ICT refers to Information and Communications Technology, which encompasses any devices or applications used for communication, such as radio, television, phones, and computer hardware and software. The document outlines the major periods in the development of ICT: The Pre-Mechanical period from 3000 BC to 1450 AD saw the earliest forms of communication through language and drawings. The Mechanical period from 1450 to 1840 introduced technologies like the slide rule and early mechanical computers. The Electromechanical period from 1840 to 1940 began the age of telecommunication with inventions like the telegraph, telephone, and radio. The current Electronic period from 1940 to present is defined by advancements in vacuum tubes, transistors, integrated circuits, and computer processors.

1. Information and
Communications Technology

2. What is ICT?
ICT, which stands for Information and
Communications Technology, is an umbrella
term that includes any communication device
or application, encompassing:
• Radio
• Television
• Cellular Phones
• Computer and Network software and hardware

3. Periods of ICT
Pre Mechanical
Mechanical
Electromechanical
Electronic

4. Pre Mechanical Period
It is theearliest age of informationtechnology. It can be
defined as thetime between3000 B.C. and 1450 A.D. when
humansfirst started communicatingthey would try to use
languageor simple picture drawings known aspetroglyths
which were usually carved in rock. Early alphabets were
developed such as thePhoenicianalphabet.

6. Mechanical Period
• This is when we first start to see connections between our current technology and
its ancestors. The mechanical agecan be definedas the time between 1450 and
1840.
• A lot of newtechnologies are developedin this era as there is a large explosion of
interest onthis area.
• Technologies like the slide rule (an analog computer usedfor multiplying and
dividing) were invented. Blaise Pascal invented the
• Pascaline which was a verypopular mechanical computer.
• Charles Babbage developed the difference engine which tabulated polynomial
equations using the method of finite differences.

8. Electromechanical Period
• The electromechanicalagecan bedefinedas the timebetween
1840 and 1940.These are thebeginnings oftelecommunication.
• Thetelegraphwascreatedin theearly 1800s. Morsecode was
createdby Samuel Morse in1835.
• Thetelephone(oneofthemostpopular formsofcommunication
ever) was createdby AlexanderGrahamBellin 1876.
• Thefirstradio developedby GuglielmoMarconiin 1894.
• Allofthesewere extremelycrucial emergingtechnologiesthatled
to bigadvancesin theinformationtechnologyfield.

10. Electronic Period
• The electronic age iswhatwe currentlylive in.It can be
defined as thetime between1940 and right now.
• It has 4 periods namely: LateVacuum Tubes, Transistors,
IntegratedCircuits and ComputerProcessors.