Lecture 1- Evolution of I.T

8/3/2019 Lecture 1- Evolution of I.T

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INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY

LECTURE 1

Evolution of Information

Technology


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Learning objectives;

After completing this lecture, you will be able to;

Understand the evolution Information Technology as an

academic discipline.

Have knowledge about the four ages that constitute the

history of I.T

Understand the term Information Technology, its functions

and benefits to organizations today.

Discuss the future of I.T.4/30/2012BIT 1104

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Evolution of Information Technology

But first, why should we spend time on recounting theevents of the past?

Why not just talk about what is happening in I.T now andwhat is going to happen in the future?

If you do not learn from the history, you are condemned to

repeat it.

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Why look at the past?

Recounting the events of the past provides an excellentopportunity to:

learn lessons

discover patterns of positive evolution, and

use them in the future.

If we learn from history well, we will:

neither repeat the mistakes of the past

nor would we waste time re-inventing what already has beeninvented.

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Information technology is an enormously vibrant field thatemerged at the end of the last century as our societyexperienced a fundamental change from an industrial societyto an information age/society.

From its inception, Everyone is using Information TechnologyKnowingly or unknowingly. It is growing rapidly and has

become the defining technology of our age, changing how welive and work.

IT is used Everywhere in any field. A user can use IT, for

creating multimedia in Business or for creating different4/30/2012

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There are 4 main ages that divide up the history ofinformation technology.

Only the latest age (electronic) and some of theelectromechanical age really affects us today, but it isimportant to learn about how we got to the point we are atwith technology today. The 4 ages include;

Premechanical age Mechanical age

Electro-mechanical age

Electronic Age

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Ages that divide up the history of I.T

Premechanical age The Premechanical age is the earliest age of information technology. It

can be defined as the time between 3000B.C. and 1450A.D.

We are talking about a long time ago.

Humans would try to communicate using language or simple picturedrawings known as petroglyths.

Early alphabets were developed and as they became more popular, morepeople were writing information down, pens and paper began to be

developed. Writing a lot of information down led to a need to keep it all in permanent

storage. This is where the first books and libraries were developed.

Numbering systems were created leading to the development of acalculator which was the first information processor to be created.

The popular model of that time was the abacus calculator.4/30/2012

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Mechanical age The mechanical age can be defined as the time between 1450 and 1840.

A lot of new technologies are developed in this era as there is a largeexplosion in interest with this area.

Technologies like the slide rule (used for multiplying and dividing) wereinvented.

There were lots of different machines created during this era and whilewe have not yet gotten to a machine that can do more than one type of

calculation in one, like our modern-day calculators, we are still learningabout how all of our all-in-one machines started.

Also, if you look at the size of the machines invented in this timecompared to the power behind them it seems (to us) absolutely ridiculousto understand why anybody would want to use them, but to the peopleliving in that time ALL of these inventions were HUGE.

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Electro-Mechanical age Now we are finally getting close to some technologies that resemble our

modern-day technology.

The electromechanical age can be defined as the time between 1840 and1940. These are the beginnings of telecommunication.

The telegraph was created in the early 1800s. The telephone (one of themost popular forms of communication ever) was created by AlexanderGraham Bell in 1876.

The first radio developed by Guglielmo Marconi in 1894. All of these wereextremely crucial emerging technologies that led to big advances in the

information technology field. Later the advancement of the Black andwhite TV.

The first large-scale automatic computer in the United States was theMark 1 created by Harvard University around 1940 which was very HUGE.

It was from huge machines like this that people began to look at4/30/2012

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Electronic age The electronic age is what we currently live in. It can be defined as the time

between 1940 to present.

The ENIAC was the first high-speed, digital computer capable of being

reprogrammed to solve a full range of computing problems. Personal Computers like (Apple II) were developed with actual operating

systems, CPUs (central processing units) which contained memory, logic, andcontrol circuits all on a single chip.

The graphical user interface (GUI) for Personal Computers was also

developed.There is a lot more to all of these generations and ages but all you reallyneed is a rough overview.

Assignment.

The Electronic age came into existence based on four generations of digital

computing. Discuss these generations highlighting the milestones thattrans ired at each sta e.

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Significant developments in I.T Include;

The telegraph by Samuel Morse in 1837

The telephone by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876

Radio by Guglielmo Marconi in 1894

Black and white TV in the 1940s

The Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) between 1937-

1942

The personal digital computer in the 1970s

The world wide web (internet) in 1990s4/30/2012BIT 1104

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What is Information Technology?

Having looked where we where and how far technology hasevolved, it is evident I.T is growing rapidly and everyoneuses it knowingly or unknowingly. But, how can we define

I.T in this era?Definition

The term Information Technology refers to all forms oftechnology which enable the capturing or creation,

processing, storage and distribution of data,information and knowledge in an electronic form.

I.T. can also be seen as the collection of tools that make it

easier to create, use, manage, and exchange information.4/30/2012BIT 1104

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Key terms in the definition

Technology= applying a systematic technique or method to

solve a problem or a set of tools with a common purpose.

Much of todays technology involves the use of computers & mobile

technology.

Technology can also be seen as how we combine resources to solve

a problem, fulfil a need or satisfy a want.

Data:Raw facts. Facts can be figures, characters and details.

Information:An organized, meaningful, and usefulinterpretation of data. Information is processed data thatbecomes of use to someone.

Knowled e:An awareness and understandin of a set of4/30/2012BIT 1104

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Data, information, knowledge (relationship)

Data leads to information, information leads to knowledge,knowledge leads to wisdom, & wisdom is the key toexistence of human civilizations.

