FACULTY OF EDUCATION, HUMANITIES AND SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT8111) COURSE OUTLINE

"If you think education is expensive, wait until you see how much ignorance costs”

Course Objectives:
This course introduces basic concepts in Information and Communication Technology. At the end
of the course students should be able to:
 Understand different terms associated with ICT.
 Identify various components of a Computer system.
 Identify various categories of software and their usage.
 Use various web tools including web browsers-mail and Google search utilities.
 Use text processing, spreadsheets and presentations.
Topic I
Basic Definition and Concepts, Hardware: Parts/Components Computer system and, input and output
devices Storage Devices, peripheral devices and Number systems.
Topic II
Definition Software: Application Software, Microsoft office packages (MS word, PowerPoint, Excel and
Outlook) System Software, Operating systems .Introduction Information systems. Introduction to
programming.
Topic III
Networking: LAN, WAN, MAN, Data Communication, Introduction to Internet Technologies, Browsers, E-
mail and Search Engine, Downloading, uploading, Installation. Internet applications.
Topic IV
IT security and other Issues, computer virus, cause of virus, symptoms virus ICT Applications in Society

Delivery: This course is for 16 weeks which constitutes 48 contact hours at the rate of 3 hours per weeks.

Mode of Delivery: Mostly Lecturers.

Assessment: Course work consists 40% and final examination 60%.
The coursework shall constitute group assignments carrying 15%, Individual quizzes
carrying 5% and Individual timed test 20%.

REFERENCES:
1. Introduction to Computer by Peter Norton,6th International Edition (Mc Graw Hill)
2. Using Information Technology: A practical Introduction to Computer and Communication by
William sawyer,6th Edition(Mc Graw Hill)
3. Fundamental of Information Technology by Alexis Leon and Mathew Leon.
4. Prestige, S. (2010). ICT professional development for teachers in online forums: Analyzing the role
of discussion. Teaching and Teacher Education, 26(2), pp.252-258
1
 Introduction to Information and Communication Technology
ICT refers to technologies that provide access to information through telecommunications.
Data is referred to raw facts.
Information is defined as Processed Data.

Introduction Computer
A computer can be defined as an electronic device operating under the control of instructions stored in its
own memory that can accept data (input) process the data according to specified rules, produce
information (output), and store the information for future use. Computer is electronic devices that accept
process and output data.
Three basic functions of any computer systems
 Input
 Process
 Output

The computer system essentially comprises three important parts –

 Input device,
 Central processing unit (CPU) and
 Output device.
The CPU itself is made of three components namely,
 Arithmetic logic unit (ALU),
 Memory unit, and
 Control unit.

Components of a Computer System

Computer Performs the Following things.

Input: Sending the data and command to the computer is known as input.

Processing: Work done by the computer with the help of processing hardware and software to

Produce results is known as processing.

2
Output: The result displayed by the computer is known as output.

Storage: A place to save result inside or outside the computer is known as storage

Anatomy of Computers
The following are the parts of a desktop computer

Power Supply
When you plug your power cable into your computer, you are actually plugging into a socket in the power
Supply unit that has been fitted inside your case.

Monitor- Commonly known as a "screen," the monitor gives you a visual display of what your
Computer is up to.
Mother board
The main board I which is sometimes called a motherboard. This is usually the largest circuit-board in the
computer, and every other component in the computer connects to it.
Central Processing Unit
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is usually called either a CPU or just a Processor. The CPU is the brain of
the system. It executes all the program code from the operating system and the applications the user runs
and processing of data.
Main Memory or Random Access Memory (RAM)
RAM, which stands for Random Access Memory, is the short term memory that the computer uses to
keep track of what it's doing. If the computer loses power, anything stored in RAM is
Lost.
Storage Device
Computer storage device is any type of hardware that stores data. The most common type of storage
device, which nearly all computers have, is a hard drive

INPUT AND OUTPUT DEVICES

Input Devices
Input devices are devices responsible for entering data into the computer systems
Mouse
Mouse is a pointer device. The mouse allows an individual to control a pointer in a graphical user
Interface (GUI).
Digital camera
A type of camera that stores the pictures or video it takes in electronic format instead of to film.
Web Cam
A camera connected to a computer that allows anyone connected to the Internet to view still pictures or
Motion video of a user.
Joystick
A computer joystick allows an individual to easily navigate an object in a game such as navigating
A plane in a flight simulator.

3
Keyboard
One of the main input devices used on a computer, a computer keyboard looks very similar to the
keyboards of electric typewriters, with some additional keys
Microphone
Sometimes abbreviated as mic, microphone is a hardware peripheral that allows computer
Users to input audio into their computers.

Output Devices
Any peripheral that receives and/or displays output from a computer. Below are some examples of
different types of output devices commonly found in a computer.

