ABSTRACT
The paper summarises the state of practice of information technology. Some aspects of its revolutionising influence on society in general, and on engineering in particular, as well as its unprecedented growth are presented. The main components, on which information technology rests, and which have contributed to its rapid development, are presented from an historic perspective. The importance of efficient and unregulated communication systems and that of local and global networks, such as the Internet and the World Wide Web, for electronic communication is illustrated. The roles of computer hardware and software, as well as their applications to the solution of engineering and other problems are presented. Finally, examples are given of how merged networks will provide interactive and almost unrestricted exchange of information. These exciting developments are presently taking place and will affect not only the scientific world, but even more so to society in general.
