Final answer:
Information technology is the search, processing, transmission, and storing of data through the use of computers, the internet, and other electronic or digital resources (IT).
Step-by-step explanation:
The use of computers, the internet, and other electronic or digital resources to locate, process, transmit, and store data is a foundational aspect of modern life and work. This usage encompasses a wide array of activities including speaking on a cell phone, watching television, using the internet, and engaging with new media such as social media and podcasts. The transformation of signals into binary ones and zeros — a process known as digitization — enhances clarity and efficiency in data transmission, even when signals are weak. Additionally, it enables the application of algorithms to compress digital data, optimizing the amount of information that can be sent across different frequency ranges.
The impact of new information technologies on society is profound. For example, the internet and other digital technologies have led to the emergence of an information economy in which fewer factory jobs are required, due to the rise of computerized automation, and some manufacturing has moved to lower-cost regions of the world. Today, many industries such as music and film produce and distribute products digitally, changing the landscape of goods production and reducing physical manufacturing costs.