Information Technology

2nd
Essentials Edition

CHAPTER 1
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND
THE INTERNET

Prepared by: Arlene N. Baratang

 OBJECTIVES
• Define information technology.
• Discuss the five components of an information
system.
• Differentiate between systems software and
application software.
• Identify the different data.
• Define computer connectivity, wireless revolution
and the Internet.
 What is IT?
Information technology is the use of hardware,
software, services, and supporting infrastructure to
manage and deliver information using voice, data,
and video.
IT refers also to:
-Management Information System (MIS)
-Information System (IS)
-Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
 Network Services
Network services refer to the equipment, software,
and services necessary to transmit voice, data, or
video.
 ICT Covers …
….. any medium to record information, technology
for broadcasting information and wireless mobile
telecommunications.
•The term Information Technology was coined by
Jim Domsic of Michigan in November 1981. He
created this term to update the phrase “data
processing” (Patil, 2009).
Components of IS
Components of IS….
• People. It refers to the end users who use
computers to make themselves more productive.
• Procedures. These are the rules and guidelines
for users to follow when using software, hardware
and data. Procedures can be in a form of written
manuals by software and hardware manufacturers
for their products.
• Software. It is another name for programs.
Programs are instructions that tell the computer
how to process data.
 Kinds of Software
• System software enables the application software
interact with the computer hardware and helps the
computer manage its own internal resources.
• Application software can be described as end
user software.
 Hardware
• It refers to the equipment that processes data to
become information. Devices like keyboard,
monitor, mouse, system unit and others are
hardware which is controlled by software.
 Types of Computers
• Supercomputers. These are the most powerful
type of computer. Example of supercomputer is
IBM’s Blue Gene which is one of the fastest
computers in the world.
• Mainframe computers. These are capable of
great processing speeds and data storage.
Insurance companies use mainframes to process
information about millions of policy holders.
Types of computers…
• Minicomputers or midrange computers. The
capabilities of minicomputers are between mainframes
and personal computers. Most “minis” are designed to
handle multiple terminals and can serve the input and
output needs of hundred users at a time.
• Microcomputers. The least powerful but the most
widely used type computer. Six types of
microcomputers are: desktop, media center,
notebook, netbook, tablet PC, and handheld
computers.
Types of computers…

• Supercomputer • Mainframe
Types of computers…

• Minicomputer • Microcomputer
Microcomputer Hardware
• System unit. It serves as container that houses most
of the electronic components of the computer system.
• Input/Output. Input devices translate human
readable data and programs into a form that the
computer can process. Mouse and keyboard are the
most commonly used input devices. Output devices
translates the processed data from the computer into
a human readable format. The most common output
devices are monitors and printers.
Microcomputer Hardware
• Secondary storage. It holds data and programs even
after electric power of the computer system was
turned off. Types of secondary storage are hard disks,
solid-state drives (SSDs) and optical disks like CDs
and DVDs.
• Communication device. The most commonly used
communication device is modem which modifies
computer output into a form that can be transmitted
across telephone lines. It can also transform
telephone communications into a form that can be
processed by computer.
Microcomputer Hardware

• RAM for laptop

• Computer
Motherboard

• Wireless Modem
 Data
• Data are the raw and unprocessed facts like text,
numbers, images and sounds. Processed data are also
called information. The four common types of files are:
• Document files. These are files generated by word
processors like memos, letters, and reports.
• Worksheet files. These are files created using
electronic spreadsheets to analyze data like budgets
and sales income.

•  
Data …
• Database files. Database management program
create database files that contain structured and
organized data. Student database file might
contain students’ names, course, year level and
other related information.
• Presentation files. These files like audience
handouts, speaker notes and electronic slides are
generated by presentation graphics programs.
Four Common Types of Files

1. Document files. These are files generated by word

processors like memos, letters, and reports. Four
2. Worksheet files. These are files created using electronic
spreadsheets to analyze data like budgets and sales
income.
3. Database files. Database management program create
database files that contain structured and organized data.
Student database file might contain students’ names,
course, year level and other related information.
4. Presentation files. These files like audience handouts,
speaker notes and electronic slides are generated by
presentation graphics programs.
Four common types of files..

• Document file
• Worksheet file
Four common types of files..

• Database file • Presentation file

 Connectivity
• Connectivity is the capability of
microcomputer to share
information with other
computers.
– The widespread use of mobile or
wireless communication devices is
the most dramatic change in
connectivity for the past five years.
 Network
• A network is a
communication system
that connects two or more
computers. The Internet is
the largest network in the
world that connects people
with millions of other
people and organizations
all over the world. The
Web provides a
multimedia interface to Computer network
resources accessible on
the Internet.
 Careers in IT
Career Role
Webmaster Develops and maintains Web sites and Web resources.

Technical writer Prepares instruction manuals, technical reports and documents.

Network administrator Creates and maintains computer networks.

Database administrator Uses database management software for efficient organization and
access of data.

Systems analyst Plans, designs, and maintains information systems.

Programmer Creates, tests, and troubleshoots computer programs.

 Summary
• Information technology or IT is the use of hardware, software, services
and supporting infrastructure to manage and deliver information. Network
services refer to the equipment, software and services to transmit voice,
data or video. IT may be also referred to as Management Information
System (MIS), Information System (IS) and Information and
Communication Technology (ICT). The term information technology was
coined by Jim Domsic in November 1981 replacing the older term “data
processing”.
• Information system is a collection of people, procedure, software,
hardware and data. The two major kinds of software are system software
and application software. Hardware refers to the equipment that
transforms data into information. Types of computer are supercomputers,
mainframe, minicomputers and microcomputers. Microcomputer hardware
is composed of a system unit, input devices, output devices, secondary
storage and communication device.
Summary…
• Data are raw texts, numbers, images and sounds that are
unprocessed. Information are processed data. The four
common types of files are document, worksheet, database and
presentation files.
• Connectivity is the capability of microcomputer to share
information with other computers. Wireless communication
using mobile devices is the beginning of wireless revolution.
The Internet is the largest network in the world connecting
millions of people and organizations.
• Some careers in IT are Webmaster, technical writer, network
administrator, database administrator, systems analyst and
programmer.
Comprehension Check
1. What are the five components of information
system?
2. What is connectivity?
3. Compare system software from application
software.
4. Describe the four common types of files.
5. Discuss some applications of IT.
Applying Technology
• Digital Video Editing
Your computer can capture video using digital camcorder. Here are
the steps to capture video from a digital camcorder using Windows
Vista:
1.Connect your digital camcorder to your computer then turn it on.
2.Select Import Video.
3.Type a filename and select a location to save imported video.
4.Select the portion of the video to import or you can import the entire
video.
5.Preview the video as it is captured from your camera to the file
specified.
–(cont. on next slide)
You can edit your video using Windows Movie Maker that
divides your video into clips that make up your movie. Below
are steps to make your movie by arranging the clips and
adding special effects.

1.Select and drag move clips from the Contents Pane and
arrange them in the Storyboard.
2.You can add sounds, transitions, titles on screen and
effects using option on Task Pane.
3.Use the Preview Monitor to preview your movie.
 REFERENCES
• O’Leary, Timothy J. and O’Leary Linda I. “Computing
Essentials 2011 Complete: Making IT Work for You”.
McGraw-Hill International Edition: 2011.
• ND Century Code 54.59.01.
• Excerpt from 'Information Technology in Veterinary
Science' (2009), New India Publishing Agency, New Delhi.
ISBN 978-81-908512-4-4