The concept of wealth that prevailed in the last century has radically changed. The whole world rightly acknowledges that the wealth of the 21st century is knowledge. It means that neither agriculture, mineral resources, and energy, nor industry and business are the sources of wealth as human beings are the only resources able to search for knowledge. This concept has reshaped people's way of thinking throughout the world. They have been taking preparation to face the challenges of the 21st century. We have already started realizing that the world of the 21st century is making its firm standing on a knowledge-based economy. In this century, two more important factors - globalization and internationalization have come into being, and ICT is the main driving force behind their acceleration. Now the geographical border of a country transcending its own extends to all parts of the world as an effect of globalization. We can refer to Bangladesh as an example of making the point clear. Millions of Bangladeshis now live all over the world. The place where they live is as if a small Bangladesh. So, in one sense, the border of Bangladesh has extended beyond the line. Moreover, they, in spite of being the natives of Bangladesh, are living as citizens of different countries. "Internationalism" is the unwritten law of the present world. Once people had to depend on the blessings of nature for survival. However, inventing machines and tools, they have lessened this dependence. With the help of machines and technology, they have controlled the world economy after the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th Centuries. The nations, who participated in the industrial revolution, once ruled the world. A similar shift of power has been observed, as the knowledge-based economy has started dominating the world in the 21st Century. We can realize that we should take adequate preparation for taking part in this revolution. The specific skills for survival are the ability to cooperate and communicate with each awareness about the obligations of the citizenry, acumen in solving problems, critical thinking, creativity and skill in other.
Only then, one may have access to its amazing world. Unless students acquire the ICT skills, they may not generate new knowledge by collecting, analyzing, and evaluating information. In fact, without the skill, they can never face the challenge in the 21st Century and position themselves in a knowledge-based society.
Great ICT Personalities
Many scientists, visionaries, and engineers have contributed significantly to the development of Information and Communication Technology. Cable connection and wireless system, acceleration of computers ' counting power, and the development of microelectronics have ensured the rapid growth of ICT.
Charles Babbage ( 1791-1871 ), an English engineer and mathematician, first introduced the computer and developed the device. He is regarded as the father of the modern computer. He invented Difference Engine In 1991, in the Science Museum of London, an engine was made according to the design of Babbage, and it worked properly as expected and later, he designed a calculating machine called Analytical Engine.
Ada Lovelace ( 1815-1852 ), the daughter of poet Lord Byron first thought about how the process of calculation could be made more effective. She became interested in science and mathematics since her childhood encouraged by her mother. When she met Charles Babbage in 1833, she brought before him the concept of ' programming ' to use in his analytical engine. That is why Ada Lovelace is honored as the pioneer of the programming concept. Babbage delivered a lecture about his engine in 1842 at Turin University. Then Ada with the help of Babbage explained the ways how the engine could work. She marked it in numerical order while describing its mode of working, In 1953, when the note was published again one hundred years after the death of Ada, the scientist realized that it was Ada who put forward the idea about the Algorithm of programming.
Important progress was done in physics during that period along with the inventions Babbage and Ada.
Scientist James Clerk Maxwell ( 1831-1879 combining the electric energy and magnetic force put forth the theory of Electromagnetic Force which opened the possibility of sending wireless messages from one place to another.
Bengali scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose (1858-1937) became successful for the first time in sending wireless messages from one place to another. In 1895, he successfully did it by using the microwave.
But, Italian scientist Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937) succeeded first in doing the same work by radio wave. That is wiry he is acknowledged as the inventor of the radio. In the 20th Century after the development of electronics, IBM Company first built mainframe computers after the development electronics. In 1971, making of cost-saving computer. In 1971, with the invention of the microprocessor, it became easier to make affordable computers. In the 60s and 70s, using theInternet Protocol, Arpanet has invented the Internet protocol. The interrelation among the computers through network started developing since then, and the invention of the Internet is the outcome. In 1971, American programmer Raymond Samuel Tomlinson introduced the first electronic mail communication through ARPANET. He is the pioneer of inventing the email system.