Living in the Information Technology Era was written specifically for K-12 graduates who are

transitioning from senior high school to higher education. It is one of the 3-unit elective courses offered
for general education under the Mathematics, Science, and Technology domain. Using the same title of
the course as described by the Commission on Higher Education, this textbook explores the science,
culture, and ethics of information technology, its various uses and applications, as well as its influence
on culture and society. It also aims to strike a balance between conceptual instruction and socially- and
culturally-oriented discussions as it not only explains the basic concepts or key terms in IT but also
features the major IT trends along with the issues and challenges these developments bring. Moreover,
it uses the outcomes-based approach with assessment tests and tasks to effectively measure student
learning. This volume is divided into six chapters.

Chapter 1, Introduction to Information and Communications Technology, orients students to the

concepts of ICT and IT. It also examines the different parts of the computer system, and the categories
of computer peripherals, and assesses why computers are considered powerful thinking machines.

Chapter 2, Computers in our Daily Life, highlights the types of networks, wired and wireless connections
used in a computer system, as well as the desktop applications and mobile applications and their
relevance to day-to-day activities.

Chapter 3, The Internet and the World Wide Web, traces the origin of the Internet and its evolution,
describes how it works, and illustrates how it is used (e.g., how to search on the web). Information as a
resource is discussed in

Chapter 4, Information, Control, and Privacy. It also tackles the issues on information control and privacy
with reference to the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines and the Data Privacy Act of 2012. The
last two chapters focus on the trends and issues in IT. In

Chapter 5, IT, Culture, and the Society, the Internet of Things an automation are discussed in detail. The
influence of IT on culture and social behavior is likewise analyzed with emphasis on both the proper
netiquette and code of conduct for IT professionals and the negative practices in social media such as
cyberbullying. Finally,

Chapter 6, IT Trends, Issues, and Challenges features texts and articles that reinforce the use of IT and
the issues and challenges surrounding its application in various fields such as banking, education, health,
and business, among others. It is hoped that through this textbook, more knowledgeable and
responsible young netizens who are able to maximize the benefits of information technology without
compromising values and ethics will be developed.