“Information and Communications Technology, a Tool for a Brighter Future, A key for Progress”

            Information and communications technology has been a very useful tool for recording information and passing knowledge from one generation to another. Indeed, without information technology, the progress of the world in terms of globalization would be a lot slower or maybe there would be no progress at all, because information about new discoveries wouldn’t be recorded and it would be difficult to pass on the exact information to other people and to the next generation.

            Recent economic history has shown that, as developed countries approach the technological frontier, ICT is crucial for them to continue innovating in their processes and products and to maintain their competitive advantage. Equally importantly, ICT has proven instrumental for enabling developing and middle-income economies to leapfrog to higher stages of development and fostering economic and social transformation. (SCHWAB, 2009)

            Information and communications technology (I.C.T.) is often used as an extended synonym for information technology (IT), but is a more specific term that stresses the role of unified communications^[1] and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals), computers as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage, and audio-visual systems, which enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information. (Carnoy, 2005)

            I found various articles and essays stating how important Information Technology is. One of which say:  “The Information isn’t just a natural history of a powerful idea; it embodies and transmits that idea, it is a vector for its memes (as Dawkins has it), and it is a toolkit for disassembling the world. It is a book that vibrates with excitement, and it transmits that excited vibration with very little signal loss. It is a wonder. (Doctorow, 2011)” .  

            “ICT has the potential to “bridge the knowledge gap” in terms of improving quality of education, increasing the quantity of quality educational opportunities, making knowledge building possible through borderless and boundless accessibility to resources and people, reaching populations in remote areas to satisfy their basic right to education.” (ADB, 2009)  .

            Information and communication technologies (ICT) has proven to be a key enabler of socioeconomic progress and development, enhancing productivity and therefore economic growth, reducing poverty and improving living standards in many ways. ICT is increasingly revolutionizing production processes, access to markets, and information sources together with social interactions. ICT also has an impact on government efficiency, fostering transparency and better communication and services with and to citizens. (SOUMITRA DUTTA and IRENE MIA, 2009)

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