Monitor
A monitor is a video display screen. Monitor is also called as Visual Display Unit (VDU) or Video
Display Terminal (VDT).

CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) Monitors are built very similarly to older (tube) television sets.
They are heavy, bulky, take up a lot of desk space, and emit radiation.
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) Monitors are thin and flat. They are light, compact, take up very little desk
space emit no known radiation.
Printer
A printer is an output device responsible for taking computer data and generating a hard copy of that
data.

Memory unit of computer systems

4
Basic Units of Measurement
The components of the computer can recognize only two states that is presence or absence of an
electrical signal. Two symbols used to represent these two states are 0 and 1, and are known as BITS (an
abbreviation for Binary Digits). 0 represents the absence of a signal, 1 represents the presence of a signal.
A BIT is, therefore, the smallest unit of data in a computer and can either store a 0 or 1.

Types of memory
Computers use several different types of memory. They are:
1. Main Memory / Primary Memory units
Two most important are
• RAM (Random Access Memory)
• ROM (Read-only Memory)
They work in different ways and perform distinct functions
CPU Registers
Cache Memory
2. Secondary Memory/Auxiliary Memory
Also termed as ‘auxiliary’ or ‘backup’ storage, it is typically used as a supplement to main storage. It is
much cheaper than the main storage and stores large amount of data and instructions permanently.

Computer’s memory can be classified into two types – RAM and ROM.

RAM or Random Access Memory is the central storage unit in a computer system. It is the
Place in a computer where the operating system, application programs and the data in current use are
kept temporarily so that they can be accessed by the computer’s processor. The more RAM a computer
has, the more data a computer can manipulate.
Also called the Read/Write memory is the temporary memory of a computer. It is said to be ‘volatile’ since
its contents are accessible only as long as the computer is on. The contents of RAM are cleared once the
computer is turned off.

ROM or Read Only Memory is a special type of memory which can only be read and contents of which are
not lost even when the computer is switched off. It typically contains manufacturer’s instructions. Among
other things, ROM also stores an initial program called the ‘bootstrap loader’ whose function is to start
the computer software operating, once the power is turned on.

Hardware
Hardware, in the computer world, refers to the physical components that make up a computer system.
There are many, many different kinds of hardware that can be installed inside and connected to the
outside of a computer. However, there are several standard pieces of hardware that can be found as part
of nearly every computer:
• Input Devices - Key board, Mouse.
• CPU - (Brain) Named on model: 80286, 80386, 80486, Pentium, P-II, Core 2 Duo.
• Output Devices - VDU/Screen, Printer
5
• Memory - RAM - Active, temporary ROM - Permanent.
• Ancillary Storage devices: Floppy, Hard Disk, CD ROM, Tapes etc.
• Scanner, Modem, Digital Camera, Video adopter, Computer Projector, Slide maker, etc.

Peripheral Devices
A peripheral device is generally defined as any auxiliary device such as a computer mouse or keyboard
that connects to and works with the computer in some way. Other examples of peripherals are expansion
cards, graphics cards, image scanners, tape drives, microphones, loudspeakers, webcams, and digital
cameras.

Computer number systems

Number systems are the technique to represent numbers in the computer system architecture, every
value that you are saving or getting into/from computer memory has a defined number system.
The number system is simply a system to represent or express numbers. There are various types of number systems
and the most commonly used ones are decimal number system, binary number system, octal number
system, and hexadecimal number system.

Classification of Computers
Computers are available in different shapes, sizes and weights, due to these different shapes
And sizes they perform different sorts of jobs from one another. They can also be classified in different
ways. All the computers are designed by the qualified computer architectures that design these machines
as their requirements.
Computers are classified as follows.

Super computer
The biggest in size, the most expensive in price than any other is classified and known as super computer.
It can process trillions of instructions in seconds. Governments specially use this type of computer for
their different calculations and heavy jobs.

Mainframes
Another giant in computers after the super computer is Mainframe, which can also process millions of
instruction per second and capable of accessing billions of data. This computer is commonly used in big
hospitals, air line reservations companies, and many other huge companies prefer mainframe because of
its capability of retrieving data on a huge basis.

6
Minicomputer
This computer is next in the line but less offers less than mainframe in work and performance. These are
the computers, which are mostly preferred by the small type of business personals, colleges, etc.

Personal computers
Personal computer is the computer mostly preferred by the home users. These computers are lesser in
cost than the computers given above and also, small in size; they are also called PCs in short for Personal
computers. This computer is small in size. Today this is thought to be the most popular computer in all.

SOFTWARE
Software is a general term for the various kinds of programs used to operate computers and
Related devices. Software is instructions that tell the computer what to do. The classification of software
is as follows.

