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The topics of study in Unit 1 are

In this unit you will get familiar with the ICT environment and learn how to use different tools for accessing the internet and communication with one another.  You will learn how to create your own personal digital library of resources.  The unit will introduce you to the history and development of ICT, the importance of Free and Open Source Software, Open Educational Resources and ethical practices in the use of ICT.

===A brief history of ICT===

===A brief history of ICT===

The term 'ICT' refers to those set of technologies that help us create information, access information, analyse information and communicate with one another.  Most of you must be using a cell phone to communicate, which even fifteen years ago would not have been the case with most students. A cell phone is a digital information and communication device, a part of the recent ICT revolution. Yet ICT are perhaps nearly as old as humanity itself, as human beings needed to communicate with one another, beginning with symbolic (non verbal) ways, before [[wikipedia:Language|language]] was invented. Language can be seen as the first 'ICT', it   enabled (oral) communication amongst human beings.   

The term 'ICT' refers to those set of technologies that help us create information, access information, analyse information and communicate with one another.  Most of you must be using a cell phone to communicate, which even fifteen years ago would not have been the case with most students. A cell phone is a digital information and communication device, a part of the recent ICT revolution. Yet ICT are perhaps nearly as old as humanity itself, as human beings needed to communicate with one another, beginning with symbolic (non verbal) ways, before [[wikipedia:Language|language]] was invented. Language can be seen as the first 'ICT', it   enabled (oral) communication amongst human beings.   

[[wikipedia:Writing_system|Script]] was the next ICT, invented around 5,000 years ago, which enabled information to be held distinct  from the communicator and be made available  beyond   the  limitation  of   space and time that oral communication imposed.  You would be learning more   about the processes of speaking and listening (comprising   oral   communication) and reading and writing (comprising written   communication) in your courses on language learning. Writing also enabled easier recording of human history and thus the invention of script was a landmark in the history of ICT. Invention of [[wikipedia:Printing|printing]] technologies scaled up the 'writing' process and enabled mass production of books. The invention of radio and television created the 'mass media' in which simultaneously the same message could be transmitted to thousands of people. Each ICT invention enabled the processes of information creation, sharing, storing and communicating to be easier, quicker, more efficient, enabling greater reach. Each ICT invention was a significant event in the evolution of human communication processes and caused an explosion in the availability of information. While human beings have always accessed information and communicated, what makes the present ICT special, is their digital nature, hence we can even refer to ICT as '[[wikipedia:Information_technology|digital technologies]]'.  

[[wikipedia:Writing_system|Script]] was the next ICT, invented around 5,000 years ago, which enabled information to be held distinct  from the communicator and be made available  beyond the limitation of space and time that oral communication imposed.  You would be learning more   about the processes of speaking and listening (comprising oral communication) and reading and writing (comprising written   communication) in your courses on language learning. Writing also enabled easier recording of human history and thus the invention of script was a landmark in the history of ICT. Invention of [[wikipedia:Printing|printing]] technologies scaled up the 'writing' process and enabled mass production of books. The invention of radio and television created the 'mass media' in which simultaneously the same message could be transmitted to thousands of people. Each ICT invention enabled the processes of information creation, sharing, storing and communicating to be easier, quicker, more efficient, enabling greater reach. Each ICT invention was a significant event in the evolution of human communication processes and caused an explosion in the availability of information. While human beings have always accessed information and communicated, what makes the present ICT special, is their digital nature, hence we can even refer to ICT as '[[wikipedia:Information_technology|digital technologies]]'.  

A brief history of ICT is provided in the table below

A brief history of ICT is provided in the table below

==== What all can a computer do? ====

==== What all can a computer do? ====

Have you ever wondered why a computer is different from a fridge?  One clue to the difference is the number of things a computer can do.  You can read a book, type a book, listen to music, play a video or access the internet.  Now your smart phone can also do many of these things.  What makes all these things possible is the operating system, a software that allows the computer to process inputs through the keyboard or mouse, process it and produce an output. An operating system software allows different parts of a computer to work together; an application software allows for different kinds of processes to be accomplished by the computer.  