Our need of accuracy & revolution towards processing ofinformation has led us to Information Revolution.

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The Functions of Information Technology

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What exactly can IT do?

Capture:The process of compiling detailed records ofactivities. It is performed when you expect the data will beuseful later.

Processing:A process that involves the use of a computerprograms to summarize, analyze or otherwise convert datainto usable information.

Data processing involves recording, analyzing, sorting,summarizing, calculating, data. Because data is most useful whenwell-presented and actually informative, data-processing systemsare often referred to as information systems.

Storage:Storage is the computer process of retaining4/30/2012Flavia Namagembe BIT 1104

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Functions contd

Retrieval is the process by which a computer locates andcopies stored data or information for further processing orfor transmission to another user.

Transmission:The computer process of distributinginformation over a communications network.

Electronic Mail, or E-Mail

Voice Messaging, or Voice Mail


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The Opportunities of Information Technology

Helping People

How can I be more effective? More productive? More

creative? And how can I help other people?

Solving Problems

Problem: A perceived difference between an existing

condition and a desired condition.

Problem Solving: The process of recognizing a problem,identifying alternatives for solving it, and successfullyimplementing the chosen solution


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Information Technology today:

I.T Is All around us & everywhere, Improving Our Lives inall sectors;

Education

Health

Transport

Tourism

Entertainment Sports

Banking


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The Responsibilities of Using InformationTechnology

To be informed: Users have to know how computers andnetwork can be applied In different situations, and capabilityand limitation of IT in those situations.

To Make Proper Use of IT: Users need to takeresponsibility for employing IT in desirable and ethical waysthat help people and do not violate on their privacy, rights or

well being.

To Safeguard: Users must take responsibility for protectingdata and information that are in the computer or transmitted

over a network against intentional or accidental damage or4/30/2012Flavia Namagembe BIT 1104

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The future of Information Technology: where arewe going?

The field of IT is evolving and developing everyday. Newtechnologies in computers and mobile devices are shapingthe way the world communicates with one another, getswork done, and spends free time.

There is a growing need for individuals with a love for thefield, a curiosity for the future, and a desire to be a force init.

Jobs in the fields are on the rise, and employers are on thelook-out for fresh talent; those who want to play a part in

ITs future have no limits on their potential or on thepotential of their specific field.4/30/2012Flavia Namagembe BIT 1104

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Supplementary notes..

Future of IT

1.http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2008/11/07/2332

29/Technology-in-the-next-100-years-the-futurologists.htm

Technology in the next 100 years: the futurologists view

2.http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-information-

technolofy.htm


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INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY

LECTURE 1B

Components of I.Tsystems and their inter-

relationships


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Learning objectives;

After completing this lecture, you will be able to;

Identify the basic components of I. T systems

Understand how the identified components inter-relate with each

other

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Review..

From the previous slides in Lecture 1, we defined the termI.T.

We are now aware that the word Information Technology isa combination of two words. One is information and other istechnology. Information means knowledge, it can be a bit or aparagraph or a page.

IT therefore is science of information handling, particularlyusing computers & mobile technologyto support thecommunication of knowledge in technical, economic and

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Components of information technology

ComputerTechnology

Communication technology

Reprographicstechnology People


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The components of Information Technology can beclassified into four major areas;


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Computer technology

There is no doubt that computer technology has had a greatimpact on society and also brought many technical developmentswith it.

It has brought many changes to the way we live as individual as

well as members of societies and organizations.

It has had major effects and changes on the economy, health,education, industry, agriculture and many other fields.

The ability of computers in gathering, processing, presenting and

sending large amount of information has had major changes in theway large organizations as well individuals organize their lives.

Computers are at work, in schools and hospitals and many otherplaces.

We therefore need to have some basic understanding of how theyfunction and the language associated with them in the next4/30/2012BIT 1104

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Communications technology

Communication is the activity of conveying meaningfulinformation.

Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intendedrecipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of

the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication;thus communication can occur across vast distances in time andspace.

The communication process is complete once the receiver hasunderstood the message of the sender.

Examples of communication technologies today;

Audio-Visual Technology (TV sets)

Facsimile Transmission (Fax)

Telephones

Internet 4/30/2012BIT 1104

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Reprographics

There are very many different types of documents inorganization which need to be copied within e.g.

Legal documents e.g. employee contracts

Educational documents e.g. training manuals Memorandums; letters; notices etc

The process of copying documents is called reprography

Reprographics therefore refers to the reproduction andduplication of documents, written materials, drawings,photographs, designs.

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Reprographic equipment

Reprographic involves a number of tasks some of which maybe complex than others.

As a result, a variety of equipment in the reprographicdepartment is required to act as an efficient support functionto the organization. Noted below are some of thereprographic equipments common in an I.T environment

Photocopier Printers

Scanners

Binders

Laminators. 4/30/2012BIT 1104

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People

People are the I.T operators, or users who actually use thetechnology or application to perform processes that yield endresults.

It can be argued that I.T systems cannot be complete withoutpeoples involvement. Even if some I.T systems can do their

jobs without a person seated in front of it, people still design,build, program and repair these systems.

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How do the four I.T components inter-relate

While the computer technology stresses on the processingaspect of information, the CDROM technology lays importanceto its storage.

The communication technologies such as telephone, cellularphone, Fax, Internet, E-mail, teleconferencing, computernetworking, online search, etc. are closely related to thedissemination aspect of information.

Reprographic technologies are also associated to thedissemination of information..

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Documents

Lecture 1- Evolution of I.T