Application Software: Applications software comprises programs designed for an end user, such as word
processors, database systems, and spreadsheet programs; they are designed to serve the user purpose
and therefore do not serve the hardware. When application software is removed from your computer it
does not affect the hardware. Application software makes computer popular and easy to use.
Common application software: Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, PowerPoint, Netscape, Internet Explorer
Photoshop, Photo-Paint, Quick Time, Dream weaves. All these software’s are designed for user.

Systems Software: System software refers to the operating system and all utility programs that manage
computer resources at a low level. Operating system controls and manages the computing resources.
Software that is designed for the hardware, Examples of operating system: Windows, UNIX, MSDOS,
Linux, Mac. Systems software includes compilers, loaders, linkers, and debuggers they are design to serve
the hardware purpose and therefore do not have any connection with the user. When system software is
reformed from the computer it will affect the computer system (computer hardware will crush because
systems software is design to support the hardware.

MICROSOFT OFFICE

What is MS Word?

Used to make professional-quality documents, letters, reports, etc., MS Word is a word processor
developed by Microsoft. It has advanced features which allow you to format and edit your files and
documents in the best possible way.

Where to find MS Word on your personal computer?

Follow these simple steps to open MS Word on your personal computer:

Start → All Programs → MS Office → MS Word.

7
What are the uses of MS Word?

MS Word enables users to do write-ups, create documents, resumes, contracts, etc. This is one of the
most commonly used programs under the Office suite. 

How to create an MS Word document?

To create an MS Word doc, follow the steps mentioned above to open Microsoft Word. Then once the
program is open, click on “File” followed by “New”. This opens a new doc where something new can be
created.

Since it is used by people of all age groups, in schools, in colleges and for official purposes, having proper
knowledge of Microsoft Word is a must. The preview of the MS Doc file once it is opened is given below:

Features of MS Word

Now let us read more about the features and components of an MS Word doc file in detail.

The different elements and categories which are available in MS Word doc:

Home
This has options like font color, font size, font style, alignment, bullets, line spacing, etc. All the basic
elements which one may need to edit their document are available under the Home option.
Insert
Tables, shapes, images, charts, graphs, header, footer, page number, etc. can all be entered in the
document. They are included in the “Insert” category.
Design
The template or the design in which you want your document to be created can be selected under the
Design tab. choosing an appropriate tab will enhance the appearance of your document.
Page Layout
Under the Page Layout tab comes options like margins, orientation, columns, lines, indentation, spacing,
etc. 
References
This tab is the most useful for those who are creating a thesis or writing books or lengthy documents.
Options like citation, footnote, table of contents, caption, bibliography, etc. can be found under this tab.
Review
Spell check, grammar, Thesaurus, word count, language, translation, comments, etc. can all be tracked
under the review tab. This acts as an advantage for those who get their documents reviewed on MS Word.
Apart from all the above-mentioned features, the page can be set in different views and layouts, which
can be added and optimized using the View tab on the Word document. Margins and scales are also
available for the benefit of the users.

8
When compared with MS PowerPoint, MS Word is more of reading while PPT is more of visual and
graphical representation of data. 

Uses of MS Word

Given below are the different fields in which MS Word is used and simplifies the work of an individual:

 In Education: It is considered as one of the simplest tools which can be used by both teachers and students.
Creating notes is easier using MS Word as they can be made more interactive by adding shapes and images.
It is also convenient to make assignments on MS Word and submitting them online

 In Workplace: Submitting letters, bills, creating reports, letterheads, sample documents, can all easily be
done using MS Word

 Creating & Updating Resume: One of the best tools to create your resumes and is easy to edit and make
changes in it as per your experience
 For Authors: Since separate options are available for bibliography, table of contents, etc., it is the best tool
which can be used by authors for writing books and adjusting it as per the layout and alignment of your
choice

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Operating system is an interface between computer and hardware and application software. Without OS
no computer can be operated. Operating system is regarded as the heart of living being for a computer
system. OS is defined as a program or suit (support for) of programs that controls the entire operation of
the computer, such as recognizing input from keyboard, sending output to the display screen keeping
track of files and directories on the disk and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.
Basic organization of operating system:

9
CLASSIFICATION OF OPERATING SYSTEMS

Multiuser OS:

In a multiuser OS, more than one user can use the same system at a same time through the multi I/O
terminal or through the network. For example: windows, Linux, Mac, etc.A multiuser OS uses timesharing
to support multiple users.

 Multiprocessing OS:

A multiprocessing OS can support the execution of multiple processes at the same time. It uses multiple
number of CPU. It is expensive in cost however; the processing speed will be faster. It is complex in its
execution. Operating system like UNIX, 64 bit edition of windows, server edition of windows, etc. are
multiprocessing.

 Multiprogramming OS:

In a multiprogramming OS more than one program can be used at the same time. It may or may not be
multiprocessing. In a single CPU system, multiple programs are executed one after another by dividing the
CPU into small time slice.
Example: Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.