Have you ever wondered why a computer is different from a fridge?  One clue to the difference is the number of things a computer can do.  You can read a book, type a book, listen to music, play a video or access the internet.  Now your smart phone can also do many of these things.  What makes all these things possible is the operating system, a software that allows the computer to process inputs through the keyboard or mouse, process it and produce an output. An operating system software allows different parts of a computer to work together; an application software allows for different kinds of processes to be accomplished by the computer. <gallery mode="packed" heights="350px" style="text-align:left">

A computer is a device which takes input, processes it and gives output which can be stored and shared. When you enter data into your computer, it is called as input. An input can be data like text or picture or an instruction on what to do with the data. This data is processed (process means to perform a series of operations on a set of data) and you will get the output. The software is what makes the computer and mobile so powerful. Learn more about the [http://www.computersciencelab.com/ComputerHistory/History.htm history of computers]. Like computers, tablets and mobile phones also allow you to process and share information digitally.  

A computer is a device which takes input, processes it and gives output which can be stored and shared. When you enter data into your computer, it is called as input. An input can be data like text or picture or an instruction on what to do with the data. This data is processed (process means to perform a series of operations on a set of data) and you will get the output. The software is what makes the computer and mobile so powerful. Learn more about the [http://www.computersciencelab.com/ComputerHistory/History.htm history of computers]. Like computers, tablets and mobile phones also allow you to process and share information digitally.  

Initially, the keyboard was the only device for providing instructions to the computer, but with the invention of the 'graphic user interface' (GUI in short), the mouse became an important input device. The mouse makes giving instructions much simpler by pointing the cursor to a place on the screen and clicking to select an instruction. You can become comfortable in using the mouse by practising with Tux Paint. Tux Paint features a simple interface and a fixed drawing area with access to previously made images using icons. [[Learn Tux Paint|Tux Paint]] is equipped with cartoon mascots which can encourage students to learn to use the mouse.

Initially, the keyboard was the only device for providing instructions to the computer, but with the invention of the 'graphic user interface' (GUI in short), the mouse became an important input device. The mouse makes giving instructions much simpler by pointing the cursor to a place on the screen and clicking to select an instruction. You can become comfortable in using the mouse by practising with Tux Paint. Tux Paint features a simple interface and a fixed drawing area with access to previously made images using icons. [[Learn Tux Paint|Tux Paint]] is equipped with cartoon mascots which can encourage students to learn to use the mouse.

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In addition, there are specialised hardware and software applications to support visually, hearing and speech challenged learners. Text to speech converters are useful for visually challenged such as the FOSS application [http://spoken-tutorial.org/tutorial-search/?search_foss=Orca&search_language= ORCA], speech to text converters can help those who are unable to use the keyboard and mouse as input devices (these are available on mobile phones now for simple tasks like making calls, searching the net etc.). On most screens, the font size can be increased (usually by simply selecting CTRL ++) to the size required, which can help some people with poor vision.

In addition, there are specialised hardware and software applications to support visually, hearing and speech challenged learners. Text to speech converters are useful for visually challenged such as the FOSS application [http://spoken-tutorial.org/tutorial-search/?search_foss=Orca&search_language= ORCA], speech to text converters can help those who are unable to use the keyboard and mouse as input devices (these are available on mobile phones now for simple tasks like making calls, searching the net etc.). On most screens, the font size can be increased (usually by simply selecting CTRL ++) to the size required, which can help some people with poor vision.

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# You would have many emails in your Inbox, you can save an email which has useful comments in your 'mail' folder on your computer, or on a mail folder on the web

# You would have many emails in your Inbox, you can save an email which has useful comments in your 'mail' folder on your computer, or on a mail folder on the web

[[Category:TE year 1 source book]]

[[Category:TE year 1 source book]]