Information Technology and its Significance

Modern information technology started out as computer software development that expanded to cover information management in practically all areas from business information systems to communication technology and scientific research.

IT has also affected society in a major way. For example, modern information technology has:

  • Made a qualitative and quantitative change in medical and other research, and led to results that could not have been possible without computers
  • Transformed business productivity with tools that speeded up common tasks, automated repetitive work and enhanced access to relevant internal and external decision support information
  • Enabled governments to deliver services better to their people, gather better intelligence and improve defense capabilities

Vast numbers of scientific calculations that would have required a lifetime earlier can now be completed in reasonable timeframes. Scientists are able to complete numerous complex research projects during their lifetimes.

Information systems and software tailored to streamline and speed up business processes made it possible to achieve huge sales volumes. Management Information Systems, Computer Aided Design and Business Intelligence led to a qualitative improvement in business decisions.

Education technology also was affected. Educationists could now deliver training remotely through instant on-line means and interactive Webinars. Quality of training materials could be improved through the extensive research with the instant access to vast resources possible through World Wide Web.

Infotech Resources

There are innumerable resources on the Web for IT related issues. The following list is just an illustrative example.
The Internet has changed infotech scenario
Image credit Wikimedia Commons

Information Technology Applications in the Market

Examples of infotech products:

  • Scientific: Simulation and modeling software that can eliminate building physical prototypes. The software can simulate both physical and abstract systems
  • Engineering: Computer Aided Design (CAD), CAE, Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) and robots that perform repetitive and dangerous operations are examples of manufacturing applications
  • Business: Worker productivity tools such as word processors and spreadsheets, database applications that can process huge volumes of data to generate meaningful information, and enterprise suites that automate many business processes are examples of business applications
  • Entertainment: Animation films of the kind we see now would have been impossible without computers. Computers have also enabled exploring music and graphic capabilities in new ways
  • Communications: Emails and live chats have given a new dimension to interpersonal communications. Blogs and on-line social networking have changed social communications. Websites and blogs have enabled people to publish their own views at little cost and without the help of a print publisher
  • Unified Communications: Businesses have benefited by the integration of different communication methods into a communications infrastructure, together with location information about intended recipients

Future Applications of Information Technology

The following are just a few of what we can expect:

  • Better Health: Use of IT capabilities in such areas as genome studies will lead to better medical treatment, including prevention of diseases by advance screening of genetic information
  • Better Learning: Research into intelligence and learning will improve teaching and training methods making it easier to learn new things and acquire new skills
  • Business Transformation: Enterprises will be able to focus on their core business while on-demand IT services available from dedicated providers will support operations, innovation and knowledge management
  • Consumer Driven Products: Businesses will have better insights into customer needs through powerful analytics while consumers will be able to compare products in the market and express their views far more easily
  • Globalization: Not only businesses but also people will become increasingly global. Blogs, social network sites, live chats and of course email are allowing people to communicate with ease, and also to spread awareness of local events and situations