Total Marks: 100 Pass Marks: 40
Assignment no. 1
Question no 1: Answer the following questions properly:
(a) What is meant by ICT?
Answer:ICT is an acronym for “information communications technology”. Many people ask what ICT is. What is the meaning or definition of ICT? The acronym ICT is often used in many different contexts. For example, people refer to the ICT industry, ICT sector, ICT companies, ICT law (laws like the POPI Act, the ECT Act, and the Cybercrimes Bill), the ICT BEE Charter, ICT governance and ICT legislation.
But what is the acronym ICT actually short for? With the acronym you lose the “and” and commas - this creates ambiguity. In my view, ICT should be a shortening for “information, communication and technology” so that it is broad enough to include all the different aspects of what the acronym stands for. Some people focus on the “technology” whilst others focus on the “information” or “communication”
There are two options of what the acronym ICT could stand for:
1. Information and communication technology
2. Information, communication and technology
ICT encompasses both the internet-enabled sphere as well as the mobile one powered by wireless networks. It also includes antiquated technologies, such as
landline telephones, radio and television broadcast — all of which are still widely used today alongside cutting-edge ICT pieces such as artificial intelligence and robotics. ICT is sometimes used synonymously with IT (for information technology); however, ICT is generally used to represent a broader, more comprehensive list of all components related to computer and digital technologies than IT. The list of ICT components is exhaustive, and it continues to grow. Some components, such as computers and telephones, have existed for decades. Others, such as smartphones, digital TVs and robots, are more recent entries. ICT commonly means more than its list of components, though. It also encompasses the application of all those various components. It's here that the real potential, power and danger of ICT can be found. ICT is leveraged for economic, societal and interpersonal transactions and interactions. ICT has drastically changed how people work, communicate, learn and live. Moreover, ICT continues to revolutionize all parts of the human experience as first computers and now robots do many of the tasks once handled by humans. For example, computers once answered phones and directed calls to the appropriate individuals to respond; now robots not only can answer the calls, but they can often more quickly and efficiently handle callers' requests for services. ICT's importance to economic development and business growth has been so monumental, in fact, that it's credited with ushering in what many have labeled the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
ICT also underpins broad shifts in society, as individuals en masse are moving from personal, face-to-face interactions to ones in the digital space. This new era is frequently termed the Digital Age.
For businesses, advances within ICT have brought a slew of cost savings, opportunities and conveniences. They range from highly automated businesses processes that have cut costs, to the big data revolution where organizations are turning the vast trove of data generated by ICT into insights that drive new products and sendees, to ICT-enabled transactions such as internet shopping and telemedicine and social media that give customers more choices in how they shop, communicate and interact.
But ICT has also created problems and challenges to organizations and individuals alike — as well as to society as a whole. The digitization of data, the expanding use of high-speed internet and the growing global network together
have led to new levels of crime, where so-called bad actors can hatch electronically enabled schemes or illegally gain access to systems to steal money, intellectual property or private information or to disrupt systems that control critical infrastructure. ICT has also brought automation and robots that displace workers who are unable to transfer their skills to new positions. And ICT has allowed more and more people to limit their interactions with others, creating what some people fear is a population that could lose some of what makes it human.
(b) Differentiate between “ICT” and “Telecommunication”.
ICT refers to Information and Communication Technology. So, it’s quite evident from its definition that ICT is something related to sharing of information through technological means. Moreover, it’s also clear from the definition that ICT deals with communication aspects as well.
IT “T’nformation “Technology is an acronym to name the procedure of electronic control of information, programming/coding, PC system (hardware) operations, and other information administration. It also means information technology, including software Tech, web Tech, computer Tech, storage Tech, etc. Telecommunications or media transmission is rather offered to a transmission of signs, signals, messages, compositions, pictures and sounds or knowledge of any nature by wire, radio, optical or other electromagnetic frameworks.
Telecommunication technologies or Information and Communications Technology (ICT) mean communication technology, including wireless access systems (for cell phone communication, satellite communication, etc).
Information sharing and communication handling through technological mediums are basically the core dimensions of ICT. This is what the construct of ICT looks like. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is considered to be the extension of fields of technology itself. ICT infrastructure allowed the world to effectively continue the education system in the entire word. It was due to the ICT that educational institutes continued their educational programs by using technological tools.
Initially, students found it difficult to adapt the change but the time is the best teacher. They gradually adapted the change and learnt new skills of using different software. All this was possible due to ICT infrastructure.
