Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

(a) Define Information Technology.

(b) Describe the development of Information Technology.

Introduction to Information Technology

The information technology definition can be described with the technological improvement and innovation in the filed of information technology.

The field of Information technology is a very wide field in which you use the technology together with the computers.

1.1 Definition of Information Technology

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

ITAA (Information Technology Association of America) has defined information technology as being the study, design, development, implementation, support and/or management of any computer based information system

1.1 Definition of Information Technology

1.1 Definition of Information Communication and Technology

is the technology required for information processing, in particular, the use of electronic computers, communication devices and software applications to convert, store, protect, process, transmit and retrieve information from anywhere, anytime.

1.1 Definition of Information Communication and Technologya. Information

- Information refers to the knowledge obtained from reading, investigation, study or research.

b. Communication - Act of transmitting messages . - Process whereby information is exchanged between individuals using symbols, signs or verbal interactions .

c. Technology - Use of scientific knowledge, experience and resources to create processes and product that fulfill human needs

Computer science or computing science designates the scientific and mathematical approach in computing. (wikipedia)

Curriculum that focuses on the theory of programming and operating system ( Shelly Cashman Series)

1.1 Definition of Computer Science

1.1 When the Information Technology was started?

In the 1960s and 1970s, information technology was limited to people working in the banking sector, mathematical engineers and computer scientists.

In 1980s, the arrival of personal computers made it possible to be used in many more sectors and gave rise to a surge in the field of information technology.

Computer has been used in the home and workplace, the world move into the information age.

By the early 21st century, nearly every child in the world, knew how to use a personal computer and people have started communicating, using e-mails.

It is an industry which deals with the usage of computer hardware , software and networking.

1.1 When the Information Technology was started?YEARS HISTORY

1960 & 1970

•Information technology was limited to people working in the banking sector, mathematical engineers and computer scientists.

1980

•The arrival of personal computers made it possible to be used in many more sectors and gave rise to a surge in the field of information technology.•Computer has been used in the home and workplace, the world move into the information age

early 21st

century

•Nearly every child in the world, knew how to use a personal computer and people have started communicating, using e-mails.•It is an industry which deals with the usage of computer hardware , software and networking

1.1 Development of ITGreat technological advances have been made since the days when computers were huge pieces of equipment that were stored in big, air conditioned rooms, getting their information from punch cards.

1.1 Development of ITIn this chapter, we will see some of the development of IT from stand-alone computer and operating system, mainframe, client-server network, distributed computing and up to the latest trend which is the cloud computing.

1. Stand-Alone Computer

What is a stand-alone computer?

A desktop or laptop computer that is used on its own without requiring a connection to a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN).

Although it may be connected to a network, it is still a stand-alone computer as long as the network connection is not mandatory for its general use.

1. Stand-Alone Computer

What is a stand-alone operating system?

A complete operating system that works on a desktop computer, notebook, or mobile computing device.

Some are known as client operating system that can operate with/without a network.

Examples of currently used stand-alone operating systems are:

Windows 7Mac OS XUNIXLinux

1. Stand-Alone Computer

2. Mainframe

What is a mainframe?

A mainframe is a large, expensive, powerful computer that can handle hundreds or thousands of connected users simultaneously.

Stores tremendous amounts of data, instructions, and information.

Mostly used by major corporations for business activities.

Example of mainframe systemIBM System z10 mainframe

2. Mainframe

Mainframes can also act as servers in a network environment.

Servers and other mainframes can access data and information from a mainframe.

People can also access programs on the mainframe using terminals or personal computers.

2. Mainframe

Advantages of mainframe:

1.Lots of processes, memory and channels Mainframes support symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) with

several dozen central processors (CPU chips) in one system. They are highly scalable. CPUs can be added to a system, and

systems can be added in clusters. Built with multiple ports into high-speed caches and main

memory, a mainframe can address thousands of gigabytes of

RAM. They connect to high-speed disk subsystems that can

hold petabytes of data.

2. Mainframe

Advantages of mainframe:

2. Enormous throughput A mainframe provides exceptional throughput by

offloading its input/output processing to a peripheral channel, which is a computer itself.

Mainframes can support hundreds of channels, and additional processors may act as I/O traffic cops that handle exceptions (channel busy, channel failure, etc.).

2. Mainframe

Advantages of mainframe:

3. Super reliable Mainframe operating systems are generally rock

solid because a lot of circuitry is designed to detect and correct errors.

Every subsystem may be continuously monitored for potential failure, in some cases even triggering a list of parts to be replaced at the next scheduled maintenance.

As a result, mainframes are incredibly reliable with mean time between failure (MTBF) up to 20 years!

2. Mainframe

3. Client-Server NetworkWhat is a client-server network?

An architecture in which the user's PC (the client) is the requesting machine and the server is the supplying machine, both of which are connected via a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet.

