<p bis_size=\"{"x":20,"y":20,"w":512,"h":124,"abs_x":192,"abs_y":2284}\"><strong bis_size=\"{"x":20,"y":22,"w":144,"h":15,"abs_x":192,"abs_y":2286}\">Information technology</strong> (<strong bis_size=\"{"x":172,"y":22,"w":11,"h":15,"abs_x":344,"abs_y":2286}\">IT</strong>) is the use of <a bis_size=\"{"x":265,"y":22,"w":60,"h":15,"abs_x":437,"abs_y":2286}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer\">computers</a> to create, process, store, retrieve, and exchange all kinds of <a bis_size=\"{"x":170,"y":42,"w":25,"h":15,"abs_x":342,"abs_y":2306}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_(computing)\">data</a><a bis_size=\"{"x":195,"y":42,"w":14,"h":15,"abs_x":367,"abs_y":2306}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_technology#cite_note-DOP-1\">[1]</a> and <a bis_size=\"{"x":239,"y":42,"w":64,"h":15,"abs_x":411,"abs_y":2306}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information\">information</a>. IT forms part of <a bis_size=\"{"x":20,"y":42,"w":471,"h":35,"abs_x":192,"abs_y":2306}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_and_communications_technology\">information and communications technology</a> (ICT).<a bis_size=\"{"x":217,"y":63,"w":14,"h":15,"abs_x":389,"abs_y":2327}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_technology#cite_note-2\">[2]</a> An <strong bis_size=\"{"x":254,"y":63,"w":192,"h":15,"abs_x":426,"abs_y":2327}\">information technology system</strong> (<strong bis_size=\"{"x":454,"y":63,"w":59,"h":15,"abs_x":626,"abs_y":2327}\">IT system</strong>) is generally an <a bis_size=\"{"x":107,"y":84,"w":109,"h":15,"abs_x":279,"abs_y":2348}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_system\">information system</a>, a <a bis_size=\"{"x":234,"y":84,"w":138,"h":15,"abs_x":406,"abs_y":2348}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_system\">communications system</a>, or, more specifically speaking, a <a bis_size=\"{"x":90,"y":105,"w":98,"h":15,"abs_x":262,"abs_y":2369}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer\">computer system</a> — including all <a bis_size=\"{"x":280,"y":105,"w":54,"h":15,"abs_x":452,"abs_y":2369}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_hardware\">hardware</a>, <a bis_size=\"{"x":342,"y":105,"w":49,"h":15,"abs_x":514,"abs_y":2369}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software\">software</a>, and <a bis_size=\"{"x":45,"y":125,"w":57,"h":15,"abs_x":217,"abs_y":2389}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peripheral\">peripheral</a> equipment — operated by a limited group of IT users.</p>
<p bis_size=\"{"x":20,"y":157,"w":512,"h":166,"abs_x":192,"abs_y":2421}\">Although humans have been storing, retrieving, manipulating, and communicating information since the earliest writing systems were developed,<a bis_size=\"{"x":376,"y":180,"w":14,"h":15,"abs_x":548,"abs_y":2444}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_technology#cite_note-Butler-3\">[3]</a> the term <em bis_size=\"{"x":20,"y":180,"w":490,"h":35,"abs_x":192,"abs_y":2444}\">information technology</em> in its modern sense first appeared in a 1958 article published in the <em bis_size=\"{"x":20,"y":201,"w":502,"h":35,"abs_x":192,"abs_y":2465}\"><a bis_size=\"{"x":20,"y":201,"w":502,"h":35,"abs_x":192,"abs_y":2465}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_Business_Review\">Harvard Business Review</a></em>; authors <a bis_size=\"{"x":173,"y":222,"w":93,"h":15,"abs_x":345,"abs_y":2486}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Leavitt\">Harold J. Leavitt</a> and Thomas L. Whisler commented that "the new technology does not yet have a single established name. We shall call it information technology (IT)."<a bis_size=\"{"x":114,"y":263,"w":14,"h":15,"abs_x":286,"abs_y":2527}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_technology#cite_note-LeavittWhisler-4\">[4]</a> Their definition consists of three categories: techniques for processing, the application of <a bis_size=\"{"x":192,"y":284,"w":53,"h":15,"abs_x":364,"abs_y":2548}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistics\">statistical</a> and mathematical methods to <a bis_size=\"{"x":423,"y":284,"w":93,"h":15,"abs_x":595,"abs_y":2548}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision-making\">decision-making</a>, and the simulation of higher-order thinking through computer programs.<a bis_size=\"{"x":430,"y":305,"w":14,"h":15,"abs_x":602,"abs_y":2569}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_technology#cite_note-LeavittWhisler-4\">[4]</a></p>
<p bis_size=\"{"x":20,"y":337,"w":512,"h":103,"abs_x":192,"abs_y":2601}\">The term is commonly used as a <a bis_size=\"{"x":211,"y":339,"w":52,"h":15,"abs_x":383,"abs_y":2603}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synonym\">synonym</a> for computers and <a bis_size=\"{"x":375,"y":339,"w":109,"h":15,"abs_x":547,"abs_y":2603}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_networks\">computer networks</a>, but it also encompasses other information distribution technologies such as <a bis_size=\"{"x":37,"y":380,"w":54,"h":15,"abs_x":209,"abs_y":2644}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television\">television</a> and <a bis_size=\"{"x":120,"y":380,"w":63,"h":15,"abs_x":292,"abs_y":2644}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephones\">telephones</a>. Several products or services within an economy are associated with information technology, including <a bis_size=\"{"x":304,"y":401,"w":112,"h":15,"abs_x":476,"abs_y":2665}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_hardware\">computer hardware</a>, <a bis_size=\"{"x":423,"y":401,"w":49,"h":15,"abs_x":595,"abs_y":2665}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software\">software</a>, electronics, semiconductors, <a bis_size=\"{"x":187,"y":422,"w":43,"h":15,"abs_x":359,"abs_y":2686}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet\">internet</a>, <a bis_size=\"{"x":238,"y":422,"w":109,"h":15,"abs_x":410,"abs_y":2686}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_equipment\">telecom equipment</a>, and <a bis_size=\"{"x":380,"y":422,"w":72,"h":15,"abs_x":552,"abs_y":2686}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-commerce\">e-commerce</a>.<a bis_size=\"{"x":456,"y":422,"w":14,"h":15,"abs_x":628,"abs_y":2686}\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_technology#cite_note-DMC-5\">[5]</a><a bis_size=\"{"x":470,"y":422,"w":14,"h":15,"abs_x&