ICT deals with information and communication through technology while the telecommunication deals with transmission of signals containing information through different mediums. Telecommunication also uses technological grounds to operate and function. It’s hard to imagine modern generation without telecommunication technologies. Sometimes, it’s simply impossible. These technologies are so much imprinted into our concept of world and in our private lives that it is simply unrealistic to imagine our existence without them at least for a while.
However, there are still people who do not even notice these important modem technologies or simply do not know any details about them. So let’s try to figure out what’s behind telecommunications definition and why telecommunications are so much-needed in the modem world. The system of technical means by which telecommunications is carried out is called a telecommunication network. The telecommunication network has one of the main characteristics of the entire technology in question: it provides an opportunity to obtain the necessary information or data to support the activities of any telecommunications participants or to meet the personal needs of users and many other things.
Question no 2: What is the difference between memory and hard disk? Explain it with the help of proper examples.
Answer:Memory:
Memories are made up of registers. Memory refers to the location of short-term data. Each register in the memory is one storage location. Storage location is also called as memory location. Memory locations are identified using Address. The memory contains a register in them. These registers are storage locations in the memory. The storage location can also be termed as a memory location. The higher number of bits the memory can store shows its high capacity. It has three types of memory which are known as primary memory, secondary memory, and cache memory.
Memory is used for the immediate purpose of storage. This is a very important component of computers. Memory is used in the computer so that it can function properly. Memory plays a big role in the system. Memory is closely situated with the microprocessor of the computer.
Hard Disk is the magnetic disk made of aluminum. It is used as main storage device on the computer. It uses metallic disk which is known as platter. Both sides of disk is used for storing data except the upper side of the uppermost disk and lower side of the lowermost disk. Magnetic oxide is used to coat the data storing surface. The hard drive was manufactured by many companies, which became very useful in the computer due to its storage capacity. This has decreased because of the launch of many more devices like mobiles and tablets. They use solid-state drives, which makes the devices handier. The solid-state drives have a high speed in processing data. Hard Drive is kept on the actuator, which connects the platter so that the platter is capable of reading and write data and can share it with the next platters. These were used in general-purpose computers, and then they went on to be using in personal computers in the 1960s.
Random access memory and hard drive are often the most confused buzz words in the IT world. People often confuse the error message “system out of memory” thinking that their hard drive is full but, in reality, it is the RAM that is getting full. The RAM does not allow you to attach external RAM if you are running short of RAM. The hard drive lets you add an external hard disk to improve your disk space. Also, you can choose to change it out entirely and add a higher capacity one. Having an external disk attached when your hard drive is storing more and more data ensures that your storage capacity increases without any loss of files or data.
However, the size of the hard drive you wish to attach to your system depends on the power necessary to run a computer with added storage, as well as the physical space it will use.
One of the primary purposes of RAM is to speed up your computer’s performance; this means that your system will perfonn slower when its RAM is
little (limited). However, the underlying aim of the hard disk is for the storage of information, and having a smaller capacity hard drive may not affect your system speed.
Whenever tasks are performed, the CPU sends and fetches program instructions and data to and from the RAM. User data will be transferred to the hard drive as part of these operations.
The memory in use during an operation is from RAM because the RAM is way faster than the hard drive. The RAM is faster and data is transferred from the hard drive to RAM to ensure the CPU only deals with the fastest access of data possible.
If there is the need for additional RAM, you don’t have to update to a new version of Windows, but if you require changing your computer’s hard disk, you can only achieve that after getting a fresh window on. There is the need to know the difference between the RAM and hard drive; this broadens your knowledge about the use of computers and their terminologies. Both the hard drive and RAM are used for storing data. The RAM is typically smaller than the hard drive. The storage capacity of RAM ranges between 128MB to 1 MB. The hard drive has a large storage capacity ranging from 1GB to 1TB.The type of storage in RAM is temporary. When a user tries to access some information on the Internet, the files get downloaded temporarily to the RAM. The data downloaded by the user from the Internet gets stored in the hard drive permanently. The files downloaded onto the RAM get erased when the computer is shut down. The data stored on the hard drive remains permanently.
The memory modules are made up of chips and microprocessors. The hard drive is made up of disks and platters. The data on the RAM is stored in the form of bits (O’s and l’s). The RAM needs a continuous power supply in order to hold the data on the chip. The data on the hard drive are stored on the magnetic disks. The hard drive doesn’t require a continuous electrical power supply to hold the data.
When a user modifies a particular file, the changes are first stored in the RAM. Once the user saves the changes, the content gets copied to the hard disk. The original copy of the file is untouched in the hard drive until the changes made to
the file are saved. Once the file is saved, the original file is replaced by the new version of the file on the hard drive.
