UNIT 1

INTRODUCTION

In this lesson students will:

- Understand what ICT is?
- Get familiar with the following terms:

ICT Accounting package

store Computer Aided Design
retrieve Customer Relations Management
manipulate networks
computer-based technologies Internal networks
digital communication technologies local area network
Word processing External networks
Spreadsheets Wide Area Network
Database software Driver
Presentation software Virus
Desktop publishing Hardware
Graphics software Software

- Develop language skills on the topic of What ICT is.

PART A: ICT BASICS

Task 1. Read the passage from http://tutor2u.net/business/ict/intro_what_is_ict.htm/

a. Underline anything that you think important.

INTRODUCTION - WHAT IS ICT?

You see the letters ICT everywhere - particularly in education. But what does it mean? Read our
brief introduction to this important and fast-changing subject.
ICT is an acronym that stands for Information Communications Technology
However, apart from explaining an acronym, there is not a universally accepted definition of ICT?
Why? Because the concepts, methods and applications involved in ICT are constantly evolving on
an almost daily basis. It’s difficult to keep up with the changes - they happen so fast.
Let’s focus on the three words behind ICT:
• Information
• Communications
• Technology
A good way to think about ICT is to consider all the uses of digital technology that already exist
to help individuals, businesses and organizations use information.
ICT covers any product that will store, retrieve, manipulate, transmit or receive information
electronically in a digital form. For example, personal computers, digital television, email, 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.
In business, ICT is often categorized into two broad types of products:
1. The traditional computer-based technologies (things you can typically do on a personal
computer or using computers at home or at work); and
2. The more recent, and fast-growing range of digital communication technologies (which allow
people and organizations to communicate and share information digitally)
Let's take a brief look at these two categories to demonstrate the kinds of products and ideas that
are covered by ICT:

Traditional Computer Based Technologies

These types of ICT include:
Application Use
Standard Office Applications - Main Examples
Word processing E.g. Microsoft Word: Write letters, reports etc
Spreadsheets E.g. Microsoft Excel; Analyze financial information; calculations; create
forecasting models etc
Database software E.g. Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, Access; Managing data in many forms,
from basic lists (e.g. customer contacts through to complex material (e.g.
catalogue)
Presentation E.g. Microsoft PowerPoint; make presentations, either directly using a
software computer screen or data projector. Publish in digital format via email or over
the Internet
Desktop E.g. Adobe Indesign, Quark Express, Microsoft Publisher; produce
publishing newsletters, magazines and other complex documents.

Graphics software E.g. Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator; Macromedia Freehand and Fireworks;
create and edit images such as logos, drawings or pictures for use in DTP,
web sites or other publications
Specialist Applications - Examples (there are many!)
Accounting E.g. Sage, Oracle; Manage an organization’s accounts including
package revenues/sales, purchases, bank accounts etc. A wide range of systems is
available ranging from basic packages suitable for small businesses through
to sophisticated ones aimed at multinational companies.
Computer Aided Computer Aided Design (CAD) is the use of computers to assist the design
Design process. Specialized CAD programs exist for many types of design:
architectural, engineering, electronics, roadways
Customer Software that allows businesses to better understand their customers by
Relations collecting and analyzing data on them such as their product preferences,
Management buying habits etc. Often linked to software applications that run call centres
(CRM) and loyalty cards for example.

Digital Communication Technologies

The C part of ICT refers to the communication of data by electronic means, usually over some
distance. This is often achieved via networks of sending and receiving equipment, wires and
satellite links.
The technologies involved in communication tend to be complex. You certainly don't need to
understand them for your ICT course. However, there are aspects of digital communications that
you need to be aware of. These relate primarily to the types of network and the ways of connecting
to the Internet. Let's look at these two briefly.
Internal networks
Usually referred to as a local area network (LAN), this involves linking a number of hardware
items (input and output devices plus computer processing) together within an office or building.
The aim of a LAN is to be able to share hardware facilities such as printers or scanners, software
applications and data. This type of network is invaluable in the office environment where
colleagues need to have access to common data or programs.
External networks
Often you need to communicate with someone outside your internal network; in this case you will
need to be part of a Wide Area Network (WAN). The Internet is the ultimate WAN - it is a vast
network of networks.

