APPLICATIONS OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
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Today Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays an important role in life. ICT is an extended term for
Information Technology (IT) which provides access to
information through telecommunication. It is mostly based on
communication technologies. It integrates computer system/hand
held system, audio video display and Internet. Information and
Communication technology is used in most of the fields such as
Education, Agriculture, Medicine, Defense, E-governance ECommerce, Banking, Transport, etc. With the advances in
technology, computing infrastructure and the need to automate
and reduce cycle times, ICT is playing a vital role.
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Information and communication technology can be used in various fields
- Education
- Health
- Business
- e-Government
- Agriculture
- Transport
- Entertainment
Education
In the classroom
There are many ways the computer and the internet are used for education in the classroom;
For presentations
Videos on experiments
Educational Games
Learning using the CD,DVD
Gathering educational informational on the internet
Any where anytime
Serves as a teaching aid for the teacher
ICT can be used mostly as a teaching aid in schools.
- Using pictures, animations and audio-visuals to explain subjects that are difficult to explain.
- To make the lessons interesting using electronic presentations.
- To organize lessons using the computer.
- To obtain information relevant to the subjects.
Learning Management System (LMS)
In many countries it has become a common practice to use a Learning
Management System to manage school system and higher education system. We
need an internet connection to link with the LMS. A person has to register himself/
herself on the official website to access LMS of a school or any other educational
institution. According to the picture 1.14, teachers and students can get many
services from LMS.
Higher education for everyone
With the development of ICT, today a person from any country can connect with a university or any other learning center of his choice and pursue higher education at a considerably low cost. This is called Online Distance Learning.
Features of Distance Learning:
- Within a flexible time frame, provide the facility to learn
• Digital library facility on joining a course.
• Online assignments and quizes.
• Contact with a teacher online.
• Easy to obtain teacher consultations.
The school of tomorrow
Health
What is Health Information and Communication Technologies?
Health ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) is based on the development of digital technologies, databases, and other applications that seek to prevent illness, treat diseases, manage chronic illness while improving healthcare for individuals and communities, and also provide capacity for system efficiencies and prevent medical errors. Health ICT affords new and more efficient ways to access, communicate, process, and store information.
Information Communication Technologies allows for remote care, interdisciplinary clinical support, and knowledge support that is intended to bridge the gap that emerged in the health sector in both developing and new industrial countries.
Use of ICT in diagnosis
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Machine)
ECG - Electrocardiogram Machine
Cardiac Screening Machine
EEG (Electro-encephalography)
Blood Sugar Testing Machine
Blood Pressure Measuring Machine
Telemedicine
Telehealth is the distribution of health-related services and information via electronic information and telecommunication technologies. It allows long-distance patient and clinician contact, care, advice, reminders, education, intervention, monitoring, and remote admissions.
Emergency Telemedicine
Home health medicine
Business
ICT includes all digital technology that assists individuals, businesses and organizations in using information. It covers all electronic products that deal with information in a digital form. Therefore, ICT is concerned with digital data storage, retrieval and transmission.
Video Conferencing
Video conferencing is an online technology that allows users in different locations to hold face-to-face meetings without having to move to a single location together. This technology is particularly convenient for business users in different cities or even different countries because it saves time, expenses, and hassles associated with business travel. Uses for video conferencing include holding routine meetings, negotiating business deals, and interviewing job candidates.
For more details:
Human Resource Management
The administration of employee
activities has become an easy task due
to finger print scanner (used to register
attendance) and Card Reader (Identity
Management). These devices help in
recording the time of employees moving
in and moving out of the office premises,
preparing salaries accordingly, keeping
records of leave taken etc. Today,
the above devices are used not only
in the private sector but also in the
public sector in Sri Lanka.
Finger print scanner
Card reader
e-Banking System
E-banking system - is a multifunctional software and hardware that enables bank customers to complete and submit to the Bank for execution documents for payment and other documents, monitor the status of their accounts, and receive a wide range of relevant financial information without directing the bank.
