What Is The Difference Between IT and ICT?

Date First Published: 14th January 2024

Topic: Computer Systems

Article Type: Computer Questions & Answers

Difficulty Level: 3/10

Learn about what the difference between IT and ICT is in this article.

IT (information technology) and ICT information and communication technology) look similar, but they are two different fields. Although they share a lot in common, they have some differences and using them identically can lead to confusion in situations where the difference between them is important, like in jobs that require expertise in IT or ICT. Below are some key differences between IT and ICT.

IT refers to the study and use of computer systems, networks, hardware, software, and storage to process and manage information and exchange data. ICT is mostly used in an educational context and refers to the use of media broadcasting, audio and video processing, and telecommunications to process and manage information and exchange data, known as communications. It puts emphasis on the use of technology for effective communication and for a better way of receiving and remembering information for those who are studying.

ICT is an extended abbreviation of IT that refers to the integration of communication technology with information technology. IT is more commonly used in industry and the field related to computers, hardware, and software. IT is an industry that uses computers, networks, and software and other digital or electronic devices to manage and communicate information. ICT is more commonly used in education and is often studied in the context of how modern communication technologies affect society, whilst IT is often focused on the technical aspects of managing information.

History

The abbreviation ICT was introduced in 1997 by Dennis Stevenson in a report to the UK government. In 2000, it was in the revised National Curriculum for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Since 1997, ICT has been used to describe the integration of telephony and audiovisual devices in computers, which helped academic institutions reduce operational costs by removing traditional telephone networks.

ICT has provided a wide range of communications technologies in the last few decades. For example, people can communicate in real time with others in different countries using instant messaging, VoIP, and video conferencing. Social networking websites like Facebook and Instagram allow users from all over the world to keep in touch and communicate with each other on a regular basis. ICT does not only include these technologies, but also includes communication technologies, such as telegraph, telephone, radio, and television. Whilst ICT focuses on how people and businesses communicate with each other, IT focuses on how they store, process, and share information. ICT is now much more extensive with a greater focus on community building and the desire to explore how communication technologies affect society.

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