Multitasking OS:

In a multitasking system more than one task can be performed at the same time but they are executed
one after another through a single CPU by time sharing. For example: Windows, Linux, Mac, UNIX, etc.
Multitasking OS are of two types:
a) Pre-emptive multitasking
b) Co-operative multitasking
In the pre-emptive multitasking, the OS allows CPU times slice to each program. After each time slice, CPU
executes another task. Example: Windows XP
in co-operative multitasking a task can control CPU as long as it requires. However, it will free CPU to
execute another program if it doesn’t require CPU. Example: windows 3.x, MultiFinder, etc.

Multithreading:

A program in execution is known as process. A process can be further divided into multiple sub-
processers. These sub-processers are known as threads. A multi-threading OS can divide process into
threads and execute those threads. This increases operating speed but also increases the complexity. For
example: UNIX, Server edition of Linux and windows.

Batch Processing:

A batch processing is a group of processing system in which all the required input of the entire processing
task is provided initially. The result of the entire task is provided after the completion of all the processing.
Its main functions are:

1
0
 1. Multiple task are processed
2. User cannot provide input in between the processing
3. It is appropriate only when all the inputs are known in advance
4. It requires large memory
5. CPU ideal time is less
6. Printer is the appropriate output device
7. It is old processing technique and rarely used at present

Online Processing:

It is an individual processing system in which the task is processed on individual basis as soon as they are
provided by the user. It has features like:

1. Individual task is processed at a time

2. User can provide input in between processing
3. It is appropriate when all inputs ate not known in advance
4. It doesn’t require large memory
5. CPU ideal time is more
6. Monitor is appropriate output device
7. It is modern processing technique and mostly used in present

FUNCTIONS OF OPERATING SYSTEMS

Operating System supports the basic functions of the computer and is low-level software. The functions of
operating systems are as described below:

I/O Management:

OS manages I/O devices and makes the I/O process effective. OS accepts the inputs from the input device,
stores it in the main memory, ask the CPU to process it and finally provides the result to the output
devices for output.

Command Interpreter:

Command interpreter is one of the parts of operating system which reads the commands that user
types in at a terminal, interprets them and translate them into a detailed set of instructions that the
computer hardware can understand. It varies widely from one OS to other OS. Every OS must provide
command interpreter for its operation.

Memory Management:

Memory is the large array of words or bytes, each with its own address. When user requests CPU for
read/write operation, OS determines the amount of memory required for the program instructions and
data. Then, OS allocates required memory to load the program and data into RAM. When program
terminates its memory area is free and the same memory area is allocated for other programs.

1
1
Process Management:

OS finds the status of processor and processes, chooses a job, chooses processer in the job, allocates the
processor to the process and frees the processor when the process is executed.

Time Sharing:

OS manages the time of CPU. The kernel OS checks frequency for other processes requesting CPU time.
Time-sharing checks for CPU request from higher priority processes that are made every 10 milliseconds.
When two or more processes at the same priority level are competing for the CPU time, CPU time is sliced
into segments, defined by time slice and passed from process to process in a round robin fashion,
preventing a single process from monopolizing the CPU until it blocks or terminates.

Security:

OS makes sure that only authorized users get access to the computer and its data and the users only do
things they are authorized to do.

Deadlock Prevention:

During processing, a situation can arise in which a resource shared by two or more processes cannot
continue because the resource required by one process is held by the other. This situation is called
deadlock. OS ensures that the above condition do not hold by carefully allocating resources.

Interrupt Handling:

Interrupt is a signal generated from a device or program when they need attention of the CPU. OS
determines the type of interrupt and priority of the interrupt, stops the execution process of CPU,
preserves the initial state of the CPU, perform the requested operation and brings the CPU at the same
state when it was stopped.

Virtual Storage:

If there are programs larger than main memory (RAM) of the computer, OS uses the reserved space in the
secondary memory which is termed as virtual memory. It makes the execution of larger program (than
RAM) possible but at the same times the operation becomes slower.

1
2
 INTRODUCTION INFORMATION SYSTEMS

What Is an Information System?

“Information systems are combinations of hardware, software, and telecommunications networks that
people build and use to collect, create, and distribute useful data, typically in organizational settings.”

COMPONENTS OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Information systems can be viewed as having five major components: hardware, software, data, people,
and processes. The first three are technology. These are probably what you thought of when defining
information systems. The last two components, people and processes, separate the idea of information
systems from more technical fields, such as computer science.

Technology
Technology can be thought of as the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes;
technology has become ubiquitous in daily life, to the degree that it is assumed to always be available for
use regardless of location. The first three components of information systems – hardware, software, and
data – all fall under the category of technology.

HARDWARE
Hardware is the tangible, physical portion of an information system – the part you can touch. Computers,
keyboards, disk drives, and flash drives are all examples of information systems hardware.

