Unit
– 1: Information Technology
Information Technology
Information
Technology (IT) is a generic term that covers the acquisition, processing,
storage and dissemination of information. It involves the application of
computers and communication technology in the task of information handling,
information and information flow from the generation to the utilization levels.
It is restricted to systems dependent on microelectronics based combination of
computers and telecommunication technologies. The IT is the boon for mankind.
It gives accessibility to information at fingertips. There has been discussion
on Information highways and high tech libraries. The promising and diversified
possibilities of IT have reduced the space and time between the people,
countries, continents and ultimately have led to the emerging concepts - Global
Society and Global Village.
Information
Technology (IT) is a new technology applied to the creation, storage,
selection, transformation and distribution of information of many kinds. It has
been defined differently by different people.
IT,
as defined by the Information
Technology Association of America (ITAA), is "the study, design,
development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly
software applications and computer hardware." It deals with the use of
electronic computers and computer software to convert, store, protect, process, transmit and retrieve information,
securely.
According
to Mall, IT means various means of obtaining, storage, and transforming
information using computer, communication and micro-electronics.
UNESCO
defines IT as, scientific technology and engineering disciplines and the
management techniques used in information handling and processing their
application, computers and their interaction with men and machines and associated
social, economic and cultural matters.
Objectives of Information Technology
The
objectives of IT are to provide better means of information of data messages in
the form of written or printed records, electric, audio or video signals by
using wires, cables and telecommunication techniques, IT plays a vital role in
information handling due to developments such as reduction in computing time,
capabilities of files on video discs, use of T.V as readymade information
screen, telecommunication and satellite communication facilities etc. The
objectives of IT can be categorized into the following four groups.
(i)
Supporting technical functions associated with acquisitions, technical
processing, serial control, SDI/CAS, OPAC and circulation work.
(ii)
Supporting information storage, retrieval and dissemination systems.
(iii)
Supporting management information services for libraries, especially analyzing
library statistics.
(iv)
It can best be used in service and orientation courses for practicing
librarians, continuing education programs for faculty teachers of library and
information science, correspondence studies and library extension services.
Features of Information Technology
Information
Technology possesses various features. Let us have an idea of its features.
1. Broadness:
IT involves more than just computer literacy. It takes into account how
computers work and how these computers can further be used not just for
information processing but also for communications and problem solving tasks as
well.
2. Streamlining:
IT has the feature of streamlining the processes. It helps in streamlining the
business processes. It also helps in getting constant and up to date
information in real time.
3. Globalization:
IT is global. It not only brings the world closer together, but it allows the
world’s economy to become a single interdependent system. This means that we
can not only share information quickly and efficiently, but we can also bring
down barriers of linguistic and geographic boundaries. It makes the word into a
global village.
4. Communication:
IT helps in cheaper, quicker and more efficient communication. We can now
communicate with anyone around the globe by simply text messaging them or
sending them an email for an almost instantaneous response. The Internet has
also opened up face to face direct communication from different parts of the
world thanks to the helps of video conferencing.
5. Cost
effectiveness: Information technology helps to computerize the business process
thus streamlining business to make them extremely cost effective. This in turn
increases productivity which ultimately gives rise to profits that means better
pay and less strenuous working conditions.
6. Bridging
the cultural gap: Information technology helps in bridging the cultural gap by
helping people from different cultures to communicate with one another and
allow for the exchange of views and ideas, thus increasing awareness and
reducing prejudice.
7. More time:
IT has makes it possible for businesses to remain open 24x7 all over the globe.
This means that a business can be open anytime anywhere, making purchases from
different countries easier and more convenient. It also means that you can have
your goods delivered right to your doorstep with having to move a single
muscle.
8. Creation
of new jobs: IT creates new and interesting jobs. Computer programmers, System
analyzers, Hardware and software developers and Web designers are just some of
the many new employment opportunities created with the help of IT.
9. Dynamic:
IT is dynamic and ever changing. It has continuously changing features due to
development in the field of communication and content technology.
Components of Information Technologies
Technological change is becoming a driving force in our society.
Information technology is a generic term used for a group of technologies. The
following are the major new technologies as most relevant information system.
Ø Processor,
memory and input/output channels,
Ø Micro,
Mini and Large scale computers,
Ø Mass
storage technologies,
Ø Data
communication, networking and distributed processing,
Ø Data
entry, display respond and
Ø Software
These technologies can also be grouped into three major areas:
1. Computer
Technology.