The memory can be accessed several hundred times faster than a hard drive. Since all the programs are first loaded to the RAM, the memory usually becomes full. When the computer comes up with an error message saying “not enough memory to run this program,” it means that the RAM is full. The memory refers to the random access memory installed on the system board whereas the hard drive is a spindle of magnetic disks also referred to as a hard disk. The capacity of RAM is smaller than the capacity of the hard drive. The RAM capacity ranges from 128 MB to 4 GB whereas the hard drive capacity ranges from 320 GB to 1TB. The storage type in RAM is temporary whereas the storage type in the hard drive is permanent. RAM can be accessed faster than the hard drive. The RAM is made up of chips whereas the hard drive is made up of disks and platters. Any changes done to the file will be present in the RAM whereas once the changes are saved, it is copied to the hard drive permanently. The RAM needs a continuous power supply to hold the data whereas the hard drive. It doesn’t need a power supply to retain the data.
Question no 3: What is the purpose of scanner? Also describe BCR &MICR with suitable examples.
Answer:
Scanner, also called optical scanner, computer input device that uses light beam to scan codes, text, or graphic images directly into a computer or computer system. Bar-code scanners are used widely at point-of-sale terminals in retail stores. A handheld scanner or bar-code pen is moved across the code, or the code itself is moved by hand across a scanner built into a checkout counter or other surface, and the computer stores or immediately processes the data in the bar code. After identifying the product through its bar code, the computer determines its price and feeds that information into the cash register. Optical scanners are also used in fax machines and to input graphic material directly into personal computers. Flatbed scanners have a top that lifts up, and the operator has to change manually the materials being scanned. Sheetfed scanners can be loaded with multiple loose pages, which are passed over the scanner by rollers.
If your file drawer is overflowing, it is time to consider scanning some of those documents and saving them in your computer instead of your desk. You'll want to save a hard copy of anything with an original signature, but almost anything else — business receipts, credit card statements, utility bills — can be safely kept electronically. Keep them in online storage to prevent losing them due to fire or other disaster. If your scanner comes equipped with a document feeder, use it to scan an entire year's worth of bills, statements and tax returns at one time with very little effort.
Scanners come with optical character recognition software that enables them to convert characters into text. OCR integrates with word processing software so you can import scanned documents directly into a variety of word processing software. This is a great tool if you are a student writing a research paper with multiple quotes. Simply scan the part of the document you want to quote, or scan the whole document and save it in your electronic reference library. Be sure to obey all copyright laws when scanning copyrighted material.
Fax Replacement
Many home scanners come equipped with a modem so they can fax scanned documents or images directly to a fax machine, but many homes have replaced their land-based phone lines with cell phones. Save your scanned images on your computer and email them to a recipient instead of using a fax. If you do need to communicate with a fax machine, you can use an online fax service to send a scanned image directly to a fax machine.
Barcode Reader
Barcode is a set of small bars of varying thickness and spacing printed on the packages of products, on the back coverpages of books, tags etc. The barcode reader uses an optical scanner to read product code and converts it into electrical pulses. The device is connected to a computer and the information read is passed to the computer in digital form for automatic bill generation and updating of files. Thus, it is a direct data entry device and there is no need for an operator to key in sales transaction data.
Pen-type readers consist of a light source and photodiode that are placed next to each other in the tip of a pen. To read a barcode, the person holding the pen must move the tip of it across the bars at a relatively uniform speed. The photodiode measures the intensity of the light reflected back from the light source as the tip crosses each bar and space in the printed code. The photodiode generates a waveform that is used to measure the widths of the bars and spaces in the barcode. Dark bars in the barcode absorb light and white spaces reflect light so that the voltage waveform generated by the photodiode is a representation of the bar and space pattern in the barcode. This waveform is decoded by the scanner in a manner similar to the way Morse code dots and dashes are decoded.
Laser scanners
Scan the laser beam back and forth across the barcode. As with the pen-type reader, a photo-diode is used to measure the intensity of the light reflected back from the barcode. In both pen readers and laser scanners, the light emitted by the reader is rapidly varied in brightness with a data pattern and the photo-diode receive circuitry is designed to detect only signals with the same modulated pattern.
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) uses highly stylized character shapes printed in a special ink containing particles that can be magnetized. This ink induces a current in a reading circuit, which is proportional to the area of ink being scanned. The patterns of the varying currents can be compared with and selected as bit patterns of the selected number e.g., the number on a cheque). The MICR reader can only identify characters. Banking industry uses this device for sorting of cheques. The MICR codes read from the cheques are transmitted to an online computer for sorting and processing automatically. The MICR number, which is sometimes confused with just the account number, is printed on the check using magnetic ink or toner, less than an inch above the bottom of the document. The magnetic ink allows a computer to read the characters even if they have been covered with signatures, cancellation marks, bank stamps, or other marks.
