Information technology (IT)

Information Technology (IT, from the English. Information technology, IT) - a broad class

of disciplines and areas of activity related to technology management and data

processing, including the use of computer technology.
Currently, under the information technology, most often, to understand computer

technology. In particular, IT deals with the use of computers and software for storage,

conversion, protecting, processing, transmitting and receiving information. Specialists

in computer engineering and computer programming is often called IT specialists.
Stages of development of IT (information technology)

The most important and historical stages of IT development is the writing, the invention

of printing, using mail, telephone, telegraph, television. A special place in the

development of IT take computers, electronic mail and the widespread use of computer

networks (LAN and WAN), which provide not only substantial information processing and

transmission of text, multimedia (graphics, video and sound) and other materials on

almost any distance in real time.

IT (Information Technology) are the most important component of the use of information

resources of the society. To date, it passed through several evolutionary stages, a

change which was determined mainly by the development of scientific and technological

progress, the emergence of new technical means of information processing.

There are several points of view on the development of information technology using

computers, which are defined by different characteristics of division. Common to all

approaches outlined below is that with the advent of PCs (personal computers) began a new

phase of IT development. The main purpose of the satisfaction of personal information

needs of people, both for professional as well as for domestic sphere. Can be considered

the following classification of IT development on the grounds of:
By type of tasks and by type of information processing.
Stage 1 (60 - 70-ies.) - Data processing in data centers in the regime of collective use.
Stage 2 (from the 80's.) - The creation of IT to address strategic objectives.
Used for technical support
Stage 1 (until the late 60's.) - The problem of processing large amounts of data in the

limited capacity of the hardware.
2 and stage (before the late 70's.) Dissemination of computer series IBM/360
The third stage (from early 80-ies.) - A computer becomes a tool for the lay user, and IT

- a means to support its decision-making
4-yetap (since the early 90's.) - The creation of modern technology for

inter-organizational relationships and intellectual property.
On the benefits that brings computer technology:
Stage 1 (early 60's.) Ensure efficient processing of information when performing routine

operations with a focus on centralized collective use of resources, computing centers.

The main criterion for evaluating the effectiveness of IP was created by the difference

between the energy spent on the development and savings resulting from the introduction

of means. The main problem at this stage was psychological - poor customer interaction,

which were created for IT and developers because of differences in their views and

understanding of the problems to be solved. As a consequence of this problem, to create

systems that users perceive badly, and despite their rather great opportunities, not

fully exploited.
Phase 2 (mid-70's.) Associated with the emergence of personal computers. A different

approach to the creation of integrated circuits - focus shifts to the individual user to

support its decisions. User is interested in the ongoing development, liaise with the

developer, there is a mutual understanding of both teams. At this stage, is used as a

centralized data processing, which is typical for the first phase and a decentralized,

based on solving local problems and work with local databases in the workplace user.
The third stage (from early 90-ies.) Related to the concept analysis of strategic

business benefits and is based on the achievements of telecommunication technologies of

distributed processing.
At the applicable IT tools
Stage 1 (until the second half of the XIX century.) - "Manual" IT tools which were: pen,

ink, and books. Communication is done manually by the dispatch of letters through the

mail, parcels, mails. The main purpose of technology - presentation of information in the

required form.
Stage 2 (end of XIX century.) - "Mechanical" technology, tools which were: typewriter,

telephone, voice recorder, equipped with more sophisticated means of delivering mail. The

main purpose of technology - presentation of information in the required form more

user-friendly means.
The third stage (40 - 60-ies. XX century.) - "Electric" technology, tools which were: the

big computer and software, electric typewriters, copy machines, portable recorders.

Change the purpose of technology. The emphasis in information technology begins to move

with the presentation of information on the formation of its content.
4-th stage (early 70's.) - "E" technology, the basic tools which are large computers and

create on their IP-based, equipped with a wide range of basic and specialized software

packages. The center of gravity of technology is even more shifted to the formation of

the content of information for different application fields, especially the

organization's analytical work. Was acquired by the experience of forming the content of

the information and prepared a professional, psychological and social basis for the

transition to a new stage of technology development.
Stage 5 (mid-80's.) - The "computer" ("new") technology, the basic tool which is a PC

with a wide range of standard software products for various purposes. At this stage, the

personalization process IP, which is manifested in the creation of decision support

systems. Begin to be widely used in various areas of global and local computer networks.
On the methodology of using IT
Stage 1 (until the late 80's.) - A centralized processing of information on computer data

centers. Created large data centers for collective use, equipped with large computers.

The use of such a computer allows you to handle large amounts of input information and

receive on this basis, various types of information products, which is then transmitted

to the user.
Stage 2 (up to late 90's.) - A decentralized information processing associated with the

emergence of the PC and the development of telecommunication facilities.
Third stage - the rational processing of information. Advantages and disadvantages of

centralized and decentralized IT have led to the need for a rational combination of both

approaches.

Nowadays a lot of attention in the IT field on electronic simulation, which becomes an

integral part of the intellectual activity of mankind. Comparison of the "electronic

brain" with a human led to the idea of creating a neurocomputer as a computer, which can

be taught. Neurocomputer acts the same way as a man, ie, repeatedly to view information

makes many mistakes learns from them, fix them, and finally coping with the task.

Neurocomputers applied to pattern recognition, perception of human speech, handwriting,

etc.