Part of a series intended for either self-education or for work in groups, this book addresses the information technology components in BTEC and RSA courses, as well as the components in CIPFA, AAT and ICSA professional courses. It is also structured to offer a good read in general terms to any interested party. Information technology handles information in every conceivable form, whether in music, video, graphics, speech, data or text. It also embraces an increasing range of technological expertise - for example, smart cards, computer animation, interactive compact discs, computer-based training, computer-integrated manufacturing, virtual reality systems and so on. The work also covers the full range of IT topics, including the more traditional subjects such as programming languages, data processing and systems analysis.