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Information and communication technology (ICT) has already made significant changes to the way we work, learn, relax and govern ourselves; changes which are continuing and accelerating at a tremendous rate. But is it a fundamental and necessary part of our lives? This publication looks at what ICT is, the skills associated with it and the different areas where ICT is making an impact. Following the announcement in the [UK] Government's skills strategy [indexed at TD/IRD 88.169] that ICT will be classed as a new basic skill, in the same way that reading, writing and using numbers are, it offers a comparative analysis of what makes a skill for life, and explores how ICT fits the mould. The evidence, the authors propose, suggests that ICT is inevitably becoming a vital part of our lives. In light of this trend they warn that moving towards a society in which a large proportion of the population is further disadvantaged by a lack of ICT skills is not acceptable and must be addressed.