As you can see, ICT is a broad and fast-changing subject.

b. Answer the following questions.

1. What is ICT according to the passage?
2. What are the main types of ICT products? Give examples.
3. What are the two main types of traditional computer-based technologies? What is the
difference between them?
4. What are digital communication technologies?
5. What are two types of networks? Give examples.

Task 2. Complete the notes of the reading passage in Task 1.

- ICT = …………………………………………………………, a fast-changing subject.

- ICT is concerned with ……………………………………………………
- Two types of ICT products are: ………………………………………………….. and
……………………………………………………
- Traditional Computer-based technologies includes ……………………………………….
(e.g. ……………………………………………………………) and
………………………………………………….. (e.g. …………………………………..)
 - Digital communication technologies mean ………………………………………………..
This can be done via 2 types of networks: ………………………………………………

PART B: LANGUAGE SKILLS

Task 3. You are going to listen to a talk about ICT.

a. Listen to Part 1 of the talk and answer the following questions

1. What does the lecturer say about ICT? Tick the best choice.
• It is about computers
• It is about information.
• It is about playing computer games.
• It is more than just using a computer.
2. What is the role of a computer in an ICT system?
3. What should we do to understand the term ICT?

b. In Part 2 of the talk, the lecturer mentions virus and driver. Listen and complete the table
below.
Words Intrinsic meaning Meaning in ICT context
Virus …………………………….. ………………………………..
a program or a piece of
……………………………..
a small oganism that causes ………………………………..
disease/death in living thing code that stops a
…………………………….. ………………………………..
computer working
normally
Driver ………………………………..
a program that enables a
xxx ………………………………..
computer to use peripheral
………………………………..
device, such as printer driver
(e.g. printer driver) trình điều khiển

c. In Part 3 of the talk, the lecturer describes different places where ICT has an impact. Listen
and answer the questions below.
1. What are the different places? home, schook univer, hospital industry, commerce
2. What are some of the technologies used in each place?

d. In the final part of the talk the lecturer talks about information system and communication
systems.
1. Listen and mark each word in the box E if it is an example and D if it is part of the definition.
Communicate ……………… Process ……………..
Data ……………… Store …………………
Email ……………… Using technology ……………
Mobile phone ……………… Web page …………………
 2. Listen and complete the notes below.
- Technology = ……………………………………………..
- Information = ……………………………………………..
- In ICT context information = ……………………………. It can be represented in different
forms such as ……………………………………………………………………… Some
examples are ………………………………………………………………….
- Communication = ………………………………………………………….. It can be
……………………………… (e.g. …………………………………………..) or
………………………………..( e.g. …………………………………………….)
3. What is ICT?

Task 4. Reading:
a. Before reading: Discussion point.
• How do you apply ICT into your work or studies? What do you think are its advantages
and disadvantages?
• Look at the following pictures.
Factory: automatic robot office: online meeting

offline meeting
employees

hand writing mental arithmetic

company: check product supermarket: cash register

a.1. As seen from the pictures, which environments are ICT being used in?
a.2. What is the purpose of the use of ICT in each picture?
a.3. Before ICT was introduced, how had those tasks be done?

b. Read the text and complete the following exercises.

