Trends, Recent Shifts, and Some Challenges

Abstract

Current technology in the computer industry is changing rapidly. By the time a computer system is purchased and implemented, new technology is already on the market that renders it obsolete. This situation, along with the need to share information and applications among various computer systems, makes a system design that can readily adapt to change a necessity. An information system has an architecture in much the same way that a building does. If laid out properly, this architecture can accommodate the introduction of new technologies while allowing the continuing use of existing software.