Contents

Section 4: Applications and Implications of Information and Communication

Technology 2
Objective 4.1 Use terms associated with data communication and networks ........... 2
Objective 4.2 Distinguish among Internet, intranet and extranet .............................. 2
Objective 4.3 Explain concepts associated with the Internet ..................................... 6
Objective 4.4 Describe measures to secure data and maintain data integrity. ........ 12
Objective 4.5 Outline ways by which information can be misused........................... 14
Objective 4.6 Describe appropriate hardware and software to meet the particular
needs of a given application; ........................................................................................ 19
Objective 4.7 Describe current and emerging technological trends; ........................ 19
Objective 4.8 Assess the impact of Information Technology on job skills and careers;
31
Objective 4.9 Describe the roles of various personnel in computer-related
professionals; 32

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Section 4: Applications and Implications of Information and
Communication Technology

Objective 4.1 Use terms associated with data communication and networks
Objective 4.2 Distinguish among Internet, intranet and extranet

Data Communication

This is the transmission (movement) of data from one point to another for direct use or
for further processing e.g. from one computer to another, from a cell phone to
computer or vice-versa, or from a computer to fax machine.

Data communication systems are made up of hardware, software and communication

facilities. They may span a small area or they may be set up over a global area. Data is
moved through these systems via transmission channels or links.

Transmission media
These are the ways and/or materials used to move data. Media can be cabled/wired or
wireless. Cabled/wired media include:
• Twisted pair cable: used for home networking where there is no great need for
speed. It is a cheap convenient method of connecting computers and peripherals
in a network.
• Coaxial cable: used in medium-sized networks to transmit voice, video and data
at moderate speeds. This is more expensive than twisted pair because the
transmission capabilities are higher.
• Fibre optic cable: used to transmit large volumes of digital data at extremely
high speed virtually error-free. These are relatively expensive.

Wireless media include communications satellite, microwave links, infrared. Wireless

network technology also called hot spot technologies refers to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. All
of these are used to provide broadband.

Communications satellite is a space station that receives microwave signals from an

earth-based station, amplifies (strengthens) the signals, and broadcasts the signals back
over a wide area to any number of earth-based stations.

Microwaves are radio waves that provide a high speed signal transmission. It is also
called fixed wireless and involves sending signals from one microwave station to
another. A microwave station is an earth-based reflective dish that contains the
antenna, transceivers and other equipment necessary for microwave communications.

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Infrared is a wireless transmission medium that sends signals using infrared light waves.
Mobile computers and devices , such as mouse, printer, and smart phones often have
IrDa ports that enables the transfer of data from one device to another using infrared
light waves.

Hot spot is a wireless network that provides Internet connections to mobile computers
and other devices. They are used by mobile users to check e-mail, browse the Web and
access any service on the Internet.

Bluetooth is a standard developed by electronic manufacturers that allow any sort of

electronic equipment (computers, digital video cameras, cell phones, PDAs, etc to
automatically make their connections without wires, cables or any direct action from a
user. One disadvantage of Bluetooth is it cannot transmit signals through walls and
distances of over 3 meters.

Wi-Fi is short for wireless fidelity. It is a type of broadband Internet connection that
uses radio signals to provide Internet connection to wireless computers and devices.

Communication modes
The lines that transmit data are also classified according to the direction in which data
flows through them. There are three (3) types of lines:
• A simplex line permits data to flow in only one direction. You can send data or
receive data, but not both.
• A half-duplex line can alternately send and receive data. That means that at any
particular time you can either send data but not receive it, or receive data but
not send it.
• A full-duplex line can simultaneously send and receive data.

Networks
A network is group of two or more computers linked together so that they can share
resources (hardware, software and data) and can communicate with one another.
Computer networks maybe classified as one of the following:
• Local Area Network (LAN)
• Wide Area Network (WAN)
• Metropolitan Network
• Internet
• Intranet
• Extranet

Local Area Network (LAN)

LANs consists of a collection of microcomputers, such as in an office building,
department or school that can share peripherals, files and programs and communicate

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with each other on the network. Each microcomputer that forms part of the network is
connected either by cables or by a wireless link.

Benefits of a LAN are:

• Hardware such as printers can be shared.
• Storage facilities can be shared.
• Software and data files can be shared by many users.
• It is usually cheaper to buy one copy of a software application and pay license
fee for several machines, than to buy individual packages for each computer.
• Users can work together on a single document.
• User can communicate using e-mail.

