Agriculture Information Systems 3 Information and Communication Technology in Business Information Systems 4 Information and Communication Technology in News Broadcast stations 4 Information and Communication Technology in Education and Library Information Systems 5 Information and Communication Technology in Health Information Management Systems 5 Information and Communication Technology in Scientific and Technological Research 6 Information Communication Technology in Disaster and Metrological Survey Management 6 Conclusion 7 Bibliography 8 Introduction In the UNESCO training module for CIT, Information Communications
Technologies (CIT) are described as the technologies that enable society to create, collect, consolidate, communicate, manage and process information in multimedia and various digital formats for different purposes, i. E. , computing and telecommunications technologies like the personal computer, CD-ROOM, cable TV, cellular phones and the Internet (David, 2001).
The term Information and communications technology (CIT) is also often used as an extended synonym for information technology (IT), but is a more specific term that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications such as loophole lines and wireless signals, computers as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage, and audiovisual systems which enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information (Wisped: 2014).
These views have been supported in the work of Rodriguez and Wilson (2000) who see CIT as a set of activities which facilitate and enhance the processing, transmission and dissemination of information by electronic means. Moreover, ESCAPE (2000) also perceived CIT as techniques people use in order to share, distribute, and gather information for communicating through computers and computer outworks.
They further refer it to the convergence of audio-visual and telephone networks with computer networks through a single cabling or link system that they allude to have large economic incentives to merge the telephone network with the computer network system using a single unified system of cabling, signal distribution and management. Information and Communication Technology (CIT) usage in various sectors of Information Management A healthy information society is concerned with getting reliable and timely information to its members (O & E. , F Gobo: 2008). Information and Communication
Technology (CIT) has many applications and uses in the management of information in various areas such as Agriculture, Broadcasting, Business, Public health, Education and Library, Finance and Science and Technology. Information and Communication Technology in Agriculture Information Systems According to Kumar and Best (2002) CIT needs to be viewed as a tool and as a means for development not as a magic bullet, the impact of improved CIT access on farm earnings through increased knowledge of market prices will be of no use if there are no roads to carry crops to the markets, or no markets because of n unreformed agricultural sector.
Secondly, even in demand driven economy electricity, telephony and other connectivity cannot grow as long as the demand for such resources is developed. Information network can be viewed as the pipeline through which capital can flow into the villages and rural areas through a new form of non-discriminatory, relatively clean and relatively UN-oppressive industrial and commercial activities.
CIT based network can actually compensate the rural or underdeveloped economy by providing an alternative means of communication such as online work, trade, payment, networked service delivery yester etc, that might allow the users to overcome the problems of weak or poor infrastructure (Kumar & Best: 2002). Information and Communication Technology in Business Information Systems The Internet has become an indispensable tool. Information Communication Technology is now used together with processing systems are now used at organization headquarters for Accounting, Finances, Sales and Marketing as well as Human Resources.
Exchange information system and investment is a system that is used in Finances sector. Sales system and marketing information systems are elating to sales and marketing systems ND staffing system, payroll are transactions processing systems that related human resource (Headlining, A. Teal :2013). Exonerates (2013) says in his article states that “Acts such as website, portals and social networks are a very suitable marketing tool in order to foster viral dissemination of the business’ results and enhance the customer engagement efforts by promoting the flow of communication and number of transactions or sales”.
Information and Communication Technology in News Broadcast stations Recent research (Finance: 2013) has found that information and communication technology not only acclimates and enhances the creation, processing, sharing and dissemination of information in the broadcast industry but the immediacy and timeliness of news has become of a high priority. The author further alludes that notwithstanding, with CIT, the spread information, has become infinitely faster and cheaper and readily available. Before now, there was a significant time lag separating the point when an event took place, and the time when the news maybe publicly made available.
To buttress this, Adage (2010) cited Sparrow (2009) when he noted that CIT is seen as the integration and utilization of computer cosmologies for the purpose of disseminating information to a target destination or consumer without the constraint of time and space. In addition Acts have made it even easier to publish information in real time, updating breaking news and events as they occur. (Mug, 2006). Information and Communication Technology in Education and Library Information Systems According to Aristocrat (2012) during the last two decades countries have invested heavily in Acts.
He further comments that CIT has had a major impact on the education sector, on organization and on teaching and learning methods. Susan (2011) states that “CIT as changed the traditional methods of library activities and services providing new dimensions for teaching, learning and research in higher educational institutions”. The adoption of ‘CT, has been characterized by important enhancements of the learning process and some developments of e-learning or CIT enabled learning (Blanks et al. , 2006).
