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When people hear the words “Information Technology,” the first things that come to mind are computers and the Internet. It may also bring up words like “network,” “intranet,” “server,” “firewall,” “security,” as well as more arcane expressions such as “router,” “T-1,” “Ethernet,” or the mysterious and exotic-sounding “VoIP” (pronounced “voyp”).

In fact, information technology is all of these things, and more. It’s hardly new, however. Information technology is as old as the brain itself, if you think of the brain as an information processor. As far as I.T. being a science, even that goes back as far as the earliest attempts to communicate and store information.

And that is essentially what information technology is: the communication and storage of information, along with the ability to process and make use of the information stored. In this chapter, we’ll begin with a brief history of I.T., what it comprises today, and the different major types of I.T. systems available today.

A Short History of Information Technology

As human societies have grown in size and complexity, so has the need to collect, store and transmit information. While it could be argued that brains represent a form of “bio-information technology,” Greek word “Tektra” – from which we get the word “technology” – really refers to scientific or mechanical knowledge, particularly that which involves the use of tools. Therefore, we’ll begin our journey with humans first attempts to record and transmit knowledge through mechanical means.

The Neolithic Period and the Bronze Age

We might not have thought of it as “information technology” several thousand years ago when we as a species were painting animals on cave walls. But in fact that may be exactly what it was.

Using a combination of tools that included manganese “crayons” and clay that was colored with various pigments, early humans left these images on the walls of a cave near Lascaux, France and on cliffs in the Algerian Sahara.

These have been dated as being approximately 18,000 and 8,000 years old respectively. Unfortunately, there is no way to be certain exactly what message was being communicated (a problem our own descendants 15,000 years from now may very well encounter from what we leave behind!)

Since the images depict animals that were commonly hunted at the time, and given the importance of game animals to a hunting-gathering culture, it’s possible that such images were attempts to present information about such game, or part of a rite designed to ensure a successful hunt.

The invention of writing systems – including pictograms such as hieroglyphics, alphabetic writing and “syllabic” systems – seems to have taken place almost at the same time as the development of agriculture. Agriculture introduced such formerly unknown concepts as land ownership, advanced trade and the accumulation of wealth, which in turn led to more complex societal structures.

As you might expect, this necessitated more detailed and efficient record-keeping. Alphabetic writing has a substantial advantage over pictograms (hieroglyphs), because a relatively limited number of symbols (letters) can be used over and over in infinite combination to communicate nearly anything. (As you will see later, modern I.T. uses only two of these symbols!)

Preserving and storing such information posed certain challenges; information either had to be inscribed on stone or clay tablets (which were heavy) or animal skins, wax tablets or papyrus (which weren’t durable).

The Hellenistic World

The Classical Greeks were the first people of record to attempt to find scientific, rational explanations for natural phenomena. Some of the earliest proto-computers known were mechanical devices developed by the Greeks. One of these was a form of abacus (which also developed and was used in ancient China). The device facilitated and simplified mathematical calculation.

Consider REALLY early Greco-Roman Abacus

Another early computational device was the antikthera, greek in origin. An antikthera was discovered by a Greek sponge diver over a century ago, it was only recently that this 2100-year-old device was reconstructed and shown to be an early form of computer designed to chart the movements of the sun, moon and five planets known at the time.

Early Programmable Devices

By the time the gradual break-up and fall of the Roman Empire was complete in the year 476 C.E., scientific and technological advances in the Western world had ground to a halt. While much of the scientific knowledge of the Greeks was preserved by Irish monks and Arab scholars, it wasn’t until the fourteenth century that principles of engineering were rediscovered and applied to information. The first of these was of course the printing press.

Although the concept of movable type printing had been developed in China some four hundred years earlier, it was Gutenberg’s device in 1447 that revolutionized communications, making it easier and faster to record and disseminate information than ever before. The first truly programmable device would not come along for another 354 years, however.

The Jacquard Loom of 1801 was a product of the Industrial Revolution. This invention used a series of specially punched paper cards that functional as templates, allowing for the automatic weaving of highly intricate patterns. Those punch cards became very significant to computing in the 1950′s, 60′s and 70′s.

