Electronic Information Resources FAQ

What is EIR?

EIR is an acronym for Electronic and Information Resources. Related terms are 

• Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
• Electronic Information Technology (EIT)

EIR includes information technology and any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment used to create, convert, duplicate, or deliver data or information.

EIR includes, but is not limited to:

• Software applications and operating systems
• Websites and web applications
• Electronic documents, such as PDF files, word processing documents, spreadsheets, and emails.
• Video and multimedia, such as presentations, videos, webinars, and web conferences.
• Telecommunications products such as telephones, telephone systems, voice mail systems, and voice response systems.
• Computing hardware, such as desktop computers, laptop computers, tablets,and  information kiosks.
• Self-contained, closed products such as copiers, printers, fax machines, and other office equipment.

What is not EIR?

Any equipment that contains embedded information technology that is used as an integral part of the product, but the principal function of which is not the acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information is not EIR.

For example, thermostats or temperature control devices, and medical equipment that contain information technology that is integral to its operation, are not information technology. If the embedded information technology has an externally available web or computer interface, that interface is considered EIR.