Information and communications technology or information and communication technology,[1] usually abbreviated as ICT, is often used as an extended synonym for information technology (IT), but is usually a more general term that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals), computers, middleware as well as necessary software, storage- and audio-visual systems, which enable users to create, access, store, transmit, and manipulate information. In other words, ICT consists of IT as well as telecommunication, broadcast media, all types of audio and video processing and transmission and network based control and monitoring functions.[2] The expression was first used in 1997[3] in a report by Dennis Stevenson to the UK government[4] and promoted by the new National Curriculum documents for the UK in 2000.
The term ICT is now also used to refer to the merging (convergence) of audio-visual and telephone networks with computer networks through a single cabling or link system. There are large economic incentives (huge cost savings due to elimination of the telephone network) to merge the audio-visual, building management and telephone network with the computer network system using a single unified system of cabling, signal distribution and management. This in turn has spurred the growth of organizations with the term ICT in their names to indicate their specialization in the process of merging the different network systems.
Some of the dangers of ICTs include cyber-bullying, phishing as well as masquerading.
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ICT is often used in the context of "ICT roadmap" to indicate the path that an organization will take with their ICT needs[5]. It is also used as an overarching term in many schools, universities and colleges stretching from Information Systems/Technology at the organisational end through to Software Engineering and Computer Systems Engineering at the other[6].
Standards are very important for ICT, since they define the language that enables the technologies to understand each other. This is especially relevant because the key idea behind ICT is that information storage devices can communicate in media-frictionless manner with communication networks and computing systems. Open standards play a special role, as well as standards organizations such as the Telecommunications Industry Association in the United States and ETSI in Europe.
Recently, many companies are coming up with campaigns to promote ICT and how it can be used to protect nature. Wipro was a leading company that organized Earthian, wherein students came up with ideas to use technology to benefit society.
UNESCO's Information for All Program (IFAP) provides a platform for discussion of and action on ethical, legal and societal consequences of ICT developments.
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