IT (Information Technology)

Stands for "Information Technology," and is pronounced "I.T." It refers to anything related to computing t887echnology, such as networking, hardware, software, the Internet, or the people that work with these technologies. Many companies now have IT departments for managing the computers, networks, and other technical areas of their businesses. IT jobs include computer programming, network administration, computer engineering, Web development, technical support, and many other related occupations. Since we live in the "information age," information technology has become a part of our everyday lives. That means the term "IT," already highly overused, is here to stay.

ICT (Information and Communication Technologies)

Stands for "Information and Communication Technologies." ICT refers to technologies that provide access to information through telecommunications. It is similar to Information Technology (IT), but focuses primarily on communication technologies. This includes the Internet, wireless networks, cell phones, and other communication mediums.

TECHNOLOGY
1 a : the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area : ENGINEERING 2 <medical technology> b : a capability given by the practical application of knowledge <a car's fuel-saving technology> 2 : a manner of accomplishing a task especially using technical processes, methods, or knowledge <new technologies for information storage> 3 : the specialized aspects of a particular field of endeavor <educational technology>

Definition of LOGIC
1 a (1) : a science that deals with the principles and criteria of validity of inference and demonstration : the science of the formal principles of reasoning (2) : a branch or variety of logic <modal logic> <Boolean logic> (3) : a branch of semiotics; especially : SYNTACTICS (4) : the formal principles of a branch of knowledge b (1) : a particular mode of reasoning viewed as valid or faulty (2) : RELEVANCE, PROPRIETY c : interrelation or sequence of facts or events when seen as inevitable or predictable d : the arrangement of circuit elements (as in a computer) needed for computation; also : the circuits themselves 2 : something that forces a decision apart from or in opposition to reason <the logic of war>

Definition of COMPUTER
: one that computes; specifically : a programmable usually electronic device that can store, retrieve, and process data

computer system
Definition A system of interconnected computers that share a central storage system and various peripheral devices such as a printers, scanners, or routers. Each computer connected to the system can operate independently, but has the ability to communicate with other external devices and computers

computer system: A functional unit, consisting of one or more computers and associated software, that (a) uses common storage for all or part of a program and also for all or part of the data necessary for the execution of the program, (b) executes userwritten or user-designated programs, and (c) performs user-designated data manipulation, including arithmetic and logic operations. Note: A computer system may be a stand-alone system or may consist of several interconnected systems. Synonyms ADP system, computing system.

data
(1) In computing, data is information that has been translated into a form that is more convenient to move or process. Relative to today's computers and transmission media, data is information converted into binary digital form. 2) In computer Learn More
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Content management Data stewardship Data quality best practices

component interconnection and network communication, data is often distinguished from "control information," "control bits," and similar terms to identify the main content of a transmission unit. 3) In telecommunications, data sometimes means digital-encoded information to distinguish it from analog-encoded information such as conventional telephone voice calls. In general, "analog" or voice transmission requires a dedicated continual connection for the duration of a related series of transmissions. Data transmission can often be sent

Definition of INFORMATION
1 : the communication or reception of knowledge or intelligence 2 a (1) : knowledge obtained from investigation, study, or instruction (2) : INTELLIGENCE, NEWS (3) : FACTS, DATA b : the attribute inherent in and communicated by one of two or more alternative sequences or arrangements of something (as nucleotides in DNA or binary digits in a computer program) that produce specific effects c (1) : a signal or character (as in a communication system or computer) representing data (2) : something (as a message, experimental data, or a picture) which justifies change in a construct (as a plan or theory) that represents physical or mental experience or another construct d : a quantitative measure of the content of information; specifically : a numerical quantity that measures the uncertainty in the outcome of an experiment to be performed

