17 Sept 2026·3 min read·—

8A ICT PAPER 1 UGC NET Updated part 1 notes

Definition of Information and Communication Technology

ICT (Information and Communication Technology)

"ICT (Information and Communication Technology) refers to all technologies used for creating, storing, processing, disseminating, and receiving information."

In simple words, ICT means — such technologies that make the exchange of information easy with the help of computers, internet, mobiles, software, etc.

"ICT (Information and Communication Technology) refers to all technologies used for the handling of telecommunications, broadcast media, intelligent building management systems, audiovisual processing and transmission systems, and network-based control and monitoring functions." In simpler terms, ICT includes all tools and applications used to create, store, process, transmit, and receive information electronically.

A communication system operates through three main components – Sender, Medium, and Receiver, which enable the exchange of information.

A communication system operates through three main components: Sender, Medium, and Receiver, which together enable the transmission of information.

Sender 2. Medium 3. Receiver

1️⃣ Sender

The person or device that sends the message or data.

The person or device that sends the message or data to be communicated.

Examples: Teacher, Computer, Mobile Phone User

2️⃣ Medium / Channel

The medium through which the message reaches from sender to receiver.

The path or channel through which the message is transmitted from sender to receiver.

Example: Wired: Optical Fiber, Coaxial Cable Wireless: Air, Radio Waves, Satellite

3️⃣ Receiver

The person or device that receives the message and understands it.

The person or device that receives and interprets the message.

Examples: Student, Mobile Device, Web Browser

Development of Computer

The development of computers has occurred over many decades, in which there has been improvement in technology, speed, storage capacity, and ease of use in each generation.

The development of computers took place over several decades, with each generation bringing improvements in technology, speed, storage capacity, and ease of use.

Generations of Computers

1st Generation (1940–1956)

Circuitry: Vacuum Tubes

Memory Capacity: 20 KB

Processing Speed: 300 Instructions per Second

Processing Speed: 300 Instructions per Second (IPS)

Programming Language: Assembly Language

Example: UNIVAC, EDVAC, ENIVAC

Example: UNIVAC, EDVAC, ENIAC

2nd Generation (1956–1963)

Circuitry: Transistors

Memory Capacity: 128 KB

Processing Speed: 300 Instructions per Second

Processing Speed: 300 IPS

Programming Language: High-Level Languages — FORTRAN, COBOL, ALGOL

Examples: IBM 1401, IBM 7094, CDC 3600, UNIVAC 1108

3rd Generation (1964–1971)

Circuitry: Integrated Circuits (IC)

Memory Capacity: 1 MB

Processing Speed: 1 MIPS (1 million instructions/sec)

Programming Language: C, C++

EXAMPLE: IBM 360 Series, IBM 1900 Series

4th Generation (1971–Present)

Circuitry: Microprocessor (VLSI – Very Large Scale Integration)

Memory Capacity: Semiconductor, Very High

Processing Speed: Faster than 3rd Generation

Programming Language: C, C++, Java

Programming Language: C, C++, JAVA

Examples: Pentium Series, Multimedia, Simulation

5th Generation (Present and Future)

Circuitry: ULSI & VLSI Technology

Memory Capacity: Very High

Processing Speed: Very Fast

Programming Language: All Higher-Level Languages, Neural Networks

Examples: Artificial Intelligence, Robotics