Hey guys. Today I would like to talk about what we learnt in Science Computer.
Indeed, you guys know about IT. But do you know what is meant by Information Technology?

Introduction to IT

• Information Technology (IT) is defined as the use of computer hardware and software to store, retrieve, and manipulate  information.

Advantages of IT

• Easier Communication  :

• With the help of information technology, communication has also become cheaper, quicker, and more efficient. We can now communicate with anyone around the world through email, or using the social network services (Face book, Twitter, Instagram)

• Creation of new jobs : 

• Creation of new and interesting job such as Computer programmers, System analyzers, Hardware and Software developers and Web designers are example of new job opportunities created with the help of IT.

• Globalization of knowledge:

• Today you can use the internet to get the latest news from any country on the globe. Services like ‘’Twitter’’  and Wikipedia are well equipped with data on about anything.

• Improves data storage and file management:  

• Information and data are very important tools, so it is very essential to store them safely and also access them at any time of need. With services like “Dropbox”, we can store and backup data, and can access data any time any where

Disadvantages of IT

• Social implications : 

• With the increased addiction to social networks and internet games, people are spending more time on computers and give up on their normal life.

• Over dependence on information technology makes students less active and innovative.

• Students no longer take time to solve problems and tasks, all they do is query that task in a search engine and a solution will be provided.

• Unemployment :  

• Information Technology has replaced most positions which humans used to take up. Accounting is now being done by software, so accountants run out of opportunities.

• Internet security issues :  

• For  customers to perform online transactions, they have  to provide their personal details. Experienced hackers can use this lop hole to channel this information and use it for their own needs.

Applications of IT

Applications of Information Technology

1. Education

 

• Today, educators are turning to computers to assist with education. Many schools and companies equip labs and classrooms with computers
•  Usage

• Teachers : use IT to do research for teaching materials, participate in online forum and online reference, use software (prepare lecture notes)

• Students: Use IT as reference tools for finding information in the internet

• School administrators: Use IT for keeping students and teachers record 

• Examples of applications

•  Courseware

• Educational portal ( e-portal )

• Learning Management System

• Courseware

•  Computer programs or other material designed for use in an educational or training course

•  Web-based learning / E-portal  / Educational portal:

•  A method of learning in which students choose their materials and use them to study on their own.

•  Learning process using or via Internet (e.g.: online tuition).

•  Students are able to access materials anytime and anywhere

•  Learning Management System

•  A learning management system (LMS) is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting and delivery of electronic educational technology, education courses or training programs.

      2. Finance

• Many people & companies use computers to help manage their finances.
• Usage
•  Companies use IT ( finance software) to balance checkbooks, pay bills, track personal income and expenses, manage investment, and evaluate financial plans.
• Example of applications
• Online banking
• Finance investment system / Online investing
• Electronic payment system (EPS)
• Online banking
• Is an electronic payment system that enables customers of a bank to conduct financial transactions (access account balances, pay bills & copy monthly transactions) on a website operated by the bank. 
• E.g.: Maybank2u, CIMBClicks, iRakyat, Amonline

• Finance investment system / online investing
• A system that allow investors buy and sells stocks & bonds online, with / without using a broker.
• E.g.: Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), Bursa Malaysia.

• Electronic payment system (EPS)
• Electronic Payment System is a financial exchange that takes place online between buyers and sellers, i.e. a means of making
• payments over an electronic network such as the Internet.
• E.g.: Malaysian EPS (MEPS).

       3. Government

                

• žMost government offices have their own Web sites to provide society with up-to-date information & 
  services.

• Usage

•   To provide citizens with up-to-date information through the government Web sites

• Helps to enhance the convenience, accessibility, and quality of interactions between the government and the citizens.

• Employees of government agencies use IT as part of their daily routine

• Examples of application 

•  myGovernment.

• že-Filing.

•  e-Penyata Gaji & Laporan.

•  HRMIS –  Aplikasi Sistem Maklumat Pengurusan Sumber Manusia.

• Portal Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam.

• e-SPKB –  Sistem Perancangan Kawalan Belanjawan Elektronik.

•  e-Perolehan – The Electronic Procurement System.

        4. Health care

• Nearly every area of health care today uses computers for various purposes:
• Usage

• Hospitals & doctors use IT to maintain & access patient records, store personal health history including prescriptions, lab test result, doctor visit allergies and immunizations.