 I(nformation and) C(ommunication) T(echnology) at Work

A ICT plays a key role in business today. In fact, its use is now so widespread that it is difficult
to succeed without it. Rapid developments in the ICT sector in the last two decades have produced
a huge range of new products and services. These include products such as personal computers
(PCs), notebooks and fax machines, and services such as e-mail, intranet and the Internet.
Businesses of all sizes and types use computer-based systems like these because they offer a better
way to work - one which can save time and money.
B Firstly, ICT is a faster and more efficient way for people to communicate. Businesses no
longer have to rely on slow postal services. They can send and receive information and documents
by text, e-mail or fax. Video-conferencing means people do not need to travel long distances to
attend meetings. ICT provides a way for people within an organization to contact each other
quickly and share work. It also means that they can work with people around the world.
C ICT is also used to input, store and manage information. One common use of office
computers is to record, find and work with information. For example, businesses use word-
processing (WP) or desktop publishing (DTP) packages to produce company documents, and
databases to store customer details and produce mailing lists. In the past, these tasks took hours,
days or even weeks and produced a lot of paperwork. With ICT they take less time and cost less.
Such electronic systems also save storage space.
D Another area where ICT is important is the retail industry. Most items on sale in shops have
a small black and white label called a bar code. Many shops combine bar-coding with electronic
point-of-sale (EPOS) systems. The customer takes an item to the cashier, who uses a scanning
device to read the bar code and find out the price of the item. The EPOS system logs each sale and
helps the shop manager to decide which products to reorder from the supplier. Some EPOS systems
are even programmed to do the ordering.
E Manufacturers use new technology to design and build products. At the design stage, they
use computer-aided design (CAD) software to produce new ideas and designs. In the production
stage, many companies use robots. These are machines that do the work of people, and are
controlled by computer-assisted manufacturing (CAM) programs. Robots can carry out routine,
complex and dangerous procedures. They can work 24 hours a day and the standard of their work
remains constant because they do not get tired or bored. As a result, companies can improve their
production rates without losing quality.
F New technology, then, offers a range of benefits. Firstly, it saves time. Tasks that once took
a long time to do by hand now take a fraction of that time. Secondly, ICT improves communication
between people, speeding up business transactions and decision-making, and opening up new
markets around the world. Thirdly, inexpensive ICT solutions can often replace expensive people.
Consequently, companies can reduce the size of their workforce and their wage bills. Finally, ICT
can increase the quantity and improve the quality of goods produced, which may also increase
profits.
G However, it is important to understand that there are costs as well as benefits. ICT systems
can be very expensive. Companies have to choose systems which suit their needs and are cost
effective before investing in ICT. They have to consider several factors. Firstly, technology is
constantly developing, which means that systems need to be regularly upgraded. Another issue is
staff training. There is no point installing an ICT system if workers cannot use it. Lastly, there is
the cost of technical support, such as a helpdesk, to ensure that everything runs well on a daily
basis.

Questions 1-4
Which paragraph includes the idea mentioned in each of these statements?

F1. With efficient ICT methods, businesses can decrease their budget spent for human
resources.
A 2. ICT products and services are essential for the development of current business sector.
G 3. Constant upgrades in ICT devices are necessary to help companies work effectively.
B 4. Video calls in meetings helps avoid long-distance travelling.

Questions 5-7
Translate the three terms mentioned in the text: DTP package, EPOS and CAD software. Match
the following pictures with these terms appropriately.

EPOS: Điểm điện tử bán

hàng
DTP package: Chế bản
điện tử

1. 2.

3.
CAD software: phần mềm thiết kế được sự hỗ trợ của máy tính

Question 8
Writing skill – Individual work:
Write a short conclusion for the text based on what you have read. In this conclusion, you
should summarize main points stated in the reading text as well as relevant recommendations
regarding ICT use in business.

Task 5. Speaking.
a. Work in pair and try to find different ICT technologies (applications) used in these
differences.

At home In education In business and In industry In hospitals

commerce
Computer games Interactive board Teleworking CAD Robot surgery
……………….. ………………..
………………. ………………. ……………….. ……………….. ………………..
………………. ………………. ………………. ………………. ……………….
………………. ………………. ……………….

b. Give some examples of ways in which ICT has changed things in recent times.

Writing skill – Individual work:

Write a short conclusion for the text based on what you have read. In this conclusion, you
should summarize main points stated in the reading text as well as relevant recommendations
regarding ICT use in business

In conclusion, it cannot be denied that ICT brings a lot of benefits to individuals

and large organizations or companies. With software or products created and
constantly upgraded for each tasks, work efficiency is increasingly improved.
However, if anyone wants to involve bussiness in the ICT field, it should be
considered since the great benefits always come with high risks.