CHAPTER # 1: (PART 1)

INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION
AND COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGY

Shadia S. Baloch
Senior Lecturer
FEST, Isra University
 WHAT IS INFORMATION?

• Information refers to the knowledge obtained from reading, investigation,

study or research.
• The tools to transmit information are the telephone, television and radio.
• We need information to make decisions and to predict the future. For
example, scientists can detect the formation of a tsunami using the latest
technology and warn the public to avoid disasters in the affected areas
 WHAT IS COMMUNICATION?

• Communication is an act of transmitting messages. It is a process whereby

information is exchanged between individuals using symbols, signs or verbal
interactions. Previously, people communicated through sign or symbols,
performing drama and poetry. With the advent of technology, these ‘older’
forms of communication are less utilized as compared to the use of the
internet, e-mail or video conferencing.
• Communication is important in order to gain knowledge. With knowledge,
we are more confident in expressing our thoughts and ideas.
 EVOLUTION OF COMMUNICATION
• communication has improved and evolved to facilitate our daily activities. in
the 21st century, everything related to communication utilizes technology
to ‘send out’ or disseminate information to a wider audience. information
can be ‘sent out’ in many ways. the inventions of cellular phones, television
and other electronic devices are important in enhancing communication.
 Cave Paintings
The oldest form of symbols used for
communication is cave paintings. According
to theorists, cave paintings were created to
mark a territory or to record events.

Symbols
Our early ancestors have used different
variations of signs and symbols to
communicate.
(petroglyphs, pictograms,
hieroglyphs, logographic, ideograms, Lastly,
the alphabet, which redefined language and
communication was developed around
2,000 B.C)
Smoke Signals
Flag signals
Pigeon communication
Newspaper
Morse code
Typewriter
Telephone
Commercial radio
Television
computer
Photocopier machine
Satellite communication
Internet
 WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY?

• Technology is the use of scientific knowledge, experience and

resources to create processes and products that fulfill human
needs.Technology is vital in communication.
• Aiding Communication: Telephone and fax machines are the
devices used in extending communication.
• Spreading Information: To broadcast information such as news
or weather reports effectively. Radio, television, satellites and
the World Wide Web (www) are powerful tools that can be
used.
 THE COMPUTER DEFINED

Electronic device
A computer is a machine that manipulates (converts) data into
information according to a list of instructions
Accept data (input), process it, produce outputs, and store
results (IPOS (input, processing, output, and storage))
Modern computers are digital
Two digits combine to make data
Older computers were analog
A range of values made data
 THE COMPUTER DEFINED (CONT.)

Three principles characteristic of computer:

 It responds to a specific set of instructions in a well defined
manner.
 It can execute a pre-recorded list of instructions.
 It can quickly store and retrieve large amounts of data.
In the early years, before the computer was invented,
there are several inventions of counting machines.

An abacus is a mechanical device used to aid an

individual in performing mathematical calculations.
The abacus was invented in Babylonia in 2400 B.C.
The abacus in the form we are most familiar with was
first used in China in around 500 B.C.
It used to perform basic arithmetic operations.
 NAPIER’S BONES

• Invented by John Napier in

1614.
• Allowed the operator to
multiply, divide and
calculate square and cube
roots by moving the rods
around and placing them in
specially constructed
boards.
 COMPUTER GENERATIONS

There are five generations of computer:

First generation – 1946 - 1958

Second generation – 1959 - 1964
Third generation – 1965 - 1970
Fourth generation – 1971 - today
Fifth generation – Today to future
 THE FIRST GENERATION

• The first computers used vacuum tubes for

circuitry and magnetic drums for memory,
and were often enormous(huge), taking up
entire rooms.
• They were very expensive to operate and in
addition to using a great deal of electricity,
generated a lot of heat, which was often the
cause of malfunctions.
 THE FIRST GENERATION (C0NT.)

• First generation computers relied on machine language, the

lowest-level programming language understood by
computers, to perform operations, and they could only solve
one problem at a time.

• Input was based on punched cards and paper tape, and

output was displayed on printouts
 THE SECOND GENERATION

• Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered

in the second generation of computers.
• One transistor replaced the equivalent of 40
vacuum tubes.
• Allowing computers to become smaller, faster,
cheaper, more energy-efficient and more reliable.
• Still generated a great deal of heat that can
damage the computer.
 THE SECOND GENERATION (CONT.)

• Second-generation computers moved from cryptic binary

machine language to symbolic, or assembly, languages, which
allowed programmers to specify instructions in words.
• Second-generation computers still relied on punched cards for
input and printouts for output.
• These were also the first computers that stored their
instructions in their memory, which moved from a magnetic
drum to magnetic core technology.
 THE THIRD GENERATION

• The development of the integrated circuit was

the hallmark of the third generation of
computers.
• Transistors were miniaturized and placed on
silicon chips, called semiconductors, which
drastically increased the speed and efficiency
of computers.
• Much smaller and cheaper compare to the
second generation computers.
• It could carry out instructions in billionths of a
second.
 THE THIRD GENERATION (CONT.)

• Users interacted with third generation computers through

keyboards and monitors and interfaced with an operating
system, which allowed the device to run many different
applications at one time with a central program that monitored
the memory.

• Computers for the first time became accessible to a mass

audience because they were smaller and cheaper than their
predecessors.
 THE FOURTH GENERATION

• The microprocessor brought the fourth

generation of computers, as thousands of
integrated circuits were built onto a single
silicon chip.
• As these small computers became more
powerful, they could be linked together to form
networks, which eventually led to the
development of the Internet.
• Fourth generation computers also saw the
development of GUIs, the mouse and handheld
devices.
 THE FIFTH GENERATION

• Based on Artificial Intelligence (AI).

• Still in development.
• The use of parallel processing and superconductors is helping
to make artificial intelligence a reality.
• The goal is to develop devices that respond to natural
language input and are capable of learning and self-
organization.
• There are some applications, such as voice recognition, that
are being used today