•  Doctors use e-mail to correspond with patients

• Examples of applications

•   Telemedicine.

•  Telesurgery.

•  Medline.

•  Counter Registration System

       5. Science

• Breakthroughs in surgery, medicine, & treatments often result from scientists’ use of computers.
• Usage

•  Use computers to assist them with collecting, analyzing, and modeling data.

•  Scientists also use the Internet to communicate with colleagues around the world

• Examples of application

•  A cochlear implant.

•  An electrodes implant.

•  A neural network.

      6. Publishing

• The process of making works available to the public. These works include books, magazines, newspapers, music, film, and video.
• Many publishers make their works available online & some Web sites allow you to copy the work, such as a book or music.

•  Example of applications:

• Special software assists graphic designers in developing pages that include text, graphics, and photos.

•  Artists in composing and enhancing songs.

•  Filmmakers in creating and editing film.

       7. Travel

• Vehicles manufactured today often include some type of onboard navigation system to help you navigate from one location to another.
• Many mobile devices such as smart phones have built-in navigation systems.
• žExample of applications:

  Car Navigation System by Global Positioning System (GPS).

  •Automatic roaming by Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
  •Online Intelligence Transportation IS (ITIS)
  •Online reservation.

      8. Manufacturing

• Latest technology have helped in making manufacturing process more effective.
• Usage

• Reduce product development costs

• Shorten a product’s time to market

•  Stay ahead of the competition.

•  Example of applications:

•  Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).

• žComputer-aided design (CAD)

•  A Bar Code System.

Categories of computer

1. Computer is an electronic device (machine), that performs four basic operations: input, processing, output and storage.
2. 5 categories of computers are

• Supercomputer

• Mainframe

• Personal Computer

• Mobile computers and Devices

• Embedded computer

Supercomputer

A supercomputer is the fastest, most powerful,  most expensive computer and used for very complex, sophisticated job such as nuclear research, calculating weather patterns, petroleum exploration, online banking, automotive design.

• Physical size

• Full room equipment

• Speed

• The fastest supercomputer are capable of processing billions of program instructions per second.

• Can operate at speeds measured in picoseconds-1,000 times as fast as microcomputers

•  Storage

• Can store more than 20,000 times the data and information of an average desktop computer.

Mainframe



A mainframe is a large, expensive, powerful computer that can handle hundreds or thousands of connected users simultaneously (multi-user) and storing tremendous amounts of data, instructions and information.
Mainframes are often used in businesses that manage large amounts of data, for example, insurance companies use mainframes to process information about millions of policyholders.

• Physical size

•  Partial room to a full room of equipment

• Speed

• Powerful computer that handle hundreds or thousands of connected users simultaneously at the same time.

• Storage

• Can store tremendous amounts of data, instructions, and information

• Advantages

• Huge memory/Large  - Able to store tremendous amounts of   data, instructions & information.

• •High speed/Powerful - they can process vast amounts of data,   very quickly.

• •Super reliable   - incredibly reliable with mean time   between failure (MTBF) up to 20 years   because lot of circuitry is designed to   detect and correct errors.

• •Multi User   - They allow several users (sometimes   hundreds) to use the computer at the   same time.

Personal computer

Personal computer is a computer that can perform all its input, processing, output and storage activities by itself. Two types of personal computers are desktop computers and netbook computer.

• Physical size

• Fits on a desk 

• Speed

• Various depends on the memory and processors.

• Storage

• Various depends on the hard drive size

Mobile computer and devices

Mobile computer is a personal computer (that can perform all of its input, processing, output, and storage activities by itself) that you can carry from place to place.Examples of mobile computers are notebook computers, netbook and tablet PC's

Mobile devices is a computing device small enough to hold in your hand. Some of the examples are smart phones and PDAs, E-book readers, handheld computers, portable media players, and digital cameras.

• Physical size

• Fits on the lap, palm, pocket  

• Speed

• May slower than a personal computer

• Storage

• Small storage media

Embedded computer

Special-purpose computer that functions as a component in a larger product and perform various functions depending on the product.

• Physical size

• Small

• Speed

• May slower than a mobile computer and devices

• Storage

• Limited or small storage media

More information about IT? Click here!

Currently in computer lab