Understanding Computer Science and Information Technology
The computer is one of the most important technological inventions of all time. It is a tool that allows humans to do amazing things such as creating and sharing information and data. In order for things to be stored, processed and shared it is necessary to have information technology. In fact, information technology is what puts information into an electronic form. With the help of IT the entire process of information can become much faster, efficient and cheaper.
Computers and computer systems are what make modern business information technology happen. There is a wide range of hardware available to meet the growing need for storing, processing and sharing information. The two main categories are desktop and server computers. Desktop computers are designed to be used with their users on the same personal computer. They include laptops and netbooks.
Server computers are used to conduct business applications and to provide central storage for network resources. They are typically large in size because they have to accommodate large amounts of data and serve as the primary information technology device for many businesses. Both desktop and server computers use different kinds of software systems to accomplish their tasks. This information technology terminology often becomes very confusing.
Compilers and language translation programs are examples of information technology programs. These programs translate computer programs into source code that a computer can understand. This code contains the details of how the computer will interact with the external information technology devices. Components such as a graphic interface (GUI) and a user interface (UI) are examples of what many people call “software programs.” These components allow a user to interact with a computer system through the display on the machine.
Another way to look at information technology is to consider it as a set of processes rather than a single piece of hardware. Many people confuse the term information technology with information science. In fact, information technology and information science are not entirely unrelated terms. A great deal has been learned about how computers and telecommunications work together in the recent years. Even so, there is still a lot of work to be done before these two separate fields are able to fully integrate.
The term information technology is most commonly used when referring to new advances in hardware. This includes computers, cell phones, handheld computers, wireless phones, pagers, television sets, etc. Information technology also encompasses any apparatus used to conduct any kind of communication. For example, fax machines, telephone sets, modems, faxes, and any other kind of computer hardware and software are all considered information technology. Any hardware that is used to collect or transmit information is a part of this field.
The term information technology was actually first used in a paper published by Thomas Watson and James Clerk Maxwell back in 1875. Although information technology eventually became widely accepted, the Maxwell’s theory, which stated that light could be transmitted in only one way, made many people doubt whether or not information technology needed to exist at all. However, after World War II proved that computers and other computer systems really do help make the world a much more cohesive place, information technology did become a major force in society.
Nowadays, information technology continues to play an important role in modern life. It is often used to help businesses and individuals to connect to each other and to the rest of the world. Nearly every type of business utilizes some form of information technology from marketing their product to managing their customer database. Additionally, computer systems and networks have become integral parts of the process of running a number of different types of businesses. Interested individuals can study information security, which generally require a bachelor’s degree in computer systems and information security, as well as additional information technology courses, such as information security management and information technology management.