Catalog

	Table of Contents
p. 4 of 23 BACK | NEXT Executive Summary I. Introduction II. The Information Revolution A. What is ICT? B. The Global Information Society C. ICT and Development D. ICT Development in Asia and the Pacific III. Need for an ADB Strategic Approach for ICT IV. Strategic Thrusts V. Proposed Action Plan VI. Implications for ADB

Toward E-Development in Asia and the Pacific: A Strategic Approach for Information and Communication Technology : II. The Information Revolution

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A. What is ICT?

4. ICT is currently defined as the set of activities that facilitate by electronic means the processing, transmission, and display of information³. ICT is at the convergence of a tripod made of three specialized domains, namely information technology, data and information, and socioeconomic issues, to fuse the capabilities and functionality of each specialized domain into a holistic yet fluid domain that works to develop a customized information system for each user. Information technology (IT) or informatics was defined in 1990 as (i) the aggregation of information-related fields, such as computer hardware and software, telecommunications networks and equipment, and information technology-based industries; and (ii) the application of these technologies in all economic sectors, publishing, broadcasting, libraries, data banks, and other information services industries. The major difference between IT and ICT is the emphasis given in the case of ICT to the communication aspect—the collaboration and connectivity that the technologies facilitate⁴. A new vocabulary is emerging with reference to its electronic character using the prefix “E.”

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