Introduction to

Informtion techology
 Objectives
2

 Define “information” and understand the four

methods of representing and conveying
information

 Describe some important historical milestones in

recording and exchanging information

 Explain what technical topics are included in the

field of information technology
 Objectives
3

 Describe the role information technologies play in

modern society

 Articulate some cutting-edge trends in

information technology

 Gain familiarity with current career

specializations in information technology
 4

Defining Information
What is Information?
 Information is any knowledge that comes to our
attention. That could be voice, image, text and
video

What is data?
 Data is information when dealing with the
machine
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What Counts as information

 The Various Forms of 6

Representing Information
 The routes to representing information have not
changed for centuries
• Spoken word (sound)
• Text
• Pictures
• Numbers

 Today, information technologies (e.g. Web sites)

still represent information with text, images
(including video), numbers, and sound
How Historically
7

Have Humans Conveyed

Information?
 8

Image Technology Milestones

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Sound Technology Milestones

 10

Alphanumeric Technology Milestones

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The Speed and Scope of Information

 What has changed is the speed and scope of information technologies
 Consider what a student can do in an hour

 Check out the day’s most viewed videos on YouTube

 Make two cell phone calls
 Download a homework assignment for class
 Exchange several text messages with friends
 Book an airline reservation for a spring break trip
 Consult a news source
 Download a new music file
 Use the electronic library system to reserve a book
 Check the day’s sports scores
 Play an interactive online game
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Defining Information Technology

 Information Technologies are systems of
hardware and/or software that capture,
process, exchange, store and/or present
information using electrical, magnetic and/or
electromagnetic energy.

 Technologies meeting this definition range

from digital cameras to Internet radio to
corporate computer networks.
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IT Example: Cellular Telephony

 14

IT Example: Wireless Internet

 15

IT-Enabled Activities
 People rely on information technology for
entertainment, communication, and a variety
of day-to-day functions

 Most national economies are enmeshed in

information technologies

 IT has improved government communications

and information sharing
 IT in Society (people) 16

Personal Communication
o Conversations (phone, cell)
o Messaging (E-mail, SMS) Day-to-Day living
o Video Coms o Buying airline ticket
o Ordering books
Entertainment o Checking the weather forecast
o Web surfing or news

o Listening to the radio o Electronic banking/ stock

market
o Downloading video and audio files
o Interactive gaming
 IT in Society (business) 17

Internal Communication
o Computer network
o Corporate website
o Video teleconferencing Business operations
o Messaging (SMS, email) o Factory operation systems
o Customer Databases
Electronic Commerce o Inventory tracking systems
o Call Centres o Payroll and human resources
o Electronic transactions
o Online sales
o Point of sale devices and networks
o Customer transaction servers
 IT in Society (Universities) 18

o University phone systems

o Messaging via e-mail and text messages
o University Web site
o Electronic course schedules
o Online academic calendar
o Electronic classrooms
o Library information systems
o Online registration
o Online applications system
o Payroll and human resources
 19
IT in Society
(Government/Citizen Interaction)
o Electronic voting systems
o Motor vehicle registration
o Electronic tax filing
o Electronic voting systems
o Social Security transactions
o Information dissemination
 IT in Society (Government Functions) 20

o Military information systems

o Electronic surveillance
o Intelligence networks
o Air traffic control systems
o IRS database
o Internal information networks and phone systems
o Library of Congress catalogs
 Examples on IT Careers
21

Information Security Jobs - Address information security

IT Analyst –Translate business requirement into technical
specification
Network Administration – Configure and operate computer network
Management Consulting – Provide consulting for government and
organizations
Database Administration – Managing corporate database
Computer Forensics Expert – Extracts computer evidence for
detecting/preventing /prosecuting
crimes
IT Sales – people on frontline to sell products
Software development –develop software solutions
 Examples on IT Careers
22

Information Security Jobs - Address information security

IT Analyst –Translate business requirement into technical
specification
Network Administration – Configure and operate computer network
Management Consulting – Provide consulting for government and
organizations
Database Administration – Managing corporate database
Computer Forensics Expert – Extracts computer evidence for
detecting/preventing /prosecuting
crimes
IT Sales – people on frontline to sell products
Software development –develop software solutions
 23

Thank you
Any questions?