Introduction to Information Technology

Study Notes

Information Technology (IT) encompasses equipment and programs (hardware and software) enabling access, retrieval, storage, organization, manipulation, and presentation of data electronically.
Communication Technology (CT) describes telecommunications equipment allowing information exchange, such as phones, faxes, modems, and computers.
The evolution of ICT is traced through four main periods: Premechanical, Mechanical, Electromechanical, and Electronic.

Humans communicated using pictograms drawn on rocks (e.g., Sumerian Pictograms).
Date ranged from 1450 BCE to 1450 CE
This period focused on representing information rather than intricate computations.
Pictorial representations, such as petroglyphs and other forms of early communication, constituted the foremost methods for conveying information within this early era.
Papyrus from the papyrus plant was invented, leading to the revolutionized methods of storing and sharing information.
The invention marked a significant advancement in organizing and disseminating information through the compilation and binding of these texts, ultimately leading to the emergence of books.
Libraries served as central repositories, the early forms of data centers.
Numerical systems began to be employed during this stage.
The abacus, an important calculating tool, originated in China.

This era spanned from 1450 to 1840.
There was an increasing interest in accelerating and systematizing mathematical calculations.
Mechanical devices and machines, operating on principles such as steam power and gears, were pivotal in information processing and numerical computations.
The mechanical calculator (Pascaline) stood out as a fundamental invention of the time.
The development of the Analytical Engine by Charles Babbage, marked a notable advancement.
This epoch was a stage of crucial theoretical developments in the field of computation and laid the groundwork for subsequent advancements.

This period started around 1840 to 1940.
The usage and control of electricity became crucial in handling and transmitting information, signifying a tremendous advancement.
Telegraphs were developed, initiating the transmission processes for communications over long distances.
The invention of the telephone marked a paramount step forward in enabling voice transmissions over long-distance networks.
Vacuum tubes, enabling greater control over electrical currents, were implemented in devices laying a foundation for future electronic advances.

This period commenced in the 1940s and persists to the present.
Solid-state devices and electronic gadgets replaced many previous methods of data handling and transmission.
This period has been characterized by several advancements and milestones, including various types of computers, electronic gadgets, the use of transistors and integrated circuits.
The late vacuum tubes period, the transistors period, the integrated circuits period, and the computer processors period are notable stages within this technological evolution.

Online platforms facilitate communication and information sharing, allowing individuals to connect.
They aid in digital commerce globally and offer convenience and selection to customers.
Online platforms are also essential for fostering communication and information sharing, promoting business exchange between individuals, promoting various activities.
Various types of online platforms exist, including assistive media, collaborative platforms, convergent technologies, ICT platforms, mobile media, social media, Web 2.0 and Web 3.0.