2. Communication
Technology (Refer below – ICT)
3. Content
Technology.
Computer
Technology: The present era is IT era where computers are performing their
dominant role. We find presence of computers in every field. A computer is an
electronic device which converts raw data into meaningful information by
following a set of instructions called program. Computers can be classified
into different categories. Of these categories personal computers, workstation,
servers and super computers are very important. Personal computers are IBM
compatible computers and are used by one person at a time. The common
components of computer system include input unit, central processing unit and
output unit. Input unit is used to enter the data in computer. It includes mouse,
light pen, tract ball etc. Central Processing Unit is the main and central unit
of the computer that controls the working of the Arithmetic Logic Unit and
Memory Unit. Output unit produces the results which are displayed either on the
screen or are printed through printer. A computer system is composed of
hardware and software. Various hardware parts include memory, input devices,
floppy and hard disk, pen drives, CD or DVD drives etc. Memory is an essential
element of computer. RAM is internal memory and volatile in nature. Cache
memory is a part of memory which uses static RAM and helps the processor to
search the data at a very high speed.
Computers play an important role in data processing. They take raw
data as input and after processing, provide meaningful information to the user.
Electronic data processing comprises the role of computer which is composure of
hardware and software. Data can be processed electronically at a wonderful
speed and accuracy. This helps in providing timely reports to the management
and these reports are very helpful in taking decisions for future. The
processing of data can be done in two ways; one is on-line processing and the
other is off-line processing.
Content
Technology: The media and entertainment industries are undergoing significant
structural change. Content + Technology interprets in depth the management and
technology issue confronting today’s media companies for managers, operators
and engineers from Software to Hardware, Regulation to Practice, Established and
Emerging Standards.
Content technology or multimedia technology includes
computer-based, interactive applications having multiple media elements,
including text, graphics, animations, video and sound. Content technology
refers to both the hardware and software used to create and run such systems.
The mode of delivery for each application depends on the amount of information
that must be stored, the privacy desired and the potential expertise of the
users. Applications that require large amounts of data are usually distributed
on CD-ROM or DVD-ROM, while personal presentations might be made directly from
a computer using an attached projector. Multimedia products may be created and
run on the commonly used computer environments. Multimedia system users may
employ a variety of input devices in addition to the keyboard and mouse, such
as joysticks and trackballs. Touch screens provide both input and display
capabilities and are often the choice when potentially large numbers of novices
may use the system. Other display devices include high-resolution monitors and
computer projectors.
Impact and Use of information technology in
business
Small scale business houses need to buy software packages that
could cater to their specific management, operational and functional needs. For
this purpose, they need to approach firms and IT manufacturers who deal in such
software applications. Other IT services include Internet marketing and email
marketing, web hosting and promotions and maintaining client networks. Larger
business houses have their own operational and functional employees who develop
in house software applications and work on several IT needs of the businesses.
They usually purchase ERI software programs to coordinate different processes
and functions into a single application, which is actually more convenient.
Manufacturing businesses may make use of servers and databases to store their
vast data regarding inventory.
The information technology role in business sector certainly is of
a great importance, which enables businesses to effectively and successfully
plan, manage, execute strategies to lead to profit. Information Technology has
proved to be a very crucial for business activities. It has introduced various
new technological applications and tools that ha increased productivity and
efficiency in business organizations. Information technology has facilitated
easy and quick modes of communication. Let us see as to how I.T. has
revolutionized this area. Some of the significance of It in business are given
below:
1. Advertising: Information technology has introduced several new
methods of advertising through the Internet. Business firms increase their
income through these methods of advertising. Business can be increased by
advertising on popular websites.
2. E-Commerce: One of the revolutions brought by Information
Technology is E-Commerce. E-Commerce or E-business refers to buying and selling
of goods or services through the Internet. These days, countless businesses
offer online services. Some types of online businesses include consumer-based
retail sites and the exchange of services and trading goods between
corporations.
3. Communication: Employees and workers in organizations use
emails, instant messages and video conferencing for quick and effective
communication which improves the quality of work and improves business
potential.
4. Applications: Most business organizations use software programs
such as MS-Word, MS-Access, MS-Excel and PowerPoint. Mostly, photo manipulation
tools like Photoshop are also used by organizations.