The next development was Charles Babbage’s “Analytical Machine” – a fully-programmable computer that unfortunately was never actually built. Babbage worked on designs from 1837 until his passing in 1871. This steam-powered mechanism would have also utilized punch cards, with a central processing unit (CPU) and a form of memory storage in the form of a system of pegs inserted into rotating barrels.

The Analytical Machine would have been capable of storing 1,000 numbers of up to fifty digits each, and perform six different mathematical operations, including the calculation of square roots. Babbage’s ideas were incorporated into early electronic computing devices being developed in the late 1930′s and 1940′s, although not all of these were actually programmable. The first truly programmable computers – able to store and use information – did not come into common use until the 1950′s, and yes – made use of punch cards (those born before 1965 may remember playing with them).

Of course most people born in the 70′s, 80′s and 90′s just take for granted that the Information Technology we have today is from fairley recent developments in science, mechanics and electronics. But we know different now don’t we. And therefore can better appreciate what we have available to us now.

Online promotions, including sweepstakes, online instant win games, and contests have become a proven source of new business and building customer databases for companies. Sweepstakes, including online instant win games are probably the best known promotions and have shown to be consistently effective in grabbing consumer attention. Although these types of online promotions have proven to be most popular, several others are worth an investment of time and money. Product sampling, promotional rebates and promotional coupons are among the most sought after of consumer offers, which are increasing customer response in online promotions.

In our world of instant gratification, instant win games- both online and off- are the darlings of the promotions industry. Because consumers don’t have to wait weeks or months to find out if they won, they are much more likely to enter. This makes online instant win games the clear choice for successful online promotion. Although the word contest is often used interchangeably with the word sweepstakes, they are two very different things. A contest is a game that has a skill component. A sweepstakes is a purely game of chance. There are pros and cons to running a contest. Because chance is removed from the contest, it is legal for companies to require participants to pay for their entries. Some or all of the cost of the promotion can be offset with the entry fees. In order to circumvent the legal guidelines that make purchase requirements or entry fees illegal in every state, skill contests must comply with a number of well-defined legal requirements.

To run a valid skill contest, you must satisfy the following tests:

· Clear, objective and carefully defined judging criteria. Judges must know what objective standards to apply to the contest entries and those standards must be clearly communicated to the entrants.

· Qualified judges The judges must be qualified to apply the criteria and determine the winning entries.

· A real skill is at issue The contest must test a real skill. Guessing the number of nuts and bolts in an oil drum or predicting the outcome of a sporting event are not considered to be true tests of skill.

· No portion of the promotional contest is controlled by chance. You cannot resolve ties or choose any winners by a random drawing or the contest turns back into a game of chance.

· No test of skill to pre-qualify entrants for a drawing. The skill displayed must be the dominant element in determining the winners.

While promotional contests may seem attractive, the cons can outweigh the benefits. Contest promotions are more time consuming (as entries must be judged,) elicit a lower response than sweepstakes, are more expensive than sweepstakes and are not as likely to elicit the “act now” response from consumers. However, contests require participants to really think about an associated product. They also provide valuable information to companies about how consumers think and their perception of the product. When used correctly, contests can be an extremely effective online promotion tool.

Product sampling can be included in online promotion, which is beneficial if the associated product is unique in the market place or superior to the competition. This promotional offer can produce superior results to online games when the experience of using the product is necessary to show its value. The internet has made this once costly marketing promotion more accessible to clients on a limited budget by reducing the amount of waste. In years past, a company would mail out samples or even hand them out on the corner. Today, customers can request the samples from websites. Not only does this help the marketer weed out consumers who are not interested, but it also allows the company to gain the consumer’s demographic and contact information. Sampling is a win/win as the consumer gets something for nothing; the company gets valuable information and hopefully a customer who loves their product.

Promotional rebates and coupons work in the short term, as they are effective in differentiating a brand or product at the point of sale. However, they are of limited value as a successful long term marketing strategy, because they do little to build loyalty, and generally appeal more to price conscious consumers than value conscious ones. By tying a sales database to an online database, companies can identify who is buying and what they are buying. Once companies have this information, they can start marketing differently to these customers to build brand loyalty. This is the “perfect world” scenario, but marketers know that it isn’t always possible to get all of the data needed. This is where rebates really shine. In order to receive a rebate, customers must fill out a form with their contact information and send it back to the company. This is a gold mine of information for the company. Both rebates and coupons can be underwritten by promotional risk companies so that the promotion cost is fixed.

