INTRODUCTION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
IT jobs include computer programming, network administration, computer engineering, Web development, technical support, and many other related occupations. Since we live in the "information age," information technology has become a part of our everyday lives. That means the term "IT," already highly overused, is here to stay.
DEFINITION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Information technology or IT can be defined briefly as the use of computer hardware and software to store, retrieve, and manipulate information.
DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
We will see some of the development of IT from stand-alone computer, mainframe, client-server network, distributed computing and up to the latest trend which is the cloud computing.
Stand-Alone Computer
Mainframe
Characteristics
- A large, expensive, powerful computer that can handle hundreds or thousands of connected users simultaneously.
Size
- occupies a partial or full room
Capabilities
- executes billions of instructions per second
- Stores tremendous amounts of data, instructions, and information.
- Mainframe computers can handle thousands of connected computers and process millions of instructions per second.
Advantages
- Lots of processes because mainframes support several dozen central processors (CPU chips) in one system.
- Super reliable because mainframe operating systems circuitry is designed to detect and correct errors.
Disadvantages
- Mainframes occupies lot of space and produce lot of heat.
- Cost of mainframe and its hardware is very high.
CLIENT SERVER NETWORK
An architecture in which the user's PC (the client) is the requesting machine and the server is the supplying machine, both are connected via a network such as the Internet.
Advantages of client-server network:
1. Computer can easily be added or replaced without purchasing any additional hardware or software.
It is because a client server is centralized, server can easily move files and applications from an old computer to a new one
2. Flexible to adapt and to change new technologies because it has a centralized management (server).
3. Secure because servers ensure that everything that goes in and out of the network passes through secured security measures.
Servers can allow certain users to access the network from the Internet or externally without compromising the network from hackers and unauthorized users.
DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING
A type of computing which different components and object comprising an application can be located on different computers connected to a network.
For example, a word processing application might consist of an editor component on one computer, a spell-checker object on a second computer, and a thesaurus on a third computer.
CLOUD COMPUTING
An Internet service that provides computing needs to computer users.
3 major components:
- Provider
- The Cloud (Internet)
- User
Advantages of Cloud Computing
- Reduced cost - users pay only for what they are using
- Easy maintenance - users don’t have to worry about the complexity behind the scenes.
- Easy reallocation of resources
- Remote Accessibility - business is not restricted to a particular location. You can access the services from anywhere.
- Easy Expansion – you can quickly access more resources if you need to expand your business without the need to buy extra infrastructure.
- Security - offer real-time backup which results in less data loss. In case of outage, customers can use the backup servers that sync with the main ones as soon as they are up, clouds are less prone to hacks as people don’t know the whereabouts of your data.
APPLICATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
- Education
- Government
- Health Care
- Finance
- Science
- Publishing
- Travel
- Manufacturing
EDUCATION
Computers to assist with education : e.g.:
- Teacher : use IT to do research for teaching materials, participate in online forum and online reference, use software to lecture notes
- Student : browse Internet - reference tools for looking information in the Internet
- School Administrators : for administrative such as keeping students and teachers record
- Self-access Learning – Portal e Learning
- Distance learning
- Web-based Learning
- Distance learning : a process of transferring knowledge to learners (students) who are separated from the instructor (teacher) by time and/or physical distance and are making use of technology components, such as the Internet, video, CD’s, tapes, and other forms of technology to accomplish learning.
FINANCE
Used IT to manage their finances – e.g.:
- Used finance software to balance check books, pay bills, track personal income and expenses, manage investments, and evaluate financial plans.
- Online banking services-
- Check the balance of bank accounts
- Pay bills
- Transfer money between accounts (using EFT)
- Apply for loans, or other services
GOVERNMENT
To provide citizens with up-to-date information- e.g.:
- government Web sites- e- government : to file taxes, apply for permits and licenses, pay parking tickets, buy stamps, report crimes, apply for financial aid, and renew vehicle registrations and driver’s licenses.
- My Government Portal
- Office automation – MS Office
- Planning and budgetary control electronics (eSPKB).
- Purchasing of assets - e-Perolehan
HEALTH CARE
1. Managing Patient Records - e.g. make use of computerised databases to store patient records
2. Monitoring of Patients – e.g.. Sensors are attached to the patient. Sensors are used to monitor:
- Pulse rate (heart beats per minute)
- Temperature
- Breathing rate (breathes per minute)
- Blood oxygen levels
- Blood pressure
4. Assist in surgery : e.g.
- Telemedicine: health-care professionals in separate locations conduct live conferences on the computer.
- Telesurgery : remote surgery, a surgeon performs an operation on a patient who is not located in the same physical room as the surgeon. Telesurgery enables surgeons to direct robots to perform an operation via computers connected to a high-speed network.
SCIENCE
1. to assist scientist with collecting, analyzing, and modeling data - e.g.:
Used tiny computers to imitate functions of the central nervous system, retina of the eye, and cochlea of the ear.
Cameras small enough to swallow — sometimes called a camera pill to take pictures inside a body to detect polyps, cancer, and other abnormalities
Used tiny computers to imitate functions of the central nervous system, retina of the eye, and cochlea of the ear.
Cameras small enough to swallow — sometimes called a camera pill to take pictures inside a body to detect polyps, cancer, and other abnormalities
2.use the Internet to communicate with colleagues around the world - e.g.:
teleconferencing
teleconferencing
3. Use IT as implant devices - e.g.
A cochlear implant allows a deaf person to listen
Electrodes implanted in the brain stop tremors associated with Parkinson’s disease.
PUBLISHING
1. Assists with work - e.g.:
- Special software to assists graphic designers in developing pages that include text, graphics, and photos
- artists in com posing and enhancing songs
- filmmakers in creating and editing film
- journalists and mobile users in capturing and modifying video clips
- Digital magazine
- Digital newspaper
TRAVEL
1. a tool that is used to measure distance and to help pinpoint location any place in the world – e.g.:
- Global Positioning System (GPS)
- Google map – print directions and a map from the Web.
- On-line hotel reservation
- On-line ticket reservation – Malaysian Airline System (MAS), AirAsia
MANUFACTURING
1. to assist with manufacturing processes - e.g. :
- Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) - to reduce product development costs, shorten a product’s time to market, and stay ahead of the competition
- Computer-aided design (CAD)- to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design.
- Use software to update inventory, production, payroll, and accounting records on the company’s network.