Introduction: Understanding Information Technology Exploring the Digital Domain Introduction: Understanding Information Technology
In this chapter . . . You will learn about the importance of information for most enterprises understanding the roles of information technology in shaping how we manage and preserve information how digital information technology subsumes and merges other information technologies how digital information technology affects our lives, our work, and our world
Electronic Government Teoritical Perspective Electronic Government
The Nature of Information information implies facts knowledge significance and meaning Shannon and Weaver described information as what is beyond chance prediction it reduces our uncertainty about predicting states of the world
Information Technology technologies are artificial instruments, processes or systems that extend our natural capabilities e.g.s: the wheel, agriculture, electric light bulb Information technologies extend natural forms of representing and communicating information to incorporate artificial and external forms e.g.s: writing, the printing press, telephone
Digital Information Technology employs digital methods for the representation, processing, and communication of information represents a new breed of information technology it has the capability to imitate, extend, and subsume other technologies
3 Classes of Information Users information consumers individuals who need or benefit from information services for both work or leisure information producers vendors, distributors of information services information workers professions that depend on the analysis, assessment, and use of specific forms of information
Electronic Government Technical Perspective
Defining Information What is Information? Information is any knowledge that comes to our attention. That could be voice, image, text and video What is data? Data is information when dealing with the machine
What Counts as information
Methods for conveying information
Defining Information Technology Information Technologies are systems of hardware and/or software that capture, process, exchange, store and/or present information using electrical, magnetic and/or electromagnetic energy.
IT Example: Cellular Telephony
IT Example: Wireless Internet
IT in Society (people) Personal Communication Entertainment Conversations (phone, cell) Messaging (E-mail, SMS) Video Coms Entertainment Web surfing Downloading video and audio files Interactive gaming Day-to-Day living Buying airline tecket Ordering books Electronic banking/ stock market
IT in Society (business) Internal Communication Computer network Corporate website Video teleconferencing Messaging (SMS, email) Electronic Commerce Call Centres Electronic transactions Online sales Business operations Factory operation systems Databases
Examples on IT Careers Information Security Jobs Address information security IT Analyst Translate business requirement into technical specification Network Administration Configure and operate computer network Management Consulting Provide consulting for government and organizations Database Administration Managing corporate database Computer Forensics Expert Extracts computer evidence for detecting/preventing /prosecuting crimes IT Sales: people on frontline to sell products Software development: develop software solutions