Information Technology is a technology used to process the data, including the process, obtain, compile, store, manipulate data in various ways to produce high quality information, information that is relevant, accurate and timely, which is used for personal, business and government and is a strategic information for decision making. This technology uses a computer to process data, networking system to connect one computer to another computer as needed, and telecommunications technology used for data can be distributed and globally accessible.
The role that can be given by the application of information technology is getting information to personal life such as information about health, a hobby, recreation, and spiritual. Then for professions such as science, technology, trade, business news, and professional associations. Means of cooperation between individuals or groups that one with another person or group without knowing the limits of distance and time, country, race, economic class, ideology or other factors that may inhibit exchange ideas.
Development of Information Technology spur a new way of life, from beginning to end of life, life is known as e-life, meaning life has been influenced by a variety of needs electronically. And now it is overflowing with various letters that begin with the prefix e, such as e-commerce, e-Government, e, education, e-libraries, e-journal, e-medicine, e-laboratory, e-biodiversitiy, and others again based electronics.
Evolution of the Global Economy
Until two hundred years ago the world economy is agrarian in which one of its main characteristic is the soil is the most dominant factor of production. After the industrial revolution, with the invention of steam engine, global economy evolves towards industrial economy with its main feature is the capital as the most important production factor. By the turn of the century now INL, humans tend to occupy a central place in the production process, because of the economic phase we are entering is based on knowledge (knowledge based) and focuses on information (information focused). In this case the role of telecommunications and informatics as a key technology (technology enabler.)
The progress of information technology and telecommunications so rapidly, allowing the implementation of new ways for more efficient production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. The process is what brings people into the Information Society or Economy. This new society is also often referred to as post-industrial society.
Whatever its name, in the information age, physical distance or geographical distance is no longer a factor in human relations or inter-agency effort, so that the universe into a hamlet of the universe or the "Global village". So often we hear the term "distance is dead" or "distance is dead" increasingly evident truth.
The role of Information Technology
In our life in future, information technology and telecommunications sector is the most dominant sector. Anyone who master this technology, then he will be a leader in the world. Information technology plays in many fields, among others:
Education (e-education)
Globalization has sparked a trend shift in education from the conventional face to face education toward a more open education (Mukhopadhyay M., 1995). As an example we look at the French project "Flexible Learning". It is reminiscent of Ivan Illich forecast early 70s on "Education without school (Deschooling Socieiy)" extreme teacher who no longer needed.
Prophecy scholars as follows:
1. Bishop G. (1989) predicted that the future of education will be flexible (flexible), open and accessible to anyone who needs without the view factor type, age, or previous educational experience.
2. R. Mason (1994) argue that the future of education will be determined by the network information that enables interaction and collaboration, rather than building schools. However, technology will still widen the gap between the rich and poor.
3. Tony Bates (1995) states that technology can improve the quality and coverage when used wisely for the education and training, and has a meaning that is essential for economic prosperity.
4. Alisjahbana I. (1966) suggested that the approach to education and training will be "At that moment (Just on Time)". New teaching techniques will be two way, collaborative, and inter-disciplinary.
5. Romiszowski & Mason (1996) predicts the use of "Computer-based Multimedia Communication (CMC) which is synchronous and asynchronous.
From the forecasts and views of scholars can be concluded that with the influence of globalization, the future of education will be more open and two-way, diverse, multidisciplinary, and related to work productivity "on the spot and competitively.
The trend for education in Indonesia in the future are:
The development of open education with distance learning modes (Distance Learning). Convenient to carry out open and distance education should be included as a main strategy.
Sharing resources among agencies with education / training in a network.
Library and other educational instruments (teachers, laboratory) changed into a source of information than just a bookshelf.
The use of interactive information technology devices, such as CD-ROM Multimedia, in education is gradually replacing TV and Video.
