Information Technology Today

• Information Technology (IT) uses computer systems or devices to access information.
• IT significantly impacts the workforce, business operations, and providing personal access to information.
• IT integrates computing technology and information processing.

Technology Revolution: Today

• Technology is enabling.

• Mobile computing affects those at work.

• Internet affects those at home.

• Email, chat, and online gaming affect those at play.

• Telemedicine is present today.

• Cashless society is present today.

• Employers want IT competency with basic word processing, email experience, basic database skills, spreadsheet skills, and presentation software skills.

• 120 million people are considered "knowledge workers" meaning their jobs involve handling or using information.

• More than 100 million people are not "IT Competent," lacking basic skills for using computers, software, and digital tools.

Knowledge Worker

• Knowledge workers use information in an information society.
• Knowledge workers manipulate information in an information society.
• Knowledge workers broadcast information in an information society.
• The word "computer" comes from the Latin "computare", meaning to calculate.
• It is a programmable electronic device for retrieving, storing, and processing data.
• A computer comprises hardware (processor, memory) and software (applications, OS).
• Data refers to unorganized facts and figures without context.
• Information is structured, organized, and meaningful data, computers convert data into information.

Functions of a Computer System

• The input function involves information entry via devices like keyboards, mice, microphones, cameras, and scanners.

• Input allows users to enter data, select options, and give commands; systems are non-functional without it.

• The CPU processes information from input and memory, carries out calculations, renders graphics, runs programs, and executes commands.

• Output involves sending processed information to devices that allow user interaction, such as monitors, speakers, and printers.

• Storage enables computers to store information with temporary and permanent types of components, for later use.

• Temporary storage components, like RAM, store data while the system is running, and it is erased upon shutdown.

• Permanent storage components, like hard disks, store data persistently. Common examples are USBs and CDs.

• Speed is a computer characteristic; computers works faster and more accurately than humans.

• Computers can process millions of instructions per second, measured in GigaHertz and MegaHertz.

• Diligence is a computer characteristic; computers never tire and can conduct millions of calculations per second.

• Accuracy is a computer characteristic; computers have low error rates, and errors are caused by incorrect human input.

• Reliability is a computer characteristic; computers provide consistent output for the same input.

• Versatility is a computer characteristic; computers can perform different tasks with the same accuracy and efficiency simultaneously.

• Memory is a computer characteristic; computers can store millions of records accessible with precision.

• Computer memory storage capacity is measured in Bytes, Kilobytes (KB), Megabytes (MB), Gigabytes (GB), and Terabytes (TB).

• Automation is a computer characteristic; computers with AI can perform tasks automatically after programming.

Computer Explanation

• Computers are electronic devices that retrieve, store, and process data.
• Helps people to complete any tasks such as making documents, sending emails, printing, and editing.
• Computers converts simple raw data into meaningful information, using input, processing, output, and storage.

Four Phases of Computing Process

• Phase 1: entering data with, keyboards, mouses, cameras, and touchscreen monitors.
• Phase 2: The CPU is what helps the computer to process the data from input.
• Phase 3: Computer delivers the output data back to you, showing through screens, videos, audio, & printers.
• Phase 4: Data is saved in the computer or portable storage devices on RAM and Hard Drives.

Hardware

• Are all the physical aspects of a computer system. Keyboard, monitor, printer etc.
• The four types of hardware are input (keyboard, mouse, scanner), Output (monitor screen, printer), Processing & Memory and secondary storage (Harddisk)

Software

• Is nothing but a set of programmes (computer instructions), which helps the user to do a set of specific tasks using the hardware.

People

• People interacting with the computer system. Are called this the Liveware.

Procedures

• Are a set of instructions, written in code, to instruct a computer on how to perform a task, run a software, do calculations etc.

Data

• Are the raw facts and figures that get processed.

Connectivity

• When the computers are linked to a network.

