What are the USES OF ICT

USES OF ICT

Information and communications technology applications can be found in practically every area of life; they shape our private lives and our work. .Various tools of information  and communication  are used in fields like business,  education,  entertainment, science and home, in more details.

(I) In business. 

 Computer  have now permeated   all aspects  of business  and the economy. It is a sophisticated  tool than  can significantly  increase productivity.  In a manufacturing   industry,  certain steps are required  in the development  of a wide range of items. These steps are:

1. Preliminary   designing
2. Advance  design
3. Model development
4. Model  testing
5. Final  testing
6. Production   and  construction

In the past,  preliminary   sketches,  design  drawings   and  engineering   drawings   were  usually prepared  early  in the design  and  development   of new  products   and projects.  When  designers  or engineers had a new thought,  they would  make some preliminary   sketches  to get the idea down  on paper  so that it could be analyzed  more thoroughly. As the design was modified, additional drawing would  be required.  When  the design  was finally approved,   further  detailed  production   drawings were prepared.  Thus, the preparation   of drawing  could occupy a substantial portion  of the designer’s time and effort. Computers  now make possible quick changes and modification in the sketches made by an engineer. Interactive communication between designed and’ computer may continue until a design with a desirable set of characteristics is produced.  Once the initial drawings   are finished and displayed to the engineer’s   satisfaction,  the computer  may then be instructed  to analyze  the displayed  design and report on certain characteristics.  Such interaction between  designer and machine is !low relatively common.  This method  of designing  is popularly  known  as Computer-aided   design  (CAD). Again if one imagined  factory site even a few years back, a picture automatically  used to zoom in – thousands of people involved  in jobs of huge labour and danger. But now the scenario has changed. Today robots controlled by computers  are used to perform thousands  of factory jobs that are dangerous  or boring for humans. In fact, it has been found in a study, robots may reduce overall costs in manufacturing  industries.

The impact  of computers   has been  deeply  felt in the  financial  sector  also. One  such  sector is banking.  Banks depend  heavily on computers  to process transactions  around  the world.  Banks communicate  with each other and send funds-transfer   instructions  through  computers.  Computers  also help in dealings with millions of accounts. It helps these segments  in their integrated  communication with their own branches  and that of peers. It helps in magnetic  coding of cheques,  in the use of tellers in some cases the tellers are being replaced by automated  teller machines  (ATMs). An ATM is a device that’s  located on or off the financial institution’s  premises  to receive and dispense  cash and to handle routine  financial  transactions  24 hours  a day. The implementation   of credit cards  that  are used for automatic   and  instantaneous   banking  transactions   has become  possible  only  for computers.  The concept of “bank anywhere,  anytime”  depends  on the computer. Recently impressed  by the increasing number  of customers  owning  personal  computers,  many banks like Bank of America, Citibank, ABN Amro  etc. are now offering a special service: banking  by personal  computers.  Customers  who have computers  can call the banks and use their computers  to check on accounts; transfer  funds from one account to another  and even pay bills.

The advantages  of using a computer  are also available to small entrepreneurs.   This includes office automation  applications,  interconnection  of computers,  e-mail, browsing  etc.

(II) In Science

Scientists are now able to use computers  to conduct research into complex problem areas that could not otherwise  be considered.  Powerful  computers  control all the satellites, which are orbiting in space. Even the instruments  in satellites that perform  experiments  and transmit  the results to  earth  are operated  by computers.   The data  sent by the satellites  are received  from world  wide tracking stations, are processed  and the information  is recorded.  This information,  in tum, adds to the storehouse   of scientific  knowledge,   leads  to plans  for additional   space experiments   and  serves to reinforce   or change  existing  scientific theories.  Computers  are also used  for environmental   control purposes.  The National  Center for Health together  with the Geological Survey is using computers  to evaluate and control the level of pollution. To cite one example from the many, the Empire State System of New York collects water  and air data from monitoring  stations  located at critical sites around  the state. Data from the stations  are automatically  forwarded  to a central computer.  Each air-monitoring station  reports  every  15 minutes,  and each water  station  transmits  once every hour. Upon receiving transmitted   data, the computer  edits the message,  sends any necessary  operating  instruction  to the station, compares  edited  information  to acceptable environment   standards,  and, if standards  are not met, sends an appropriate  alarm message to the Department of Environmental Conservation. Computers are also helping to conserve natural resources. California’s State Water project, for example, is designed to conserve water by moving it from surplus areas in norther California to needy areas in the south and west. All these facilities are monitored  by computers located   at five remote control centers. Many tasks such as weather forecasting were at one time considered impossible because of the time span and efforts involved in performing  the necessary calculations. Now the application  of computers,  such jobs have become possible.  Another  example could be the application  of computers  in astronomical  calculations and computations    involved  in the modelling  of chemical reactions  for producing  new drugs.