With the development of information technology in education, so when it is already possible to place a distance learning using the internet to link between students and professor, saw the value of an online student, financial checks, view class schedules, send the tasks assigned faculty and so on, all it has to be done. A major factor in distance learning that have been considered a problem is the lack of interaction between lecturers and students. However, with the internet media is very possible to make interaction between faculty and students both in the form of real time (real time) or not. In the form of real time can be done for example in a chatroom, a direct interaction with real audio or real videos, and online meeting. That is not real time can be done with mailing lists, discussion groups, newsgroups, and bulletin board. With the above interaction of faculty and students in the class may be replaced even if not 100%. The forms of material, exams, quizzes and other educational ways can also be implemented into the web, such as teacher materials made in the form of presentations on the web and can be downloaded by the student. Similarly, with exams and quizzes are created by faculty can also be done in the same way. Settlement administration can also be solved directly in a single registration process, more so in support with the online payment method.
A web-based distance education, among others, should have the elements as follows:
Student activities center; as a web-based distance learning community must be able to make this facility as a place of student activity, where students can add the ability, reading course material, looking for information and so forth.
Interaction within the group; The students can interact with one another to discuss the materials provided lecturers. Lecturers may be present in this group for giving a little review of the material that gives.
Student administration system, where the students can see information about the status of students, student achievement and so forth.
Deepening materials and examinations; Usually professors often conduct brief quis and tasks aimed at deepening of what has been taught and do a test at the end of the study. It also can be anticipated by the web-based distance learning.
Digital libraries; In this section, there are a variety of information literature, not limited to books but also on digital libraries such as sound, images and so forth. This section and shaped to be as supporting database.
Online materials outside the course material; To support the lectures, required reading material also from other web. Hence in this section, lecturers and students to directly engage to provide other materials for publicizing to other students via the web.
To realize the above ideas and desires in a form of reality is not an easy job but if we look to other countries which have long developed a web-based distance learning, have a lot of institutions or agencies that use this method. It is not only the skills possessed by the engineer who needed but also the various policies in the field of education greatly affects its development. When viewed from the readiness of supporting facilities such hardware, I suppose that this is no doubt. Only one who has always been a major concern of Internet users in Indonesia is the bandwidth problem, of course with limited bandwidth is reduced comfort, especially on non-text based material. Abroad, particularly in developed countries, distance education has been an educational alternative that is popular. Method of education is followed by students, employees, executives, and even housewives and the elderly (retirees). A few years ago the exchange of materials is done by correspondence, or equipped with audio and video material. Currently almost all distance learning programs in America, Australia and Europe can also be accessed via the Internet. Studies conducted by the Americans, strongly supports the development of e-learning, stating that computer based learning is very effective, enabling 30% better education, 40% of time is shorter, and 30% lower cost. World Bank (World Bank) in 1997 has announced a program of Global Distance Learning Network (GDLN), which has 80 partner countries in the world. Through GDLN, the World Bank is to provide e-learning to students 5 times more (from 30 to 150 students) at a cost 31% less expensive.
In the global era, offering scholarships appeared on the internet. For most of the students in the world, the tuition fee to obtain the best education is generally still considered expensive. Very unfortunate if there is a good student in his class can not continue school because not afford the tuition. Scholarship information is the key to success can help these potential students.
In the Government Sector (e-government)
E-Government refers to the use of information technology by government, such as using the intranet and the Internet, which has the ability to connect the purposes of residents, businesses, and other activities. Can be a business transaction process between the public and government through automation systems and Internet networks, known more commonly as the world wide web. At its core e-government is the use of information technology to improve relations between the government and other parties. the use of information technology is then produced new forms of relationships such as: G2C (to Governmet Citizen), G2B (Government to Business) and G2G (Government to Government).
Benefits of e-government can be perceived among others:
Service better service to the community. Information can be provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without waiting for the opening of the office. The information can be sought from the office, home, without having to physically come into government offices.
Improving the relationship between government, business, and the general public. The openness (transparency), it is expected that the relationship between the various parties would be better. This openness eliminates mutual suspicion and resentment from all sides.
Empowering people through information easily available. Given sufficient information, the public will learn to be able to determine his choice. For example, data about the schools: the number of classes, student capacity, passing grade, and so forth, can be displayed online and used by parents to choose the right school for their children.
