Information and Communication Technologies

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) deals with the use of different communication
technologies such as mobile phones, telephone, Internet, etc. to locate, save, send and edit information.

I. Web 1.0: Static Web Pages

When the World Wide Web was invented, most web pages were static. Static (also known as flat page or
stationary page) in the sense that the page is “as is” and cannot be manipulated by the user. The
content is also the same for all users. This is referred to as Web 1.0.

II. WEB 2.0: Dynamic Web Pages

Web 2.0 is the evolution of Web 1.0 by adding dynamic web pages—the user is able to see a
website differently than others. Examples of Web 2.0 include social networking sites, blogs, wikis, video
sharing sites, hosted services, and web applications.

Web 2.0 allows users to interact with the page: instead of just reading a page, the user may be
able to comment or create a user account. Web 2.0 also allows users to use web browsers instead of
just using their operating system. Browsers can now be used for their user interface, application
software (or web applications), and even for file storage.

Most websites that we visit today are Web 2.0.

Features of Web 2.0

1. Folksonomy
It allows users to categorize and classify/arrange information using freely chosen keywords (e.g.,
tagging). Popular social networking sites such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc. use tags that
start with the pound sign (#). This is also referred to as hashtag.

2. Rich User Experience

Content is dynamic and is responsive to user’s input. An example would be a website that shows
local content. In the case of social networking sites, when logged on, your account is used to
modify what you see in their website.

3. Long Tail
Services are offered on demand rather than on a one-time purchase. In certain cases, time-
based pricing is better than file-size-based pricing or vice versa. This is synonymous to
subscribing to a data plan that charges you for the amount of time you spent in the Internet, or
a data plan that charges you for the amount of bandwidth you used.

4. 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 comment, reviews, and evaluation. Some websites
allow readers to comment on an article, participate in a poll, or review a specific product (e.g.,
Amazon.com, online stores).
 5. Software as a Service
Users will subscribe to a software only when needed rather than purchasing them. This is a
cheaper option if you do not always need to use a software. For instance, Google Docs is a free
web-based application that allows the user to create and edit word processing and spreadsheet
documents online. When you need a software, like a Word Processor, you can purchase it for a
one-time huge amount and install it in your computer and it is yours forever. Software as a
service allows you to “rent” a software for a minimal fee.

6. Mass Participation
It is a diverse information sharing through universal web access. Since most users can use the
Internet, Web 2.0’s content is based on people from various cultures.

III. Web 3.0 and the Semantic Web

The Semantic Web is a movement led by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
The W3C standard encourages web developers to include semantic content in their web pages.
According to the W3C, “The Semantic Web provides a common framework that allows data to
be shared and reused across application, enterprise, and community boundaries.”
The aim of Web 3.0 is to have machines (or servers) understand the user’s preferences to be
able to deliver web content specifically targeting the user.

Several problems of Web 3.0

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.
3. Vastness
The World Wide Web already contains billions of web pages.
4. Vagueness
Certain words are imprecise. The words “old” and “small” would depend on the user.
5. Logic
Since machines use 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
Technological convergence is the synergy of technological advancements to work on a similar goal or
task.
2. Social Media
Social media is a website, application, or online channels that enable web users to create, co-create,
discuss, modify, and exchange user-generated content.

six types of social media:

a. Social Networks. These are sites that allow you to connect with other people with the same
interests or background.
b. Bookmarking Sites. These are sites that allow you to store and manage links to various websites
and resources.
c. Social News. These are sites that allow users to post their own news items or links to other
news sources.
d. Media Sharing. These are sites that allow you to upload and share media content like images,
music, and video.
e. Microblogging. These are sites that focus on short updates from the user.
f. Blogs and Forums. These websites allow users to post their content.

3. Mobile Technologies
The popularity of smartphones and tablets has taken a major rise over the years. This is largely because
of the devices’ capability to do tasks that were originally found in personal computers.

Kinds of operating systems:

a. iOS
b. Android
c. Blackberry OS
d. Windows Phone OS
e. Symbian
f. WebOS
g. Windows Mobile

4. Assistive Media
Assistive media is a nonprofit service designed to help people who have visual and reading impairments.
A database of audio recordings is used to read to the user.