There is no need to bring to the Bank payment and other documents on paper - documents in electronic form have a similar force, and instead of the usual signature on them digital signature is used.
Online Shopping
Online shopping known as electronic
commerce which allows foreign or local company
to sell its products or services and the ability for a
consumer to buy goods and services via internet.
A buyer can order goods or services of his/her
choice from a convenient place. The advantages
of online shopping include:
• One can select any global commercial
organization which is on the internet.
• Open 24 hours.
• Ability to see things and order at one’s convenient place.
• The ability to pay using the electronic payment methods such as credit cards.
• Home delivery of goods or services, thus saving time, transport cost and
avoid unnecessary travel related exhaustion.
https://www.ebay.com/e - Government
When a government communicates with its citizens, companies, Government and Non-Government Organizations and with other Governments (of different countries) using ICT, it is called e-Government. There are numerous web sites such as official web portal of the government of Sri Lanka, Government Information Center, ICTA (Information Communication Technology Agency) etc for e-Government activities. The difficulties in communicating with the Government and obtaining Government information have been overcome by these.
Agriculture
ICT has created a new revolution in the field of agriculture. Today ICT is
extensively used in agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries industries.
ICT for farming:
A range of automatic machines are available today to ease the work of the
farmer who worked hard in the field. These machines not only ease the work of a
farmer but also enables him to produce high quality yields.
Below are some of the machines used for agriculture in developed as well
as developing countries.
Meteorological Devices
These devices are helpful in assessing
the weather, climatic changes, rainfall, wind
direction etc. Such data are useful in deciding
on the crop cultivation and harvesting times.
Automated Insect Control Devices
With the help of this device we can minimize the harmful effects caused by insects. It displays on screen the direction and the density of insect population, its growth and movement.
Field Conditions Measuring Devices
These devices help in measuring various parameters such as fertility and humidity levels of soil which aid in the determination of cultivation activities.
Drip irrigation
These devices control the supply of water as per the data fed. Wastage of water and destruction of crops due to lack of water supply are minimized by the use of these devices.
Automatic Weed remover
This machine runs through the field and removes the weeds as per instructions provided by identifying crops and weeds separately.
Seedlings planter using Robotics
These robotic machines are used in large fields to carry seedlings across the field and to plant them in an orderly manner.
Crop harvesting using Robots
Robotic machines are used to monitor plant growth levels, record them and harvesting in large scale farm lands. These machines help us overcome difficulties in managing large farm lands.
Greenhouse
The Greenhouse is the best solution to protect crops from natural disasters (too much sun shine, rain, heat, cold, pests, epidemics etc). ICT is used to control light, moisture and air inside the greenhouse. Hence, farmers are able to make high quality products of rare crops to the market.
For more details
Transport
We can quote some of the systems which are used to enhance the road traffic
by minimizing traffic jams.
Closed Circuit TV (CCTV)
This system which uses the CCTV (Closed Circuit TV) is helpful in monitoring the road traffic, accidents, illegal activities and take appropriate actions accordingly.
Traffic Light Control System
These automated lights are positioned at road junctions. These lights help in minimizing accidents by controlling the vehicle traffic and pedestrians.
Parking identification placard
This is an entrance pass which is stuck on the windshield of a vehicle. When the vehicle comes close to the gate of the parking space, the sensors read the placard and only open the gates if the vehicle is already pre-registered. Due to its quick processing ability, this automated system also helps to avoid building up of traffic at the gate.
Entertainment
Various ICT devices and equipment have been invented to provide some
peace of mind to human beings who are spending a busy and restless life today.
These devices enable us to:
- listen to music to overcome a monotonous life,
- watch missed TV programmes or movies of own choice through the internet,
- exchange information between friends and relatives who live abroad or whom we have lost touch through social media,
- watch high definition video using technology,
- surf the internet. This helps children to do learning activities and play games during the free time at home,
- read e-books on internet and take photographs of interesting places and store them in the computer.
By
Manuthi Imalya Edirisinghe.
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