| What is Information Technology | | | | organizations, businesses and individuals can |
| Information technology is the use and application | | | | communicate any time from different parts of |
| of the computer system to process, manage and | | | | the world through video and voice calls, web |
| distribute information. Use of IT in this context | | | | conferencing, seminars and virtual meetings. |
| involves both the hardware and software | | | | Economic Advancement |
| components. | | | | A major step to global economic advancement is |
| Some major advantages of Information | | | | the removal of distance and time barriers brought |
| Technology in various areas are listed below: | | | | about by the application of information technology |
| Speed and Accuracy in information Processing | | | | to buying and selling of goods and services |
| With the help of IT more work can be done by | | | | (e-commerce). E-commerce gave room for tiny, |
| individuals, businesses, services and government | | | | small and big business players to emerge. |
| organisations. Function enhancement programs | | | | Interconnection of businesses is made painless. |
| such as word processors, database programs and | | | | Thousands of local, national and international |
| spreadsheets can get work done in less time with | | | | businesses and enterprises now have what is |
| increased accuracy and efficiency. | | | | referred to as 'web presence' and can now reach |
| Global Social Interaction | | | | wider audience. |
| IT has made global social and cultural interaction | | | | Education |
| very simple. This is evident with the emergence | | | | Education has gone far beyond the use of bricks |
| and success of social networking websites, such | | | | and mortal classrooms or traditional blackboard. |
| as Facebook and Twitter. More so, the use of | | | | The world is now in the era of e-learning, using |
| information technology has eliminated language | | | | technologies such as VLEs (Virtual Learning |
| barriers with technologies such as language | | | | Environments). Students can have access to all |
| translators. | | | | teaching materials and resources online; engage in |
| Entertainment | | | | virtual classrooms real time or asynchronously. |
| The introduction and use of high tech applications | | | | Health |
| and gadgets such as iTunes, iPod and iPone has | | | | The use of IT has led to an overall improvement |
| been revolutionary. Downloading, buying, playing | | | | in quality, safety and efficiency in the health care |
| and organising, music, videos, movies and TV | | | | delivery system. The health care sector is |
| shows has been made super easy and accessible. | | | | positively impacted by the use of electronic health |
| The gallant advancement of information | | | | records, virtual healthcare team technologies, |
| technology through history puts the world in your | | | | telemedicine, e-health grids and various specialist |
| palm with technologies such as iPad and Amazon | | | | health care information systems. |
| Kindle. | | | | Information technology had brought phenomenal |
| Communication | | | | changes to all aspect of life. The positive impact |
| The effect of information technology on universal | | | | has been global and the change continues to grow |
| communication is phenomenal. Telecommunication | | | | exponentially. However, the disadvantages can not |
| has gone beyond the use of basic technologies. | | | | be ignored. A major menace brought about by IT |
| With the advancement of the Internet and | | | | is security and drastic reduction in privacy. |
| technologies such as VoIP (Voice over IP), | | | | |