Computer program
A computer program (also software, or just a program) is a sequence of instructions written to perform a specified task for a computer.[1] A computer requires programs to function, typically executing the program's instructions in a central processor.[2] The program has an executable form that the computer can use directly to execute the instructions. The same program in its human-readable source code form, from which executable programs are derived (e.g., compiled), enables a programmer to study and develop its algorithms. Computer source code is often written by computer programmers. Source code is written in a programming language that usually follows one of two main paradigms: imperative or declarative programming. Source code may be converted into an executable file (sometimes called an executable program or a binary) by a compiler and later executed by a central processing unit. Alternatively, computer programs may be executed with the aid of an interpreter, or may be embedded directly into hardware. Computer programs may be categorized along functional lines: system software and application software. Two or more computer programs may run simultaneously on one computer, a process known as multitasking

Computer data processing

is any process that a computer program does to enter data and summarise, analyse or otherwise convert data into usable information. The process may be automated and run on a computer. It involves recording, analysing, sorting, summarising, calculating, disseminating and storing data. Because data is most useful when well-presented and actually informative, data-processing systems are often referred to as information systems. Nevertheless, the terms are roughly synonymous, performing similar conversions; data-processing systems typically manipulate raw data into information, and likewise information systems typically take raw data as input to produce information as output. Data processing may or may not be distinguished from data conversion, when the process is merely to convert data to another format, and does not involve any data manipulation.
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Data analysis
It is the domain from which the data are harvested is a science or an engineering field, data processing and information systems are considered terms that are too broad and the more specialized term data analysis is typically used. This is a focus on the highlyspecialized and highly-accurate algorithmic derivations and statistical calculations that are less often observed in the typical general business environment. In these contexts data analysis packages like DAP, gretl or PSPP are often used. This divergence of culture is exhibited in the typical numerical representations used in data processing versus numerical; data processing's measurements are typically represented by integers or by fixed-point or binary-coded decimal representations of numbers whereas the majority of data analysis's measurements are often represented by floating-point representation of rational numbers. Elements of data processing In order to be processed by a computer, data needs first be converted into a machine readable format. Once data is in digital format, various procedures can be applied on the data to get useful information. Data processing may involve various processes, including:
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Data summarization Data aggregation Data validation Data tabulation Statistical analysis

Computer software
"Software" redirects here. For other uses, see Software (disambiguation). Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it. In other words, software is a conceptual entity which is a set of computer programs, procedures, and associated documentation concerned with the operation of a data processing system. We can also say software refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of the computer for some purposes. In other words software is a set of programs, procedures, algorithms and its documentation. Program software performs the function of the program it implements, either by directly providing instructions to the computer hardware or by serving as input to another piece of software. The term was coined to contrast to the old term hardware (meaning physical devices). In contrast to hardware, software is intangible, meaning it "cannot be touched".[1] Software is also sometimes used in a more narrow sense, meaning application software only. Sometimes the term includes data that has not traditionally been associated with computers, such as film, tapes, and records.[2]

Examples of computer software include:

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Application software includes end-user applications of computers such as word processors or video games, and ERP software for groups of users. Middleware controls and co-ordinates distributed systems. Programming languages define the syntax and semantics of computer programs. For example, many mature banking applications were written in the COBOL language, originally invented in 1959. Newer applications are often written in more modern programming languages. System software includes operating systems, which govern computing resources. Today[when?] large[quantify] applications running on remote machines such as Websites are considered[by whom?] to be system software, because[citation needed] the end-user interface is generally through a graphical user interface, such as a web browser. Testware is software for testing hardware or a software package. Firmware is low-level software often stored on electrically programmable memory devices. Firmware is given its name because it is treated like hardware and run ("executed") by other software programs. Shrinkware is the older name given to consumer-purchased software, because it was often sold in retail stores in a shrink-wrapped box. Device drivers control parts of computers such as disk drives, printers, CD drives, or computer monitors. Programming tools help conduct computing tasks in any category listed above. For programmers, these could be tools for debugging or reverse engineering older legacy systems in order to check source code compatibility.

Hardware
is a general term for the physical artifacts of a technology. It may also mean the physical components of a computer system, in the form of computer hardware.
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Hardware historically meant the metal parts and fittings that were used to make wooden products stronger, more functional, longer lasting and easier to fabricate or assemble.[citation needed] Modern hardware stores typically sell equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, corners, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts, especially when they are made of metal.[citation needed]

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system", literary "composition"[1]) is a set of interacting or interdependent components forming an integrated whole. A system is a set of elements and relationships which are different from relationships of the set or its elements to other elements or sets.

