Information Technology

ISB11C
 Evolution of Information Age

Agricultural Age Industrial Age Information Age

Pre-1800s 1800s to 1957 1957 to Present
Farmers Factory Workers Knowledge Workers
Characteristics of Information Age
 TheInformation age came about
with the rise of an information-
based society
◦ Information society – a society
wherein more people work at
handling information than at
agriculture and manufacturing
combined
 In
the Information Age, information
technology is embedded in many
products and services
What is Information Technology?
 a wide variety of items and abilities used in the
creation, storage, and dispersal of information
◦ Data – raw facts, figures and details
◦ Information – an organized, meaningful and
useful interpretation of data
◦ Knowledge – an awareness and understanding of
a set of information and how that information
can be put to the best use.
Three Primary Components
 Computers
 Communications Networks
 Know-how
Computers
 any electronic system that can be
instructed to accept, process, store
and present data and information
 Categories of Computers
 Personal Computers (desktops)
◦ Can perform all of its input, processing, output and storage
activities by itself. These contain processors, memory, and one or
more input, output, and storage devices.
◦ Two popular styles of personal computers are the PC and the
Apple Computer.
◦ A desktop computer is designed so the system unit, input
devices, output devices, and any other devices fit entirely on or
under a desk or table.
Personal Computer (desktop)
Categories of Computers
 Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices
◦ A mobile computer is a personal computer
you can carry from place to place. Similarly,
a mobile device is a computing device small
enough to hold in your hand.
◦ Notebook Computers
 A notebook computer, also called a laptop
computer, is a portable, personal computer
designed to fit on your lap.
◦ Mobile Devices – three popular mobile
devices are handheld computers, PDAs, and
smart phones.
Mobile Computers & Mobile
Devices
Mobile Devices – Tablet PC/Ipad
Categories of Computers
 Game Consoles
◦ A game console is a mobile computing device
designed for single-player or multiplayer video
games. Standard game consoles use a handheld
controller as an input device; a television
screen as an output device; and hard disks, CDs,
DVDs, and/or memory cards for storage
Game Consoles
Categories of Computers
 Servers
◦ A server controls access to the hardware,
software, and other resources on a network and
provides a centralized storage area for
programs, data, and information. Servers can
support from two to several thousand connected
computers at the same time.
Servers
Categories of Computers
 Mainframes
◦ A mainframe is a large, expensive,
powerful computer that can handle
hundreds or thousands of connected
users simultaneously. Mainframes store
tremendous amounts of data,
instructions, and information.
Mainframes
 Categories of Computers
 Supercomputers
◦ A supercomputer is the fastest, most powerful computer – and the
most expensive. The fastest supercomputers are capable of
processing more than 100 trillion instructions in a single second.
◦ Applications requiring complex, sophisticated mathematical
calculations use supercomputers.
◦ Use in large-scale simulations and applications in medicine,
aerospace, automotive design, online banking, weather
forecasting, nuclear energy research and petroleum exploration
use a supercomputer.
Supercomputers
Categories of Computers
 Embedded Computers
◦ An embedded computer is a special-
purpose computer that functions as a
component in a larger product.
◦ Because embedded computers are
components in larger products, they
usually are small and have limited
hardware. These computers perform
various functions, depending on the
requirements of the product in which
they reside.
Embedded Computers
Categories of Computers
 Personal Computers (desktops)
 Mobile Computers and Mobile Devices
 Game Consoles
 Servers
 Mainframes
 Supercomputers
 Embedded Computers
Communications Networks
 the interconnection of different locations through
a medium that enables people to send and receive
data and information
Computer network
 Local Area Network (LAN)
 Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
 Wide Area Network (WAN)
 Wireless LANs (WLAN)
 Wireless WANs (WWAN)
Know-how
 the capability to do something well
◦ Familiarity with the tools of IT
◦ The skills needed to use these tools
◦ Understanding when to use IT to solve a
problem or capitalize on an opportunity
Functions of Information Technology
 Capture – the process of compiling detailed records of activities
 Processing – the process of converting, analyzing, computing, and
synthesizing all forms of data or information
 Generation – the process of organizing information into a useful form,
whether as text, sound, or visual image
 Storage – the process by which a computer keeps data and information for
later use
 Retrieval – the process by which a computer locates and copies stored
data or information for further processing or transmission to another user
 Transmission – the sending of data and information from one location to
another
Benefits of Information Technology
 Speed
 Consistency
 Precision
 Reliability
Responsibilities of People Who Use IT

 To be informed – to know the

capabilities and limitations of IT
 To make proper use – to use IT in a
desirable and ethical manner
 To safeguard – to protect data and
information against damage or loss
WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT
 RESEARCH ABOUT HISTORY OF
COMPUTERS AND BE READY FOR A
QUIZ BOWL ON TUESDAY