Susan (2011) again states that “with the help of CIT tools, it is possible to store, retrieve, disseminate and organize information by creating websites and databases and that information is now published both electronically and by print making it accessible to users according o their demands”. It is important to assess the CIT applications in library and information centre in the context of changing user needs (Susan: 2011). Comma (2008) points out that ‘some studies reveal a positive correlation between the availability of computer access or computer use and attainment especially in web based learning and correspondence’.
In addition, Susan (2011) says that latest devices for information communication have resulted in the expeditious dissemination of information and revolutionized the information handling activities in research and academic libraries across the world. The platform of Internet and WWW has helped to change the ways of accessing and locating information and thereby change the functions of an academic librarian and academic library in the modern information society (Ballerinas, 1996).
Information and Communication Technology in Health Information Management Systems A health management information system (WHIMS) is designed to integrate data collection, processing, reporting, and use for the improvement of patient health services, effectiveness and efficiency through better management of patient data at all levels of implementation (Archangel, 2007). These systems incorporate all the patient data and hospital data with the use of information processing tools consisting of computer systems based on various hardware platforms and software products offered by (several) vendors.
WHO (2006) Millennium Development. Goals Report stated that “To provide optimal care, healthcare institutions need timely patient information from various sources at the point-of-care, and need a comprehensive, complete and fully functional system to fulfill all these needs”. One way to achieve this is through the use of CIT in health care. It encompasses the full range of electronic digital and analogue CIT, from radio and television to telephones (fixed and mobile), computers, electronic-based media such as digital text and audio-video recording, and the Internet, but excludes the non-electronic technologies (WHO, 2004).
Information and Communication Technology in Scientific and Technological Research Using the Internet to Disseminate information (Anon. , 2004) states that “Information technologies in science and technology have enabled professionals in Science and Technology to work collaboratively through effective and efficient use of the technology. The ability to disseminate and promote one’s work and search is an important component of managing and communicating health information. By disseminating information, an organization can reach members of its target audience and have a greater impact on policy and programming.
The Internet can serve as an invaluable tool in this effort to communicate health information across a wide audience. Electronic news services and dissemination websites are additional methods of communicating information. CIT has thus allowed practitioners from various disciplines all over the world regardless their proximity, to exchange ideas, competences, and knowledge using the vast options of the technology it provides. Furthermore, these technologies are used to manage, control and monitor complex information on traffic on airways, highways, and space aviation, maritime transport systems.
Such coordination and application help in preventing and safeguarding property and human life that utilize these modes of transport networks”. Information Communication Technology in Disaster and Metrological Survey Management Patriarchates (2012) comments that Acts in form of voice, data or video signals and can provide a disaster management approaches from reactive and response centric to reactive and holistic one, for sustainability of development work in the nation, including the global initiative of Tampere Convention for deployment of all available Telecommunication Resources in the nation for disaster management.
He further states that Governments are able to establish a communication network to meet the requirements of dedicated disaster communication in crucial facets of natural hazards in disaster biz floods, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides with their respective profile with country. The again same author goes on to say that “Acts such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS) can revived a valuable support during various phases. During the preparedness and response phases, GIS can support better response planning for determining evacuation routes or locating critical infrastructure and vital lifelines, etc.
Based on the information provided by GIS, it is also possible to estimate what quantity of food supplies, bed space, clothes, medicine, location of fire stations and paramedical will be required at each shelter based on the number of expected evacuees. Similarly, GIS facilitates online monitoring of the status of ongoing work in the recovery phase. ” (Patriarchates: 2012). Conclusion Information and communication technology (CIT) is one of the most important driving forces promoting economic growth in any economy.
Adage (2010) says it has over the years has not only immensely benefited the broadcast industry in helping bridge the time lag between when an event took place and the time it is availed to the public but made the processing of news and reporting to be immediate, timely thereby reducing the space constraints of the ‘death of distance’. It has also revolutionized news processing, news packaging, and news reporting through enhancing and improving news delivery as timely as Seibel.
Patriarchates (2012) also remarks on the two broad areas of disaster management in which CIT is used to deal with raising awareness, and including preparations and planning to reduce vulnerabilities through, among other things, an understanding of the process, modeling, monitoring, early warning systems, forecasting, hazard risk mapping, knowledge hubs and education. Recent researches (Aristocrat, 2012; Blanks et al. , 2006; Ballerinas, 1996 & Susan, 2011) all agree to the fact that e-based resources in education and library through CIT provide useful resourceful materials.