OpenOffice.org Writer word processor. OpenOffice.org is a popular example of open source application software The GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP), version 2.4.3. GIMP is freely distributed software. Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform singular or multiple related specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with documents. Apps may be bundled with the computer and its system software, or may be published separately. Some users are satisfied with the bundled apps and need never install one. Application software is contrasted with system software and middleware, which manage and integrate a computer's capabilities, but typically do not directly apply them in the performance of tasks that benefit the user. The system software serves the application, which in turn serves the user. Similar relationships apply in other fields. For example, a shopping mall does not provide the merchandise a shopper is seeking, but provides space and services for retailers that serve the shopper. Rail tracks similarly support trains, allowing the trains to transport passengers. Application software applies the power of a particular computing platform or system software to a particular purpose. Some apps such as Microsoft Office are available in versions for several different platforms; others have narrower requirements and are thus called, for example, a Geography application for Windows or an Android application for education or Linux gaming. Sometimes a new and popular application arises which only runs on one platform, increasing the desirablity of that platform. This is called a killer application.

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System software
System software is computer software designed to operate the computer hardware and to provide a platform for running application software.[1][2] The most basic types of system software are:
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The computer BIOS and device firmware, which provide basic functionality to operate and control the hardware connected to or built into the computer. The operating system (prominent examples being Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux), which allows the parts of a computer to work together by performing tasks like transferring data between memory and disks or rendering output onto a

display device. It also provides a platform to run high-level system software and application software. Utility software, which helps to analyze, configure, optimize and maintain the computer.

In some publications, the term system software is also used to designate software development tools (like a compiler, linker or debugger).[3]

In contrast to system software, software that allows users to do things like create text documents, play games, listen to music, or surf the web is called application software.[4]

Types of system software programs System software helps use the operating system and computer system.

Input device
In computing, an input device is any peripheral (piece of computer hardware equipment) used to provide data and control signals to an information processing system such as a computer or other information appliance. Input and output devices make up the hardware interface between a computer and a scanner or 6DOF controller. Many input devices can be classified according to:
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modality of input (e.g. mechanical motion, audio, visual, etc.) the input is discrete (e.g. key presses) or continuous (e.g. a mouse's position, though digitized into a discrete quantity, is fast enough to be considered continuous) the number of degrees of freedom involved (e.g. two-dimensional traditional mice, or three-dimensional navigators designed for CAD applications)

Pointing devices, which are input devices used to specify a position in space, can further be classified according to:
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Whether the input is direct or indirect. With direct input, the input space coincides with the display space, i.e. pointing is done in the space where visual feedback or the cursor appears. Touchscreens and light pens involve direct input. Examples involving indirect input include the mouse and trackball. Whether the positional information is absolute (e.g. on a touch screen) or relative (e.g. with a mouse that can be lifted and repositioned)

Direct input is almost necessarily absolute, but indirect input may be either absolute or relative. For example, digitizing graphics tablets that do not have an embedded screen involve indirect input and sense absolute positions and are often run in an absolute input mode, but they may also be set up to simulate a relative input mode where the stylus or puck can be lifted and repositioned.

An output device
is any piece of computer hardware equipment used to communicate the results of data processing carried out by an information processing system (such as a computer) to the outside world. In computing, input/output, or I/O, refers to the communication between an information processing system (such as a computer), and the outside world. Inputs are the signals or data sent to the system, and outputs are the signals or data sent by the system to the outside. Examples of output devices:
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Speakers Headphones Screen (Monitor) Printer

See also
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CAD Computer-controlled milling machines Computer graphics Digital image processing Graphics card Graphics chip Graphical user interface Rapid prototyping Vector graphics vs. Raster graphics v d eBasic computer components Keyboard Image scanner Microphone Pointing device Input devices (Graphics tablet Joystick Light pen Mouse Touchpad Touchscreen Trackball) Webcam Output devices Removable data storage Monitor Printer Speakers Optical disc drive (CD-RW DVD+RW) Floppy disk Memory card USB flash drive

Computer case

Central processing unit (CPU) Hard disk / Solid-state drive Motherboard Network interface controller Power supply Random-access memory (RAM) Sound card Video card Ethernet Firewire (IEEE 1394) Parallel port Serial port Universal Serial Bus (USB)

Data ports

Data storage device

Many different consumer electronic devices can store data.

