Basics of Information and Communication Technology

ICT stands for Information and Communication Technology. It is the umbrella term for all technologies used to capture, store, process, retrieve, transmit and exchange information in digital form. It is an extended form of Information Technology (IT), with extra emphasis on telecommunications and unified communications: telephony, wireless signals, middleware, audio-visual systems and networks. IT focuses on computing and data processing. ICT adds the communication layer, so a person can send, share and collaborate across distances.

ICT tools are hardware, software and networks, such as smartphone, laptop, tablet, projector, smart board, internet, e-mail, LMS and video-conferencing. Chalk and duster are not ICT tools. This is a favourite "which is NOT" question.

• Hardware: physical devices, such as computers, phones, routers and projectors.

• Software: programs that run on hardware.

• Networks and connectivity: LAN, WAN, internet, wireless.

• Data and content: text, audio, video, databases.

• People and procedures: users, trainers, policies.

The correct exam answer is that ICT enhances access, interactivity and quality of instruction. It does not replace teachers, remove assessment or reduce learner participation. Key points:

• Anytime, anywhere learning (flexible access).

• Multimedia content improves understanding and retention.

• Supports different learning styles and personalised learning.

• Enables collaboration (shared documents, discussion forums).

• Provides quick assessment and feedback (online quizzes).

• Makes quality content available to remote learners (SWAYAM, DIKSHA).

• Helps teachers with record-keeping, lesson planning and reuse of resources.

• Literature review using online databases (Scopus, Web of Science, JSTOR, Google Scholar) and reference managers (Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote).

• Data collection with online surveys (Google Forms) and sensors.

• Data analysis with software (SPSS, R, Python, NVivo for qualitative data).

• Plagiarism checking (Turnitin, URKUND/Ouriginal in India through Shodhshuddhi).

• Publishing and sharing (institutional repositories, Shodhganga, ORCID, preprint servers).

• Collaboration through cloud tools (Google Drive, Overleaf).

A question may ask which is an application of ICT in research. Pick the option involving online databases or software, not hand notes or print-only reliance.

Universities use ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software for admissions, fees, examination, payroll and student records. The same idea appears as MIS (Management Information System), digital attendance, biometric systems and online grievance portals. If a scenario describes admissions, fees and records, the answer is administration.

The digital divide is the gap between those who have access to ICT and those who do not. Causes include income, location (urban versus rural), gender, age, disability, language barrier and low digital literacy. Types are the access divide (devices and internet), the skills divide and the usage divide. Remedies are BharatNet, Common Service Centres, low-cost devices, regional language content and digital literacy programmes (PMGDISHA). Do not confuse digital divide (gap in access) with digital literacy (skills) or digital library (a collection).

Order (lowest to highest): Data → Information → Knowledge → Wisdom. Exam questions give a scenario and ask you to label the level. Use this trick: a list or number alone is data; a summary or statistic is information; an insight about what works or why is knowledge; a decision with judgement is wisdom. Also remember data is plural of datum, and information needs context.