Implementation of a more efficient government. For example, coordination of government can be done via e-mail or even video conferencing. To Indonesia spacious area is huge, it is extremely helpful. Frequently asked questions, coordination, discussion among local leaders can do without all of which must be on the same physical location. No longer all have to fly to Jakarta for a meeting that lasted only one or two hours.
Public demand for good governance is extremely urgent to be implemented by the government apparatus. One solution that is needed is the integration of government administration system through a network of on-line information system among government bodies at both the central and local governments to access all data and information primarily relating to public service. In the government sector, the strategic environment changes and advances in technology encourage government officials to anticipate the new paradigm with efforts to improve the performance of the bureaucracy and improving services towards the realization of good governance (good govermance). The most important thing that must be observed is the government sector is the driver and facilitator in the success of various development activities, therefore the success of development must be supported by current velocity data and information among agencies to occur between the government systems are integrated with the use of others. Efforts to accelerate implementation of e-Government, still have problem because currently not all regions menyelenggarakannya. Moreover, there are still assuming the e-Government web sites just make it not happen with the optimal socialization. However, based on Presidential Directive, development of this integrated information system of government in 2005 would be realized until the future. However the important thing is to remove opinions one who considers the application of e-Government as a project, but is a system that will integrate subsystems spread across all regions and departments.
Finance and Banking
When this has been a lot of economic actors, especially in large cities that no longer use cash in payment transactions, but have made use of banking services modern.
Modern banking services that exist only in big cities is understandable because the current economic growth is still concentrated in large cities only, which causes the velocity of money is also concentrated in big cities. So the banking sector was rather slow in its expansion into the regions. This is somewhat due to the current condition of infrastructure in addition to geographical aspects of Indonesia's unique and spacious.
To support the successful operation of a financial institution / banking like a bank, it is definitely needed a reliable information system that can be easily accessed by customers, which in turn will depend on information technology online, for instance, a customer can withdraw money wherever he is as long as existing services from the bank ATM, or a customer can check balance and transfer money to other accounts in a matter of minutes, all transactions can be done.
The development of telematics technology and infrastructure in Indonesia will greatly assist industry development in the financial sector, such as expanding the scope of business by opening branches in the region, as well as information exchange among insurance companies, brokers, the banking industry, as well as other financing institutions.
Banking and finance institutions have been influenced strongly by the development of products in information technology, even they can not operate again without information technology. This sector requires the development of products in information technology to give their services to their customers.
Information system development program in Indonesia
Program developing of system information (program 06/16/2001) intended to develop the necessary information systems to enhance the entry of information science and technology that occur in the international community, facilitate the exchange and dissemination of information science and technology, and improve the system of planning, management, monitoring activities , and the progress of science and technology.
The amount of the cost of government to conduct a study, research, application of control in the field of information technology during fiscal year 1997/1998 to 2001 can be seen in Table below.
The table below shows Budget (pure dollars) for information system development program, fiscal year 1997/1998 to 2001.
Table. Budget for development of information systems in 1997/1998 to 2001
No. Fiscal Year Budget (Million Rupiah)
1 1997/1998 28 235
2 1998/1999 32 622
3 1999/2000 24 536
4 2000 52.236
5 2001 30.956
Indonesian information technology development is strongly influenced by human resource capacity in understanding the information technology components, such as hardware and computer software; network system either LAN or WAN and telecommunication systems that will be used to transfer data. The need for information technology-based energy continues to rise, this can be seen with many types of jobs that require skills in information technology in various fields, also the number of capable human resources in information technology is still small, if compared with the population of Indonesia. We need a national information technology framework that will embody the people of Indonesia prepared for AFTA, 2003 which can provide universal access to information to the general public fairly and equitably, improve coordination and optimal utilization of information, increasing efficiency and productivity, improve quality and quantity of human resources, increase utilization of information technology infrastructure, including the application of laws and regulations that support it; encourage economic growth with sustainable use and development of information technology.
Finally, the Asean free trade era is really true that we are familiar with the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) in 2003 officially accepted this. This is one reality of economic globalization in the real world. National economic integration with the regional economy / global as AFTA, APEC, WTO / GATT can not be avoided. Like it or not, willing or unwilling, the reality of this world economic integration had to be faced.
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