SOFTWARE
Software comprises the set of instructions that tell the hardware what to do. Software is not tangible – it
cannot be touched.  Programmers create software by typing a series of instructions telling the hardware
what to do. Two main categories of software are: Operating Systems and Application software. Operating
Systems software provides the interface between the hardware and the Application software. Examples of
operating systems for a personal computer include Microsoft Windows and Ubuntu Linux. Application
software allows the user to perform tasks such as creating documents, recording data in a spreadsheet,
or messaging a friend.

1
3
DATA
The third technology component is data. You can think of data as a collection of facts. For example, your
address (street, city state, and postal code), your phone number, and your social networking account are
all pieces of data. Like software, data is also intangible, unable to be seen in its native state.
Organizations collect all kinds of data and use it to make decisions which can then be analyzed as to their
effectiveness. The analysis of data is then used to improve the organization’s performance.

PEOPLE
When thinking about information systems, it is easy to focus on the technology components and forget to
look beyond these tools to fully understand their integration into an organization. A focus on the people
involved in information systems is the next step. From the front-line user support staff, to systems
analysts, to developers, all the way up to the chief information officer (CIO), the people involved with
information systems are an essential element.

PROCESS
The last component of information systems is process. A process is a series of steps undertaken to
achieve a desired outcome or goal. Information systems are becoming more integrated with
organizational processes, bringing greater productivity and better control to those processes.
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE
Programming is the process of creating a set of instructions that tell a computer how to perform a task.
Types of Programming Language
Low Level Language
Machine Language
Assembly Language
High Level Language

Procedural-Oriented Language (3GL)

·   Problem-Oriented (Fourth Generation) Language (4GL)

·   Natural (Fifth Generation) Language (5GL)

Language Translator

a.       Assembler

b.      Compiler

c.       Interpreter

3.     Syntax and Semetics

Syntax Error

1
4
 Sematic Error

Run-Time Error

4.     Flowchart

System Flowchart

Program Flowchart

COMPUTER NETWORK

A computer network is a set of computers sharing resources located on or provided by network nodes.
Computer Network is when two or more computers that are connected with one another for the purpose
of communicating data electronically. The computers use common communication protocols over digital
interconnections to communicate with each other.

USES OF COMPUTER NETWORK.

Computer networks have a variety of uses that many would see as essential today, including the
following:

 file sharing, which enables users to share data files through a network;
 application sharing, which enables users to share applications through a network;
 hardware sharing, which enables users in a network to share hardware devices, such as printers
and hard drives;
 client-server model, which enables data to be stored on servers, where end-user devices -- or
clients -- can access that data;
 voice over IP (VoIP), which enables users to send voice data through internet protocols;
 communication, which can include video, text and voice;
 e-commerce, which enables users to sell and buy products over the internet; and
 Gaming, this enables multiple users to play together from various locations.

ADVANTAGES OF USING COMPUTER NETWORK

Advantages of using computer networks include the following:

 file sharing, which enables users to share data between users;

 resource sharing, which enables users to share multiple devices, such as copiers and printers;
 communication, which enables users to send and receive messages and data in real time from
multiple devices;
 convenience in that data is accessible through an internet connection;
 cost in that there are reduced hardware costs since networked devices can share resources; and
 Storage, which enables users to access data that's stored remotely or on other network devices.
1
5
TYPES OF COMPUTER NETWORKS
Networks are often categorized by the wired or wireless transmission technology they support, as well as
the scope of their domains. Some examples of computer networks include the following:

 Local area networks (LANs), which interconnect endpoints in a single domain;

 Wide area networks (WANs), which interconnect multiple LANs;
 Metropolitan area networks (MANs), which interconnect computer resources in a geographic
area;

Network topologies

A network topology is the physical or logical structure of a network. Network topologies include the
following:

 Full mesh network. All nodes are connected to each other and can exchange data.
 Partial mesh network. Some nodes are connected to each other in a full mesh scheme, but others
are only connected to one or two other nodes in the network.
 Point-to-point network. Network connectivity is limited to two endpoints.
 Star network. All network nodes are connected to a common central computer.
 Bus network. Network devices are attached directly to a transmission line. All signals pass through
all devices, but each device has a unique identity and recognizes signals intended for it.
 Ring network. Network devices are connected to each other in a ring format, where each device is
connected to at least two other devices.

INTERNET
Internet is the connection of millions of computers spread all over the world. It is the world largest
computer network. It is the network of networks.
It is a public network so it is not owned by a particular user organization or government. However, it is
controlled by internet authority.
Internet is initiated by US army. It was used for their internal communication but later, it become popular
and used all over the world.
Uses of internet
1) Online communication: – It is used for online communication.
2) It is helpful for online business through e-commerce.
3) It is helpful for video conference.
4) It is helpful for e-ticketing, online reservation.
5) It helps to find information about various things.
6) It is used for entertainment.
7) It is used for downloading the video files, music files.
8) It is used for online job.
9) Advertisement.