These online promotions have proven to be successful. The key is to find the best promotion for your brand, your business and your current situation. The internet has opened new doors and has made it easier for marketers to obtain and maintain customer databases. By clearly identifying your promotional marketing strategy and objective, you will be well on your way to a successful online promotion.

My name is Donald Carroll. I am the President and Webmaster of Green Planet Fantasy Theater. How did I get here? I have over ten years of work experience in the field of Information Technology (IT). I also have five years of teaching experience as an instructor in both Microsoft and Cisco technologies as well as other networking technologies such as Novell Netware, Unix, and Linux. I am twice certified by Microsoft as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), and twice certified by Cisco Systems as a Cisco Certified Network Associate, or CCNA?

The field of Information Technology has been very good to me and is an excellent trade to get into for those of you looking at entering a career or changing careers. As a former instructor, I can tell you that as a prerequisite you must be at least comfortable with using computers; better if you have a knack for fixing them when they break! Those of you who are very familiar with using, repairing, and even building computers are perfectly cut out for the lucrative field of Information Technology.

The purpose of this article is to help you in getting started on the path towards earning your industry standard certifications in the field of Information Technology while also gaining hands on practical experience with computer networks. I will tell you on the next page exactly what to do if you are interested in entering the field of Information Technology, even if you have no experience whatsoever. In the field of Information Technology, it is often not enough to just earn your certifications as employers generally favor IT professionals with work experience.

I will also share with you more about my own background and how it helped me to enter the field of Information Technology.

In the early 1990′s I was working as an administrative assistant, and as part of my duties I learned how to use a number of different computer programs; common business applications including word editors, spreadsheet programs, and databases. After my stay as an administrative assistant, and while I was seeking new and interesting employment opportunities, I sent away for a PC (Personal Computer) home study course, mostly because it came with a PC! I learned computer hardware, and computer software, including operating systems such as Microsoft DOS and Windows version 3.1. (Learning computer hardware and computer software, including operating systems such as Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Vista is the first step in training for a career in Information Technology. I will explain more about this on the next page.)

I was also able to connect to the Internet using a modem; at that time, the only real Internet choices there were was “GopherNet”, and the America Online Network. (“GopherNet”, which is still in existence today, allows you to view folders and files on a remote computer, not web pages. The America Online Network has merely changed over the years.) Besides then connecting to a rather bleak Internet, in comparison with today’s Internet, you could connect to what were called “BBS’s”, or electronic bulletin boards. These “sites” allowed you to chat, play online games, and both upload and download content. ( I would have to check to see if any “BBS’s” are still in existence today!)

In 1997 I relocated to the Silicon Valley (San Jose, California), and I began applying around for administrative assistant positions. One recruiter pointed out that I “had a list of computer skills a mile long” between having learned a number of business applications, and having also completed a two year home study course as a PC Specialist. I was offered a high paying short term contract to provide computer support for employees at NEC Computers. I was basically an apprentice to what I would call a “guru” in terms of computer and computer networking skills.

I also entered college again to earn an Associate of Science/Information Systems Degree. After my contract at NEC Computers ended I applied at Honeywell Automated and Industrial Controls, and I accepted a position as a hardware technician. At this point now in my life I was pursuing a second degree in Information Technology, and working in the field of Information Technology, developing on the job skills critical to become a real expert. (At that time, the field of Information Technology was called Management Information Systems (MIS). Later it was changed to Information Specialist (IS), and today it is known as Information Technology (IT)).

That was the beginning for me. I soon continued on to teach networking technologies, and I accepted senior engineering positions with a number of different companies and corporations. I WAS EARNING WAGES and BENEFITS PACKAGES I HAD NEVER DREAMED OF!!! I essentially climbed the ladder from working as a computer hardware technician to working as an instructor, a network engineer, a senior network engineer, and finally as a consultant! Today I work as a contractor and as a webmaster.

If you would like to enter the field of Information Technology yourself PLEASE CONTINUE READING!!! I have myself graduated over four hundred computer networking students, and I can teach you how to learn computer hardware and software, and computer networking. I will tell you what course books to study and how and what certification tests to prepare for.

