| Information technology is affecting culture | | | | Technology beginnings, programmers worked |
| and society in many important domains. | | | | only in machine code. It was very difficult |
| Information technology means using computers | | | | and it was rapidly replaced by p-code, for |
| and computer software to acquire, convert | | | | example, used in the popular Java programming |
| process, transmit, protect and retrieve data. | | | | language, from Sun. The well known Microsoft |
| Computer science includes many fields, such | | | | software producer is also using the byte-code |
| as programming languages, computer graphics, | | | | in the .net language family. |
| hardware, and networks. | | | | |
| | | | There are many programming languages. Some |
| In 2006, some magazines rated software | | | | are already history, like COBOL or FORTRAN. |
| engineering as the best job in US. This | | | | Some are intensively used, like C and its |
| appreciations in made in terms of growth, | | | | versions. C is a compiled programming |
| stress level, pay, creativity, flexibility in | | | | language. It was designed to create Unix, a |
| hours, working environment. It is also easy | | | | popular operating system. C++ is a compiled |
| to enter in advance in the software | | | | programming language too. As its name is |
| engineering field. | | | | indicating, it is based on C and is great |
| | | | advantage is the object oriented programming. |
| Information Technology include many | | | | Is developed by Bjarne Stroustrup and one of |
| subfields, one of the most important is | | | | its major advantages is the use of anew |
| networking. The most common is the LAN (Local | | | | paradigm, the classes. Java, popular, easy to |
| Area Network). This network covers a local | | | | learn and having the ability to be run on |
| area. It is designated to be used in offices, | | | | many platforms, such as Linux, Mac OS and |
| group of buildings, office, college, home or | | | | Microsoft, is an object oriented interpreted |
| libraries. Usually, LANs are using Ethernet | | | | programming language. Not as popular as the |
| or Wi-Fi technology. The TCP/IP protocol is | | | | other programming language, but spectacular |
| universal, and switched Ethernet is the most | | | | and often used in Artificial Intelligence |
| common. The public knows the Internet | | | | domain, Lisp is many times scripted too. Very |
| connection, the largest public network. | | | | popular, easy to learn and almost perfect to |
| | | | design customer application, Visual Basic is |
| A spectacular and easy to use network is the | | | | designed and developed by Microsoft. Every |
| wireless LAN or WLAN (wireless local area | | | | new version is bringing more functions. |
| network). Wireless means that two o more | | | | |
| computers are linked without cables. Radio | | | | But only a professional programmer can design |
| waves are making possible the communication | | | | customer application only with a good |
| between computers in a restricted area, named | | | | knowledge of one or more programming |
| basic service set. A laptop or PDA user can | | | | languages? The answer is no. System analysts |
| change his location without loosing the | | | | are establishing the projects main functions, |
| network connection. An access point is | | | | its concepts and the completion and |
| facilitating the permanent connection. This | | | | implementation phases. The project must |
| type of network becomes more and more | | | | remain in its intended course and within its |
| popular; it is really efficient to use | | | | budget, delivered in time. Also very |
| laptops and PDAs without loosing the Internet | | | | important is to have a friendly interface for |
| connection and enjoying the mobility | | | | unprofessional users and have a good relation |
| advantages in the same time. | | | | with the customers even after the project is |
| | | | implemented. |
| But the most attractive part in the | | | | |
| computers' world is computer programming. | | | | Customer relationships management, human |
| This means writing a set of commands or | | | | resources management, fleet management, web |
| instructions that can be interpreted or | | | | based systems can be accessed from any |
| compiled, transformed into an executable | | | | Internet browser on any platform. Fully |
| file. This can be execute, giving or no the | | | | integrated web based applications are now |
| expected results. Programming requires logic, | | | | specifically developed for small or big |
| first of all. But important knowledge of | | | | enterprises. A major advantage is to provide |
| mathematics, science, physics, engineering, | | | | reliable and secure communications, a lower |
| and art are required. Why art? A well | | | | cost for the infrastructure, a shorter time |
| designed menu in a customer application is | | | | to market and flexibility of operations. |
| more attractive and easy to use than a ugly | | | | Custom applications are designing software |
| one, even everything is correct and logic. | | | | for a specific function or need. The |
| And what about web design? It means imaging, | | | | difference between customer applications and |
| animations and presentations. Without a good | | | | packaged applications is that a general set |
| taste in arts, a web site will never attract | | | | of features never can be customized to |
| visitors, and it is its main function. | | | | fulfill every function or requirement. Custom |
| | | | application can design any feature the client |
| In software engineering, programming is only | | | | needs, at low costs. In our days, offshore |
| a phase in the custom application development | | | | programming is making custom application |
| process. A computer can execute only the | | | | affordable and efficient. Time and money are |
| machine language programs. At the Information | | | | not anymore limiting factors. |