References Definitions Information is a factor of production, in a category with land, labor, capital, and energy. Information technology consists of hardware, software, and media for collection, storage, processing, transmission, and presentation of information. An information system provides a societal capability based on the use of information that encompasses its full context of people, institutions, policies, processes, incentives, data, information technology, and infrastructure.
Informatics is the study and application of information technology to build information systems.
Such an environment supports availability, diversity, and low cost of information services and products. National information infrastructure consists of both the telecommunications networks and the strategic information systems necessary for widespread access to communications and information services. Typical among the strategic systems are sector-wide information systems for education, health, public financial management, and transportation. Electronic payments, university and science networks, trade facilitation, disaster prevention and management, property and business registries, and national statistics might also be considered strategic systems.