Disadvantages of a LAN are:

• The initial set costs are high
• There is increased risk of data corruption. Since many users will be using the
system, there is greater chance of data being corrupted or tampered with.
• There is a greater risk from viruses because they easily spread between the
computers that are part of the LAN.
• If the file server fails, all workstations are affected and or work stored on shared
hard disk drives will not be accessible; nor will it be possible to use networked
printers, etc.
• Networks can be complicated to maintain and may require a network manager.
Additional costs may therefore be incurred.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

This network connects mainframes, LANs and PCs across a large geographical area such
as a city, a country or the world using a combination of many types of media such a
telephone lines, cables microwave links, satellite links. WANs are used mainly by
universities, research centres and large organizations with branches in different
countries.

Metropolitan Network (MAN)

This network connects LANs in a metropolitan area such as a city, state or town. It
includes one or more LANs but covers a smaller geographical area than a WAN. It is
usually managed by a single network provider that sells the service to users. Telephone
companies and cable television operators provide connections to the MAN.

Intranet

This network is a micro-version of the Internet within a company or organization. It

offers the same features of the global Internet but limited to a small area such as a
factory site or an office. Authorized users within the company can use the company’s
intranet to find information easily and quickly. The documents in the intranet have links

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to other documents in the network or outside the wider Internet. This network uses
browsers and software just like those used on the Internet.

Extranet
This is an Intranet that allows limited access to it by people outside the company. A
company may set up an extranet, for example, to provide technical support information
to its customers based on products it sells or services it provides.

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Objective 4.3 Explain concepts associated with the Internet

The Internet
This is the world’s largest WAN. It is a network of networks that connects computers
worldwide via a huge set of telecommunication links. The Internet does not have a
central authority. No one is in charge of the Internet. There are organizations which
develop technical aspects of the network and set standards for creating applications on
it, but no one governing body or government is in control.

Advantages of the Internet

• Vast volumes of information are available on virtually any topic.
• Information can be updated regularly.
• Much of the information is free.
• It allows people to telecommute i.e. work from home using Internet facilities like
e-mail, and keep in touch cheaply and quickly with friends and relatives.
• It is convenient for many common chores e.g. booking flights and Internet
banking.
• It is easily accessible: all you need is a PC with modem and a phone line.

Disadvantages of the Internet

• Lots of incorrect information is available; there is no authority to check the
accuracy of Internet documents, etc.
• It can be difficult to find exactly what you need because of the large volume of
information available.
• Computer viruses can easily be downloaded without the user realizing.
• There are lots of undesirable websites on the Internet (pornography, racist,
propaganda (half truths), etc.).
• The security of computers and WAN/LAN systems connected to the Internet may
be at risk from hackers.

For a basic connection to the Internet you need the following:

• Computer hardware – a personal computer and modem
• Communication link – a phone line or cable or satellite dish
• An Internet Service Provider (ISP)
• Computer software – facility to implement TCP/IP and an Internet browser.

Modem

A standard telephone line can transmit only analogue data, whereas data emitted from
a computer is in a digital form. A modem (modulator/demodulator) is a device used to
convert the digital data emitted from the computer into analogue data that can be
transmitted over a telephone line. When the data gets to the other end of the line, a
modem converts the analogue data back into digital data for the computer at that end

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of the line to process. The data transmitted can be sound, pictures, video or text.
Modems can be external or internal (attached to the mother board). There are also
different types of modems:
• Integrated Services digital network (ISDN)
• Asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL)
• Cable modems

Internet Service Provider (ISP)

This is a company that has a direct connection to the Internet and gives users access to
it, usually for a fee. The company usually has a small network that is linked via a high-
speed communication link to a high-speed link that forms part of the Internet’s
backbone (supercomputers and other large networks that make up the Internet
worldwide).

TCP/IP
Computers on the Internet use a protocol called TCP/IP. This is a set of protocols used to
transfer data from one computer to another over the Internet. A protocol is asset of
rules that defines how computers interact or communicate with each other. TCP/IP is
not designed for any specific type of computer so it enables hardware and operating
systems software from different computers to communicate. E.g. an IBM computer can
communicate with an Apple computer.

