ICT, IT Applications and Emerging Trends
ICT, IT Applications and Emerging Trends
This domain tests how information and communication technology is applied in society and the vocabulary of newer technologies.
ICT and applications
- ICT covers hardware, software, networks, and services used to create, store, process, and exchange information.
- E-governance: online public services such as certificates, tax filing, and grievance portals.
- E-commerce: buying/selling online; models include B2B, B2C, C2C.
- E-learning, telemedicine, and IT-enabled services (BPO, help desks) depend on networks and databases.
- ICT can widen the digital divide when access, skills, or infrastructure are unequal.
Emerging trends
- Cloud computing: on-demand computing resources; IaaS, PaaS, SaaS are service models.
- IoT: everyday devices with sensors and network connectivity exchanging data.
- AI/ML: AI is the broader goal of machine intelligence; ML is a subset where systems learn from data.
- Big data: high volume, velocity, and variety requiring specialised processing.
- Blockchain: distributed ledger with chained, tamper-evident records.
- AR/VR, 5G, and quantum computing extend interaction, connectivity, and computation.
Worked example
A school uses an online learning platform hosted by a provider; users log in through a browser and pay monthly. This is SaaS: the provider manages servers and software, while the school consumes the application. If the school instead rented virtual machines and installed its own learning software, that would be IaaS. Reasoning: the deciding factor is whether the provider supplies the application or only the infrastructure.
Traps
- Treating AI and ML as synonyms.
- Calling any internet-connected device IoT without sensors/data exchange.
- Confusing SaaS with IaaS.
- Ignoring cyber-security and privacy obligations in e-governance or e-commerce answers.
- Assuming cloud means data is always public; it is a deployment model with access controls.