Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Science & Technology > Information Technology
Computers figure so heavily in our daily lives that it is difficult to understand 
why early computer experts did not foresee much demand for these specialized machines. For example, in the 1940s, the chairman of IBM thought a total of five machines could be sold worldwide. Since then, a succession of breakthroughs has created a new economic sector: Information Technologies (IT) - the ever growing variety of ways in which we are able to gather, store, analyze, share, and display information.
Drawing on Max Planck's quantum theory and Albert Einstein's explanation of photoelectric phenomena, Bell Laboratories invented the transistor in 1948. This solid-state replacement for the vacuum tube, revolutionized electronics. With the invention of the integrated circuit in 1958, the pace of electronic and computer technology was greatly increased. Today, millions of integrated circuits can be placed on silicon chips no bigger than postage stamps. Book-sized computers of the 1990s can outperform room-sized computers of the 1960s.
Miniaturization causes prices to spiral downward, making the technology affordable for larger numbers of small businesses, local governments, schools, libraries, families, and individuals.
The Internet
Much of the innovation that spawned today's information technologies resulted directly from Federal investment in science and technology. Starting in 1969, the Department of Defense opened its experimental nationwide computer network through the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). The National Science Foundation (NSF) extended ARPA's network to civilian academic users in 1987. The Internet emerged from the joint effort by Federal agencies and universities to advance networking technology.
More than half of the nation is now online. In 2000, 98% of U.S. schools had Internet access. The number of households with Internet access has increased to 50.5% in 2001. Use of broadband services such as cable, satellite, and DSL is rapidly expanding. Wireless Internet access for notebooks via WLANs in airports, hotels and cafes is also becoming increasingly popular.
For the United States, the Information Technology Revolution quietly changed the way business and government operate. The nation shifted the control of essential processes in manufacturing, utilities, banking, and communications to networked computers. As a result, the cost of doing business dropped and productivity skyrocketed.
Since 2002, the U.S. economy and national security are fully dependent upon information technology and the information infrastructure. A network of networks directly supports the operation of all sectors of U.S. economy - energy (electric power, oil and gas), transportation (rail, air, merchant marine), finance and banking, information and telecommunications, public health, emergency services, water, chemical, defense industrial base, food, agriculture, and postal and shipping. At the core of the information infrastructure upon which we depend is the Internet.
Cyber Security
While the Internet has grown enormously and globally, it has also grown increasingly insecure. Cyber attacks on U.S. information networks occur regularly and can have serious consequences such as disrupting critical operations, causing loss of revenue and intellectual property, or loss of life. To be able to counter such attacks, President Bush is directing the development of a National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace.
why early computer experts did not foresee much demand for these specialized machines. For example, in the 1940s, the chairman of IBM thought a total of five machines could be sold worldwide. Since then, a succession of breakthroughs has created a new economic sector: Information Technologies (IT) - the ever growing variety of ways in which we are able to gather, store, analyze, share, and display information.
Drawing on Max Planck's quantum theory and Albert Einstein's explanation of photoelectric phenomena, Bell Laboratories invented the transistor in 1948. This solid-state replacement for the vacuum tube, revolutionized electronics. With the invention of the integrated circuit in 1958, the pace of electronic and computer technology was greatly increased. Today, millions of integrated circuits can be placed on silicon chips no bigger than postage stamps. Book-sized computers of the 1990s can outperform room-sized computers of the 1960s.
Miniaturization causes prices to spiral downward, making the technology affordable for larger numbers of small businesses, local governments, schools, libraries, families, and individuals.
The Internet
Much of the innovation that spawned today's information technologies resulted directly from Federal investment in science and technology. Starting in 1969, the Department of Defense opened its experimental nationwide computer network through the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). The National Science Foundation (NSF) extended ARPA's network to civilian academic users in 1987. The Internet emerged from the joint effort by Federal agencies and universities to advance networking technology.
More than half of the nation is now online. In 2000, 98% of U.S. schools had Internet access. The number of households with Internet access has increased to 50.5% in 2001. Use of broadband services such as cable, satellite, and DSL is rapidly expanding. Wireless Internet access for notebooks via WLANs in airports, hotels and cafes is also becoming increasingly popular.
For the United States, the Information Technology Revolution quietly changed the way business and government operate. The nation shifted the control of essential processes in manufacturing, utilities, banking, and communications to networked computers. As a result, the cost of doing business dropped and productivity skyrocketed.
Since 2002, the U.S. economy and national security are fully dependent upon information technology and the information infrastructure. A network of networks directly supports the operation of all sectors of U.S. economy - energy (electric power, oil and gas), transportation (rail, air, merchant marine), finance and banking, information and telecommunications, public health, emergency services, water, chemical, defense industrial base, food, agriculture, and postal and shipping. At the core of the information infrastructure upon which we depend is the Internet.
