The course outlined in this E-text consists of a study of the nature and functions of information processing and associated technology.

It deals with the ways in which information is gathered, structured, represented, stored, accessed, manipulated and communicated. There is also an examination of information processing problems and solutions.

This requires students to acquire knowledge, apply this knowledge, and be able to Analyse, Synthesise, Evaluate and Communicate effectively on many levels.

Information Processing and Technology touches many aspects of modern human life, and finds itself drawing upon and being applied to diverse fields of study. The widespread and rapidly increasing use of computers and information processing demands investigation of the social and ethical implications of this use.

Information Processing and Technology is a complex intellectual discipline which deals with Information Systems, Algorithms and Programming, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Systems and the Social and Ethical implications of Information and Communications Technologies. The course emphasis is system development rather than the mere use of application packages.

Should you wish to read more detail about the new course structure and specific unit objectives, you can view the WORK PROGRAM for students starting in 1999 (now accredited).

The download options have been removed as the Author would like to keep better track of who is using it. You are asked (if you were one of the many who downloaded previous versions of this text) to REMOVE all static stored copies of this resource from your networks and LINK to this site please.

All updates and graphics are completed OUT OF NORMAL WORK HOURS (whatever 'normal' hours are for a Teacher/Middle Manager) and are conditional upon how much 'spare time' I can muster between family, full time job and varying states of unconsciousness.

Acknowledgements

This WEB originates from teaching notes collected and collated over an extended period of time and represent a personal approach to a very broad subject.

The author would like to thank the many students that have and are still contributing to this text (by constantly challenging me to re-think my ideas, wanting to know how things work and thus pushing my understanding) and Mr Lee Lafferty who wrote and generously supplied me with some comprehensive source material and the inspiration to get interested in this fantastic subject in the first place.