The document defines information technology as any technology that helps produce, manipulate, store, communicate or disseminate information. It then describes computer technology as using computers to process raw data into useful information, and communications technology as devices for communicating over long distances, including the internet for computer communication. Finally, it discusses how IT is now essential in many fields like education, business, law enforcement and more.

1. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e © 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e
1

2. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e
2

3. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e
3

4. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e
4
DEFINITION: Information Technology (IT)
describes any technology that helps to produce,
manipulate, store, communicate, and/or
disseminate information.
• Part 1: Computer Technology
• Part 2: Communications Technology

5. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e
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COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY: A computer is a programmable,
multiuse machine that accepts data—raw facts and figures —and
processes, or manipulates, it into information we can use, such as
summaries, totals, or reports.
- Its purpose is to speed up problem solving and increase
productivity.

6. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e
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COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY :
Communications technology , also called telecommunications
technology , consists of electromagnetic devices and systems for
communicating over long distances.
The principal examples are telephone, radio, broadcast
television.
In more recent times, there has been the addition of communication
among computers—which is what happens when people “go
online” on the internet.

7. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
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Using Information Technology, 10e
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- Online: means using a computer or some other
information device, connected through a network, to
access information and services from another computer
or information device.
- A network is a communications system connecting
two or more computers; the internet is the largest
such network.

8. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e
• Information technology is essential on college
campuses.
• IT is used in teaching, labs, and in course
management.
• Many college classes are either taught online or
have a class website.
DEFINITION: Distance learning is online
education
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9. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e
• Problem: Computers in the classroom can be
used or misused.
• What should they be used for?
• Following the lecture
• Working along with the instructor
• Performing instructor-assigned Internet searches
• Completing assignments for this class
• What is misuse?
• Text messaging or emailing friends
• Surfing the Internet for entertainment
• Doing assignments for other classes
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10. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e
• DEFINITION: Virtual means something that is
created, simulated, or carried on by means of a
computer or a computer network.
• Virtual money
• Cash-value cards
• “Electronic wallets” (e.g., PayPal)
• Online bill paying
• E-Commerce:
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11. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e
• Cash-value cards: (such as subway fare cards)
• Online bill paying : it has been possible to pay bills online, such
as those from phone and utility companies, with special software and
online connections to your bank.
• A digital wallet allows an individual to make electronic
commerce transactions. This can include purchasing items on-line
with a computer or using a smartphone to purchase something at a
store.
• E-commerce The buying and selling of products and services by
businesses and consumers through an electronic medium, without
using any paper documents.
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12. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e
• Videogames
• Photo sharing
• Downloading
• Music
• Movies
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Downloading: transferring data from a
remote computer to one’s own
computer

13. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e
• Hotels: use computer reservations
systems.
• Law Enforcement: Officers use computers
• On patrol
• To check stolen cars
• To check criminal records
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14. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e
• Office careers: Budget, payroll, letter-writing,
email
• Fashion: Sales/inventory control systems,
ordering, personnel
• Job-hunting:
• Use word processor to create résumés
• Post résumés online
• Online job searches
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Discussion Question: Can anyone think of a career that does not
require computer skills at all?

15. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e
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16. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e
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17. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e
The Telephone Grows Up
• 1973: First cellphone call
• Mobile phone use estimated to rise to 3.9
billion
users by 2013
• Today’s cellphones:
• Can connect to Internet & web for all sorts of
activities
• Can send and receive text messages
• Can take and send pictures, download music & video
• Can obtain news and TV programs
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18. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e
• Introduced in 1981
• Reached 10 million users in about one year
• Has been the fastest-growing technology
• 1998 surpassed hand-delivered mail
• In business, at least, email requires writing
skills
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19. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e
• Cyberspace
• Term coined by William Gibson in Neuromancer
(1984)
• Described a futuristic computer network people
“plugged” into directly with their brains
• Now the term cyberspace encompasses:
• The Internet & the World Wide Web in particular
• The wired and wireless communications world in general
• Thus, cyberspace includes chat rooms, blogs, ATMs,
conference calls, texting, etc.
• Two most important aspects: Internet
and web
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20. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e
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• Internet
• The worldwide computer network that links
thousands of smaller networks
• Links educational, commercial,
nonprofit, and military entities,
plus individuals
• Originally developed to share
only text and numeric data;
through the web now also
supports multimedia

21. Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Using Information Technology, 10e
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• World Wide Web
• The multimedia part
of the Internet
• An interconnected system of servers that support
specially formatted documents in multimedia
form
• Includes text, still images, moving images, sound
• Responsible for the growth and popularity of
the Internet