1
6
Some terms related with Internet are:
Browser:-
A browser is internet based application software used to access a webpage. It sends request to the web
server and displays the received HTML files in proper format user interact with the internet by using
browser. E.g. Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Netscape, Safari, etc.
Search Engine:-
It is also internet based application software. It can be used to access the required information or
webpage address from the internet. A search engine maintains the record of all the websites and their
contents. When the user requests by providing the keywords, it provides a list of websites and their links
from its database. Google.com is the most common search engine at present. Other search engine
includes bing.com, yahoo.com, altavista.com, webcrawler.com, etc.
Messenger Service:-
A messenger is also internet based application software. It is used for communication. Such as text chat,
audio-video chat, conference call, transmitting data and files, offline messages, etc. Some of the common
messengers used are MSM messenger, Yahoo messenger, Google talk, AOL, Skype, etc.
Webpage:-
It is the fundamental unit of web. It is used to provide text emails, audio, video to the users. Webpage is
developed by using scripting and web based programming language. Webpage are of two types:
       a) Static
       b) Dynamic
A static webpage is developed by using HTML.
Dynamic webpage is developed by using programming language like PHP, ASP, C#, etc along with HTML.
Website:-
A website is a location used for storing webpage. User access the webpage by using the website address.
For e.g. www.facebook.com, tyrocity.com, etc.

Web server:-
Web server is a program required to host webpage so that it can be accessed through the internet. To
host webpage, the computer should have web server running, dedicated internet connection and the
computer should be running all the time. The common web servers used are IIS (Internet Information
Service) and Apache (for Linux based system).
URL (Uniform Resource Locator):-
It is a complete website address which is used to specify domain name, website location, and the protocol
used for communication. A complete URL is provided to access a web site.
e.g. https://tyrocity.com, http://www.google.com.np.
Domain name system (DNS)
A domain name system is the process of using domain name to access a computer or website such as
hotmail.com is a domain name. Domain names are easier to remember and access compared to IP
address. However, communication is done through IP address. An IP address is a numerical value such as
192.168.1.1. It is used to identify a particular computer on a network. Since, these IP addresses are
difficult to remember, domain names are used in place of IP address. A DNS translates domain name into
corresponding IP address. Domain names are classified on the basis of type of organization and the
country wise.

1
7
Type of organization:- 

.com
.org
.edu
.gov
.net
.mil
.biz
.tv

Country wise:-

.np
.in
.sl
.pk
.uk
.au
9) Protocol:-
A protocol is a rule or standard defined to be used by all the components. Network protocol can be
defined as the rules used for communication between two or more devices.

Some of the common network protocols used is:-

• HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol)

• FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
• HTTPS (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secured)
• SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
• POP (Post Office Protocol)
• IMAP (Internet Mail Access Protocol)
• IP (Internet Protocol)
• TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)
• UDP (User Datagram Protocol)
• VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
• HTTP: 
It is used for the communication of hypertext document. WebPages are the example of hypertext  
document. It is developed by using HTML and contains hyperlink.
• FTP:
It is used for the transmission of files like document image, audio, video, software, games, etc.
• HTTPS:
It is used for the transmission of hypertext document by providing higher security. It is mainly used by
banking sector, e-commerce, and other electronic payment system where higher security is required. It
uses encryption and decryption technique to provide security.
• SMTP, POP & IMAP:

1
8
These protocols are used for email communication for sending and receiving emails.
• IP:
It is the most common protocol used in internet to identify a particular system. It is used along with TCP
in internet (TCP/IP).
• TCP:
It is connection oriented protocol i.e. connection is maintained throughout communication. It provides
reliable transmission so it is slower than UDP. It is the common protocol used in internet for transmission
of hypertext documents, files and email message.
• UDP:
It is connectionless protocol. It doesn’t provide reliable transmission but it is faster than TCP. So, UDP is
preferred for transmitting real time, multimedia data.
• VOIP:
It is used for transmission of voice signal through internet. It is the cheaper and faster medium of
communication mainly for a long distance.
EMAIL SERVICE
Email service is used for transmitting electronic or soft-copy documents, message by using electronic
devices like computer, computer network, internet, etc. present e-mail service is based on stored and
forward concept i.e. email sent by the sender is stored in email server before forwarding it to the receiver.
It doesn’t require the sender and receiver to be connected at the same time. Traditionally, the older
concept of email required both sender and receiver to be connected at the same time.
It uses protocols like SMTP, POP, IMAP, etc.
Features of e-mail:
i. It is faster and cheaper medium of communication.
ii. It is reliable.
iii. It is secured communication.
iv. It can be used for transmitting text, image, audio, and video.
v. Same message can be sent to multiple users at the same time by using CC (Carbon Copy) and BCC (Blind
Carbon Copy).
Types of Email Services:

1. Web based email

It is the internet based mailing system. It requires internet connection and a browser to send
or receive the message. Email providers like hotmail.com, yahoo.com, gmail.com, etc. provide
internet based email. It is the most widely used email service .
2. POP email service
This email service is provided by local email or network providers. It requires connection to the e-
mail provider and email client software like:
• Outlook express
• Thunderbird
• Eudora
• KMail, etc.