Browser
In order to navigate (go through) the World Wide Web (WWW), you need a web
browser. A web browser is a program that resides in your computer and enables you to
find, retrieve, view and send hypertext and hypermedia documents over the web.
Popular browsers are MS Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. Some of the things you
can do with a browser are:
• View hundreds of millions of web pages from all over the world.
• Send and receive email
• Participate in conferences
• Chat
• Shop online
• See and hear recorded broadcasts

Internet Protocol (IP) addresses

Each computer on the Internet has a unique address that identifies it as a node so that
information can be sent to it. This unique address is really a number consisting of four
sets of up to three digits each, separated by full stops, e.g. 196.361.232.4. Because this
address is difficult for humans to remember, names are used to correspond to each IP
address. The names are determined through the Domain Name System (DNS). The DNS

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divides the Internet into a series of domains which are further divided into sub-domains,
and the sub-domains into lower level domains. The top-level domains are grouped into
categories. Some of them are:
• Educational institutions .edu
• Commercial entities .com
• Public organizations .org
• Government bodies .gov
• Military .mil

Using the different domains from top down, a computer’s (host’s) name is determined.
The complete name of a computer on the Internet includes the computer’s name, all
sub-organizations, the organization and the top – level domain.

E.g. shop.ASCD.org

Top-level domain
Sub-domain
Computer’s name

Internet Application (uses)

There are four main types of services available on the Internet:

• Terminal emulation services
• File access and transfer services
• Communication services
• The World Wide Web (WWW)

Terminal emulation services (TES)

These enable you to connect your computer to a remote host and use the services
available as if your computer were a terminal of the remote computer (host).Some of
the services accessible are online databases, library catalogues and chat services. A
popular TES is Telnet. This is a program that allows you to access data and programs
from a Telnet server. When connected to a Telnet site, your computer becomes a dumb
terminal that can only send text-based messages to the Telnet site and allow you to
view the results.

File access and transfer services

These allow you to locate and use electronic files stored on computers across the
Internet.

File transfer protocol (FTP)

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This is a set of rules for communicating over the Internet. An FTP program enables you
to find an electronic file stored on a computer somewhere and download it (take a file
from one computer on the Internet and copy it to a storage device on your computer).
It also allows you to upload files (send files to other computers on the Internet). Some
FTP sites are private and require you to pay to retrieve or store information on them.

Communication services

Electronic mail (e-mail)

This is the most popular and widely used service on the Internet. It enables users
worldwide to send electronic messages (text, sound, video and graphics) to one
individual or group of individuals, and receive messages from others. E-mail is much
faster than regular mail. It is free since you do not pay to send the e-mail, you only pay
for Internet access from your ISP. It is convenient, since you can access your at anytime
and from anywhere as long as your have Internet access.

Email addresses

To send and /or receive e-mail, each user must have an e-mail address and an email
program. The address is unique to the user and consists of two parts separated by the
@ (‘at’) symbol. The first part is the user name, which can be a real or made up name.
The second part is the domain name (the location of the e-mail account on the
Internet).

E.g. of an email address [email protected]

For an email to be sent and received, the following must be in place:

• Mail server: this is the computer on the Internet that operates like the
traditional post office- it receives incoming messages and delivers outgoing
messages. It allocates a certain amount of storage space (called your mailbox).
Users retrieve their mail by supplying their username and password.
• Mail client: this is a program that enables you to read and compose e-mail
messages, send e-mail and access e-mail from the server.

Electronic Discussion Forums

Mailing Lists

An electronic mailing list is a group of people using e-mail to communicate their views
on common issues or interests. You subscribe to become part of the group. Not all
groups are open to everyone. Some allow only professionals in a certain field. When you
become a member of a group, you can send messages with comments or views on some

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matter that is being discussed. A copy of your message is then sent to all subscribers on
the mailing list. Some mailing list only let subscribers receive messages but not send
them e.g. a mailing list that sends a joke a day.

Newsgroups

A newsgroup enables a group of people with common interests to communicate with

each other. A subscriber to a newsgroup posts a message which can vary from a few
lines to a whole article. The other subscribers read the message and may or may not
choose to reply.

The main difference between newsgroups and mailing lists is the method of
communication. Mailing lists use e-mail to communicate with subscribers. Messages are
sent to a subscriber’s e-mail address. Newsgroups post messages on the Internet for
all the users to access. For you to be able to read and post messages to newsgroups,
your computer must have newsreader software.

