Information Technology
Information and Communication Technology
This is the home page of an e-text book project that I am developing as a resource for ICT teachers and students. The project came about because a number of teachers asked me recommend a suitable book for the IGCSE examination (specification 4IT0) from Edexcel. The problem is that nothing seems to have been written for that specification, so I decided to have a go myself. Important. Although I have been a Chief Examiner for Edexcel and was involved in the development of the IGCSE specificati...

Hardware and Software
ICT Systems, Hardware and Software
Hardware is the solid bits of the system, the things that you can actually touch. Hardware may be described as Input, Output, Storage, or Processing devices. Software is the programs that are running on the computer, they are not objects that you touch, although you may be able to hold an item that stores them, e.g. a CD. Software may be described as Operating System or Application programs. I'm Pan narrans, you can find out more about me on my Profile Page or my web site.

ICT systems
ICT Systems and how they may be used
The term ICT system covers a wide range of different types of equipment, which may be connected together in an equally wide range of ways. Fortunately, as far as the IGCSE is concerned, a system is defined in a much narrower way. You need only consider simple systems, consisting of a main computer or a device containg a microprocessor, plus peripherals such as keyboards, mice, monitors, etc. Systems which contain multiple computers are considered in the IGCSE specification, but they come un...