<77 Edison cylinder phonograph ca. 1899. The Phonograph cylinder is a storage medium. The phonograph may or may not be considered a storage device.

A reel-to-reel tape recorder (Sony TC-630). The magnetic tape is a data storage medium. The recorder is data storage equipment using a portable medium (tape reel) to store the data.

Crafting tools such as paint brushes can be used as data storage equipment. The paint and canvas can be used as data storage media.

RNA might be the oldest data storage medium,[1] now replaced by DNA in most organisms. A data storage device is a device for recording (storing) information (data). Recording

can be done using virt ually any form of energy, spanning from manual muscle power in handwriting, to acoustic vibrations in phonographic recording, to electromagnetic energy modulating magnetic tape and optical discs. A storage device may hold information, process information, or both. A device that only holds information is a recording medium. Devices that process information (data storage

equipment) may either access a separate portable (removable) recording medium or a permanent component to store and retrieve information. Electronic data storage is storage which requires electrical power to store and retrieve that data. Most storage devices that do not require vision and a brain to read data fall into this category. Electromagnetic data may be stored in either an analog or digital format on a variety of media. This type of data is considered to be electronically encoded data, whether or not it is electronically stored in a semiconductor device, for it is certain that a semiconductor device was used to record it on its medium. Most electronically processed data storage media (including some forms of computer data storage) are considered permanent (non-volatile) storage, that is, the data will remain stored when power is removed from the device. In contrast, most electronically stored information within most types of semiconductor (computer chips) microcircuits are volatile memory, for it vanishes if power is removed. With the exception of barcodes and OCR data, electronic data storage is easier to revise and may be more cost effective than alternative methods due to smaller physical space requirements and the ease of replacing (rewriting) data on the same medium. However, the durability of methods such as printed data is still superior to that of most electronic storage media. The durability limitations may be overcome with the ease of duplicating (backing-up) electronic data. Terminology Devices that are not used exclusively for recording (e.g. hands, mouths, musical instruments) and devices that are intermediate in the storing/retrieving process (e.g. eyes, ears, cameras, scanners, microphones, speakers, monitors, video projectors) are not usually considered storage devices. Devices that are exclusively for recording (e.g. printers), exclusively for reading (e.g. barcode readers), or devices that process only one form of information (e.g. phonographs) may or may not be considered storage devices. In computing these are known as input/output devices. All information is data. However, not all data is information. Many data storage devices are also media players. Any device that can store and playback multimedia may also be considered a media player such as in the case with the HDD media player. Designated hard drives are used to play saved or streaming media on home entertainment systems. Trends International Data Corporation estimated that the total amount of digital data was 281 billion gigabytes in 2007, and had for the first time exceeded the amount of storage.[2]

Data storage equipment Any input/output equipment may be considered data storage equipment if it writes to and reads from a data storage medium. Data storage equipment uses either:
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portable methods (easily replaced), semi-portable methods requiring mechanical disassembly tools and/or opening a chassis, or

inseparable methods meaning loss of memory if disconnected from the unit.

technique
Definition
A systematic procedure, formula, or routine by which a task is accomplished.

Applications Software
ALSO CALLED: Application Software, End-User Applications, Applications, Software Applications DEFINITION: 1) In information technology, an application is the use of a technology, system, or product. 2) The term application is a shorter form of application program. An application program is a program designed to perform a specific function directly for the user or, in some cases, for another application program. Examples of applications include word processors, database programs, Web browsers, development

What Is Storage Device

A peripheral unit that holds data without power until purposefully erased. Examples are magnetic and optical disks, magnetic tape and flash memory devices. For a summary of all storage technologies, see magnetic disk, magnetic tape, optical disc and memory card.

