EMPOWERMENT L1

Empowerment
Technologies

LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION AND

COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES

What is Information and Communications
Technology?
Deals with the use of different communication
technologies such as mobile phones, telephone,
Internet to locate, save, send and edit information.

Convergence

the synergy of technological advancements to work
on a similar goal or task.

Computer

Computer - an electronic device for storing and
processing data, typically in binary form, according
to instructions given to it in a variable program.

The Internet

Internet - is a worldwide system of computer
networks which the users at any one computer can
use to get information from any other computer.

The World Wide Web

World Wide Web - an information system on the internet that allows
documents to be connected to other documents by hypertext links,
enabling the user to search for information by moving from one
document to another.

The World Wide Web

Tim Berners-Lee - the inventor of the World Wide Web.

Semantic Web - provides a common framework that
allows data to be shared and reused across application,
enterprise, and community boundaries.

The World Wide Web

Web page - is a hypertext document connected to
the World Wide Web. It is a document that is
suitable for the World Wide Web.

The World Wide Web

Web 1.0 - static websites without interactivity.

Web 2.0 - websites that contain dynamic content.

Web 3.0 - a concept of the World Wide Web that is designed to cater to the
individual user.

Static - refers to web pages that are the same regardless of the user.

Dynamic - refers to web pages that are affected by user input or
preference.

The World Wide Web

Social media - websites, applications, or online channels that
enable users to create, co-create, discuss, modify, and

exchange user-generated content.

Hashtag - used to "categorize" posts in website.

Features of Web 2.0

1. Folksonomy - allows users to categorize and classify/arrange
information.

2. Rich User Experience - content is dynamic and is responsive
to user's input.

3. User Participation - the owner of the website is not the only
one who is able to put content. Others are able to place a
content of their own by means of comments, reviews, and
evaluation, Some websites allow readers to comment on an
article, participate in a poll, or review a specific product.

Features of Web 2.0

4. Long Tail - services that are offered on demand rather than
on a one-time purchase.

5. Software as a Service - users will subscribe to a software
only when needed rather than purchasing them.

6. Mass Participation - diverse information sharing through
universal web access. The content is based on people from
various cultures.

Web 3.0 Problems:

1. Compatibility - HTML files and current web browsers could not
support Web 3.0.

2. Security - the user's security is also in question since the
machine is saving his or her preferences.

Web 3.0 Problems:

3. Vastness - the World Wide Web already contains billions of web
pages.

4. Vagueness - Certain words are imprecise or inaccurate.

5. Logic - there are certain limitations for a computer to be able to
predict what the user is referring to at a given time.

Trends in ICT

1. Convergence - is the synergy of technological advancements to work on a similar
goal or task.

2. Social media - a website, application, or online channel that enables web users
to create, co-create, discuss, and exchange user-generated content.

3. Mobile Technologies

4. Assistive Media - a service to help people who have visual and reading
impairments.

Open Source - means several mobile phone companies use this OS for free.

Social Media

a) Social Networks - these are sites that allow you to connect with other people with
the same interests or background. Examples: Facebook and Google+

b) Bookmarking Sites - these are sites that allow you to store and manage links to
various websites and resources. Most of these sites allow you to create a tag that
allows you and others to easily search or share them. Examples: StumbleUpon and
Pinterest

c) Social News - these are sites that allow users to post their own news items or
links to other news sources. The users can also comment on the post and comments
may also be ranked. They are also capable of voting on these news articles of the
website. Those who get the most amount of votes are shown most prominently.
Examples: reddit and Digg

Social Media

d) Media Sharing - These are sites that allow you to upload and share media content
like images, music, and video. Most of these sites have additional social features like
liking, commenting, and having user profiles. Examples: Flicker, YouTube, and
Instagram.

e) Microblogging - these are sites that focus on short updates from the user. Those
subscribed to the user will be able to receive these updates. Examples: Twitter and
Plurk

f) Blogs and Forums - these websites allow users to post their content. Other users
are able to comment on the said topic. There are several free blogging platforms like
Blogger, WordPress, and Tumblr.

Mobile Technologies

Smartphones and tablets - devices with capability to do tasks
that were originally found in personal computers. Several of
these devices are capable of using high-speed Internet.
Today, the latest mobile devices use 4G Networking (LTE),
which is currently the fastest mobile network.

Different mobile devices Operating Systems:

a) iOS - used in Apple devices such as the iPhone and iPad.

b) Android — an open source operating system developed by Google.

c) Blackberry OS - used in Blackberry devices

d) Windows Phone OS - a closed source and proprietary operating system
developed by Microsoft

e) Symbian - the original smartphone OS; used by Nokia devices

f) WebOS - originally used for smartphones; now used for smart TVs

g) Windows Mobile - developed by Microsoft for smartphones and pocket PCs

Internet Threats

1. Malware - stands for malicious software.

a) Virus - a malicious program designed to replicate itself and transfer from one
computer to another either through the Internet and local networks or data storage
like flash drives and CDs.

b) Worm - a malicious program that transfers from one computer to another by any
type of means. Often, it uses a computer network to spread itself. For example, the
ILOVEYOU worm (Love Bug Worm) created by a Filipino.

c) Trojan - a malicious program that is disguised as a useful program but once
downloaded or installed, leaves your PC unprotected and allows hackers to get your
information.

Internet Threats

*Rogue security software - tricks the user into posing that it is a security software, It
asks the user to pay to improve his/her security but in reality, they are not protected
at all.

d) Spyware - a program that runs in the background without you knowing it (thus
called "spy"). It has the ability to monitor what you are currently doing and typing
through keylogging.

*Keyloggers - used to record the keystroke done by the users. This is done to steal
their password or any other sensitive information. It can record email, messages, or
any information you type using your keyboard.

e) Adware - a program designed to send you advertisements, mostly as pop-ups.

Internet Threats

2. Spam - unwanted email mostly from bots or advertisers. It can be
used to send malware.

3. Phishing - Its goal is to acquire sensitive personal information like
passwords and credit card details. This is done by sending you an
email that will direct the user to visit a website and be asked to
update his/her username, password, credit card, or personal
information.

*Pharming - a more complicated way of phishing where it exploits the
DNS (Domain Name Service) system.