Information technology in a broad sense refers to the sum of various methods, tools and skills that can fully utilize and expand the functions of human information organs. This definition emphasizes the philosophical exposition of the relationship between information technology and human nature.
In Chinese, information technology refers to the sum of various technologies for collecting, transmitting, storing, processing and expressing information. This definition emphasizes people's general understanding of the functions and processes of information technology.
In a narrow sense, information technology refers to the sum of technologies that use computers, networks, radio, television and other hardware devices, software tools and scientific methods to acquire, process, store, transmit and use various information such as words, images and sounds. This definition emphasizes the modernization and high-tech content of information technology.
The application of information technology includes computer hardware and software, network and communication technology, application software development tools, etc. Since the popularization of computers and the Internet, people have increasingly used computers to produce, process, exchange and disseminate various forms of information (such as books, business documents, newspapers, records, movies, TV programs, sounds, graphics, images, etc.). ).
In enterprises, schools and other organizations, information technology architecture is a comprehensive structure that adopts and develops information technology to achieve strategic goals. It includes elements of management and technology. Its management components include tasks, functions and information requirements, system configuration and information flow.
Technical components include information technology standards and rules for implementing management architecture. Because the computer is the center of information management, the computer department is usually called the "information technology department".
Some companies call this department information service or management information service. Other enterprises choose to outsource information technology departments in order to obtain better benefits.
Internet of Things and cloud computing are proposed and developed as new heights and new forms of information technology. According to the definition of China Internet of Things School-enterprise Alliance, the Internet of Things is the combination of almost all technologies and computer internet technology, which makes the collection, transmission, processing and execution of information faster and more accurate, and is the latest presentation form and application of science and technology.
Extended data:
A, technical classification:
1. According to different manifestations, information technology can be divided into hard technology (materialized technology) and soft technology (non-materialized technology). The former refers to various information devices and their functions, such as microscopes, telephones, communication satellites, multimedia computers, etc.
The latter refers to all kinds of knowledge, methods and skills related to information acquisition and processing, such as language technology, data statistical analysis technology, planning and decision-making technology, computer software technology and so on.
2. According to the different basic links in workflow, information technology can be divided into information acquisition technology, information transmission technology, information storage technology, information processing technology and information standardization technology.
Information acquisition technology includes information search, perception, reception, filtering and so on. Such as microscopes, telescopes, meteorological satellites, thermometers, clocks, Internet searchers and so on.
Information transmission technology refers to the technology of sharing information across space and can be divided into different types. Such as unidirectional transmission and bidirectional transmission technology, single-channel transmission, multi-channel transmission and broadcast transmission technology.
Information storage technology refers to the technology of saving information across time, such as printing, photography, recording, video recording, microfilm, magnetic disk, optical disk and so on. Information processing technology is a technology that describes, classifies, arranges, transforms, condenses, expands and innovates information.
There are two breakthroughs in the development of information processing technology: from human brain information processing to using mechanical equipment (such as abacus and ruler), and then using electronic computers and networks to process information.
Information standardization technology refers to organically linking the acquisition, transmission, storage and processing of information to improve the ability of information exchange. Such as information management standards, character coding standards, language standardization, etc.
In daily use, some people divide information technology into telephone technology, telegraph technology, broadcasting technology, television technology, copying technology, microform technology, satellite technology, computer technology, network technology and so on.
Some people divide information technology into sender's information processing technology, information channel technology, receiver's information processing technology, information anti-interference technology and so on from the way of information transmission.
4. According to the different functional levels of technology, the information technology system can be divided into basic information technology (such as new material technology and new energy technology) and supporting information technology (such as mechanical technology, electronic technology, laser technology, biotechnology and space technology).
Information technology at the discipline level (such as sensing technology, communication technology, computer technology and control technology) and information technology at the application level (such as all kinds of automation, intelligence and information application software and equipment used to improve efficiency and benefit in cultural education, commerce and trade, industrial and agricultural production and social management).
Second, the main features:
Some people regard the characteristics of computer and network technology-digitalization, networking, multimedia, intelligence and virtualization-as the characteristics of information technology. We believe that the characteristics of information technology should be understood from the following two aspects:
1, information technology has the general feature of technology-technicality. Specific performance is: scientific methods, advanced tools and equipment, skilled skills, rich experience, rapid action process, efficient functions and so on.
2. Information technology is different from other technologies-information. Specifically, the service subject of information technology is information, and its core function is to improve the efficiency and benefit of information processing and utilization. The nature of information determines that information technology also has the characteristics of universality, objectivity, relativity, dynamics, enjoyment and transformation.
References:
Baidu encyclopedia-information technology