Information technology
Purpose and Function | Definitions | Text book definitions

Information Technology - Overview

Purpose and Function

[Modern office]

"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons" - Popular mechanics 1949

The purpose of Information technology is to

input, process, store, output and communicate information

By performing the functions that include

Providing ways to enter data, such as;

a screen form

a printed input form (eg. Tax forms, enrolment forms)

Providing a way to process data, such as

using computer hardware to compute data from existing data.

using electronic devices to carry out instructions (eg. in Process control using switches in a glass house to manage humidity, temperature etc.)

Providing tools to store data

using electronic storage (disk drives, tape drives)

using "manual" systems (filing cabinets, etc)

Displaying the information (output)

on screen (includes text, sound, graphics, animation and video)

on paper (includes text and graphics).

on a noticeboard

Enabling ways to communicate information, such as;

providing tools to display the data (eg. notice boards, Internet)

duplicating (using a photocopier)

sending (using a faxcimile machine, Electronic Data Interchange -EDI)

connecting (telephone, modem)

Definitions

Definition 1:
A term used to describe the equipment that allows us to;

input, process, store, output and communicate information

and includes;

computers,
printers,
facsimile,
photocopiers,
video,
telecommunications and
traditional systems such as;
- manual filing systems and noticeboards

Definition 2:
Equipment and procedures that allow us to process data !

Text book definitions

Computer-based equipment, including;

computers,
word processors,
process control systems and
communications equipment

[Ref 123]Enticknap '89

A term used to describe technologies that enable us to;

record, store, process, retrieve, transmit and receive information.

It encompases modern technologies, such as,

computers, facsimile transmission, micrographics, telecommunications and microelectronics, and
older technologies such as document filing systems, mechanical accounting machines, printing and cave drawings !

[Ref 121]Behan, et al '90