What is Information Technology

As its name defines itself Information Technology is processing Information Technically.
According to Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) Information Technology is "the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware."

According to NDCC 54.59.01 Information Technology means the use of hardware, software, services, and supporting infrastructure to manage and deliver information using voice, data, and video.

To further define information technology and what should be included as far as the IT budget, the following information is provided:

• all computers with a human interface
• all computer peripherals which will not operate unless connected to a computer or network
• all voice, video and data networks and the equipment, staff and purchased services necessary to operate them
• all salary and benefits for staff whose job descriptions specifically includes technology functions, i.e. network services, applications development, systems administration
• all technology services provided by vendors or contractors

• all costs associated with developing, purchasing, licensing or maintaining software

• Telephone and radio equipment and switches used for voice communications.
• Traditional computer applications that include data storage and programs to input, process, and output the data.
• Software and support for office automation systems such as word processing and spreadsheets, as well as the computer to run them.
• Users' PCs and software.
• Server hardware and software used to support applications such as electronic mail/groupware, file and print services, database, application/ web servers, storage systems, and other hosting services.
• Data, voice, and video networks and all associated communications equipment and software.
• Peripherals directly connected to computer information systems used to collect or transmit audio, video or graphic information, such as scanners and digitizers.
• Voice response systems that interact with a computer database or application.
• The state radio communications network.
• Computers and network systems used by teachers, trainers, and students for educational purposes
• "Open/integrated" computer systems that monitor or automate mechanical or chemical processes and also store information used by computer applications for analysis and decision-making, such as the Metasys building management system.
• All operating costs, equipment and staff time associated with supporting the technology infrastructure of the agency, possibly including items excluded above, such as video equipment used for technology training that is included in the information systems cost center for the agency.

• "Closed/stand-alone" computer systems that monitor or automate mechanical or chemical processes, such as the fire alarm system in the capitol building.
• Audio-visual equipment which can be operated as a standalone piece of equipment, such as televisions, tape recorders, VCRs, video cameras, and overhead projectors. Stand-alone video editing equipment is excluded.
• Copy machines and fax machines.
• Licenses or subscriptions to electronic information provided to users in lieu of books or magazines.
• Salaries of staff who use technology but are not directly involved in developing, implementing or supporting technology as documented on their PIQ. Data entry staff, staff who digitize drawings, staff who do desktop publishing are excluded. "Power users" who use advanced features of spreadsheets or word processing software are excluded.
• Data entry services

all computers with a human interface all computer peripherals which will not operate unless connected to a computer or network all voice, video and data networks and the equipment, staff and purchased services necessary to operate them all salary and benefits for staff whose job descriptions specifically includes technology functions, i.e. network services, applications development, systems administration all technology services provided by vendors or contractors

operating costs associated with providing information technology

all costs associated with developing, purchasing, licensing or maintaining software

Agencies may wish to include other costs at their discretion. For example, an agency may wish to include digital cameras in their IT budget even though they can be operated stand-alone. Data entry personnel may be included if they are considered part of the technology staff. Costs that are excluded above may be included if they are an integral part of a computer applications or would be difficult to break out because the costs are included with other information technology costs.

Examples of Information Technology:

Telephone and radio equipment and switches used for voice communications. Traditional computer applications that include data storage and programs to input, process, and output the data. Software and support for office automation systems such as word processing and spreadsheets, as well as the computer to run them. Users' PCs and software. Server hardware and software used to support applications such as electronic mail/groupware, file and print services, database, application/ web servers, storage systems, and other hosting services. Data, voice, and video networks and all associated communications equipment and software. Peripherals directly connected to computer information systems used to collect or transmit audio, video or graphic information, such as scanners and digitizers. Voice response systems that interact with a computer database or application. The state radio communications network. Computers and network systems used by teachers, trainers, and students for educational purposes "Open/integrated" computer systems that monitor or automate mechanical or chemical processes and also store information used by computer applications for analysis and decision-making, such as the Metasys building management system. All operating costs, equipment and staff time associated with supporting the technology infrastructure of the agency, possibly including items excluded above, such as video equipment used for technology training that is included in the information systems cost center for the agency.

Examples of items excluded from the definition:

"Closed/stand-alone" computer systems that monitor or automate mechanical or chemical processes, such as the fire alarm system in the capitol building. Audio-visual equipment which can be operated as a standalone piece of equipment, such as televisions, tape recorders, VCRs, video cameras, and overhead projectors. Stand-alone video editing equipment is excluded.

Copy machines and fax machines.
Licenses or subscriptions to electronic information provided to users in lieu of books or magazines.
Salaries of staff who use technology but are not directly involved in developing, implementing or supporting technology as documented on their PIQ. Data entry staff, staff who digitize drawings, staff who do desktop publishing are excluded. "Power users" who use advanced features of spreadsheets or word processing software are excluded.

Data entry services
Information Technology's Role Today Every day, people use computers in new ways. Computers are increasingly affordable; they continue to be more powerful as information-processing tools as well as easier to use.
Computers in Business : One of the first and largest applications of computers is keeping and managing business and financial records. Most large companies keep the employment records of all their workers in large databases that are managed by computer programs. Similar programs and databases are used in such business functions as billing customers; tracking payments received and payments to be made; and tracking supplies needed and items produced, stored, shipped, and sold. In fact, practically all the information companies need to do business involves the use of computers and information technology.

On a smaller scale, many businesses have replaced cash registers with point-of-sale (POS) terminals. These POS terminals not only print a sales receipt for the customer but also send information to a computer database when each item is sold to maintain an inventory of items on hand and items to be ordered. Computers have also become very important in modern factories. Computer-controlled robots now do tasks that are hot, heavy, or hazardous. Robots are also used to do routine, repetitive tasks in which boredom or fatigue can lead to poor quality work.

Computers in Medicine : Information technology plays an important role in medicine. For example, a scanner takes a series of pictures of the body by means of computerized axial tomography (CAT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A computer then combines the pictures to produce detailed three-dimensional images of the body's organs. In addition, the MRI produces images that show changes in body chemistry and blood flow.

Computers in Science and Engineering : Using supercomputers, meteorologists predict future weather by using a combination of observations of weather conditions from many sources, a mathematical representation of the behavior of the atmosphere, and geographic data.

Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing programs, often called CAD/CAM, have led to improved products in many fields, especially where designs tend to be very detailed. Computer programs make it possible for engineers to analyze designs of complex structures such as power plants and space stations.

Integrated Information Systems : With today's sophisticated hardware, software, and communications technologies, it is often difficult to classify a system as belonging uniquely to one specific application program. Organizations increasingly are consolidating their information needs into a single, integrated information system. One example is SAP, a German software package that runs on mainframe computers and provides an enterprise-wide solution for information technologies. It is a powerful database that enables companies to organize all their data into a single database, then choose only the program modules or tables they want. The freestanding modules are customized to fit each customer's needs.
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