1
9
It can be used from the system with email client software and proper setting to connect email
Providers.
Booting of Computer – Warm and Cold Booting
Booting of computer is the process of powering it on and starting the operating system. Booting
Loads the first piece of software that starts a computer. Because the operating system is
Essential for running all other programs, it is usually the first piece of software loaded during the
Boot process.

Cold boot is the process of starting a computer from a powered-down, or off state. Cold boot
Is also called as hard boot.

Warm boot refers to restarting a computer that is already turned on via the operating system.
Restarting it returns the computer to its initial state. A warm boot is sometimes necessary when
A program encounters an error from which it cannot recover. On PCs, you can perform a warm
Boot by pressing the Control, Alt, and Delete keys simultaneously. On Macs, you can perform a warm boot
by pressing the Restart button.

INSTALLATION

What Does Installation Mean?

Installation is the process of making hardware and/or software ready for use. Obviously, different systems
require different types of installations. While certain installations are simple and straightforward and can
be performed by non-professionals, others are more complex and time-consuming and may require the
involvement of specialists.

DOWNLOADING
Downloading is the process of getting web pages, images and files from a web server.

UPLOADING
Uploading is the process of putting web pages, images and files onto a web server .

COMPUTER SECURITY

Computer security is the ability of a system to protect information and systems resources. The main
objective of computer security is protection of information and property from theft, corruption, or natural
disaster, while allowing the information and property to remain accessible and productive to its intended
user.

COMPUTER VIRUSES
Computer virus is a small software program that is designed to spread from one computer to another and
to interfere with computer operation. A virus is capable of self replication on a machine. Virus may spread
between files or disks. Or Computer Virus is a malicious program that attaches itself to computer
systems and destroys or corrupts data. A computer virus is man-made program or code that can attach
itself (usually without the user’s consent) to either another program or a file. As this file travels to other
computers, it spreads the infection.

2
0
There are estimated 30,000 computer viruses in existence.

• Over 300 new ones are created each month.

• First virus was created to show loopholes in software.
• Today almost 87% of all viruses are spread through the internet

HOW COMPUTER VIRUS SPREAD

 Network file systems (File sharing)

 Internet Download

 Removable media

 Attachment from emails

TYPES COMPUTER VIRUSES

 Boot-sector Virus

 File Virus

 Multipartite Virus

 Macro Virus

Trojan horse
• Requires Windows to work
• Once infected, runs in the background
• Worm
• Spread over network connection
• Worms replicate
• Macro
• Specific to certain applications
• Comprise a high percentage of the viruses
• E-mail viruses
An e-mail virus travels as an attachment to e-mail messages, and usually replicates itself by automatically
mailing itself to dozens of people in the victim's e-mail address book.
• Some e-mail viruses don't even require a double-click -- they launch when you view the infected
message in the preview pane of your e-mail software.

2
1
Worms
A worm is a small piece of software that uses computer networks and security holes to replicate itself. A
copy of the worm scans the network for another machine that has a specific security hole. It copies itself
to the new machine using the security hole, and then starts replicating from
There. Worms normally move around and infect other machines through computer networks.

DAMAGE CAUSED BY VIRUSES

 Deletion of Data or Programs

 Reformatting of Hard Disk
 Modify Data
 Introduce typing errors
 Replicating and filling up the disk space.

COMPUTER PREVENTION METHOD

Use of high quality anti-virus programs (Norton Antivirus, McAfee Virus Scan, Kaspersky Anti-Virus)
 Scan disks and files after using them
 Scan all files you downloaded from the Internet.
 Use windows firewall programs
 Update Virus Definition regularly
 Use more secure operating systems like Linux, Mac OS etc.
 Keep your Computer operating systems patched with all critical updates.
 Never open suspicious attachment.
 Regularly back up your files.

