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ICT
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Stands for "Information and Communication Technologies." ICT refers to technologies that provide access to information through telecommunications. It is similar to Information Technology (IT), but focuses primarily on communication technologies. This includes the Internet, wireless networks, cell phones, and other communication mediums.
In the past few decades, information and communication technologies have provided society with a vast array of new communication capabilities. For example, people can communicate in real-timewith others in different countries using technologies such as instant ...view middle of the document...
The actual machinery -- wires,transistors, and circuits -- is called hardware; the instructions and data are called software.
All general-purpose computers require the following hardware components:
memory: enables a computer to store, at least temporarily, data and programs.
mass storage device: allows a computer to permanently retain large amounts of data. Common mass storage devices include disk drives and tape drives.
input device: usually a keyboard and mouse, the input device is the conduit through which data and instructions enter a computer.
output device: a display screen, printer, or other device that lets you see what the computer has accomplished.
central processing unit (CPU): the heart of the computer, this is the component that actually executes instructions.
In addition to these components, many others make it possible for the basic components to work together efficiently. For example, every computer requires a bus that transmits data from one part of the computer to another.
Computer Classification, By Size and Power
Computers can be generally classified by size and power as follows, though there is considerable overlap:
personal computer: a small, single-user computer based on amicroprocessor. In addition to the microprocessor, a personal computer has a keyboard for entering data, a monitor for displaying information, and a storage device for saving data.
workstation: a powerful, single-user computer. A workstation is like a personal computer, but it has a more powerful microprocessor and a higher-quality monitor.
minicomputer: a multi-user computer capable of supporting from 10 to hundreds of users simultaneously.
mainframe: a powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting many hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously.
supercomputer: an extremely fast computer that can perform hundreds of millions of instructions per second.
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