What exactly is “IT”?
Ok, not “it” but IT as in Information Technology; in reality, IT has been around as long as humans have been communicating. We humans have been sharing ideas and thoughts since the beginning of our time. From the pre-mechanical to the electronic age, we have found ways to pass information to one another.
Not Cousin IT! (Are you old enough to get that reference?)
IT is a generic term used for the way we create, share, retrieve, manipulate and store various forms of information in forms of electronic data. It is also any form of computing: networking storage (cloud or otherwise), or personal devices such as smart phones or tablets.
Businesses use Information Technology to:
- Store large amounts of data on Computer Servers
- Provide Email storage and retrieval services.
- Use applications that can manipulate, change, and save data for retrieval.
These are just a few examples of how information technology in day to day work.
We all eat, breath and live because of the results of information technology. One well known use of IT is 9-1-1. This is the service we use in case of a dire emergency. Once a call is placed, whether from a cell phone or home phone, there is a networked system that allows the operator to know exactly where the caller is via GPS (Global Positioning System), thus being able to dispatch emergency services as needed.
For those readers that frequent the Library, this too has changed the way data is exchanged. In the not so distant past, libraries used what was known as ‘card catalogues’ housed in small wooded draws stacked on top of each there, consuming a lot of space. Now, it is easier to search for that much needed reference or reading materials in an electronic card catalogue.
What about getting cash from an ATM (Automated Teller Machine)?
No matter where you are, you have instant access to your money! That has forever changed how we do business, thanks to information technology! You can be on vacation in your home state or outside the United States; for a small fee you can withdraw money. ATMs throughout the US and abroad are networked together, sharing banking information to better serve customers on demand.
Sending cards or letters to friends, and loved ones is nothing like it used to be. It is so much easier to send a text or video chat. Just think about our men and women serving abroad: now they can video chat live! Though they may not be there in the flesh, service men and women can be a part of holidays, birthdays and special events.
These are all examples of Information Technology and the impact it has and will continue to have on all of us around the globe!
[myra-valentine]