ICT systems and their components

ICT systems and their components

1. What is ICT

   • the use of technology for the input, processing, storage and transfer of data and the output of information

2. Input - process - output

   • 1) Data is entered via an input device, such as a keyboard
   • 2) Calculations, queries and other operations are performed on the data in the processing stage
   • 3) The results of the processing are sent to an output device such as a monitor

3. What is an ICT system

   • ICT systems are those where the output from the system goes directly to a human being or into another ICT system
   • Why organisations use ICT systems
     • to help them fulfil their goals, but the exact nature of the ICT system will depend on what those goals are
     • to produce information that would traditionally have been produced by paper-based systems
       • this might include: receipts, invoices, sales, reports and wage slips
     • created for situations which would have been impossible without the processing speed of modern computers

4. Components of an iCT system

   • People
     • No ICT system can work without people being involved at various stages
       • The first stage will be in the analysis, design, implementation and testing of the system, which will be carried out by systems analysts and programmers
         • systems are built to suit a particular client, end user or audience and the computer specialists will work to meet the requirements
           • client and end user involvement is necessary for a system to succeed
     • large organisations divided into departments to carry out four main functions:
       • sales - processing transactions involving the sale of goods or services provided by the organisation
       • purchasing - processing transactions involving the purchase of goods or services required by the organisation
       • finance - managing the flow of money in and out of the organisation, planning investments and managing accounts
       • operations - carrying out the main business of the organisation
     • Departments communicate and exchange information with each other, including external bodies. This is done using various types of ICT processes:
       • e-mail and other ICT-based communication systems
       • finance, payroll, budgeting using spreadsheet software
       • stock control using relational database management software
       • marketing of products and services, often done online using websites
   • Data
     • Data = raw facts and figures or a set values
     • Examples
       • 25, 30, 45, 60
       • Jones, Smith, Parker
       • A, B, C, D, E
     • Data Input devices
       • keyboard, bar-code reader, scanner, digital camera, microphone
   • Procedures
     • procedures are in place for ICT systems to work effectively
     • laws and legislations must be taken into account when using ICT systems
     • users must ensure they follow security protocols
       • usernames and passwords
       • anti-virus software should be used to check removable media to maintain integrity of the ICT system
       • breaches of procedure for employees can be dealt with via the company's ICT code of practice as they form an integral part of it.
   • software
     • Software packages are programs that make the computer a useful tool by carrying out the processing
       • choice of software will depend on the system being implemented
         • choice must ensure that the software can produce the desired output from the system
           • this choice could be made from a variety of packages: word processors, webpage design packages
   • Hardware
     • The type of computer and peripherals chosen will depend on the type of processing and output that is intended for the task
       • storage space and processing power are two of the key aspects that will be taken into account when making choices about the hardware chosen
     • Main Hardware components
       • input devices
       • processors
       • output devices
       • ports and cables
       • storage devices
   • Information
     • this is the final output
     • Information is data that has been processed into something that is meaningful
       • Example - a chart produced to show the average grades achieved by A Level AS level students taking an ICT course

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