Various devices and equipment have been invented to provide some peace of mind to human beings who are spending a busy life today. These devices enable us to:
listen to music to overcome a monotonous life,
watch missed TV programmes or movies of our choise,
exchange information between friends and relatives who live abroad or whom we have lost touch through social media,
watch high definition video using technology,
surf the internet. This helps children to do learning activities and play games during the free time,
read e-books on internet,
take photographs of favourite places and store them in the computer.
We can quote some of the systems which are used to enhance the road traffic by minimizing traffic jams.
Example 1 - Closed Circuit TV (CCTV)
This system which uses the CCTV (Closed Circuit TV) is helpful in monitoring the road traffic, accidents and illegal activities and take appropriate actions accordingly.
Example 2 -Traffic Light Control System
These automated lights are positioned at road junctions. These lights are helpful in minimizing accidents by controlling the vehicle traffic and pedestrians.
Example 3 - Parking identification placard This is an entrance pass which is stuck on the windshield of a vehicle. When the vehicle comes close to the gate of the parking space, the sensors read the placard and only open the gates if the vehicle is already pre-registered. This system also helps to avoid building up of traffic at the gates due to its quick processing ability.
ICT is used in manufacturing high quality products and reduce the cost of production by minimizing the use of human labour in many industries and businesses. Since high quality products are manufactured at low cost, people can buy good quality products at a relatively low price. In the past decades a high level of human labour was needed in the manufacturing industry. Today most of the work performed by the human hands are performed by robots.
Benifits of using robots;
Example 1 - Video Conferencing This technology has enabled different business communities who are geographically separated to convene face to face meetings while in at their own premises. The advantages of this technology are, no need to convene at a special venue, saves time travelling, reducs travelling expenses etc.
Example 2 - Human Resource Managment
The administration of employee activities has become an easy task due to finger print scanner (used to register attendance) and Card Reader (Identity Management). These devices help in recording the times of employees moving in and moving out of the office premises, preparing salaries accordingly, keeping records of leave taking etc. Today, the above devices are not only used in the private sector but also in the public sector in Sri Lanka.
Example 3 - e-Banking System
e-Banking has helped both the business community and all other people to do convenient banking. They are:
• The ability to withdraw cash anytime anywhere at ATM (Automatic Teller Machines) points
• Since banks are connected via internet, inter banking or transactional activities are made possible even within Sri Lanka or abroad.
• When you are registered in a banking network, it gives one the opportunity to pay utility bills, inter-banking transactions, checking the account balance etc using mobile phones.
Example 4 - Online Shopping
Online shopping known as electronic commerce which allows foreign or local company to sell its products or services via internet and the ability for a consumer to buy goods and services via internet. A buyer can order goods or services of his choice from a convenient place. The advantages of online shopping are:
• One can select any global commercial organization which is on the internet.
• Open 24 hours a day.
• able to see things and order at one’s convenient place.
• the ability to pay using the electronic payment methods such as credit cards.
• home delivery of goods. Because of these we can save on transport cost and avoid unnecessary travel related exhaustion
Sensors are placed in different parts of the sea. These sensors convey information on fish concentration in the sea to the computers in fishing trawlers via internet.
Example 1 - RFID – Radio Frequency Identification Device
The RFID help in identifying and counting the number of animals and also in locating the animals in a large area.
Example 2 - Automated milking and examination of cows
This machine which is programmed to function automatically is helpful in monitoring the health status of the cows and the quality of milk. This also helps in milking cows.
Example 3 -
For Security (Closed Circuit TV CCTV)
CCTV is employed to protect farm from the animals and thieves. When the cameras are connected by Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) the farm can be monitored far away from the farm
Example 4 - Farm Management
Today’s farmer uses various computer applications in portable computers such as laptops, tabs, smart phones to keep track of information on his farm; to calculate profits and losses, to save employees salarydetails etc. Using this portable device which has internet connectivity, he is capable of monitoring the market rates, get updated on latest business information and exchange information.
ICT has created a new revolution in the field of agriculture. Today ICT is extensively used in agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries industries. ICT for farming: A range of automatic machines are available today to ease the work of the farmer who worked hard in the field. These machines not only reduce the work of
a farmer but also enables him to produce high quality yields. Below is a some of the machines used in developed as well as developing countries.
Example 1 - Meteorological Devices
These devices are helpful in assessing the weather, climatic changes, rainfall, wind direction etc. Such data are useful in deciding on the crop cultivation and harvesting times.
Example 2 - Automated Insect Control
Devices With the help of this device we can minimize the harmful effects caused by insects. It displays on screen the density of insect population, its growth and movement.
Example 3 - Field conditions measuring devices These devices help in measuring various parameters such as fertility and humidity levels of soil which aid in the determination of cultivation activities.
Example 4 - Drip irrigation
These devices control the supply of water as per the data fed. Wastage of water anddestruction of crops due to lack of water supply are minimized by the use of these devices
Example 5 - Automatic Weed remover This machine runs through the field and removes the weed
s as per instructions provided by identifying crops and weeds separately.
Example 6 - Seedlings planter using Robotics
These robotic machines are used in large fields to carry seedlings across the field and to plant them in an orderly manner.
Example 7 - Crop harvesting using Robots
Robotic machines are used to monitor plant growth levels, record them and harvesting in large scale farm lands. These machines help us overcome difficulties in managing large farm lands.
Example 8 - Greenhouse
The Greenhouse is the best solution to protect crops from natural disasters (too much sun shine, rain, heat, cold, pests, epidemics etc). ICT is used to control light, moisture and air inside the greenhouse.
Hence, farmers are able to make high quality products of rare crops to the market.
The use of Information Communication Technology
to examine and or provide healthcare to a patient who is far away from the
hospital is called Telemedicine. This is made possible by remotely connecting
the patient with hospital’s specialist unit or specialist doctors. Telemedicine
has several advantages such as:
Example 1 - Emergency Telemedicine Emergency telemedicine is the process of providing emergency care by a trained person in consultation with a specialist in a hospital via telecommunication network and treating him when a patient (who lives in a remote village or flying in a plane or cruising in a ship) can not reach a hospital
Example 2 - Home health medicine
Keeping the patient at home and monitoring his/her condition using networked home monitoring system. The home monitoring of the health condition helps to decide when to transfer the patient to hospital
Example 3 - Telemedicine Consultation
Seeking medical consultation of a specialist at the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) when he/she is not physically available at site.
Example 4 - Telesurgery (Remote Surgery)
Remote surgery is the ability of a doctor to perform surgery on a patient in consultation with a specialist (who is not physically present at the same location but in a far away town or abroad) by the use of Telecommunication Technologies.
Example 4 - Telesurgery (Remote Surgery)
Remote surgery is the ability of a doctor to perform surgery on a patient in consultation with a specialist (who is not physically present at the same location but in a far away town or abroad) by the use of Telecommunication Technologies.
Example 5 - Medical Teletraining
Specialists’ consultation and training can be used to obtain the services of a medical professional at a remote place by the use of telecommunication technologies.