(III) In the Field of Medicine

Computers  are now used  for planning  and  control  purposes  by health care professionals.   Applications  of computers  that have medical planning  and decision making implications  include  computer-assisted   diagnosis  and research, and medical history preparation and retrieval.  Doctors are using the computer  as a diagnostic tool in   hospitals  and clinics. Nowadays in a diagnostic  center, ‘only some physical examination  take place which   consists of some basic tests. Data from these tests are fed into a computer,  Within a few minutes  after the examination  procedures are completed,  the  computer   output  is ready. The computer  may  also be programmed   to suggest tentative diagnosis  to explain abnormal test results. The patient’s  physician,  of course, is responsible for the final diagnosis.

Computers  are also being used for such diagnostic  purposes  as displaying  body  functions  on a terminal screen from motion-picture    x-rays and other technologies  and calculating  the volume  and width of the patient’s  internal  organs by means  of a Computer-Aided   Tomography   (CAT) scanner, Magnetic Resonance Image  Scanner Or Positron  Emission Tomography  scanner. These devices  take pictures of body structures  and then combine   the thousands   of shots into a single picture of the area in the body that has been malfunctioning;   so that proper medication      can be given right away.

In addition to being a diagnostic  tool, the computer  is also a research tool that’s providing  insights into the causes and prevention   of stroke, as well as causes of drug  addiction. In developing  a record of a patient’s  medical history, a  usual practice is for the doctor or nurse to ask the patient  a series of questions  about past illnesses or health  problems.  This history  taking  is a time consuming  aspect of the patient-physician  relationship.  Computer  can be  used to reduce the time involved and to tailor the question is to the patient’s situation  with the help of the expert system.

(IV) In Education

Computers  are becoming increasingly  useful tools-of education.  It can bring to the educational  process  such attributes  as untiring patience,    around-the-clock   availability.  For some applications,  such  as routine  instructions, computers     can be superb  adjuncts  to the teacher,    The computers are also being used for educational   simulation in various subjects. For example, a program can be run which simulates an      Apollo moon landing.  This simulation  program  would  help a student to implement what  has been taugh tin    the theory  class. Not only this, the computers  are ideally suited for delivering  self paced instruction where      the course  objective and  contents  are well defined.  The learning process  of many subjects  can be enriched  because  of the scale and  range  of information provided by computer  databanks.  New methods  of training  like Computer-assisted   instruction  (CAI), Computer based training  (CBT) etc have since become realities. Let us discuss these new methods  of teaching in more details;  .                                                     .

CAI refers to a leaning situation  in which  the students  interact  with and  are guided  by a computer, through a course of study   aimed  at achieving certain  instructional   goals.  In a typical  CAI setting, the student  sits with a personal  computer  and communicates   with the  program . Interaction may take place in the  following  ways:    ‘                                               ,                                 ,

• The computer   presents  instructional,  information   and  questions.
• The students studies the information or instructions presented and answers the questions.
• The computer then accepts, analyzed and provides immediate feedback to the student’s response. It also maintains records of the student’s performance for evaluation purposes.

