1. INTRODUCTION TO ICT

Definition:

ICT (information and communications technology - or technologies) is a term that includes any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with them, such as videoconferencing and distance learning. ICTs are often spoken of in a particular context, such as ICTs in education, health care, or libraries.

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ICT stands for Information and Communication Technology and are defined as a set of technological tools and resources used to communicate, create, disseminate, store and manage information.

These tools include computers, the internet, broadcasting (radio and Television)

The importance of ICTs lies less in the technology itself than in its ability to create greater access to information and communication in undeserved populations. Many countries around the world have established organizations for the promotion of ICTs, because it is feared that unless less technologically advanced areas have a chance to catch up, the increasing technological advances in developed nations will only serve to exacerbate the already-existing economic gap between technological "have" and "have not" areas. Internationally, the United Nations actively promotes ICTs for Development (ICT4D) as a means of bridging the digital divide.

Digital divide is a term that refers to the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communications technology, and those that don't or have restricted access. This technology can include the telephone, television, personal computers and the Internet.