We are living in a world where humans rely on inanimate objects.

A combination of metal, rubber, parts, and fuel, can help you get from one place to a distant place, without breaking a sweat.

Pieces of plastic and metal -put together the right way- can make you communicate with someone who's miles away from you. And most importantly, information and data can now be stored and retrieved later on, and the world is in need of people who understand how this information and technology works.

So what exactly is information technology?
First and foremost, it must be understood that this is a very broad topic, but information technology is the use of computer systems, storages, networks and tangible devices, technological infrastructure systems, and processes, to create, modify, transfer, store, multiply, and exchange, all forms of electronic data.

So what exactly is data?
Data is every type of information from facts, statistics, numerical sequences and patterns, which is analyzed, studied, compared, modified, stored, and overall, used as a component, and the overall information that the technology user needs.

The value of Information Technology is that -although people are capable of handling data- using our brains, and even the old paper & pen processes, these processes are not as reliable, efficient, and effective, as relying on Information Technology.

A computer can process millions of pieces of data at a given time. Its storage -or memory- can hold and secure information without forgetting a single piece of data.

So where is information technology applicable from the general information above?
Information Technology plays a significant role in business. Some examples of this would be customer handling; all the way from handling customer service, personal day-to-day communication, storing financial records -and all other human activities that deal with handling electronic data- information technology is essential to the day-to-day operations of a business, and even more important when it comes to scaling your business to make more money. And this is why learning the skills of Information Technology is incredibly valuable, whether you want to get a job, or start your own business.

Next, let's talk about Hardware versus software.
Before we can discuss examples of Information Technology, it's important that we talk about hardware and software: Hardware is tangible technology that you can actually touch.
When it comes to dealing with information technology, from personal computers, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, and everything else that is physical -and is used for the purposes of IT.

Software, on the other hand, is intangible; AKA, You can't touch it.
So this would be things such as websites, computer programs, or systems and applications.
And it's going to be broadly separated into two different groups, which is software systems and applications.

Software systems are basic programs that are tasked to perform computer functions at its most basic level. An example of this would be an operating system for a phone, such as iOS or Android applications. On the other hand we also have a lot of examples such as databases, email servers, transaction processing systems, process control systems, enterprise collaboration systems, and many more. Some examples of this would be Slack, Dropbox, HubSpot, Google Drive and Microsoft Office.

Next, let's talk about Information Technology as a career path.
Information Technology is very broad, but it is a great career path if you are able to learn the skills of Information Technology.

With the constant rise of technology in this modernized world, it is safe to say that you will almost definitely have a job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations is $97,000; that's over twice the median annual wage for all other applications (which is $45,000); and according to glassdoor.com, an entry-level position as an IT Help Desk technician makes over $50,000 a year. So not only does Information Technology offer you a good salary, but being in IT keeps you updated with the latest in Technology innovation.
A few examples of fields related to Information Technology are IT management, computer systems analyst, web development, cyber security, cloud administration, and database administration.

Vocabulary Bank:

rely - verb have confidence or faith in

inanimate - adj. not endowed with life; belonging to the class of nouns denoting nonliving things; appearing dead; not breathing or having no perceptible pulse

combination - noun the act of combining things to form a new whole; the act of arranging elements into specified groups without regard to order; a collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities

fuel - noun a substance that can be consumed to produce energy; verb stimulate; take in fuel, as of a ship; provide with a combustible substance that provides energy; provide with fuel

communicate - verb transmit thoughts or feelings; transmit information; administer communion; in church; be in verbal contact; interchange information or ideas; join or connect

data - noun a collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn

retrieve - verb run after, pick up, and bring to the master; recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection; get or find back; recover the use of

foremost - adj. preceding all others in spatial position; situated closest to the bow; ranking above all others; adv. prominently forward; before anything else

tangible - adj. perceptible by the senses especially the sense of touch; (of especially business assets) having physical substance and intrinsic monetary value

modify - verb make less severe or harsh or extreme; add a modifier to a constituent; cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

transfer - verb transfer from one place or period to another; move around; change from one vehicle or transportation line to another

multiply - adv. in several ways; in a multiple manner; verb combine or increase by multiplication; combine by multiplication; have offspring or young; have young (animals)

exchange - verb give to, and receive from, one another; hand over one and receive another, approximately equivalent; change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence; exchange or replace with another, usually of the same kind or category; exchange a penalty for a less severe one

statistics - noun a branch of applied mathematics concerned with the collection and interpretation of quantitative data and the use of probability theory to estimate population parameters

numerical - adj. designated by or expressed in numbers; relating to or having ability to think in or work with numbers; measured or expressed in numbers; of or relating to or denoting numbers

sequence - noun a following of one thing after another in time; several repetitions of a melodic phrase in different keys; serial arrangement in which things follow in logical order or a recurrent pattern; the action of following in order

pattern - noun a model considered worthy of imitation; a customary way of operation or behavior; a decorative or artistic work; something regarded as a normative example; something intended as a guide for making something else; a perceptual structure verb form a pattern; plan or create according to a model or models

analyze - verb subject to psychoanalytic treatment; make a mathematical, chemical, or grammatical analysis of; break down into components or essential features; consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning; break down into components or essential features

component - noun an artifact that is one of the individual parts of which a composite entity is made up; especially a part that can be separated from or attached to a system; an abstract part of something; something determined in relation to something that includes it

capable - adj. (usually followed by `of') having capacity or ability; (followed by `of') having the temperament or inclination for; possibly accepting or permitting; having the requisite qualities for; have the skills and qualifications to do things well

process - noun a sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of states verb subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition; perform mathematical and logical operations on (data) according to programmed instructions in order to obtain the required information; deal with in a routine way

reliable - adj. worthy of reliance or trust; conforming to fact and therefore worthy of belief; worthy of being depended on

efficient - adj. being effective without wasting time or effort or expense; able to accomplish a purpose; functioning effectively

effective - adj. existing in fact; not theoretical; real; able to accomplish a purpose; functioning effectively; exerting force or influence; producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect; works well as a means or remedy; ready for service

memory - noun an electronic memory device; the power of retaining and recalling past experience; the cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered; something that is remembered; the area of cognitive psychology that studies memory processes

valuable - adj. having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange; having worth or merit or value; noun something of value

Hardware - noun (computer science) the mechanical, magnetic, electronic, and electrical components making up a computer system; major items of military weaponry (as tanks or missile); instrumentalities (tools or implements) made of metal

software - noun (computer science) written programs or procedures or rules and associated documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system and that are stored in read/write memory

intangible - adj. lacking substance or reality; incapable of being touched or seen; hard to pin down or identify; incapable of being perceived by the senses especially the sense of touch; (of especially business assets) not having physical substance or intrinsic productive value; noun assets that are saleable though not material or physical

website - noun a computer connected to the internet that maintains a series of web pages on the World Wide Web

application - noun a program that gives a computer instructions that provide the user with tools to accomplish a task

separate - adj. independent; not united or joint; standing apart; not attached to or supported by anything; have the connection undone; having become separate; characteristic of or meant for a single person or thing; not living together as man and wife; verb divide into components or constituents; force, take, or pull apart

database - noun an organized body of related information

collaboration - noun act of working jointly; act of cooperating traitorously with an enemy that is occupying your country

career - noun the general progression of your working or professional life; the particular occupation for which you are trained; verb move headlong at high speed

modernize - verb become technologically advanced; make repairs, renovations, revisions or adjustments to

innovation - noun the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new; a creation (a new device or process) resulting from study and experimentation; the creation of something in the mind