Background

In the history of civilization, no work of science has so comprehensively impacted on the course of human development as Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Undoubtedly, ICT has been the greatest change agent of this century and promises to play this role even more dramatically in the coming decades. ICT is changing every aspect of human life - communications, trade, manufacturing, services, culture, entertainment, education, research, national defense and global security. It is breaking old barriers and building new interconnections in the emerging Global Village. ICT has also become the chief determinant of the progress of nations, communities and individuals.

ICT is also the fastest growing sector in the world today and has been envisaged as the most revolutionary tool of the knowledge-based society of tomorrow. It empowers citizens and democratizes societies. It is the driving force of the world economy of the next millenium. New models of commercial interaction and developing as business and consumers participate in the electronic market place and reap the resultant benefits. Entrepreneurs are able to start new businesses more easily with the smaller up front investment requirements.

Information and communication technologies can change the life style, culture and civilization by expanding knowledge base, by affecting the kind of job skills we need and the kinds of careers that are available and by transforming organizations of all kinds. By changing our knowledge careers and organizations, information technology has created wide-ranging changes in our society and culture. The recent development in multi-networking and multimedia will play a vital role in information technology in future for the development of poor countries.