Careers in Information Processing
| Author | Mark Snyder, Lisa Gueldenzoph |
| Pages | 91-92 |
Page 91
Information processing is defined as the collection of data into an organized and readable format. It is the process of changing raw data into information that can be used to make decisions and solve problems. Careers that process information are referred to as information technology (IT) positions. IT uses computer hardware and software to collect, maintain, protect, process, and distribute information. Careers include positions that fall within three broad categories: hardware, software, and management.
Careers in the IT hardware area include product design, development, manufacturing, service, and repair. Engineering degrees, particularly those of electrical engineers, are the basis for product development teams in all hardware areas. The development of motherboards, random-access memory chips, networking products, graphics and sound cards, and disk drives define modern computer development. Ergonomics engineers provide expertise on design, look and feel, physical interface, and usability for all new products in IT.
Individuals who are interested in assembly, service, and repair of IT hardware components may be able to obtain nondegree jobs. These jobs normally require industry certification that includes A+, Net+, Comptia, or on the-job training from specific vendors as well as specific industry certifications offered by Oracle, Cisco, Sun Microsystems, and Microsoft. Skills required for hardware careers include hands-on capability, being comfortable with test and evaluation equipment, and the ability to troubleshoot a problem to successful conclusion. The ability to write clear and concise engineering evaluations and trouble reports separates the most successful hardware engineers from their peers.
Careers in software design and development fall into two categories: programmers and analysts. Programmers work in one or many programming languages each of which has specific software applications. These languages may work only on mainframes, only on personal computers, or only on networks. The more languages programmers are fluent in, the more valuable they are to their employer, but every programmer must be exceptional in at least one language. Languages in vogue in the first decade of the twenty-first century included .Net, C# (C sharp), Java, Visual J++, XML...
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