The field of Information Technology is not about computer programming, or application development; this field is all about the designing, building, maintaining, troubleshooting and repairing both the computers and the computer networks that companies use to store and use their data. In considering computers, there is the computer hardware; the disk drives, cd-rom drives, memory, motherboard, processors, power supplies, mice, keyboards, and other parts and peripherals. There is also the computer software; namely, the operating system, like Microsoft Windows XP or Microsoft Windows Vista, and computer applications or programs, such as Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat Reader.

When one or more computers are connected together to form a computer network they are connected using network devices such as hubs, switches, routers, and other network devices. In the field of Information Technology some IT Specialists prefer to work on computer hardware and computer software, and special computers used in a computer network called network servers. Other IT Specialists prefer to work more with network switches, network routers, and other telephone and telecommunications equipment.

If you would prefer to work with networking devices more than with computer hardware, computer software, and servers, you might want to pursue getting certified as a Cisco Certified Network Associate, or CCNA. (The CCNA certification is either one or two exams; you have a choice of taking it as either one or two exams depending upon your preference.) Your duties as a CCNA would revolve more around configuring and troubleshooting network routers and switches, and working with leased line providers and telecommunications equipment. Cisco Systems also offers other more advanced routing certifications beyond the CCNA, namely the Cisco Certified Network Professional, or CCNP, and the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert, or CCIE.

If you would prefer to work on computers; installing and fixing computer hardware and computer software, and administering network servers and network databases and applications, you might be interested in pursuing first the A+ certification followed by the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, or MCSE certification. (The A+ certification exam is given as either one or two exams; one exam is based on computer hardware and the other exam covers special software known to IT Specialists as operating systems. The Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, or MCSE, is awarded upon the successful completion of seven individual exams.)

Many IT professionals maintain proficiency in computer hardware, software, network servers, and computer networking devices such as routers and switches. Many employers demand that their IT staff be able to help employees with simple computer problems while also being able to solve complex network problems on network routers, switches, and even firewall systems. Many positions in the field of Information Technology require an A+ certification, an MCSE, and a CCNA. Other positions require only one of these certifications, plus or many any of a number of other industry standard certifications.



Unless you decide to pursue the Cisco Certified Network Associate, or CCNA certification, you will probably want to begin learning the ins and outs of a single computer before studying computer networking technologies. You can purchase the textbooks for the A+ certification, the MCSE certification, and the CCNA certification at almost any book retailer.

Focus first on the A+ exam material before proceeding to the MCSE exam material and/or the CCNA exam material – this is best if you are an absolute novice. It is also a good idea to set up a small computer network at home to practice with – hands on experience with these technologies is essential to success! It is also a good idea to attend a technical school to learn the basics of networking technologies, but you can study and become proficient with these technologies on your own just as well.

With your A+ certification behind you, you can work as a PC technician, or even as a Help Desk Specialist (helping employees with their hardware, software, and basic network problems.) While pursuing your MCSE and or CCNA, you can apply for positions as a junior systems administrator, network administrator, and even a junior network engineer.

Study your exam materials, setup your own home network that you can use to practice on, and by all means try to meet people who work as IT Specialists so that you can learn more about working in the field of Information Technology. Maybe you can spend a day at work with them working for free as an apprentice? (Companies usually do not mind extra help for free!)

Create a sharp resume’ listing your certifications and/or technical school degrees, and your work experience…if you do not have any work experience, try to get some working with an IT Specialist. Though certifications are important, most employers prefer work experience. Some job interviews have a required technical interview where you are tested on your fundamental knowledge and your ability to troubleshoot and resolve computer and computer network problems.

Once you have passed you A+ certification exams you can begin applying to work as a computer technician (hardware and/or software technician.) From there you can continue your studies in networking, earn your MCSE and/or CCNA, CCNP, or CCIE, and become a network engineer, a senior network engineer, a contractor, or even work as a consultant.

Good luck to you…if you have any questions about the field of Information Technology please feel free to contact Donald Carroll at Green Planet Fantasy Theater.

(For more great “how to” articles, plus DVD Movies, Music Collections, PC, XBox, Wii, Sony Playstation and Nintendo Games, Software, E-Books, Audio Books, and Adult XXX Material FREE, visit Green Planet Fantasy Theater online at http://ww.myplanetfantasy.com.)