History of Computing

• A computer is a device that accepts data or input, and processes it in some way to automatically produce a result. Computing, means calculating.
• Tools like sticks, stones, and bones were used as counting tools before computers were invented.
• Abacus: Used in China 3000 B.C. for math operations which included addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
• Napier’s Bones: Created by John Napier to used separate ivory strips (bones) marked with numerals to multiply and divide, using decimal point system.
• Slide Rule: In science, engineering as well as business and industry but superseded by portable electronic calculator until late 20th century. First designed in 1632
• Pascaline: Invented by Biaise Pascal in 1642 french mathematician and philosopher. Its thought to be the first mechanical and automated calculator.
• Stepped Reckoner or Leibniz wheel: Improved to Pascal invention. It was a digital mechanical calculator known as the stepped reckoner because it used fluted drums instead of gears
• Difference engine: Created By Charles Babbage in 1820s. A steam-powered machine used to solve numerical logarithmic tables basic conputations.
• Analytical Engine: Charles Babbage created another calculating machine, the Analytical Engine, in 1830. input from punch cards and was capable of solving problems and storing data.
• Tabulating Machine: An American Statistician – Herman Hollerith invented this machine in the year 1890. It could compute statistics and record data.

Five Generations of Computer

• First Generation Computer | 1940-1956. Used Vacuum Tubes but was slow and had high power consumption with limited programming.
• Second Generation Computer | 1957-1963. Advanced to transistors making computer smaller and used assembly languages.
• Third Generation Computer | 1964-1971. Advanced to intergrated circuits that was smaller and cheaper than second generation.
• Fourth Generation Computer | 1971-1980. Used larget scale intergrated circuits and microprocessors used for personal computers, internet mouse and hand held devices.
• Fifth Generation Computer | 1980-Present. Used articifical intelligence, use parallel processinf and ULSI making them sophisticated.

Applications of Computer in the society

• Computers have vast differnt applications including business, business, eduction, and medical fields.
• Computer based data base can hold a vast amount of data, is fast and has back up and security.
• Paper based data base has limited availability to physical storage space.

Uses of Computers in Business and Industries

• Communication helps individuals and organizations to communicate more efficiently and effectively.
• Research helps businesses quickly access vast amounts of information and perform complex analyses.
• Sales and Marketing assist in customer relationship management (CRM) systems, tracking sales record, and marketing.
• Data Management and Storage stores large volumes of data and manage it efficiently.
• Product Development enhances stages of development, from concept and design to manufacturing and launch.

Benefits of Using Computers in Education

• Accessing information
• Interative learning
• Distnace Learning
• Student Assesment
• Skill DEvelopment

Medical Advantages

• Medical Imaging. Diagnosis the scans qucikly and accurately.

• Electronic Health Records (EHRs): Easy access to patient information.

• Data Analysis: helps with finding treatments.

• Computers play a vital role in various fields beyond just technology and programming across medicine, education and finanace.

• Some ways computers are used in entertainment is with gaming animation sports etc.

• Some flaws with the computer are hard ware and cyber security failings.

Other IT Issues

• Surveillance technology
• Identity Threft
• Sypware
• Need to expand education and healthcare
• Environmental Concerns

Computer Hardware

• Computer hardware can be classified into Main System Unit, Secondary Storage, Input / Output Devices and Communication Devices. 4CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER HARDWARE input, processing, output and memory
• Computer Memory can be RAM, ROM, COMOS Chip and Flash Chip
• Communication devices inclue network cards.

System Unit

• Unit contain motherboard with CUP, RAM, and ROM chips

Second System Storage

• Is to devies that store device data

History

• First generation of computer from 1940s - 1950s used Vacuum tubes for operation
• Second Generation from 1950s-1960s used transistors making operations faster
• Thrid Generation from 1960s -1970s used intergrated circuits. reducing computer power.
• Pourth Generation from 1970s- peresent used GUI with the interent with laptops nd modern devices.
• Fifth Generation - use Ai, machine learning and quantum conmputing to create smarter better sytems.

Computer software

• Is instructions that tell the hardware what to do

• Software can be defined to as system software which is that foundation that all programs rely on.

• As well as applicaiton software that is devies to assist the user with certian function.

• The software process (also known as software methodology) leads to the production of the software from software specification, design, verification and evaluation.

Types of software

• Productivity
• OS
• Device dirvers
• Multimedia

Software generation

• First, the computers did not have installed software
• Third, natural languages came
• fourth, new data programs came
• Firth, had the solution itself for example prolog