Unit 1

    Information Technology(IT) has arisen as a separate technology by the convergence of data processing techniques and telecommunications, the former providing the capability for processing and storing information, the latter the vehicle for communicating it. The main contributing branches are computing, microelectronics and telecommunications but others include optoelectronics, office equipment technology, system theory and artificial intelligence theory and practice.

    The rapid advances in telecommunications and computer technology are causing the information and telecommunications industries to converge. Everything is going digital--telephones, televisions, radios. Soon it will be difficult or impossible to distinguish between a cable television company and a telephone company. Both will be providing high-speed, two-speed, two-way, digital video service as well as ordinary phone service.

     数据处理技术和通信技术的合并，使得信息技术成长为一门独立的技术。前者解决信息的处理和存储问题，后者提供信息传递的媒介。信息技术的分支主要有：计算机，微电子和通信，另外还包括光电子学，办公设备技术，系统理论和人工智能的理论和实践。

    通信和计算机技术的快速发展，正导致信息产业和通信产业的合并。所有事物都开始电子化——电话、电视、广播。不久区分一个有线电视公司和一个电话公司将变得很困难，甚至是不可能。因为他们都提供高速、双工、数字影像服务，同时也提供普通的电话服务。