One or more computers act as a server, and the other computers on the network request services from the server.

The Clients The Server (aka host computer)

Other computers and mobile devices on the network that rely on

the server for its resources

Controls access to the hardware, software,

and other resources on the network and

provides a centralized storage area for

programs, data, and information.

E.g.: Access customer database

on the server

E.g.: Store a database of customers.

3. Client-Server Network

Example of client-server network

3. Client-Server Network

Advantages of client-server network:

1.Computer can easily be added or replaced without purchasing any additional hardware or software.

It is because a client server is centralized, server can easily move files and applications from an old computer to a new one

1.Flexible to adapt and to change new technologies because it has a centralized management.

3. Client-Server Network

Advantages of client-server network:

3. Secure because servers ensure that everything that goes in and out of the network passes through stringent security measures.

Servers can allow certain users to access the network from the internet or externally without compromising the network from hackers and unauthorized users.

3. Client-Server Network

4.Distributed Computing

What is distributed computing?

Refers to the means by which a single computer program runs in more than one computer at the same time. In particular, the different elements and objects of a program are being run or processed using different computer processors.

A type of computing in which different components and objects comprising an application can be located on different computers connected to a network.

For example, a word processing application might consist of an editor component on one computer, a spell-checker object on a second computer, and a thesaurus on a third computer. In some distributed computing systems, each of the three computers could even be running a different operating system

One of the requirements of distributed computing is a set of standards that specify how objects communicate with one another. There are currently two chief distributed computing

standards: CORBA and DCOM.

4.Distributed Computing

Distinct characteristics of distributed computing:

In a distributed computing setup, the program runs like it would in a single computer even when it is, in fact, using different computer processors.

This means that no single computer carries the entire burden on system resources that running a computer program usually implies.

4.Distributed Computing

Distinct characteristics of distributed computing:

However, distributed computing is not actually used to lighten the load of an individual computer’s processor. It is in fact done to be able to process or run complex and resource-draining programs with greater speed and efficiency.

Distributed computing, in effect, can be deemed as an attempt to produce a virtual supercomputer out of hundreds or thousands of individual computers.

4.Distributed Computing

What is cloud computing?

An internet service that provides computing needs to computer users.

Using the Web server facilities of a third party provider on the Internet (the "cloud") to store, deploy and run applications.

5. Cloud Computing

5. Cloud Computing For example, an employee working during the day

in Malaysia could use computing power in a Dubai network system located in an office that is closed for the evening.

When the company uses the computing resources, they pay a fee based on the amount of computing time and other resources that they consume, much in the way that consumers pay electric company based on how much electricity they used.

5. Cloud Computing

Types of cloud provider (service provider):

1.Software as a Service(SaaS) is the service based on the concept of renting software from a

service provider rather than buying it yourself.

The software is hosted on centralized network servers to make functionality available over the web or intranet.

Also known as “software on demand” it is currently the most popular type of cloud computing because of its high flexibility, great services, enhanced scalability and less maintenance and very effective in lowering the costs of business.

E.g.: Google Apps., Yahoo Mail

5. Cloud Computing

Types of cloud provider (service provider):

2. Platform as a Service(PaaS)

offers a development platform to clients for different purposes.

based on a subscription model so users only pay for what they use without worrying about the complexity behind the scenes.

5. Cloud Computing

Types of cloud provider (service provider):

2. Platform as a Service(PaaS)

5. Cloud Computing

Types of cloud provider (service provider):

3. Infrastructure as a Service(IaaS) Provides rental services for hardware, operating systems, storage and network

capacity over the Internet.

Some services included in IaaS are managed hosting and development environments.

IaaS is based on “Pay as you go” model ensuring that the users pay for only what they are using. 

Some of the benefits of IaaS are dynamic scaling, usage based pricing, reduced costs and access to superior IT resources.

E.g.: Office 365

5. Cloud Computing

Cloud (Service) Provider

5. Cloud Computing

Advantages of cloud computing: Easy Expansion – you can quickly access more resources if you

need to expand your business without the need to buy extra infrastructure.

Security - offer real-time backup which results in less data loss. In case of outage, customers can use the backup servers that sync with the main ones as soon as they are up, clouds are less prone to hacks as people don’t know the whereabouts of your data.

Environmentally Friendly - Usage of ready-made resources tailored to your needs helps you reduce the electricity expenses. While you save on electricity, you also save on resources required to cool off computers and other components. This reduces the emissions dangerous to environment

5. Cloud Computing

Advantages of cloud computing:

Reduced cost - users pay only for what they are using

Easy maintenance - users don’t have to worry about the complexity behind the scenes.

Easy reallocation of resources

Remote Accessibility - business is not restricted to a particular location. You can access the services from anywhere.

5. Cloud Computing

RECAP