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The History of IT

The History of IT

What is Information Technology?

Information Technology is known to most of us as IT. The Oxford Dictionary definition is ‘the study or use of systems (especially computers and telecommunications) for storing, retrieving, and sending information.’ Most people assume it’s solely to do with computers technology, however it actually refers to mechanical processing of a computer rather than its physical structure.

IT as many of you will know is an ever-evolving field, so I’m going to give you a brief history of how this booming industry came to be.

A (brief) History of Computers

 

Becoming a Programmer in the 1950s and 60s

Let’s take it back to the beginning, when Ada Lovelace created the first computer programme in the 1840s after she worked on Charles Babbage’s creation. She showed the world the potential of IT. However, as a woman, Ada didn’t get the credit she deserved until way into the C21st.

As this field of technology was new to the world, many programmers in the 1950s came from mathematic backgrounds. This continued well into the 1960s with computer staff coming from mathematic, statistics and engineering backgrounds. At this time, no one had the skills required for programming, so maths and engineering were seen as the most closely associated disciplines.

Programming as it’s known today was due to the creation and development of natural language programming, which evolved overtime. The first most commercially used programming language was Fortran in 1956.

The Information Revolution

The development of computers dominated certain industries and establishments throughout the 1940s-60s. The first jobs involving computers emerged in the 1970s, with them later entering the workplaces properly in the 1980s. The information revolution happened in the late C20th, when computers were no longer just given to computing staff, but to everyone.

The invention and introduction of Microsoft, with word processor and spreadsheets allowed the majority of businesses and companies to make the most of computer technology. The emergence of new software packages brought a whole new aspect to the IT industry and range of jobs available.

The creation of the World Wide Web in 1991 was revolutionary for the IT industry, and led to an major increase in the amount of jobs available and roles created. This made IT a profitable and booming field.

The Importance of Education

The rise of technology was becoming so significant that the 1988 Education Reform Act made ICT lessons compulsory for children aged 5-16. The growing importance and stress on IT led to computers being set up in schools, colleges and universities nationwide, making them an extremely prevalent part of educational life.

It was universities who pushed the importance of computing and IT degrees. It’s common for universities to blend IT courses with other areas of study in order to offer students a wider degree focus. With IT being a constant part of the majority of people’s daily lives, learning about the industry has never been easier or more accessible.

It’s easy to look at the technology we have today and completely take it for granted. There is an argument among historians that the role of technology in education dates back at least 2000 years.

This is firstly due to oral communication which dates back to the beginning of time. Could you imagine hearing the news at your local church? Or having to hear new songs from one another and not from Spotify or the internet? The evolution of communication from ancient times where stories, songs, histories and folklores were their means of communication, education and life, to now where we have videos, phones, Ipads, laptops which all allows us to communication across the world within seconds.

Similarly, written technology has also progressed beyond anyone’s imagination. The invention of the printing press in 1440 was the start of books being mass produced on a wider more global scale. The industrial revolutions and the ability for the mass transportation of infrastructure in the C19th enabled printing serves to be spread more widely and used more efficiently. Texts and written communications we have today is revolutionary in comparison.

 

We hope you enjoyed our brief history of the IT industry, and it has left you wanting to find out more.

Stay Safe,

Team Affecto.