You may know someone that works in it, and you may have seen it advertised on television, but what is IT? This article will help to clear up the somewhat shady world of IT.
To start, let's break down the term "IT" into two parts: information and technology (the secret is revealed!). Information technology, or IT, exists throughout the world and it is define by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) as "the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware." So, what is IT? In short, it is nearly anything to do with computer or computer programs and applications.
Though the aforementioned definition is the purest one, the term IT has been used in many different ways recently. It seems as though every time you turn on a television, some infomercial is blaring about gaining a degree in information technology. Perhaps this is why this term now encompasses various aspects of the computer world. Today's professionals that work in this field deal with data management, networking, engineering, database design, software design, and various administrative tasks.
Still wondering about that earlier question (what is IT?). Well, don't worry, this term confuses a lot of people. The term is mostly confusing because it means everything to do with computers, though it can also mean nothing at all. The next time that someone tells you that they work in the information technology field, you can easily assume that they do something with computer communication and technology, though their specific job may be somewhat unclear.
The basic problem with a term such as IT is that when this term was coined, there really weren't a lot of people involved with this type of work. As the years progressed, information technology really began to expand, causing various organizations within the field to spring up (if for nothing else, to differentiate between the numerous branches). Currently, there are many different groups and organizations that all have something to do with this type of work, though the many different groups can become confusing.
Hopefully, you will have a better grasp on the earlier question (what is IT?) now that is has been, partially, explained. Although this field is somewhat confusing, those that work within the field are important to the current computer world. Can the term be summed up in one article? No, it cannot - this line of work is one of the vaguest out there, yet it is still vital to technology.
Aazdak Alisimo writes IT articles for ITServiceCompanies.com - a directory of IT service companies across the country.
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