ICT is an acronym which stands for Information Communications Technology. However, there isn’t a universally accepted definition of it due to the concepts and methods applied to ICT are continuously changing; making it difficult to keep up with such changes. You may want to think about ICT through considering all the uses of digital technology that already exist to help individuals, businesses and organisations utilise information. ICT covers any product which can store, retrieve, manipulate, transmits or receives information electronically in a digital form e.g., personal computers, digital television, email and robots. So ICT is concerned with the storage, retrieval, manipulation, transmission or receipt of digital data. Importantly, it is also concerned with the way these different uses can work with each other. Within business, ICT is often categorised into two broad types of product: 1) The traditional computer-based technologies (things you can typically do on a personal computer or using computers at home or at work) 2) The more recent and fast-growing range of digital communication technologies (which allow people and organisations to communicate and share information digitally) Traditional Computer Based Technologies These types of ICT include: Standard Office applications – main examples
Application
Use
Word processing
E.g. Microsoft Word: Write letters, reports etc

Spreadsheets
E.g. Microsoft Excel; Analyse financial information; calculations; create forecasting models etc
Database software
E.g. Microsoft Excel; Analyse financial information; calculations; create forecasting models etc
Desktop publishing
E.g. Adobe In design, Quark Express, Microsoft Publisher; produce newsletters, magazines and other complex documents.
Graphics software
E.g. Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator; create and edit images such as logos, drawings or pictures for use in DTP, web sites or other publications
Accounting package
E.g. Sage, Oracle; Manage an organisation's accounts including revenues/sales, purchases, bank accounts etc.

Computer aided design
Computer Aided Design (CAD) is the use of computers to assist the design process. Specialised CAD programs exist for many types of design: architectural, engineering, electronics, roadways

Customer relations management (CRM)
Software that allows businesses to better understand their customers by collecting and analysing data on them such as their product preferences, buying habits etc Specialist Applications – examples (there are many) Traditional Computer Based TechnologiesThe C part of ICT is referring to the communication of data by electronic means, generally over a vast distance. This is normally achieved through networks of sending and receiving equipment, wires and satellite links. Internal networks This usually refers to a local area network (LAN) and it necessitates linking a number of hardware items (input and output devices plus computer processing) together within an office or building. The objective of a LAN is to share hardware facilities such as printers or scanners, software applications and data. This type of network can be seen as invaluable in the office environment where colleagues need to have access to common data or programmes. External networks With this, you often require communication with someone outside your internal network; in this regard you will need to be part of a Wide Area Network (WAN). The Internet is the ultimate WAN. ICT in a Broader Context An AS ICT course will most likely consider the following important topics that deal with the way ICT is used and managed in an organisation: * The nature of information (the "I" in ICT); this covers topics such as the meaning and value of information; how information is controlled; the limitations of ICT and legal considerations * Management of information which examines how data is captured, verified and stored for effective use; the manipulation, processing and distribution of information; keeping information secure and designing networks to share information * Information systems strategy which deals with how ICT can be used within a business or organisation as part of achieving goals and objectives You can expect studying AS ICT to benefit you in the future in regards to education and employment due to the accelerating developments in ICT within the last 100 years which has had drastic effects on contemporary society. Technology within the 21st Century has shaped the daily lives of people across the World and many of it we see today will continue to do this for years to come. Through using ICT, we will remain to advance, empower and transform the lives of everyone, hopefully for the better. Through gaining an insight in ICT, you are capable of placing yourself at an advantage when seeking employment; particularly if it is strongly IT related due to possessing the necessary knowledge required. It shouldn’t come to a surprise, but ICT influences employment and creates new paths for job establishment which can undertake the problem of global unemployment for example.

REFERENCES: http://www.tutor2u.net/business/ict/intro_what_is_ict.htm http://www.ichoosetechnology.com.au/home/what-is-ict/ict-in-the-future