Influence of Information and Communication Technology on Digital Divide

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a wide term that refers to all computer-based advanced technologies for managing and communicating information. ICT is an umbrella term that includes any communication device or application including radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, and satellite systems, as well as the various services and applications associated with them, such as videoconferencing and distance learning. ICT is often considered to be a general purpose technology, much like steam and electricity in earlier eras that has broad economic impact through multiple applications. ICT is broader than Information Technology (IT) which is defined as 201C;the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware201D; (Information Technology Association of America, 2008)