Grapevine Communication
Grapevine communication is the informal communication network within an organization. The grapevine is used to spread information bypassing the formal communication structure. Just like the grapevine plant: it spreads in random ways and it goes where it can. The grapevine is formed by individuals and groups in an organization. The people in the groups have something in common that links them together. A person can belong to one or more groups. As an example, a manager can belong to a group of women that go to lunch together every Friday. She can also belong to a group of managers in her department that talk about work in informal ways. She could have a third group of people scattered throughout the organization with which she shares other common interests outside of work. The manager in this example is likely to pass information across her three main, informal networks. In some ways, she is verifying the accuracy of the rumors she hears. When more than one of her networks is in agreement about a given rumor, she is bound to believe it's true.

Disadvantages of Grapevine Communication

There are some intrinsic dangers in bypassing the organizational channels to get to the facts of the matter. The main danger is that much of the information that gets spread through the grapevine is not verified. Some of the information is likely false and difficult, if not impossible, to verify. We discount information when the source is a known gossiper. But not completely... Even when the source is someone known to spread rumors, we believe that where there's smoke... Since we don't know what part is fire and what is smoke, we take in the whole rumor. To justify our participation in spreading the rumor, we tell ourselves that part of it must be true. The main reason why we give credence to a rumor is that it seems to match what we think about the situation or person that the rumor is about. We also tend to believe the person sharing the rumor with us. Another main disadvantage of grapevine communication is that it's often used to spread more than rumors; it's used to spread gossip. The terms rumors and gossip are used sometimes interchangeably, but rumors are not quite the same as gossip. Both are pieces of information that can't be verified, but rumors tend to affect organizations or groups of people, while gossip refers to more personal matters. When gossip is being spread through the grapevine, people's reputations, careers, and lives can get destroyed very rapidly. For a related article How Rumors Hurt People, click here. Despite its disadvantages, the grapevine can serve a purpose.

Advantages of Grapevine Communication

Grapevine communication creates a social bond where none existed. People like to talk to one another; whether they talk about work or family, or anything. Teams become more

cohesive when members talk to one another outside of the project or assignment they may be working on. Informal communication lends itself to bonding. The grapevine fills in a gap that is left when official information is missing. Even in organizations where management is very proactive about keeping employees informed, the grapevine helps to fill in the blanks. The grapevine in many ways helps keep people honest; it can dissuade people from engaging on behavior that they don't want others to know about. This is a two edge sword. On one hand, people will think twice about taking what they know is a wrong course of action. On the other hand, they may also think twice about taking a necessary risk and doing the right thing, fearful that appearances that may give rise to rumors.

Grapevine communication is part of the workplace, it can't be eliminated. Recognizing its pros and cons can help you use it to your advantage.

How Rumors Hurt People

We generally don't think about how rumors hurt people.
Many times we spread hearsay thinking we are being helpful. When I forward an email to others about a new identity theft threat, I'm just trying to be helpful. But if I didn't take the time to check if the email rumor I got was a hoax, then I will have wasted my time and the time of those I forwarded the email to. If an employee is told by another employee that management is considering layoffs, both employees are now more anxious, and this is likely to affect their work. Rumors do hurt people, and this is how: Rumoring is a waste of time and energy. Employees could use that energy on creating and producing, and on improving their own lives. Instead, the time and energy is used to the detriment of others. Rumors increase anxiety in an already anxious environment. When employees gossip about others, there is always the nagging feeling of "who is next?" People wonder if they will be the next targets of gossip, or if they already are. Perhaps the worst effect of rumors is that they hurt people in very real ways, they can destroy relationships, careers and reputations. Rumoring creates camps and divides organizations. As people learn something through hearsay, they tend to take sides. Rumors reduce the credibility of those spreading them. Rumoring reduces trust and confidence. Employees begin to withdraw, and they may not take actions that could lend themselves to being the target of a rumor. All in all, rumors and gossip create a divided, stressful and harmful working environment. Next time you hear a rumor, remember that people's careers and reputations may be harmed. Check if the information is true before you share it.