Chapter 10: ICT for Technology

Information and communication technology is a tool in every technical field: designing, measuring, calculating, controlling, and communicating. This chapter gives the ICT foundation for SFT; students who take ICT as a third subject will study it in more depth (Brookshear & Brylow, 2019).

Computers and data

A computer system consists of hardware (processor, memory, storage, input/output devices) and software (operating system, applications). Data are stored in binary. Conversions: ; (128 + 64 + 8). Files are stored on SSDs, hard disks, flash drives, and the cloud; backups protect against loss (a good rule is to keep three copies on two kinds of media, with one off-site). The Internet connects networks; Wi-Fi and mobile networks provide access.

Spreadsheets for technologists

A spreadsheet organizes data in cells and calculates with formulae (=SUM(B2:B10), =AVERAGE(...), =IF(C2>50,"Pass","Fail")). It is used for bills of quantities, farm records, experiment data, and costing. Learn to plot charts (scatter and line), fit trend lines, and use absolute references ($B$1). Good practice: label columns, state units, do not hard-code numbers inside formulae, and check results with a quick estimate.

Programming and algorithms

An algorithm is a finite, step-by-step procedure. Flowcharts and pseudocode describe it before coding. In Python:

def power(v, r):
    """Power in watts from voltage (V) and resistance (ohm)."""
    return v ** 2 / r

print(power(230, 26.45))   # about 2000 W

Key ideas: variables, data types, if/else decisions, for and while loops, functions, lists, and reading input. Programs help to calculate repeatedly, convert units, process sensor data, and automate tasks.

Microcontrollers, sensors, and control

A microcontroller (such as an Arduino board) is a small computer on one chip that reads sensors and drives actuators (LEDs, motors, relays, pumps). A closed-loop system measures the output and adjusts the input to keep it at the desired value. A simple temperature-controlled fan:

const int sensorPin = A0;   // LM35 temperature sensor (10 mV per degree C)
const int fanPin = 9;

void setup() {
  pinMode(fanPin, OUTPUT);
  Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
  int raw = analogRead(sensorPin);
  float volts = raw * (5.0 / 1023.0);
  float tempC = volts * 100.0;
  digitalWrite(fanPin, tempC > 30.0 ? HIGH : LOW);
  Serial.println(tempC);
  delay(1000);
}

Similar systems monitor soil moisture for irrigation, control greenhouse climate, switch street lights, and automate machines. A relay or a transistor is needed if the load takes more current than the microcontroller pin can supply.

Computer-aided design and digital tools

CAD (computer-aided design) is used to draw machines, buildings, and circuits (Chapter 11); simulation software tests designs before they are built; GIS and GPS map land and resources; drones and remote sensing monitor crops and construction sites; data loggers record measurements automatically.

Safe and responsible use

Protect accounts with strong, unique passwords and multi-factor authentication; be alert to phishing; keep software updated; respect copyright and privacy; verify information before relying on it; and be honest about the use of AI tools in your work. The use of data from other people or organizations needs permission.

Common mistakes

Using a spreadsheet without checking units.

Trusting a program’s output without checking against a hand calculation.

Connecting a motor directly to a microcontroller pin.

Practice questions

Convert to decimal. [54]

Write a Python function that converts degrees Celsius to kelvin.

Explain the difference between an open-loop and a closed-loop control system.

Part Three: Engineering Technology

Engineering Technology (ET) is the applied, hands-on counterpart to professional engineering. It develops the knowledge and skills to build, operate, maintain, and improve real technical systems in construction, mechanical and manufacturing work, and electrical and electronic fields (International Engineering Alliance [IEA], 2021). The A/L subject includes theory, practical training, and skills development. The chapters here follow the main technical areas. Standard references include Giesecke et al. (2016), Callister and Rethwisch (2018), Groover (2020), Çengel and Boles (2019), Hughes et al. (2016), Neville (2011), and Chudley and Greeno (2016). The NIE syllabus defines the exact units and order.