5. Prediction: According to the website networksolutions.com, it
is predicted that in the coming years, the boundaries between electronic
commerce and conventional commerce will fade away as more and more businesses
are moving selective sectors of operations online.
Significance of IT in education
New and emerging technologies challenge the traditional process of
teaching and learning and the way education is managed, Information technology,
while an important area of study in its own right, is having a major impact
across all curriculum areas. Easy worldwide communication provides instant
access to a vast array of data, challenging assimilation and assessment skills.
Rapid communication, plus increased access to IT in the home, at work and in
educational establishments, could mean that learning becomes a truly lifelong
activity – an activity in which the pace of technological change forces
constant evaluation of the learning process itself.
1. Access to variety of learning resources: IT aids plenty of
resources to enhance the teaching skills and learning ability. With the help of
IT now it is easy to provide audio visual education. The learning resources are
being widens and widen. Now with this vivid and vast technique as part of the
IT curriculum, learners are encouraged to regard computers as tools to be used
in all aspects of their studies.
2. Any time learning: In the era of Information Technology and web
networks the pace of imparting knowledge has become very fast and one can be
educated any time. One can study whenever he wills irrespective of whether it
is day or night and irrespective of being in India or any part of the world.
3. Collaborative learning: Now IT has made it easy to study as
well as teach in groups or in clusters. With online we can be unite together to
do the desired task. Efficient postal systems, the telephone (fixed and mobile)
and various recording and playback systems based on computer technology all
have a part to play in educational broadcasting in the new millennium. The
Internet and its Web sites are now familiar to everyone.
4. Multimedia approach to education: Audio-Visual Education,
planning, preparation and use of devices and materials that involve sight,
sound or both, for educational purposes, is being extensively done. Among the
devices used are still and motion pictures, filmstrips, television,
transparencies, audiotapes, records, teaching machines, computers and
videodisc. The growth of audio-visual education has reflected remarkable
developments in both technology and learning theory.
5. Authentic and up to date information: The information and data
which are available on the Internet is purely correct and up to date. Several
hundred sites are available on the Internet which offers similar information.
Internet, a collection of computer networks that operate on common standards
and enable the computers and the programs they run to communicate directly,
provides true and correct information.
6. Online library: Internets support thousands of different kinds
of operational and experimental services one of which is online library. We can
get plenty of data on this online library.
7. Distance learning: Distance Learning is a method of learning at
a distance rather than in a classroom. Distance learning is easier these days
as laptops and internet connectivity have given the Universities faster means
of reaching more students in real time.
Uses of Information Technology in Medicine
Information technology plays important amazing roles in medicine.
Using information technology in the medical field can improve efficiency and
quality of care.
1. Benefits: Medical technology provides three
primary benefits to the patients.
a)
It helps increase care-guidelines for specific
conditions.
b)
It reduces the number of medication errors.
c)
It also improves how well medical
professionals are able to track the progression of diseases within a community.
2. Storing
Information: Information technology helps to organize patient records and can
provide valuable cross-referencing information when it comes to things like
drug interactions. Because of the rise in the number of medical images captured
and used in treatment for a variety of conditions, information technology is
especially important for storing images and locating them when needed. Even
reading medical images may require IT assistance because of the increasing
complexity of imaging technologies.
3. Trained Professionals: Information technology in and of itself
is not enough to improve patient care. Hospitals, doctor’s offices and other medical
institutions need trained IT professionals to implement and maintain new
information technologies.
4. Privacy Concerns: While information technology can improve
patient care, it can also compromise patient information potentially making
personal details available to people outside of the doctor-patient
relationship. Institutions implementing information technology to store and
communicate information should be aware of these concerns and take steps to
address them.
Social Impact of Information Technology
Computing technologies, like most other forms of technology, are
not socially neutral. They effect and are themselves affected by society.
Computers have changed the way people relate to one another and their living
environment, as well as how humans organize their work, their communities and
their time. Society, in turn, has influenced the development of computers
through the needs people have for processing information. The study of these
relationships has come to be known as “social informatics.”
The complete impact of the current information technology and
networking revolution remains unknown, but her experiences of organizations and
individuals who are using the tools and resources offered by information
technology suggest that it may change out social fabric.
The twentieth century saw the development of scientific research
and engineering applications that required increasingly complex computations.
The needs and desires of society have subsequently influenced the development
of a vast array of computing technologies, including supercomputers, graphics
processors, games, digital video and audio, mobile computing devices etc.