Bulletin Board System (BBS)

This is an Internet facility much like a newsgroup. It is dedicated to the exchange of
messages. Most bulletin boards serve specific interests groups and are often free,
although some may charge a membership or user fee. Everyone with access to the
bulletin board can post and view messages on topics covered the board.

Chat

Chat is a service used by a group of people who share the same interests and wish to
communicate with each other interactively, in real time. Three different ways of
chatting are:
1. Text-based Chat
Each user entering the chat room sees the comments being typed by other users
in the chat room in real time. Everyone is notified when new users enter the
discussion. Each user types his/her comments. They may also choose to talk to
specific persons in the group. An example of a text-based program is ICQ.
2. Internet Relay Chat (IRC)
This type of chat allows you to talk with as many people as you like but they are
grouped into channels based on the topics being discussed.
3. Instant messaging
This enables you to chat privately with another person, in real time. Here you do
not enter a chat room but you speak directly to the person.
4. Multimedia chat
This allows users to communicate real time using microphone and a web cam.
The users are able to see and hear each other.

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World Wide Web (WWW)

The WWW also called W3 is part of the Internet. It consists of hypertext and
hypermedia documents called web pages.

Web page
This is a collection of text and multimedia documents.

Website
A group of related web pages on the same web server.

Web server
A computer that stores and makes available hypertext and hypermedia documents.

Blogging
This is the act of distributing information over the web. A blog is an informal website
consisting of time-stamped articles, or posts, in a diary or journal format, usually listed
in reverse chronological order. Blogger needs blog software to create/maintain a blog.

Hypertext documents

A hypertext document is any document that contains hyperlinks to another document

located on the same computer or on another computer on another part of the world.

Hyperlink

This is an element in a document (text or graphics) that allows you to move easily from
one document to the next or to another position in the document.

Hypermedia

Hypermedia is the name given to documents that contains links to text, graphics, sound
or video files.

Hypertext mark-up language (HTML)

This is a programming language used to create hypertext and hypermedia documents.

HTML specifies how a web page is structured and how it looks when it is displayed in the
browser. HTML is used to create the hyperlinks.

A computer that stores and makes available hypertext and hypermedia documents is
called a web server, and a computer that requests web pages is called the client.

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Hypertext transfer protocol

Hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) is a set of rules that controls how data travels
between the web server and client.

Search engines

To retrieve information on the Web you can use a search engine. A search engine is also
called a web portal. It is a website that allows users to find information quickly and
easily. Each search engine has a database (collection) of web documents. Some popular
search engines are Yahoo, Excite, MSN, AltaVista, Lycos, Askjeeves and Google.

Uniform Resource Locator (URL)

This is the address of a website. It is usually in the format:

Protocol://www.Server/Path/Filename

e.g. http://www.limewire.com/home/aboutUs.html

Protocol Path
Server Filename

Pod-casting

This is a method for distributing audio files, known as pod-casts, using web feeds. Audio
pod-cast files are stored on a website. A web feed is created for each pod-cast, or for a
collection of pod-cast files. Users can subscribe to a web feed by clicking on an icon, and
the pod-cast will be downloaded. If the pod-cast is part of a series then the new pod-
casts will be downloaded automatically when they become available.

VoIP

Short for Voice over Internet Protocol. Services such as Skype allow you to use the
Internet to have voice conversations. The calls are usually free. VoIP can be used on any
computer that has Internet connection, a microphone and speakers. You can add
webcams and see the person you are talking to. Some organizations combine the phone
system with their LAN. This means that all internal phone calls are sent through the LAN
using digital formats instead of analogue. In these cases the phones have additional
features such as the ability to search telephone directories to contact other people in
the organization.

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Computers in Business

In business, computers are used create bills (invoices), monitor inventory (stock
control), in point–of-sale systems (store checkouts), in accounting (profit and loss
accounts), in marketing (promotion of merchandise), e-commerce and telecommuting.

Stock Control
Computers and its related technology is used to keep track of stock inventory. For
example, when an item is purchased in a store it is swiped over a barcode reader. The
reader sends a message to the stock computer to update the record of that particular
item – decreasing the stock by one.

The reverse occurs when items are added to stock and scanned by a reader in the
warehouse. This system allows companies to set up their system to automatically re-
order a quantity of an item. When the number of items sold diminishes to a point where
the stock is at a low level – the designated reorder level – the system can warn the stock
manager to re-order.