Cyber Security
While the Internet has grown enormously and globally, it has also grown increasingly insecure. Cyber attacks on U.S. information networks occur regularly and can have serious consequences such as disrupting critical operations, causing loss of revenue and intellectual property, or loss of life. To be able to counter such attacks, President Bush is directing the development of a National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace.
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Computing, Engineering and Technology
Course List - Computing, Engineering and Technology
Our Division has a strong industry focus, maintaining relationships with major ICT companies and research agencies including Compuware Asia-Pacific, CSIRO, CSC, Unisys, EMC, CISCO Systems, Nortel Networks, Intel and Microsoft. Indeed, we are the host institution of Australia's Microsoft Professor of Innovation in Computing and have received numerous generous endowments from our partners.
Master Degrees
Postgraduate Diplomas
Role of Information Technology in the Economic Development of Pakistan
Needless to mention that we are in groaning need of foreign exchange to cater to our many needs. At the moment our foreign exchange reserves have not yet crossed the limit of even $2 billion and that too, is due to a number of debts and loans extended to us by a number of loan giving agencies, which in their turn would also drain our national resources to a great extent.
The importance of information technology in the present world can not be underestimated as it has dominated almost all the fields of business and industry including the service sector and one having no touch with this technology would not be able to make any progress in the century to come.
Instead of discussing the role of this technology in the economic development of Pakistan, it would be more appropriate to say that there would be no desired economic development of any country without fully adopting this technology. If Pakistan wants to come in line with the progressive nations of the world it would have no alternate except to strive more and more for the development of Information Technology which includes (1) Computer Technology (2) Communication Technology and (.3) Robitics.
Information Technology as Foreign Exchange Earner
Needless to mention that we are in groaning need of foreign exchange to cater to our many needs. At the moment our foreign exchange reserves have not yet crossed the limit of even $2 billion and that too, is due to a number of debts and loans extended to us by a number of loan giving agencies, which in their turn would also drain our national resources to a great extent.
Through the development of this technology we can well be in a position to earn a lot of foreign exchange which would not only suffice our needs but also add much to our foreign exchange reserves and thereby we would be able to get rid of foreign debts which are to the tune of $30 billion with an annual addition of $1.5 billion as debt service charges and US$2 billion as a result of Balance of Payment deficit.
The scope of earning of foreign exchange can be guessed from the fact thatthe potential global software market at present is estimated around 1000 billion or one trillion US Dollars which is increasing by 25% per annum. India, the only one country of the world exports softwares more than $2 billion peryear and it has a plant to increase this export to $10 billion by the end of 2003 A.D. India would not stop here but would cross the figure of $50 billion by 2010. Now a days India has the honour to be one of the leading exporters of the softwares.
Against this, Pakistan, at the moment, is expoiting softwares hardly to the tune of $40 million and by 2003 it might go to the extent of $750 million given the present pace of progress in this field.
There is groaning need of the hour to accelerate the pace of development in this field so that more and more foreign exchange can be earned for the country and it is not impossible nor so much difficult. What the government has to do is to make out certain policies and investments and talents would be pouring in automatically with the passage of time.
Our total export target for the current fiscal year (1998-99) is US$10 billion and we are panting and gasping in getting that target too. The result is that we are pleased even if we get the figure of 8 billion dollars during this year. Why?
We have much potentials for the export of our sugar, rice, cotton and even the electricity. Yet we are unable to achieve the desired target of exports. The question is of fast communication as well as qualitative and quantitative improvement with the help of this technology which can go a long way in increasing our exports manifold opening thereby the door of prosperity. Otherwise, primitive methods of cultivation as well as trading shall not lead us to anywhere.
One must be aware that this technology is much helpful in improving the quality of our goods which can well be competent in the international market with reasonable prices.
It is generally observed that a lot of non-traditional items are being offered world wide on different web sites making a gigantic business. We have also no dearth of such non-traditional items. All what we have to do is to adopt this -- the fastest communication media. If this is done, volume of exports of commodity or even of manpower would not be a problem.
Creation of Employment
And [ldots] if we become self-sufficient and well-equipped in this technology we can fetch a fair share (far more than $10 billion) from the 1000 billion or one trillion dollars business of the world. Is it not the point to ponder with due seriousness?
The first and foremost attribute of this technology is to create employment. This can be adopted by a layman as a small and individual profession on very low profile simply to earn bread and butter for the family and can be done as very large and giant scale industry to absorb a number of qualified engineers.
In India, at present, there are about 2,00,000 software engineers and there is a plan to increase this number by 20,000 per year. While in Pakistan there are hardly 2,000 software engineers and this number may go upto 5,000 by end of the current century.
