Connecting the Young – Opportunities of ICT By Staci Scott -15yrs Winner of the WTISD Essay Competition Cayman Brach High School Cayman Island

It has been said time and time again that the only guarantee in life is that it will inevitably end. In a modern world there is undoubtedly, however, one more guarantee: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) will play a colossal role in defining society, particularly in the coming decades. Evident even today, ICT often times dictates the way we think, do things and even perceive day-to-day tasks. This is especially true for the young. Brought up in a world where technology is as commonplace as the very food we eat and, almost as essential, the youth of today are pushing the limits, opening their minds to any and every thing, and questioning the supposedly unquestionable.

Regardless of culture, location, and education, ICT is not in any way narrowed in scope. It is a common language like no other. It links people, especially the youth and, places them on a level playing field. A connection never before known to man, it goes beyond the act of processing information. It allows us to realize that the world is, indeed, a very small place, a place where we are all intricately intertwined and in some way or the other, inter-dependent. It permits dreams to take flight, visions to come into being. The success stories abound, the opportunities even more so.

It is blatantly obvious that nothing is beyond the realm of the possible with regards to Information and Communication Technology. Even Secondary and Tertiary level education are within reach via the Internet. Networking websites and instant messaging services both award the youth the chance to meet individuals from every corner of the globe; to learn, to broaden their horizons, to make a difference somewhere other than their immediate surroundings.

Extensive knowledge of ICT is of absolute essence in the business world as well. The careers in heavily ICT-related fields are increasing at an amazing rate. Perhaps the world's most profitable business, a career in ICT can – and will – single-handedly change a young person's life. E-mail has allowed the youth us to communicate at mind-boggling speeds, literally taking weeks off of transport plus documents can be formatted to a state of undisputed perfection. As it seems, we've become so dependent on ICT and the numerous benefits it brings, that a world without it will leave us, quite frankly, lost. It is simply astonishing when we think of the levels of intelligence and progression we have reached as a civilization. It is almost incomprehensible how such data can flow through wires so small they rival threads.

Embracing change and technology has made our generation vastly different from those that came before. The willingness to learn, the unrelenting desire to know more - and know it now - anything that improves us technologically and makes our society a global powerhouse is what the young grasp for each and every day. Forming connections, realizing that learning is a continuous process and must never cease is what will result in even further advancement. A fact that Hamadoun Touré, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union echoed in stating, “The key to achieving the development aspirations of the world's inhabitants lies in investing in the future generation, especially by improving access to communication among today's children and enhancing their capacities”.

Certainly, we can look forward to a world linked even more so than it is now, entirely due to ICT. The opportunity for improvement still does, and always will exist, despite the immeasurable advances we have already made. ICT, too, will forever hold that aura that allows us to do, to be, anything... Information and Communication Technology, especially for the young, is an invaluable, unstoppable power.

Celeste Augustine -15 years The Bishop Anstey High School Trinidad & Tobago

Connecting the Youth – Opportunities for ICT

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) refers to the devices and ways of acquiring information using telecommunications equipment as a source of connection. As a result of ICT, information is no longer a scarce resource.

The current economic era, the intangible economy, ensures that humanity has a limitless supply of information using the present technological advances available, like the World Wide Web. This digital revolution has caused the technologies that transmit information to be instantaneous, easily accessible, more attractive and more affordable than before. Therefore youths today are grasping the opportunity to share their knowledge with others over vast networks such as the Internet.

There are three major ICT areas that youths use to connect and create locally, regionally and internationally. These are Computer Applications, Telephony, and Telegraphy.

The basis of communication can be linked to the use of computer applications. These applications include word processors and power point presentations.

Word processors are one of the main tools that are used to communicate and produce school assignments. Youths can create and edit a document by typing and saving the document. They can edit text, change font style, format the paper layout, save for future reference, insert graphics and print multiple copies of their document with ease. With the conventional type writers, all of the features above could not be achieved. If mistakes were made, the document had to be re-typed.

Students, especially those with disabilities, are able to use word processors to their advantage. Disabled students are capable of independently completing assignments and examinations, at school or from their homes using web-based courses.

The second major ICT area is that of Telephony. In the past, telephony had the sole purpose of electronically transmitting the human voice from one locality to another. Today, with the intervention of digital telephony, computers can control the functions of a telephone while operating caller identification and telephone directory services at the users command. This has enabled a fast paced calling system that produces the highest quality of voice transmissions as well as contributes to the expanding of the cellular telephone market.

The cellular telephone has connected millions, wirelessly, to each other (via telephone calls or the Short Message Service) and to the internet. It has provided youths with the means of direct communication with their parents during times of emergency. It has also enabled its users to capture and transmit memorable events in picture form.

However, it has been proven to be a major source of distraction to the young. There have been reports of youths indulging in the production of pornographic material at school while being recorded on cellular phones. Also there has been an increase in lawless behaviour, as some cannot resist the urge to refrain from cellular telephone use during school hours.

The third major ICT area is Telegraphy. Telegraphy refers to the long distance sending of written messages electronically over a network. In times past, messages were sent via the postal system. This took a long time to reach its recipients, hence its name “Snail Mail”.

With Telegraphy, the efficiency of the service has increased by the introduction of electronic mail (e-mail) system. Using e-mail, an Internet user can send messages containing graphics, video clips and attached files, simultaneously, to a large number of other worldwide users in a short space of time. Email has been a massive communication medium for youths. After all, it is a quick, fast and cheap way to share ideas and meet new people via internet forums.

Internet forums are areas where users express their views on matters of public interest, such as technology, games and education. These forums function like bulletin boards and newsgroups; where users post and read messages. Some forums are educational centers where youths discuss their difficulty in some subject areas.

However, while those forums are good, some are targeted by pedophiles and other unsuitable adult users. These forums can also be used to launch malicious viruses, worms that damage the system by infecting software needed to run the computer. Spy ware, Spam and Hackers can also access forum users' personal information from their computer.

Bearing these in mind, the pros far outweigh the cons, with regards to the information and opportunities that are available to the youths, today. ICT is an area that can benefit youths if it is correctly used, as it opens up the vast world turning it into a global village of information. The information that once took hours, days and weeks to reach around the world; now takes just mere minutes and can be assimilated and acted upon instantly.