CHAPTER 01:

INTRODUCTION TO
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Learning Outcome:
At the end of this topic, students should
be able to:
a) Explain Information Technology (IT).
b) Discuss the applications of IT.
c) Explain different categories of
computers.

Did you use IT during

the online registration
to Matriculation?

Which box represents the

applications of IT?
1. Education
2. Finance
3. Travel

A. E-learning portal
B. Online banking
C. GPS

FIELDS of IT applications

Definition of IT
The use of computer hardware and
software
to store, retrieve and manipulate
information.

computer
hardware and
software

store, retrieve
& manipulate

information

Advantages of IT
1. Faster communication speed :
Any information can be sent faster to
anyone efficiently via communication
technology such as smartphone and
e-mail.
2. Paperless environment:
Reduce paperwork such as update
income tax, view pay slip, and apply
UPU online.

Advantages of IT
3. Borderless
information
and
communication:
People
can
communicate
and
exchange information easily using email,
video
conference,
mobile
computers or smart phones.
4. Sharing ideas and information:
People
can
share
ideas
and
information
through
discussion
groups and forums via Internet.

Disadvantages of IT
1. Health risks:
Excessive use of computers can lead
to posture problems, eye strain &
other health issues.
2. Violation of privacy:
Internet users are expose to security
breaches such as losing private and
confidential data to hacker or viruses.

Disadvantages of IT
3. High cost:
High cost of ICT investment (hardware
and software) to run the online
system.
4. Require trained worker:
Require workers to be trained with
special knowledge and skills in IT.

Applications of IT in each
fields:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Education
Finance
Government
Health care
Science
Publishing
Travel
Manufacturing

Education
Usage:
Assists educators and learners in
teaching
and learning
process.
Example:
Students can access the e-learning
portal to download lecture notes.

Education
Other examples of IT application in
education:
Online Tuition
e-Test

Courseware
Portal

e-Learning

Education
Advantage:
Students can communicate &
exchange information easily using email, video conference, mobile
computers or smart phone.
Disadvantage:
Excessive use of computers can lead
to posture problems, eye strain &
other health issues.

Finance
Usage:
IT applications are used in finance in
order
to improve productivity
of the company.
Example:
Customer can use the online
banking such as maybank2u.com in
order to access their account online
or pay bills online.

Finance
Other examples of IT application in
finance:
Online Banking
Investing

Online

Finance
Advantage:
Users can perform various tasks such
as pay bills, access bank account and
transfer fund at any time and from
anywhere (as long as they are
connected to the Internet).
Disadvantage:
Users are expose to security breaches
such as losing private and confidential

Government
Usage:
Government Web sites provide
citizens with up-to-date information.
Example:
Most government offices have a
Web site such as myeg.com.my in
order to provide citizens with up-todate information.

Government
Other examples of IT application in
government:
e-Filing

(Online system for declaring

tax)

e-Penyata Gaji & Laporan

(Online system that allow users to view and
print pay slip)

Government
Advantage:
Reduce paperwork such as update
income tax, view pay slip, and apply
UPU online.
Disadvantage:
If the server breaks down,
government services become
inaccessible.

Health care
Usage:
The medical staffs use computers for
various purposes such as to maintain
and access patient records.
Example:
Medline is a Web sites that provide
up-to-date medical, fitness, nutrition
or exercise information.

Health care
Other examples of IT application in
health care:
Telemedicine
Health care professionals in
separate locations conduct
live conferences
on the computer.

Health care
Other examples of IT application in
health care:
Telesurgery
Remote surgery, where a surgeon performs an
operation on a patient who is not located in
the same physical room as the surgeon.

Health care
Advantage :
Provide up-to-date medical, fitness,
nutrition or exercise information
online.
Disadvantage :
High cost of ICT investment (hardware
and software) needed to run the
healthcare system.

Science
Usage:
All branches of science use IT to
assist them with collecting, analyzing
and modeling data.
Example:
Scientist use a neural network system

to imitate the behavior of human

brain.

Science
Other examples of IT application in
science:
Virtual reality
Computer use to simulate a real or imagined
environment
that appears as 3 dimensional space.

Science
Other examples of IT application in
science field:
Camera Pill

Camera pill is used to take picture inside a body

to detect polyps, cancer and other abnormalities.

Science
Advantage :
Provide greater accuracy in collecting,
analyzing and modeling data using
computer.
Disadvantage :
1.High cost of ICT investment.
2.Require workers to be trained with
special knowledge and skills.

Publishing
Usage:
Publishing is the process of making
works available to the public. IT
application is applied in order to
assist with work.
Example:
Film makers use a special software

such as Windows Movie Maker in

order to create and edit film.

Publishing
Other examples of IT application in
publishing:
Online publishing: Digital
Newspaper
- People can read newspaper online.

Publishing
Other examples of IT application in
publishing:
Online publishing: Digital
Magazine
-People can read magazine online.

Publishing
Advantage :
Reduce paperwork when publishers
make their works available online.
Disadvantage :
Publishers are expose to copyright
issues when users download their
works illegally.

Travel
Usage:
Latest technology have help in
making travel convenient.
Example:
Car navigation system such as GPS
can help users to track routes for
specific location.

Travel
Other examples of IT application in
publishing:
Online Reservation System
- Transportation and accommodation
reservation can be done through website.

Travel
Other examples of IT application in
publishing:
Air Traffic Control System
- Workers in airport tower rely on computers
to help monitor air traffic.

Travel
Advantage :
Offer Web services for users to book
hotels and flights anytime anywhere,
or navigate to a location safely.
Disadvantage :
High cost of ICT investment (hardware
and software) to run the system
online.

Manufacturing
Usage:
Latest technology have help in
making manufacturing process more
effective.
Example:
Bar Code System is a system where a bar
code can be read by the computer scanner
to help in determining prices and managing
inventory.

Manufacturing
Other examples of IT application in
manufacturing:
Quick Response Code System

(QR Code System)

Manufacturing
Other examples of IT application in
manufacturing:
Computer Aided Manufacturing
(CAM)
CAM is used to assist with
manufacturing processes
such as fabrication and
assembly.

Manufacturing
Advantage :
Reduces production cost through
automation, increased speed and
accuracy.
Disadvantage :
Require workers to be trained with
special knowledge and skills.

Choose one (1) field

1.
2.
3.
4.

Education
Finance
Government
Health care

5.
6.
7.
8.

Science
Publishing
Travel
Manufacturing

Think of one (1) advantage and

disadvantage of using IT in each
field.

Are the answers the

same?
1. Give two (2) advantages of IT.
2. Give two (2) advantages of IT in
education?
3. Give two (2) advantages of using elearning portal?

1. Give two (2) advantages of IT.

Advantages from any field pun boleh.
a) In health care, IT provides up-to-date
medical, fitness, nutrition or exercise
information online.
b) In travel, IT offers Web services for users to
book hotels and flights anytime anywhere,
or navigate to a location safely.
c) In government, IT helps to reduce
paperwork such as update income tax, view
pay slip, and apply UPU online.
d) In finance, IT allow users to perform various
tasks such as pay bills, access bank account
and transfer fund from anywhere, anytime.

2. Give two (2) advantages of IT in

education?
a. Students can communicate & exchange
information easily using e-mail and video
conference.
b. students can upload and download materials
anytime.

3. Give two (2) advantages of using elearning portal?

a. Download materials and upload assignment
easily
b. Have online group discussion anytime