MICR lines help facilitate automatic check-clearing when banks send their checks to central processing systems at the end of the day. They are designed to be easily read by people as well, so that check information can be communicated easily.
One of the benefits of the magnetic ink character recognition line is its ability to facilitate the use of a routing number to process checks and deduct the payment amounts. A routing number or routing transit number is a nine-digit numerical code which banking and other financial institutions use to clear funds and process checks.
The routing number identifies the bank branch that holds the account from which funds are to be drawn. Wire transfers and direct deposits often rely on routing numbers as well.
Question no 4: Explain the function of ATM machine and also describe Voice Reproduction system with the help of proper examples.
Answer:ATM machines are primarily used for withdrawing cash from a bank account. But you can also use many of them to check account balances, get cash advances from credit card accounts, make deposits and even buy postage stamps. Among the most common uses of an ATM is withdrawing cash from a checking or savings account. Generally, to take money out of an ATM, you'll need to insert a debit card provided by your bank, enter a PIN number and indicate how much money you want to withdraw. If you're unsure how much money is in your account, you can usually check your balance from the ATM before making your withdrawal.
ATMs can be placed at any location but are most often placed near or inside banks, shopping centers/malls, airports, railway stations, metro stations, grocery stores, petrol/gas stations, restaurants, and other locations. ATMs are also found on cruise ships and on some US Navy ships, where sailors can draw out their pay. ATMs may be on- and off-premises. On-premises ATMs are typically more advanced, multi-function machines that complement a bank branch's capabilities, and are thus more expensive. Off-premises machines are deployed by financial
institutions and independent sales organizations (ISOs) where there is a simple need for cash, so they are generally cheaper single-function devices.
Most ATMs are connected to interbank networks, enabling people to withdraw and deposit money from machines not belonging to the bank where they have their accounts or in the countries where their accounts are held (enabling cash withdrawals in local currency). Some examples of interbank networks include NYCE, PULSE, PLUS, Cirrus, AFFN, Interac,[58] Interswitch, STAR, LINK, MegaLink, and BancNet.
ATMs rely on the authorization of a financial transaction by the card issuer or other authorizing institution on a communications network. This is often performed through an ISO 8583 messaging system.
Many banks charge ATM usage fees. In some cases, these fees are charged solely to users who are not customers of the bank that operates the ATM; in other cases, they apply to all users.
In order to allow a more diverse range of devices to attach to their networks, some interbank networks have passed rules expanding the definition of an ATM to be a terminal that either has the vault within its footprint or utilizes the vault or cash drawer within the merchant establishment, which allows for the use of a scrip cash dispenser.
Some ATMs charge a fee to withdraw money, including bank-owned ATMs that charge people with accounts from other banks to use them. Some banks charge fees for using ATMs outside of their networks, while some banks will reimburse you for fees charged to use ATMS, so it can be helpful to know your bank's policies and in-network ATMs when you need cash. Many credit cards allow their customers to get cash advances through an ATM. There's typically a fee for doing so, and you're usually charged interest as well, since you're essentially borrowing the money from your credit card company. That means taking money out of a checking or savings account is often a better option if you have the funds available. The security of ATM transactions relies mostly on the integrity of the secure cryptoprocessor: the ATM often uses general commodity components that sometimes are not considered to be "trusted systems".
Encryption of personal information, required by law in many jurisdictions, is used to prevent fraud. Sensitive data in ATM transactions are usually encrypted
with DES, but transaction processors now usually require the use of Triple DES. Remote Key Loading techniques may be used to ensure the secrecy of the initialization of the encryption keys in the ATM. Message Authentication Code (MAC) or Partial MAC may also be used to ensure messages have not been tampered with while in transit between the ATM and the financial network.
Sound recording and reproduction is the electrical, mechanical, electronic, or digital inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording.
Sound recording is the transcription of visible vibrations in air onto a storage medium such as a phonograph disc. The process is reversed in sound reproduction, and the variations stored on the medium are transformed back into sound waves.
