1. 1
Introduction to Information Technology— Hardware, Software, and Telecommunications

2. Information Technology and Computer Literacy
Information technology includes:
Computers
Networks
Computer literacy

3. Computer Literacy Computer literacy includes:
Knowledge of basic computer concepts
The ability to use computers to make tasks easier
The ability to use the Internet and World Wide Web

4. Computer An electronic device which: Accepts data as input
Processes that data according to instructions stored in memory
Produces information as output
Stores the results

5. Figure 1.1 Desktop computer. Source: Oleksiy Mark/Shutterstock.com

6. Computers and Health Care
It is especially crucial for allied health students to have a knowledge of computers and networks
The federal government is attempting to make the use of the electronic health record (EHR) and integrated hospital information technology systems universal by 2014

7. Computer Classifications
Supercomputer
Largest and most powerful at any time
Used for scientific applications such as weather forecasting and simulations

8. Computer Classifications
Mainframes
Used by large institutions (businesses, hospitals, universities)
Powerful, multiuser computer; many users access mainframe through terminals
Used for data processing tasks, e.g., generating a payroll, processing insurance claims

9. Computer Classifications
Minicomputers
Scaled-down mainframe
Multiuser
Used in small businesses
Microcomputers (PCs, desktops)
Used by individuals

10. Computer Classifications
Netbooks
Scaled-down microcomputers
Light and easy to carry
Provide a link to the Internet, and support common application software

11. Computer Classifications
Personal digital assistants (PDAs)
Small, handheld computers
Used throughout the health care system for references, to gather information, and to write prescriptions
Smartphones and tablet computers have been embraced by health care providers

12. Computer Classifications
Smartphones
Cell phone with built-in applications and Internet access
Provide phone service, text messaging, , Web browsing, still and video cameras, MP3 players, and video viewing
There are many health-related apps for smartphones

13. Figure 1. 2 Touchscreen smartphone. Source: Oleksiy Mark/Shutterstock
Figure 1.2 Touchscreen smartphone. Source: Oleksiy Mark/Shutterstock.com

14. Computer Classifications
Tablet computers
Wireless touchscreen computers which may use a stylus or digital pen to input information
Tablet computers have become widely used by health care providers

15. Figure 1.3 Tablet computer. Source: iQoncept/Shutterstock.com

16. Computer Classifications
Embedded computers
Single-purpose computers on chips inside appliances or human beings
May be used to regulate a heartbeat or dispense medication, among other uses

17. Hardware
Includes all the physical parts of the computer, the parts you can see and touch

18. Input Hardware
Includes all devices used to digitize and input data into the computer

19. Figure 1. 4 Hardware. Source: Beekman, George, and Ben Beekman
Figure 1.4 Hardware. Source: Beekman, George, and Ben Beekman. Digital Planet Tomorrow’s Technology and You. 10th ed. New York: Prentice Hall, 2011.

20. Input Devices Keyboards Direct-entry devices Microphones Cameras
Pointing devices
Mouse
Microphones
Cameras

21. Input Devices Scanning devices
Bar-code reader—scans universal product codes
Kurzweil scanner—text is input; voice reading the text aloud is the output

22. Input Devices Scanning devices
MICR (magnetic ink character recognition)
OCR (optical character recognition)
OMR (optical mark recognition)
RFID (radio frequency identification) tags

23. Processing Hardware
Processing hardware comprises the brains of the computer
Central processing unit
Memory

24. Central Processing Unit
Control unit directs operation following instructions of programs
Arithmetic-logic unit performs arithmetic operations and logical operations (comparisons)

25. Memory
Random access memory (RAM)—temporary work space, holds current work
Read-only memory (ROM)—permanent, firmware, holds startup instructions

26. Output Devices Soft copy Hard copy Monitors Voice synthesis Printers
Impact
Nonimpact
Plotters

27. Secondary Storage Devices
Magnetic media
Hard disks
Diskettes have been replaced by high-capacity media

28. Secondary Storage Devices
Optical media
CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW
DVD
Solid-state high-capacity memory devices
Flash memory

29. Software System software manages the hardware Operating system
Utilities

30. Software Application software does tasks for the user Word processors
Spreadsheets
Database management systems
Graphics
Communications
Specialized packages

31. Networking and Telecommunications
Connectivity—the fact that computers can be linked for sending and receiving data
Telecommunications—involves the linking of computers

32. Media Data must follow some path between connected computers
Connections can be high bandwidth or low bandwidth, wired or wireless
Hospitals use fast T1 lines for moving images
Hospitals can use slow connections for

33. Protocols Communications software includes: Technical standards
Rules that govern communications between computers

34. Networks Allow the sharing of hardware, software, data
Classified by size: LANs, WANs, personal networks

35. Expansion of Wireless Technology
Cell phones
GPS
WiFi
PDAs
Smartphones
Tablet computers

36. The Internet
The Internet is an interconnected network of networks that spans the world
Originated as ARPAnet (1969); subscribes to TCP/IP protocols
Services: exchange of text, data, programs; research; ; MEDLINE; telemedicine; telecommuting

37. World Wide Web
Part of the Internet that allows the linking of multimedia documents (Web sites)
You must have an Internet connection and software called a browser

38. The World Wide Web The Web is the graphical part of the Internet
Comprised of pages with hyperlinks to other pages
Can be searched using a search engine

39. Finding Information
Every document has an address URL (uniform resource locator) which you can enter if you know it
Browsing: start anywhere and click on links to other sites

40. Search Tools Search engines Subject guides or directories
Allow the user to enter a search expression to find documents with the matching phrase
Subject guides or directories
Organize information into categories

41. Evaluating Information
There are no standards governing the quality of information on the Internet; much of it is unreliable

42. Evaluating Information
Some questions to ask when judging reliability of information:
Is the site maintained by an educational (.edu), nonprofit (.org), or government (.gov) institution?
Is the site maintained by an individual (address may include ~)?
Is the site maintained by a commercial organization (.com) that is trying to sell you something?

43. Evaluating Information
Does the page have an author?
Has the page been updated recently?
Does the information make sense and can it be supported by other sources?
Be careful of conflicts of interest on any site, even the FDA. For example, much of the drug budget for the FDA comes from the drug companies it regulates.