.
Focuses primarily on communication technologies. This includes the Internet, wireless networks,
cellphones, and other communication mediums.
Utilizing digital technologies such as computers, television, email, etc. to help individuals or
organizations to use information.

ICT Components
Hardware refers to the physical components that make up the ICT system. These include the
input devices, storage, processors and output devices.
Software refers to a computer program use to proceed data.
Procedures are process which determine what needs to be done.
Data are considered the raw materials of any information system. These data are processed by
the system to provide the information which is the output generated by the system.
Information refers to the results from processing data. This is the output derived after
processing data.
People provide data and information to the ICT system. Who make judgments and decisions
based on the output derived from the system.

The State ICT in the Philippines

In the US government’s Philippines Country Commercial Guide in  2017.
The Country Commercial Guide (CCG) is your trusted source about how to do business in an
international market. Authored by seasoned trade experts at U.S. embassies and consulates, the
guides provide insight into economic conditions.
The Philippines ICT Industry is still expected to improve and Become more profitable due to the
overall growth of the Different sectors like Telecommunications, Business process Management
(BPM), Financial and Health IT sectors.
In a data gathered by Information Technology and Business Process Association of the
Philippines (IBPAP) in 2016, the IT Industry size is worth $22.9 Billion.
Digital transformation on becoming the lifeblood of most companies today 
Digital transformation is not just a buzzword, nor an option anymore, it can or it would be the
lifeblood of one’s company today. No matter what crisis the business world would experience,
technology has frequently become the answer.

Philippines is dub as the ‘’ICT Hub of Asia” because of huge growth of ICT-related jobs, one of
which is BPO, Business Process Outsourcing, or call centers.

The World Wide Web is an information system on the Internet that allows documents to be
connected to other documents by hypertext links. Enabling the user to search for information by
moving from one document to another.
It was invented by Tim-Berners Lee.
The World Wide Web browser software, such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer/Edge, Mozilla
Firefox, Opera, Apple's Safari, and Google Chrome, Let users navigate from one web page to
another via the hyperlinks embedded in the documents.
These documents may also contain any combination of computer data, including graphics,
sounds, text, video, multimedia and interactive content that runs while the user is interacting with
the page.
The Web has enabled individuals and organizations to publish ideas and information to a
potentially large audience online at greatly reduced expense and time delay.

Types of Web Pages

Web 1.0 or The Web: It is the first stage of the World Wide Web evolution. It is a flat or
stationary page since it cannot be manipulated by the user. Static web pages.
Pages didn’t offer interactive features that changed based on website visitor behavior. At
that point websites were largely informational.
The first implementation of the web represents the web 1.0, which, according to Berners-
Lee, could be considered the "read-only web." In other words, the early web allowed us to
search for information and read it.
The first implementation of the web represents the web 1.0, which, according to Berners-Lee,
could be considered the "read-only web." In other words, the early web allowed us to search for
information and read it.

Web 2.0 or The Social Web. It allows users to interact with the page, the user may be able to
comment or create a user account. Most website that we visit today are Web 2.0. Dynamic web
pages.
Web 2.0 is a term coined by Darcy DiNucci, an Information architecture consultant. Web
2.0 is the evolution of web 1.0 by adding dynamic web pages where the user is able to see a
website differently than others. Allows users to interact with the page; instead of just reading a
page.
 
Web 3.0 or Semantic Web. The semantic web provides a framework that allows data to
be shared and reuse to deliver web content specifically targeting the user.
Search Engine will learn about you and your habits from each search you perform and
will gather details about you from your previous activities like likes and social postings and
present the answers as per your preferences. The term was coined by the inventor of the World
Wide Web, Tim Berners-Lee. Less also noted that the Semantic Web is a component for Web
3.The aim of Web 3.0 is to have machines (or servers) understand the user’s preferences to be
able to deliver web content specifically targeting the user.

Trends in ICT:

Convergence and Social Media

As the world of ICT continues to grow, the industry has focused on several innovations.

Convergence
Technological convergence is the synergy of technological advancements to work on
similar goal or task.
For Example: Besides using your personal computer to create word documents, you can now
use your smart phone.
It can also use cloud technologies to sync files from once device to another while also using LTE
technology which means you can access your files anytime, anywhere.
Convergence is using several technologies to accomplish a task conveniently.

Social Media
 Social media is a website, application, or online channel that enables web users to create,
co-create, co-create, discuss, modify, and exchange user-generated content.
According to Nielsen, a global information and measurement company, Internet users spend
more time in Social media sites that in any other type of site. With this, more and more
advertisers use social media to promote their products.

Six Types of Social Media

Social Networks: Allows you to connect with other people with the same interests or
background. Once a user creates his or her account he or she could set up a profile, add people,
create groups, and share content. 

Bookmarking Sites: sites that allow you to store and manage links no various websites and
resources.

Social News: sites that allow users to post their own news items or links other news sources.
Example: Reddit and Dig

Media Sharing: sites that allow you to upload and share media content like images, music and
video. Most of these sites have additional features like liking, commenting and having user
profiles.

Microblogging: sites that focus on short updates from the user. Those subscribed to the user will
be able to receive those updates. Examples: Twitter and Plurk.

Blogs and Forums: websites that allow users to post their content, other users are able to
comment on the said topic there are several free blogging platforms like blogger, WordPress and
Tumblr. On the other hand forums are typically part of a certain website or web service.

Trends in ICT: Mobile Technologies and Assistive Media

Mobile Technologies
The popularity of smartphones and tables has taken a major rise over the years. This is
largely because of the devices ‘Capability to do tasks that were originally found in personal
computers.
Mobile devices use different operating systems.

iOS – used in apple devices such as the iPhone and ipad.

Android – an open source operating system developed by Google, Being an Open Source means
several mobile phone companies’ use this OS for free.
BlackBerry OS – used in Blackberry Devices.
Symbian – The Original smartphone OS; Use by Nokia Devices.
WebOS – Originally used for smartphones now used for smart TVs.
Windows Mobile – Discontinued family of mobile operating systems and was developed by
Microsoft for smart phone and pocket PCs.

Assistive Media
Is a nonprofit service designed to help people who have visual and reading impairments.
A database of audio recordings is used to read to the user.

Reading Pen allows the individual to scan text in print mediums and convert it into voice. Some
versions include an in-built dictionary that will display the definition of a word and read it aloud.