Information technology

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Information Technology (IT)<ref name="Explanation">Information Technology is also known as Information and Communication(s) Technology (ICT) and Infocomm in Asia.</ref> is concerned with the use of technology in managing and processing information, especially in large organizations.

In particular, IT deals with the use of electronic computers and computer software to convert, store, protect, process, transmit, and retrieve information. For that reason, computer professionals are often called IT specialists or Business Process Consultants, and the division of a company or university that deals with software technology is often called the IT department. Other names for the latter are information services (IS) or management information services (MIS), managed service providers (MSP).

1 History
2 Today
3 United Kingdom
4 Industry organizations
5 Topics
6 Notes

[edit] History

The first commercial business computer was developed in the United Kingdom in 1951, by the Joe Lyons catering organisation. This was known as the 'Lyons Electronic Office' - or LEO for short. It was developed further and used widely during the 1960s and early 1970s. (Joe Lyons formed a separate company to develop the LEO computers and this subsequently merged to form English Electric Leo Marconi and then International Computers Ltd.)

Early commercial systems were installed exclusively by large organisations. These could afford to invest the time and capital necessary to purchase hardware, hire specialist staff to develop bespoke software and work through the consequent (and often unexpected) organisational and cultural changes.

At first, individual organisations developed their own software, including data management utilities, themselves. Different products might also have 'one-off' bespoke software. This fragmented approach led to duplicated effort and the production of management information needed manual effort.

High hardware costs and relatively slow processing speeds forced developers to use resources 'efficiently'. Data storage formats were heavily compacted, for example. A common example is the removal of the century from dates, which eventually lead to the 'millennium bug'.

Data input required intermediate processing via punched paper tape or card and separate input to computers, usually for overnight processing. Data required validation in batches. All of this was a repetitive, labour intensive task, removed from user control and error-prone. Invalid or incorrect data needed correction and resubmission with consequences for data and account reconciliation.

Data storage was strictly serial on paper tape, and then later to magnetic tape: the use of data storage within readily accessible memory was not cost-effective.

Results would be presented to users on paper. Enquiries were delayed by whatever turn round was available.

[edit] Today

As with other industrial processes, commercial IT has moved in all respects from a bespoke, craft-based industry where the product was tailored to fit the customer; to multi-use components taken off the shelf to find the best-fit in any situation. Mass-production has greatly reduced costs and IT is available to the smallest company or one-man band - or school-kid.

LEO was hardware tailored for a single client. Today, Intel Pentium and compatible chips are standard and become parts of other components which are combined as needed. One individual change of note was the freeing of computers and removable storage from protected, air-filtered environments. Microsoft and IBM at various times have been influential enough to impose order on IT and the resultant standardisations allowed specialist software to flourish.

Software is available off the shelf: apart from Microsoft products such as Office, or Lotus, there are also specialist packages for payroll and personnel management, account maintenance and customer management, to name a few. These are highly specialised and intricate components of larger environments, but they rely upon common conventions and interfaces.

Data storage has also standardised. Relational databases are developed by different suppliers to common formats and conventions. Common file formats can be shared by large main-frames and desk-top personal computers, allowing online, realtime input and validation.

In parallel, software development has fragmented. There are still specialist technicians, but these increasingly use standardised methodologies where outcomes are predictable and accessible. At the other end of the scale, any office manager can dabble in spreadsheets or databases and obtain acceptable results (but there are risks).

[edit] United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom education system, information technology was formally integrated into the school curriculum when the National Curriculum was devised. It was quickly realised that the work covered was useful in all subjects. With the arrival of the Internet and the broadband connections to all schools, the application of IT knowledge, skills and understanding in all subjects became a reality. This change in emphasis has resulted in a change of name from Information Technology to Information and Communication Technology (ICT). ICT in Education can be understood as the application of digital equipment to all aspects of teaching and learning. It is present in almost all schools and is of growing influence.

The growth of use of Information and Communications Technology and its tools in the field of Education has seen tremendous growth in the recent past. Technology has entered the classroom in a big way to become part of the teaching and learning process.

[edit] Industry organizations

World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) is a consortium of over 60 information technology (IT) industry associations from economies around the world. WITSA members represent over 90 percent of the world IT market. As the global voice of the IT industry, WITSA is dedicated to:

advocating policies that advance the industry’s growth and development;
facilitating international trade and investment in IT products and services;
strengthening WITSA’s national industry associations through the sharing of knowledge,
providing members with a vast network of contact, experience, and critical information in nearly every geographic region of the world;
hosting the World Congress on IT, the premier industry sponsored global IT event;
hosting the Global Public Policy Conference; and
hosting the Global Information Security Summit.

Founded in 1978 and originally known as the World Computing Services Industry Association, WITSA has increasingly assumed an active advocacy role in international public policy issues affecting the creation of a robust global information infrastructure, including:

increasing competition through open markets and regulatory reform;

protecting intellectual property;

encouraging cross-industry and government cooperation to enhance information security;
bridging the education and skills gap reducing tariff and non-tariff trade barriers to IT goods and services; and
safeguarding the viability and continued growth of the Internet and electronic commerce.

The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) is an industry trade group for several U.S. information technology companies.

Founded in 1961 as the Association of Data Processing Services Organizations (ADAPSO), the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA)provides global public policy, business networking, and national leadership to promote the continued rapid growth of the IT industry. ITAA consists of approximately 325 corporate members throughout the U.S., and is secretariat of the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA)., a global network of 67 countries' IT associations. The Association plays a leading role in issues of IT industry concern including information security, taxes and finance policy, digital intellectual property protection, telecommunications competition, workforce and education, immigration, online privacy and consumer protection, government IT procurement, human resources and e-commerce policy. ITAA members range from the smallest IT start-ups to industry leaders in the Internet, software, IT services, digital content, systems integration, telecommunications, and enterprise solution fields.

ITAA membership is open to any company with operations situated in the U.S. and offering commercial IT products and services. Companies eligible for full IT membership include firms with headquarters, division offices, or branch offices located in the U.S. as well as foreign firms with subsidiary operations in the U.S. In addition, [1] offers affiliate membership to firms that sell business products and services to IT companies.

ITAA publishes a series of electronic newsletters. The ITAA E-LETTER covers the issues of the networked economy. These include coverage issues such as information and telecommunications public policy, as well as pertinent news about the businesses of electronic commerce, Internet service and enhanced telecommunications service providers. The ITAA E-LETTER is distributed exclusively by electronic mail and available for free available for free.....