SYMPTOMS OF INFECTED COMPUTER

 Unusual items appearing on the display including graphics, odd messages, systems error messages.
 Corrupted of inaccessible program files, hard disks, or diskettes.
 Program taking longer to start up, running more slowly than usual, or not running at all.
 Unexpected decrease in the amount of available systems memory

REASONS FOR CREATING COMPUTER VIRUS

 Intellectual Challenges

 To relieve Boredom

 Revenge

 Economic
2
2
 ICT APPLICATIONS IN SOCIETY

What are the Uses of Information and Communication Technology in Our Daily Life?
Information and communications technology (ICT) is used in most of the fields such as e-commerce, e-
governance, banking, agriculture, education, medicine, defense, transport, etc.
With technological advances, advanced computing infrastructure, sophisticated marketing strategies, and
reduced cycle times with robotic process automation (RPA), ICT is playing a vital role.
Information and communication technology can be used in various fields, including:

ICT in Entertainment: 
Information and communication technologies (ICT) have impacted entertainment and leisure activities in
different ways in which you spend your time.
ICT offers a variety of entertainment and leisure activities and allows for quick access to movies or music
that can be easily accessed and you can watch movies and listen to music directly from the Internet.
ICT adds more interactive technologies to TV shows. Digital cameras, printers and scanners have enabled
more people to experience image production, in addition to developing graphic interfaces.

ICT in Medical Science:

Medical devices and modern equipment have evolved considerably favoring information and
communications technology.
Information and communication technologies (ICT) are related to the devices, resources and tools needed
to improve the acquisition, retrieval, storage and use of information in health and biomedicine.
That is why we find that most of the medical devices that now exist rely on information and
communication technology in the way of use, detection and treatment of diseases.
Health informatics tools include formal medical terms, clinical guidelines, computers, and information and
communication systems.

ICT in Finance: 
Information and communication technology is used daily by financial companies, to trade financial
instruments, to report a business's earnings, and to keep records of personal budgets.
ICT allows rapid calculation of financial data and provides financial services companies with strategic and
innovative benefits as well as electronic transfer of money, through the use of credit cards, or e-
commerce, which includes the purchase and payment via the Internet and others.
ICT helps deal with security concerns, legal issues and access to global markets.

ICT in Public Sector Management: 

Information and communication technology (ICT) is used to facilitate more convenient government
services, make the government more transparent and accountable to citizens, promote a more efficient
and cost-effective government.
ICT provides greater public access to information and constitutes opportunities for public
administration that require meeting many economic, financial, structural and legal conditions.
ICT also allows people to perform many different activities, such as: paying bills or renewing official

2
3
documents such as driving licenses and others over the Internet.

ICT in Education: 
Information and communication technology contributes greatly to education because it improves the way
of education and provides a better educational environment, through the use of computers, tablets, data
displays, interactive electronic boards, and others in the process of communicating information to
students.

ICT in Agriculture: 
Information and communication technology in agriculture helps in the growing demand for new
approaches and focuses on enhancing agricultural and rural development through better information and
communication processes.
ICT also helps empower rural people by providing better farming techniques, better access to natural
resources, effective production strategies, and digital marketing strategies for agribusiness and financial
services, etc.

ICT in Business
The use of information and communications technology is very important for businesses to establish a
hassle-free and secure communication flow and to meet daily operational tasks.
ICT tools help companies analyze, store, process and share vast amounts of data and make better use of
products and resources.
ICT tools also help improve profitability, reduce costs compared to manual tasks and minimize lead times.
ICT systems allow managers and employees to make decisions quickly and accurately so that they can
effectively manage the operations process and day-to-day activities and rapidly predict business
opportunities or threats.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY REVISION QUESTIONS

1. Discuss reasons as to why most people prefer to use Ms Word over any other text editor.
2. Which formatting features can be added to the MS Word document?
3. What are the basic Functions of Microsoft words?
4. Is it possible to use MS word online without downloading it in your computer? Explain with
reasonable justifications.
5. Suppose that you had to explain to a friend the concept of an information system. How would you
define it? Write a one-paragraph description in your own words that you feel would best describe
an information system to your friends or family.
6. Of the five primary components of an information system (hardware, software, data, people,
process), which do you think is the most important to the success of a business organization?
Write a one-paragraph answer to this question that includes an example from your personal
experience to support your answer.
7. Everyone interacts with various information systems every day: at the grocery store, at work, at
school, even in our cars. Make a list of the different information systems you interact with daily.
Can you identify the technologies, people, and processes involved in making these systems work?
8. With the help of neat block diagram, explain the components of computer systems in detail.
2
4
9. Explain the various reasons for creating the computer viruses.
10. What are the different ways of protecting your computer systems from virus attack?
11. Highlight and explain the various functions of operating systems.
12. Mention and explain the various application of ICT in Society.
13. What are the five basic fields of application for MS Word?
14. Mention five advantages and disadvantages of computer Network.
15. Explain the reasons for designing harmful programs that destroys computer systems.
16. Why a computer system can work without system software but cannot work without application
software.
17. Discuss the significance of the Central Processing Unit to the computer systems.
18. What is the extension of an MS Word file?
19. Write short notes on the following, Installation, Downloading, Uploading, configuration.
20. Compare and contrast between the following.

 Application software and System Software

 RAM and ROM
 Primary memory and Secondary memory
 Permanent storage and Registers
 LAN and WAN

"If you think education is expensive, wait until you see how much ignorance costs”

2
5