Acoustic analog recording is achieved by a microphone diaphragm that senses changes in atmospheric pressure caused by acoustic sound waves and records them as a mechanical representation of the sound waves on a medium such as a phonograph record (in which a stylus cuts grooves on a record). In magnetic tape recording, the sound waves vibrate the microphone diaphragm and are converted into a varying electric current, which is then converted to a varying magnetic field by an electromagnet, which makes a representation of the sound as magnetized areas on a plastic tape with a magnetic coating on it. Analog sound reproduction is the reverse process, with a bigger loudspeaker diaphragm causing changes to atmospheric pressure to form acoustic sound waves.
Digital recording and reproduction converts the analog sound signal picked up by the microphone to a digital form by the process of sampling. This lets the audio data be stored and transmitted by a wider variety of media. Digital recording stores audio as a series of binary numbers (zeros and ones) representing samples of the amplitude of the audio signal at equal time intervals, at a sample rate high enough to convey all sounds capable of being heard. A digital audio signal must be reconverted to analog form during playback before it is amplified and connected to a loudspeaker to produce sound. The advent of digital sound recording and later the compact disc (CD) in 1982 brought significant improvements in the quality and durability of recordings. The CD initiated another massive wave of change in the consumer music industry, with vinyl
records effectively relegated to a small niche market by the mid-1990s. The record industry fiercely resisted the introduction of digital systems, fearing wholesale piracy on a medium able to produce perfect copies of original released recordings.
The most recent and revolutionary developments have been in digital recording, with the development of various uncompressed and compressed digital audio file formats, processors capable and fast enough to convert the digital data to sound in real time, and inexpensive mass storage.[30] This generated new types of portable digital audio players. The minidisc player, using ATRAC compression on small, re-writeable discs was introduced in the 1990s, but became obsolescent as solid-state non-volatile flash memory dropped in price. As technologies that increase the amount of data that can be stored on a single medium, such as Super Audio CD, DVD-A, Blu-ray Disc, and HD DVD became available, longer programs of higher quality fit onto a single disc. Sound files are readily downloaded from the Internet and other sources, and copied onto computers and digital audio players. Digital audio technology is now used in all areas of audio, from casual use of music files of moderate quality to the most demanding professional applications. New applications such as internet radio and podcasting have appeared. With the development of analog sound recording, though, a performance could be permanently fixed, in all of its elements: pitch, rhythm, timbre, ornaments and expression. This meant that many more elements of a performance would be captured and disseminated to other listeners. The development of sound recording also enabled a much larger proportion of people to hear famous orchestras, operas, singers and bands, because even if a non- wealthy person could not afford to hear the live concert, she or he might be able to afford to buy the recording. The availability of sound recording thus helped to spread musical styles to new regions, countries and continents. The cultural influence went in a number of directions.
Question no 5: Write short notes on the following topics:
Answer:(a) ICT Applications:
Information and communications technology (ICT) is used in most of the fields such as e-commerce, e-govemance, 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 documents such as driving licenses and others over the Internet.
ICT in Home Electronics:
The use of ICT in domestic electronics is developing rapidly. ICT equipment is used to increase access to home care. As it became possible to manage the house through a system that controls lighting, home security, air conditioning, and others.(b) Types of Monitors
A monitor is an electronic output device that is also known as a video display terminal (VDT) or a video display unit (VDU). It is used to display images, text, video, and graphics information generated by a connected computer via a computer's video card. Although it is almost like a TV, its resolution is much higher than a TV. The first computer monitor was introduced on 1 March 1973, which was part of the Xerox Alto computer system.Types of Monitors
There are several types of monitors; some are as follows:Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Monitors
It is a technology used in early monitors. It uses a beam of electrons to create an image on the screen. It comprises the guns that fire a beam of electrons inside the screen. The electron beams repeatedly hit the surface of the screen. These guns
are responsible for generating RGB (Red, Green, Blue) colors, and more other colors can be generated with the help of combining these three colors. Today's Flat Panel Monitors replace the CRT monitors.
Flat Panel Monitors
These types of monitors are lightweight and take less space. They consume less power as compared to CRT monitors. These monitors are more effective as they do not provide harmful radiation. These monitors are more expensive than CRTs. The flat-panel monitors are used in PDA, notebook computers, and cellular phones.Touch Screen Monitors
These monitors are also known as an input device. It enables users to interact with the computer by using a finger or stylus instead of using a mouse or keyboard. When users touch the screen by their finger, it occurs an event and forward it to the controller for processing. These types of screens include pictures or words that help users to interact with the computer.LED Monitors
It is a flat screen computer monitor, which stands for light-emitting diode display. It is lightweight in terms of weight and has a short depth. As the source of light, it uses a panel of LEDs. Nowadays, a wide number of electronic devices, both large and small devices such as laptop screens, mobile phones, TVs, computer monitors, tablets, and more, use LED displays.
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