Information technologies include the entire field of computer-based information processing (., hardware, software, applications, and services, telecommunication links and networks, digital databases, and the integrated technical specifications that enable these systems to function interactively). Information technologies are a major force in the . economy and new applications are being developed and deployed into the marketplace on an 18- to 24-month cycle. Government, industry, and academia are investing millions of dollars and thousands of hours researching and developing information technologies to serve a wide spectrum of purposes. Available and emerging information technologies are changing business processes and practices; how products and services are manufactured, purchased, and delivered; and.