Information Technology Certification

There is a growing industry in the field of information technology training for certification. The market is enormous with online certification training, textbooks, practice exam question and study guides. Products and services for certification training and preparation are many to choose from on the Internet. You can find many online instructors, textbooks, study guides and practice exam questions that will help you with gaining your information technology certification. The Internet has much to choose from. You may say that all you need to achieve a good start is to simply to use the search engines to find the best resources. Does any of us really know what to look for when it comes to the proper training and preparation for information technology certification?

Employers want qualified PC repair technicians, software troubleshooters, engineers and administrators. Employees want to advance their careers with a higher paying position. Certification is the answer for both employees and employers. Certification proves that you are qualified and suited for the appropriate position pertaining to the area of information technology work field you are pursuing.

There are many Information Technology Certifications such as: Microsoft, Comp TIA, MCDST, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, A+, MCPD, Comp TIA Network, Comp TIA Security, CCNA, CNA, CISA and many others. Many people are seeking to be certified in one or more areas of information technology. We all want to improve our chances of receiving the job we desire. There are many places in which you can receive training in order to be prepared for your certification exam. How much do you want to spend? Who can you trust in order to receive the appropriate information that is relevant to the actual exam?

Who can you turn to be completely prepared to take your final certification exam with paying the least amount out of your pocket? How you can pass your Information Technology Certification Exam on your first attempt? How hard is getting your certification? How much money will it cost me for training, books and exam fees? Does test taking make you nervous? Is it possible to be calm during a certification exam? Are there many facts to memorize in order to be prepared for a certification exam?

Many seekers of information technology certification training will ask how much work and study is really involved in order to pass the final exam on there first try?

What you would the best place to start for those who are seeking to be certified in any area of information technology?

There seems to be a lot to think about concerning information technology certification exam preparation. Many people purchase textbooks, study guides and practice test questions or receive online tutoring hoping to pass their Information Technology exams only to find out that the material they bought only covered some of the actual exam. You can have the confidence needed to pass your IT Certifications by knowing where to begin.

Do you think that you could learn more from someone who has actually been there? Knowing someone’s successes and failures could help minimize the work and cost that you will put into being prepared for your certification exam.

I have a suggestion. Do a Google search or start by viewing this Website: billnaugle.com I hope your success will be better than mine. Bill Naugle

Many businesses on the East Coast decide to go with a Boston it service provider to audit, procure, build, secure and administrate their information technology. For cost efficiency and professional service in dealing with information technology consultant ,boston

companies choose to outsource their IT.

The wedge of your business budget pie taken up by in-house information technology can be substantial. By the time you add up employee salaries and benefits, along with training and the cost of the tools needed for performing the job, many Massachusetts companies find that it makes better financial sense to procure the services of a Boston it provider.

One of the early steps that many organizations take is to hire an information technology consultant. Boston-area businesses benefit from using a consultant to perform a review of the business’s information technology currently being utilized. Also taking into consideration the company’s long-term projections and budget goals, the IT consultant will offer up a plan for making your company’s information technology run smoothly at the best possible cost to you.

Boston it consultants will help you select the hardware and software you need for expedient IT performance. Servers and network hardware are expensive items that are nevertheless necessary for conducting business, so you will want to make sure that the technological items you are buying will actually perform the tasks that you need. Desktop and laptop computers, along with the myriad peripherals that go with them, are vital to the day-to-day operation of your business and will immediately affect your business bottom line. This is why it pays to have expert Boston it consultants, engineers and technicians available to help you sort through the wealth of options to find what will work best for your unique company.

Once you have all of the hardware in place, you will also want to think about network security. For access to engineers and technicians who have been certified with the top technology companies and who provide expertise in information technology ,boston businesses turn to Boston it providers for help with this crucial area. If you operate an online storefront, or simply need to make sure that your business partner’s information will not be compromised, it is imperative to provide a secure platform upon which to conduct business. Boston it services can handle this aspect of your business for you, giving you and your business associates the peace of mind that everyone wants.

Network integration is another topic to discuss with your information technology consultant. Boston IT services can monitor your network round the clock to ensure its stability. This reduces the amount of wasted network down time, saving you money. Boston-based it services can help with every area of your company’s information technology system to make it run effectively.