ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the order of appearance of material information technologies such as the clock, the telescope. It describes a selected chronology of conceptual and social technologies that created the knowledge foundation for material invention; the phonetic alphabet, decimal counting, the library at Nineveh, and the University of Paris are examples of the class of innovations. The chapter shows that the interplay of functions is traced through a scheme of symbol notations, demonstrates that the alphabetical and mathematical bases, as well as the audial and visual utilities of information technologies. It proposes a broad definition of “information technology” as the hardware, software, organizational structures, and social values, by which information is recorded, stored, processed and/or transmitted. Taken as a whole, the time-line of information technology illustrates the long and continuing human effort to extend the reach of the senses and the power of the brain.
