Information Technology

Phone booths might become a thing of the past. Banking with an actual bank teller? A distant memory. Long lines at the movie theater? They're practically ancient history. Information technology, or IT — the technology behind cell phones, ATMs, even Moviefone — is responsible for a major shift in the way people communicate, do business, and exchange information in our increasingly electronic and wireless world.

Ever since the first personal computer was released in the 1970s, information technology has been integrated into every industry imaginable, from agriculture and environmental technology to engineering and aerospace technology, introducing electronic databases, information systems, and mapping and navigational devices, and accelerating the speed at which information can be generated and exchanged.

What started with coding, electronics, telephones, and satellites has changed the relationship between humans and machines, and has even had an impact on the environment and natural resources. Information once generated and stored using paper or microfiche technology can now be saved on desktop, laptop, or handheld computers. Air mail has been effectively replaced by e-mail, for both personal and business communication, and global communication that was once a difficult endeavor is today routine.

IT knowledge and skills are a foundation for work in many industries. Typical IT jobs rely on engineering, technical, mechanical, and analytical skills; and IT technicians tend to create, design, and solve problems through computer technology.

Additional resources:
National Center of Excellence for High Performance Computing Technology
http://www.highperformancecomputing.org

National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies
http://www.nwcet.org

National Center for Telecommunications Technologies
http://www.stcc.edu



Common Jobs:
- Web Developer
- Software Engineer
- Database Specialist