This document discusses information technology and computers. It defines information technology as using computer hardware and software to store, retrieve, and manipulate information. It then discusses advantages like speed, reliability, and storage capacity as well as disadvantages such as privacy violations, health risks, and job losses. Various applications of IT are described in fields such as education, finance, healthcare, science, and manufacturing. Finally, different categories of computers are outlined including supercomputers, mainframes, personal computers, mobile devices, and embedded computers based on their size, speed, and storage capabilities.

1. 1
Introduction To Information
Technology
Chapter Two
1.1 Overview of Information Technology
At the end of this topic, students should be
able to:
● Explain Information Technology
● Discuss the applications of Information
Technology
● Explain different categories of computers

2. • Information technology or IT can be defined briefly
as the use of computer hardware and software to
store, retrieve, and manipulate information.
computer hardware
and software
manage
information
Define Information Technology
2

3. Advantages and Disadvantages
of Information Technology
Advantages Disadvantages
3

4. Advantages of Information Technology
1. Speed:
Data, instructions, and information flow incredibly
fast speeds. Many computers process billions or
trillions of operations in a single second.
2. Reliability:
The electronic components in computers are
dependable and reliable because they rarely break or
fail.
3. Consistency:
A computer with the same input will produce the
same results consistently. 4

5. 4. Storage:
Computers store enormous amounts of data and
make this data available for processing anytime it is
needed.
5. Communications:
Computers today can communicate wirelessly with
other computers. This allow users to communicate
with one another.
5
Advantages of Information Technology

6. Disadvantages of Information Technology
1. Violation of Privacy:
Personal and confidential records stored on
computers were not protected properly, individuals
have found their privacy violated and identities stolen.
2. Public Safety:
• People around the world are using computers to share
publicly their photos, videos, journals, music, and
other personal information.
• They will be victims to crimes committed by
dangerous strangers.
6

7. 3. Impact on Labour Force:
Computers have improved productivity. This will make
computers replaced many labours.
4. Health Risks:
• Prolonged or improper computer use can lead to
health injuries .
• Behavioral health risks are computer addiction and
technology overload.
• 5. Impact on Environment: Computer manufacturing
processes and computer waste are destroying natural
resources and polluting the environment.
7
Disadvantages of Information Technology

8. Fields :
Education
Finance
Government
Health care
Applications of Information Technology
Science
Publishing
Travel
Manufacturing
8

9. Applications of Information Technology
Field : Education
Examples of applications
● Learning Management System/Course
Management System
- LMS is a software that contain tools for class preparation,
distribution and management
- through the CMS, students access course materials,
grades, assessments and a variety of collaboration tools.
● Computer-based training
- uses computer-generated visuals or environment for
training such as fight simulator used by pilots before flying
new plane or different types of planes
9

10. Examples of applications
● Online banking
- user can access account balances, pay bills and view
monthly statement statement
● Finance Investment System
- investors can buy and sell stocks & bond online without
using broker.
10
Applications of Information Technology
Field : Finance

11. Examples of applications
● HRMIS (Human Resources Management Information
System)
- online system for updating government employee
information
● e-Filing
- online system for declaring tax
● e- Syariah
- online portal for providing information to public and
members of the Syariah Court to get the latest information
about the rules and procedures of the court.
11
Applications of Information Technology
Field : Government

12. Examples of applications
● Medline
- many web sites provide up-to-date medical fitness, nutrition or exercise
information
● Counter Registration System
- hospitals and doctors use computers and mobile devices to maintain and
access patient record.
● Telemedicine
- Telemedicine is the use of telecommunication and information technology
to provide clinical health care from a distance. It has been used to
overcome distance barriers and to improve access to medical services
that would often not be consistently available in distant rural communities.
12
Applications of Information Technology
Field : Health Care

13. Examples of applications
● Virtual Reality
- The use of computer to simulate a real or imagined
environment that appears as 3D space. Examples of
virtual reality application is VR headset, playstation VR,
surgery simulation, flight simulator.
● Hawk-Eye Officiating System
- computer system used in sport such as tennis and
badminton to visually track the ball from different angles
and display a record of it.
13
Applications of Information Technology
Field : Science

