Introduction
Information Technology means the use of hardware, software, electronics, semiconductors, internet, telecommunications equipment, engineering, health care, e-commerce, and computer services. Information Technology consists of three categories like techniques for processing, the application of statistical and mathematical methods to decision-making, and the simulation of higher-order thinking through computer programs. Information Technology is widely used in business and the field of computing.
History
Information technology has been around for a long time. Humans have always been quick to adapt to technologies for better and faster communication. There are 4 main steps that divide up the history of information technology. They are
- Pre - Mechanical : Pre - Mechanical is the earliest age of technology. It can be defined as the time between 3000 B.C. and 1450 A.D. When humans first started communicating, they would try to use language to make simple pictures. Abacus was invented in this period after the development of numbering systems
- Mechanical This is the connections between our current technology. The mechanical age can be defined as the time between 1450 and 1840. It is a very popular mechanical computer capable of adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing two numbers.
- Electro Mechanical The electromechanical age describes the beginnings of telecommunications. This age can be defined as the time between 1840 and 1940. Several technologies were invented in this period such as the Morse code, telephone, radio.
- Electronics These electronics used for electronic switches, in the form of vacuum tubes. The major benefit of electronic switches was that they could ‘open’ and ‘close’ thousands of times faster than relays.
Types
Types of Jobs in Information Technology
- Technical Support
- Programmers
- Web Developers
- Computer Systems Analyst
- IT Security
- Network Engineer
Applications
Applications of Information Technology
- In these scientific fields, biotechnology depends on the use of computers and other devices.
- Using supercomputers, meteorologists predict future weather by using a combination of observations of weather conditions from many sources, a mathematical representation of the behavior of the atmosphere, and geographic data.
- Computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) programs have led to improved products in many fields
- It is easy for engineers to analyze designs such as power plants and space stations
- This is one of the first and largest applications of computers, and managing the business and financial records.
- Most of the companies keep the employment records of all their workers in large databases that are managed by computer programs and also these can use in business functions like billing customers, stored, shipped, and sold.
- Almost all the financial transactions in the world are done electronically.
- Computers have also become very important in modern factories. Computer-controlled robots now do tasks that are hot, heavy, or hazardous
- Computer education is an essential course at the primary level in most schools across the world.
- More information getting digitized every day, and the internet making it accessible to anyone across the world, students are increasingly relying on electronic sources of information rather than physical libraries for their needs.
- The instructional methodology has also undergone a sea change with the use of images, animations, videos, presentations, and e-learning to complement traditional techniques.
- The concept of e-governance is one of the most novel applications of Information Technology.
- Computerization of Government activities makes it easier to respond to the needs of society.
- Technologies like touch-screen to help information on land records, photo identity cards, pending bills.
- India is leading the world in the effective use of IT for elections.
- Information Technology is one of the important roles in medicine. For example, a scanner takes a series of pictures of the body by means of computerized axial tomography (CAT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- A computer then combines the pictures to produce detailed three-dimensional images of the body's organs. In addition, the MRI produces images that show changes in body chemistry and blood flow.
- Information Technology plays a vital role in most of our daily activities. There is hardly anyone who has not been affected or influenced by IT.
- IT has changed the lifestyle of most people. The convergence of various technologies has created various options for entertainment like games, streaming music, and video, digital television broadcasts, satellite radio, animated movies, etc.