Difference between IT, ICT and ILT

Posted by Nobal Niraula ( ) Sunday, January 14, 2007

In present days, most sectors like production, manufacturing, etc. have

been influenced by the computing power. If we listen radio, view television
or participate in discussions, we hear the words Information Technology
(IT), Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and Information
and Learning Technology (ILT) most frequently. These words have become
like foundation-words for knowledge-based society. Unfortunately, many
of us don't know the differences between IT, ICT and ILT; especially
between IT and ICT. In this article, I try my best to make some distinction
among these words. Second, third and fourth paragraph describe IT, ICT
and ILT respectively.
We are using desktop computers for different purposes. For example,
teachers use computer to make power point slides to teach, accountant use
some accounting packages. We are familiar with the office packages for
creating documents e.g. Word file, Excel etc. In another words, in IT we
take stand-alone computer or laptop as a tool to perform our tasks.
Therefore, hardware in IT refer to the basic box and peripherals such as
scanners, printers, CD ROM, DVD drive, Pen Drive, and so on; software
includes some packages like word processors , spreadsheets, databases,
graphics and presentation package. So, one can say an expert in IT if s/he
is an expert in those items.
Now we say that we are in global village. Anyone can contact with any
person from any area of the world easily. This is possible because of the
interconnection between individual computers, mobiles, routers, laptops
etc. technically, the hosts. This networking provides the sharing of
information by means of website, e-mail, and instant messenger, and many
other services. This is because of ICT. So, ICT is defined as the
interconnection of stand-alone computers across and between institutions,
and is a general set of tools and skills that can be applied to a wide range of
organizations. Therefore, hardware include in ICT are: server machines,
interfaces, access networks, interconnecting medium (technically channels)
including wireless/wired etc. and software includes network services,

protocols, server programs, client programs etc. Examples of ICT software

are: web-browser like Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Apache web server,
Windows Net meeting etc.
ILT is nothing but the application of IT and ICT to education. For example,
companies give trainings to their employees using IT/ICT to make more
efficient and effective man power. So, ILT includes both learners and the
teachers. Thus, in ILT we talk about psychological effects of students, their
online learning behavior, communication methods etc. and the pedagogical
methods, way of presenting the materials etc. Now, the internet is popular
tool for ILT.
In conclusion, IT, ICT and ILT are distinct but are related. Most of the
developed countries are now heavily depend on IT, ICT and ILT; however;
there is a big challenge for developing countries since people cannot afford
the hardware and software. Also, there are not sufficient pre-requisites for
example electricity, education which are crucial elements for e-society.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio June 27, 2007 -- As the Ohio Supercomputer

Center prepares to enter its third decade of operation this summer, its
employees have begun using a set of four blue blocks to define the
center for an ever-widening set of audiences.
The small but nationally recognized center, located off Kinnear Road on
the west campus of The Ohio State University, this week unveils a new
corporate logo and branding guidelines. The logo features the full name
of the organization and four blue blocks, each containing a white icon
representing one of four distinct functions carried out within the
organization: supercomputing, networking, research and education.
We wanted a symbol that is more illustrative of the work we do here,
said Stanley C. Ahalt, executive director of the center. The use of the
full name Ohio Supercomputer Center quickly gives the public a
much better idea of the nature of our work than just the acronym OSC,
which we have used previously.
Also, the four functions graphically represented in the logo are aligned
with and reinforce the centers strategic plan. This allows staff,
customers, vendors and partner organizations to more easily
conceptualize how each project we work on fits into the organizations
framework.
Created in 1987 by the Ohio Board of Regents, the Ohio Supercomputer
Center provides a reliable, high-performance computing and networking

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infrastructure for Ohio education, research, industry and state

government. The center promotes and stimulates computational research
and education, acting as a key enabler for the states aspirations in
advanced technology information systems and advanced industries.
In re-branding our organization, we took into account that the center
today is filling a much broader role as a catalyst for research and
innovation across Ohio, Ahalt explained. It is important that we
represent the center in a way that is absolutely clear and understandable
for individuals across the many diverse groups with which we now
collaborate.
In addition to an inventory of supercomputers that has continuously
evolved with the rapid advance of technology over the last two decades,
much else has changed at the center. A unification of OSC and the Ohio
Academic Resource Network (OARnet), which linked Ohios colleges
and universities with a telecommunications network, resulted in the
development of the networking arm of the center, now known as
OSCnet. Also, the center created a robust research division, where
scientists use the resources of the Ohio Supercomputer Center to
conduct investigations into fields such as life sciences and homeland
security.
A renewed focus on service to industry and job creation has resulted in
initiatives such as Blue Collar Computing and the Ralph Regula School
of Computational Science. Blue Collar Computing is an effort to supply
supercomputing to small- and medium-sized industries that do not have
the time, capital or expertise to invest in such specialized resources. The
Ralph Regula School is a collaborative initiative of the center with
several colleges and universities to instruct students in advanced
computer modeling and simulation, which industries use to solve
complex business, technical and academic research problems.
And, in 2004, the Ohio Supercomputer Center launched OSCnet
(formerly the Third Frontier Network), the nations most advanced
fiber-optic network dedicated to education, health care and economic
development. OSCnet provides connectivity and computing resources to
K-12 education, colleges and universities, hospitals, public broadcasting
stations and local, state and federal research centers in the state.
In years past, the Center was represented by a single logo, but we also

had developed separate branding for multiple

projects at the Center, said Ian MacConnell,
OSC creative director. Now, those projects will
be paired with the appropriate functional icon
and clearly reinforce the organizations logo with
our audiences, rather than present competing or
conflicting messages.
In developing the new design, we surveyed staff
members, user groups and other individuals not
familiar with the Ohio Supercomputer Center to
get a clear picture of how people perceive the
organization. This study started us through an
intensive process that resulted in four icons: an
array of microprocessors representing computing
resources and support (supercomputing), a map
of Ohio depicting the states broadband network
(networking), a glowing light bulb recalling
Thomas Edison and Ohios legacy of innovation
(research) and the image of a student using
distance learning to gain skills or earn a degree
(education).
Celebrating 20 years of service, the Ohio
Supercomputer Center (OSC) is a catalytic
partner of Ohio universities and industries that
provides a reliable high performance computing
and high performance networking infrastructure
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for a diverse statewide/regional community
including education, academic research, industry,
and state government. Funded by the Ohio Board
of Regents, OSC promotes and stimulates
computational research and education in order to
act as a key enabler for the state's aspirations in
advanced technology, information systems, and
advanced industries. For additional information,
visit http://www.osc.edu.
Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC), 1224 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH 43212
ph: 614.292.9248 fax: 614.292.7168

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