The simplest and most used form of CAI is the drill and practice approach that’s designed to complement     instruction     received    from  teachers   and  printed    materials    Student   response    is given  to factual  questions   presented    by the computer.    Learning   is facilitated   because   the computer    can quickly supply   correct  answers   as feedback   to a student’s    mistakes.   The drill-and-practice      approach    has been found   useful  in learning   areas  such  as mathematics,     statistics,   languages,    reading,   spelling,   etc. where substantial    memory   work  is required. A second   and  more  complex   level  of interaction    between   a student   and  a CAI computer    program is found   in the  tutorial   approach.    With  this  approach,    the program    assists  in presenting    new  material to the student.   The intent  of the tutorial   approach,    of course,  is to have  the computer   program   judge  the actions   of  a  student    and   very   patient    tutor   working    with   an  individual     student.    Numerous     sub- options   in the CAI program    permit   a choice  of materials   to be presented,    depending     on how  a student responded     to the previous    questions.

Another   method   education    that  is gaining   popularity    is Computer-based Training  using  multimedia.  To put  simply,  multimedia    Computer-based      Training   (CBT) is the use  of computers    and  multimedia  technology    for  training   in a way  that  promotes    student   interest   and  motivation.    The  computer’s multimedia     capability    to  show   graphics,    run   simulations,     and   play   sound,    video   and   animation greatly   enhances    the learning   experience.    Multimedia    creates  a complete   multi-sensory     learning   pro- gram,  allowing   students  to interact   with  the material,   and  to learn  according    to their  own  needs,   pace, and   learning    styles.   Rather   than   replacing    instructor-led      training,    CBT’s   flexibility    and   economy augment    traditional    training    methods.    In fact,  the  very  nature   of computer-based      training-its    avail- ability   at any  time  and  any  place-makes     it an  ideal  resource    for  on-the-job    training.   The  delivery   of training   to remote   locations,   multiple    offices,  and  to a variety   of training   levels  are all needs   that  CBT can satisfy  on both  performance     and  budgetary    levels.  Computer-based      training   can be delivered   on a floppy   disk,  or over  the Internet.

There  are  many  advantages     of using  computers    in educational    institutions.    They  provide   one~to- one  interaction     with   a  student,     as  well   as  an  instantaneous      response    to   the  answers,    and   allow students    to proceed   at their  own  pace.  Computers    are particularly     useful  in subjects   that  require   drill, freeing  teacher’s    time  from  classroom   tasks  so that  a teacher   can devote   more  time  on developing    new materials    and  doing   research.   A computer    program    can be used  diagnostically,     and  once  a student’s problem   has been  identified,    it can  then  focus  on the problem   area.  Finally,  because   of the privacy   and individual     attention    afforded    by  a computer,    some   students    are  relieved    of the  embarrassment       of giying   an incorrect   answer   publicly   or of going  more  slowly   through    lessons   than  other   classmates.

(V) For  Domestic    Purpose

Computers     have  also  entered    homes   in large  numbers.    Most  of the home  computers    are used  mainly  for entertainment,     but  they  have  great  potential   for education,    house- hold  management     and  household    control.   Today,  the computer    is fast becoming    a household    gadget, which  combines   a TV, a telephone,    an answering    machine,   a fax, a CD player   and  internet   connection, all  in one. Apart   from  it, the computer    offers  a lot of entertainment     for the entire  family,  like  games.  A key feature   in the entertainment     and  educational    aspect  of personal   computer    is interactivity;    the user is a participant     rather   than  a passive   observer.   Remote   working    or telecomputing    i.e., doing   a job from  home   is also  on  the  rise.  There  is also  a trend   of “small”   appliances    of various    types.   Besides microwave ovens and fully automatic washing machines, there are programmable recorders and radios, home security system and intelligence telephones, all controlled by built in computing devices.

(VI) For Entertainment

Another area computers have had a impact on is the entertainment area.Many people like science fiction or action movies,especially the one with the special effects Well, those graphics are mostly made by computers. Most of the movies today use computer graphics to make things more realistic. Computer graphics and special effects are mostly used on games like spaceships. Moreover, they linked to considerable financial risk in the case of lost or misfiled documents. Computers are potentially capable o storing, in a safe and rapidly accessible manner, a digitized document. It is therefore natural that since the introduction of computers in offices, there has been continuous discussion of the paperless office. Another objective of electronic filling system is to save on costly office space occupied from file storage. The first operational electronic filling systems is to save costly office space occupied from file storage. The first operational electronic filling systems were put into operation in the early 80’s. Two types of systems are currently available these days. One is based in a VHS cassette, and the other on an optical.