ICT in Hospitality
What is data ?
• DATA is raw facts and figures.
• These have very little meaning until they
are sorted or they are used to make
calculations.
• The process of sorting or calculation data
is called DATA PROCESSING.
• The result of data processing is
INFORMATION.
Data processing
Data
Data is
processed
Information
Information
• INFORMATION is the meaning that we
attach to data.
• Without processing or additional
information, data is often meaningless.
Information
• For example: What does the number
29061996 mean? Is it:
• A birthday? (29th June 1996)
• A bank account number?
• A club membership number?
• A telephone number?
• Without processing or more information
this data is meaningless.
The three stages of doing a task
Input
Process
Output
• Data is put into the information system. (INPUT)
• The data is processed. (PROCESS)
• Information comes out of the information system.
(OUTPUT)
ICT in the Home
• ICT has a wide variety of applications in the modern home
Embedded Systems
Smart Homes
The PC
ICT in the Home
Communications
Entertainment
Embedded Systems
• A typical modern home will contain many devices which have
embedded (hard-wired) computer systems
– The system is usually
programmed to carry out a set
of common tasks
– Examples:
• Microwave Oven
• Washing Machine
• Video Recorder
The PC
• Over 60% of British homes now have a PC and the number is
growing:
– The days of “We only bought
it to help with your homework”
are long gone!
– Home computers are now
used for a wide variety of
different tasks…
The PC – Uses within hospitality
Allows staff to work from
home
Entertainment – many hotels
are replacing the desktop PC
with “Media Centres”*
shopping/electronic banking
The PC
Control – the humble PC can control many electronic devices
A learning tool
Communication*
Hotelier accounts can be done
on spreadsheets and money
management applications
Entertainment
• The entertainment factor is a major selling point for the computer
industry
– Remember ICT does not just refer
to desktop PCs:
•
•
•
•
Dedicated games consoles
Digital Television
MP3 players
DVD/Blu Ray Players
ICT - Entertainment
New types of
entertainment
Digital TV – increased
interaction and TV on demand
Internet as a source of
entertainment – Second Life etc.
Dedicated games consoles
ENTERTAINMENT
Mobile Phones – music, videos, games on the move!
Blu Ray / HD DVD
MP3 players
Cost savings – price of legally
downloading music/videos vs.
traditional delivery methods
Communications
• ICT has revolutionised the range of communication devices people
now have access to:
– Mobile phones, email, IM, voice
mail, videoconferencing
– Can send text, images, sound,
videos, file attachments
– VOIP is making long distance
communication cheaper
Smart Homes / Smart Hotels
• The ultimate goal of domestic technology is the creation of the
smart house – a home that runs itself!:
– Smart homes are “wired” with a wide
range of sensors and control
devices
– The house constantly measures its
own environment and makes
adjustments to maximise the owners
comfort
Making Life Easier
Smart homes have
tremendous potential to
improve independence
and quality of life for
the elderly and the
disabled
Smart Homes
• Many aspects of the smart house are already with us – simple
heating and lighting controls etc. Truly smart houses will go a bit
further…
– The smart fridge. This will know
when food has reached its sell by
date or stocks are running low and
will automatically re-order supplies
– The smart toilet!!! This is already in
development. Link
ICT in the Hospitality

Convenience e.g.
internet banking
Increased choice – shopping in a
global market
Better and cheaper methods of
communication
Teleworking
ICT IN THE Hotel / Restaurant
Smart homes for the
disabled
People are better informed. Is this really
true????
New methods of social
interaction – forums,
newsgroups etc.
Wider choice in entertainment
ICT in the Hospitality

Dependency on embedded
systems
Social isolation – fewer people
participating in communal
activity
The “Digital Divide” – gap between the “haves” and “havenots”
ICT IN THE HOME
Parental
Concerns!
Changes peoples “moral
values” e.g. attitudes to
downloading music
Environmental issues –
devices left on standby
Blurring of the
work/leisure distinction.
Inability of some people to
“switch off”