In the twenty-first century, computers are used in almost every
facet of society including agriculture, architecture, art, commerce and global
trade, communication, education, governance, law, music, politics, science,
transportation and writing. In general, computing technologies have been
applied to almost every situation.
Impacts on Various other Organizations
1. Banking Industry:
Banking sector is one of the largest organizations which invest heavily in
computers. Today, the banking functions in urban and semi-urban areas are fully
computerized. Computerization in banking industry is necessary due to massive
volume of transactions and to offer better and better customer service to the
customers. Banking industry is facing stiff competition from the foreign and
private banks. The technology being used by the foreign and private banks is
much advanced as compared to public sector banks. This has compelled public
sector banks to go in for adopting the latest technology. Computers are being
installed in branches at different counters viz. Savings Bank, Current Account,
Cash Credit Accounts etc. Cheques are handled by the computers at clearing
houses. By computerization, many problems have been solved. Balances are
automatically tallied in the accounts. Customers can obtain printed statements
of their accounts. Automated Teller Machines have been installed in the branch
premises of various banks and at the places of customer activities. Different
networks viz. BANKNET, RBI NET, SWIFT, INFINET etc. are being used to expedite
the customer transactions and to provide better customer service. National
Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) and Electronic Clearing Service (ECS) have
been started to minimize the time of funds-transfer and funds-credit in the
accounts of customers with the introduction of RTGS system (Real Time Gross
Settlement), funds can be settled in the accounts almost instantaneously. In
all banking industry is handicapped without computers.
2. Insurance
Sector: The requirements of computers in insurance sector are similar to those
in banking sector. A large number of files relating to customers’ policies are
to be updated. Calculation of bonus, premium and interest is to be done on a
large scale. Insurance companies have to intimate to the customers who do not
pay the installments in time. Matured policies are to be paid. Manually it is a
tedious job to handle all these transactions. With the introduction of
computers in this sector; the burden on the employees has been reduced and
timely statements of accounts are made ready in no time. Computerized
acknowledgements are sent to the policy holders who pay premium on their policies
and date of next installment due is also mentioned.
3. Railways:
Railway is largest organization which is effectively using the computers. The
record of all trains running daily or weekly is kept in computers. A passenger
can desire information about a particular train at any station linked with the
computer network. For example, a passenger at Trichy station can get his ticket
(with return ticket) reserved for Mumbai Central. There is no separate or
special queue for a particular train or destination. The passenger can obtain
his ticket in any queue for any station. Similarly he can get his ticket
cancelled if his programme of journey has been changed. All information
regarding time table of trains can be obtained at the computer terminals.
There are
numerous organizations which are going for computerization. The advantages of
computerization in these organizations are mentioned below:
i.
Payroll preparation: In large departments,
organizations, business houses, factories, etc. computer is an aid in preparing
pay rolls of employees. It is very difficult to prepare payroll of all the
employees in a large organization manually. Moreover there are chances of
mistakes in manual calculations. Computer do not make mistake while calculating
D.A., H.R.A and other allowances. Income tax calculations are performed by the
computers.
ii.
Budget Preparation: Computers can be used for
preparation of budget of an organization. Budgeting is a sensitive item for an
organization. Proper financing can be done through correct budgeting. Computers
can store a lot of data of all departments and sections of an organization.
Based on their requirements and trend during the past budget, budget for
current year can be prepared correctly and the organizations can know the variance
over previous year in the budgeted items.
iii.
Designing and Manufacturing: Computers can
design a product very efficiently. This technique of designing is called
Computer Aided Designing (CAD). Various software packages are available for
designing a product. Programs like Auto Cad, CorelDraw etc. are very popular
among computer users (designers). If one design is not approved, computer can
immediately gives you another design according to your specifications. Once the
design is approved, the product is manufactured. Computers are very helpful in
controlling the manufacturing phase. With the help of Computer Aided
Manufacturing (CAM), the manufacturing of the product is very easy. Whole of
the manufacturing process is taken over by the computers and robots. Not only
the use of CAM avoids wastage but also brings high quality improvement in the
product.
iv.
Material Handling: In the manufacturing
process, computers can handle the materials properly. The handling of materials
by computers is very accurate and evens the chances of damage and accidents are
negligible. Robots are used to handle the extremely dangerous and hazardous
materials, acids etc. and avoid accidents.