14. Examples of applications
● Online Newspaper/Online Magazine
- use of it allows people to read newspaper/magazines
online
● Online Photo/Card Printing
- use of It allows people to send, edit and printing through
online
14
Applications of Information Technology
Field : Publishing

15. Examples of applications
● Global Positioning System (GPS)
- IT applications that helps users to track routes for
specific location
● Automatic Roaming System
- Telecommunication companies provide automatic
roaming for travelers to travel abroad
● Online Reservation System
- Transportation & accommodation reservation can be
done through website
15
Applications of Information Technology
Field : Travel

16. Examples of applications
● Computer-Aided Design(CAD)
- creates, modifies, analysis and optimizes a design
through the use of computer systems to increase
designer productivity and design quality
● Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM)
- controls machine tools, mainly robot arms, in high-tech
assembly lines
16
Applications of Information Technology
Field : Manufacturing

17. Categories of Computers
17

18. Supercomputers
• A supercomputer is the fastest, most powerful
computer
– Fastest supercomputers are capable of processing
more than one quadrillion instructions in a single
second
– Supercomputers play an important role in the field of
computational science, and are used for a wide range
of computationally intensive tasks in various fields,
including quantum mechanics, weather forecasting,
climate research, oil and gas exploration, molecular
modeling 18

19. Mainframes
• A mainframe is a large, expensive, powerful computer that can
handle hundreds or thousands of connected users
simultaneously.
• For example, a banking institution could use a mainframe to host
the database of its customer accounts, for which transactions
can be submitted from any of thousands of ATM locations
worldwide.
• Businesses today rely on the mainframe to:
–Perform large-scale transaction processing
(thousands of transactions per second).
–Support thousands of users and application programs
concurrently accessing numerous resources.
19

20. Personal Computer
• A personal computer can perform all of its input,
processing, output, and storage activities by itself
• Two popular architectures are the PC and the Apple
– Desktop computer
20

21. Mobile Computers
21

22. Mobile Devices
22

23. Embedded Computers
• An embedded computer is a special-purpose
computer that functions as a component in a
larger product.
• A variety of everyday products contain embedded computers:
23

24. Figure shows some of the many embedded computer in cars.
24

25. Category Physical size Speed Storage (referring to
memory)
Supercomputer Size of supercomputer occupy a full room of
equipment.
Tens of thousands
of processors.
Extremely large
storage. Example: 3.1
PB.
Mainframe Size of Mainframe occupy partial room to a full
room of equipment.
Dozens of
processors
Very large & addable
storage. Example:4.6
TB
Personal
computer
The size of personal computer fits on a desk. Single processor
(1.5-2.5 Ghz)
Large.
Example: 500 GB
Mobile computer The size of mobile computer fits on your lap or in
your hand. - -
Mobile devices Mobile devices such as smart phone size is fits
in the palm of your hand or a pocket size. - -
Embedded
computer
Miniature. It is mounted on a circuit board and
then installed in a machine or appliance using
wires to carry input and output signals - -
25
Describe the Characteristics & Capabilities
for Every Category of Computers

26. Evaluation :
Differentiate the categories of computers below :
26
Supercomputer Mainframe
the size of supercomputer is larger than mainframe the size of mainframe is smaller than
supercomputer
the cost of supercomputer is more expensive than
mainframe
the cost of mainframe is less expensive than
supercomputer
Personal Computer Mobile Computer
the size of personal computer is larger than mobile
computer which is fit on the desk
the size of mobile computer is larger than personal
computer which is can carry from place to place
Personal Computer Mobile Computer Embedded Computer
the size of personal computer is
largest compared to mobile
computer and embedded
computer
the size of mobile computer is
larger than embedded computer
but smaller than personal
computer
the size of embedded computer is
smallest compared to mobile
computer and personal computer

27. References
Leary, T. J., & Leary, L. I. (2012).Computing essentials
2012 (Complete ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Ismail Shaari (2008). Score A information and
communication technology
Shelly, G. B., & Vermaat, M. (2012).Discovering computers:
your interactive guide to the digital world (Complete
ed.). Boston, Mass.: Course Technology/Cengage
Learning.
Hooi, Y. K., & Jung, L.T. (2014).Computer science for
matriculation semester 1. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford Fajar
SB.
27