Their development is due to the impact of advances in integrated circuits and digital communications. Integrated circuits are silicon chips containing transistors that store and process information. The microprocessor chip also is progressing, but not in containing information but in speed, to support several thousand users in a computing environment. This increases the ranges of media, functions, and capabilities of information systems which cause them to be constantly expanding. Computer visualization converts masses of data from instruments, databases, or computer simulations into visual displays.
Visual displays are an efficient method of human information reception, analysis, and exchange.
Another area in digital communications that is related to visual displays is virtual reality. This is the area with synthetic environments through the use of three-dimensional displays and interaction devices. The design of information systems developed by engineering efforts are made to be used today by people who have little experience with information technology, but know what it should accomplish. Activities that are involved in building an information system are known as the system's life cycle. First is the systems analysis phase that specifies what the system is required to do.