INTRODUCTION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

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   

 

             A desktop or laptop computer that is used on its own without requiring a            connection to a network.
  
     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

Different approach of delivery : e.g.

• 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.

Improved banking system & payments - e.g.:

• Online banking services-
• Check the balance of bank accounts
• Pay bills
• Transfer money between accounts (using EFT)
• Apply for loans, or other services

Electronic Payment system – PayPal, Debit Card

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

Employees of government agencies use IT as part of their daily routine – e.g.:

• 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

3. Diagnosis of Illness / Assist with medical test – e.g.. CT scanners and MRI scanners allow doctors to investigate what is happening inside a patient's body without intrusive surgery.

 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

2.use the Internet to communicate with colleagues around the world - e.g.:
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

2. Online publishing

• 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.

2. Offer on-line services – e.g.:

• 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.

2. To manage data - e.g.:

• Use software to update inventory, production, payroll, and accounting records on the company’s network.