E-commerce

Electronic commerce consists of buying, selling, marketing and servicing of products and
services over computer networks. It also includes the transfer of funds in the buying
process. There are two types of e-commerce:
• B2C or Business to Customer (where businesses retail their supply goods and
services over the Internet to individual private consumers).
• B2B or Business to Business (where businesses supply other businesses with
products and services that are required in the operations of that business).

Telecommuting

This is also called teleworking. It is working from home and communicating with
colleagues and customers using computer facilities – modem, telephony, e-mail,
teleconferencing and faxing. Telecommuting can be part-time or full-time.

Hardware requirements Software requirements

POS terminals Inventory software
Barcode readers Payroll software
Mainframe or minicomputers with networked terminals Accounting and financial
and cash registers software

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 Printers (character, line, laser, thermal for printing Word processing software
statements, reports, bills)
Magnetic card readers (for the reading of credit cards, Video conferencing
debit cards) software
Internet access software
E-mail software

Computers in Education

Computer-Assisted Assessment (CAA)

This is the use of computers to assist in the marking of examination scripts, such as
multiple choice papers.

Computer –Assisted Learning (CAL) and Computer – Aided Instruction (CAI)

This is the use of computers and appropriate computer software to allow students to
learn at their own pace, and/or create a more interesting learning environment in which
teaching material is presented.

There are three basic forms of CAL/CAI:

• Drills and practices: This is where students are repeatedly given a range of
questions from a data bank, especially to practice skills and concepts that require
repeated practice e.g. vocabulary work or mastering rules in mathematics. These
questions have an exact right or wrong answer and are therefore very easy for
the computer to mark.
• Tutorials: These are self-paced, self-instructional programs that guide the
student through new material, acting as their tutor. Students can repeat a lesson
as often as they like if they do not understand the material. The lessons can also
be adjusted depending on the level of the student’s ability – the tutorial may
even test the student’s ability at the start, and adjust the tutorial accordingly.
• Simulations: These use multimedia (sound, text, video and graphics) to
demonstrate a realistic-looking and sounding outcome, based on a specific
scenario. For example, a simulation may show you what happens when you mix
two chemicals together in a test tube (e.g. bubbles, changes in colour,
production of gas etc.). Simulations provide the opportunity for individuals to
learn in a safe environment, without wastage of material or high – risk situations.

Computer Managed learning (CML) or Computer Managed Instruction (CMI)

CML or CMI are administrative tools used in education to organize students’ data and
timetables and in libraries to manage indexes.

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Referencing Information (Research)

Online Library

Computers are a popular means of sourcing information, especially when connected to

the Internet. Online libraries allow individuals to stay at home and access most of the
information they need relatively quickly and easily. Online libraries carry information
from books, magazines, journals, articles and newspapers around the world from both
academic and commercial publishers. They maybe subject-specific, e.g. medical libraries
or law libraries, or general libraries that cover a wide range of subject areas. Some
require you to register and subscribe to their service by paying either a monthly or
annual fee. Members are given a password and a user name to allow access. Others do
not charge a fee; however , for some books and articles your access is limited to the
abstracts and summaries.

Electronic Encyclopedias

Traditional encyclopedias are now also available on CD-ROMs or online. The advantages
of these are:
• They can be updated regularly; new information can be added.
• The electronic versions need less storage space than the printed encyclopedia.

Distance Learning

This involves classes being conducted via the Internet, an extranet or intranet, satellite
broadcasting, interactive television and CD-ROM. It includes:
• Web-based Learning (WBL)
• Tele-collaboration, which means using global computer networks in
teaching/learning environment to connect students all over the world. Learners
can collaborate or work together on projects through the use of e-mails,
synchronized chat, threaded conversations and other forms of electronically
mediated conversation
• Virtual classrooms, which is an online learning environment designed to carry
out some of the roles of a physical school/classroom. They are used in home
schooling.

Hardware requirements Software requirements

Computers (stand alone and Word processing for creating documents
networked)
Printers (laser, inkjet and sometimes Web and video conferencing software
character printers)

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Devices for disabled learners e.g. CAI/CAL software for a variety of subjects
concept keyboards, voice synthesizers and levels (simulations, drills and tutorials)
Database software for managing student
records
Spreadsheets for grading students’ marks
CML software for creating timetables, etc.

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