Portfolio
Computers & Information
Source: Collegiate Annual Date: 1969
Prepared as a career guide for young collegians, this article recommended the burgeoning information technology field as a top career choice.
“You have just spent four or more years learning how to effectively manipulate information to get answers to problems. The problem might be one in engineering, physics, mathematics, or business administration. You solve the problem by the application of calculus, linear programming, legal concepts, stress analysis, or circuit theory. In most problems the basic data has been given in the text, and you needed to know the theory on how to use that data. Once you leave school, you’ll find that most real-world problems are just the other way around. The most difficult part of a problem is to get the basic data. Once you have the basic data, a fairly simple analysis will usually give you a good answer.
“It is this unsolved problem of getting data in usable form that has resulted in the tremendous growth of the information systems field. Much of this growth has resulted from the advent of computers with tremendous capabilities for rapidly handling and manipulating information. The modern scientific community has created a fantastic wealth of information. Over 90% of all scientists who ever lived are alive today, working, creating discoveries and new information. In order to be useful, this information must be selectively disseminated to those who are interested in it, must be stored, and must be retrieved when necessary. This necessity for handling information has created the new field and science of information systems. Most computer oriented companies.
