Introduction

Unit 1

• 01. Health & Safety in Relation to ICT Systems
• 02. Analysis
• 03. Design of Solutions
• 04. Selection and Use of Input Devices and Input Media
• 05. Selection and Use of Storage Requirements, Media and Devices
• 06. Selection and Use of Output Methods, Media and Devices
• 07. Selection and Use of Appropriate Software
• 08. Implementation of ICT Related Solutions
• 09. Testing of ICT Related Solutions
• 10. Evaluation of ICT Related Solutions

Unit 2

• 01. An ICT System and its Components
• 02. Data and Information
• 03. People and ICT Systems
• 04. Transfer of Data in ICT Systems
• 05. Safety and Security of Data in ICT Systems
• 06. Backup and Recovery
• 07. What ICT can Provide
• 08. Factors Affecting the Use of ICT
• 09. The Consequences of the Use of ICT

7. What ICT Can Provide

ICT can provide:

• Fast repetative processing - with very fast processors accounting calculations, file searching, and image manipulation areall achieved simply. An organisation with millions of customers needs a cost effective, efficient way of storing customer usage and processing accounts.
• Vast storage capability - where hard drives store many terrabytes of data. Memory has increased which improves the efficiency and feeds the processors with instructions.
• Search and combine data - the use of databases which contain vast amounts of data can be manipulated using relationships between tables to access data that otherwise was not possible, e.g. the Police criminal DNA database.
• Presentation of information - using text, forms, reports, images, video and sound in a combination, or separately in a variety of different ways to suit the purpose and the audience. Different software information from different softwareprograms can be combined to create the effective output.
• Improved accessibility - through the Internet, e-mail, intranet, by on-line shopping and banking, looking up information on items such as train times, the local weather, news, to mortgage details.
• Improved security of data and processes - centralised on a network, person responsible, data backup. The use of logical security procedures (logging in), user groups (access), encryption of sensitive data, account logs of user's habits and trace of all activities.

There are many solutions that ICT cannot provide for.

Hardware limitations -

• processor speed - servicing data and instructions;
• main memory - the amount of data that can be held awaiting processing;
• printers - the speed the printer can produce masses of printed work such as bills - amount of buffer memory needed for long documents and images;
• reliability - use of equipment, and maintenance.

Software limitations -

• types of different software reading the data - .pdf, .txt, .doc;
• compatibility of different software with the data - different types of word processing software;
• poor design of software - difficult for the users to understand the software.

Communications limitations -

• the type of network topology - ethernet, token ring, star;
• the type of media link - wire, optical, wireless;
• the number of terminals linked;
• the type of media data commonly used - sound and video need greater bandwidth.

Legislation limitations -

• (see topic 5). The Data Protection Act is very significant with the amount of personal data that is stored electronically on most people. Different organisations collect personal data on individuals and the data is copied by countless numbers of organisations that have to keep the data secure as well as all the other commitments of the Act.

Control mechanism limitations -

• Verification and validation of data is poor allowing erroneous data to be entered into the system;
• Backup procedures are weak allowing some data to be lost with no recovery;
• Security features are weak when operators have to manipulate secure or personal data.

Other limitations include -

• System design due to problems with project control which includes user requirements, budget, teams etc.
• Existing system incompatibility due to incomplete testing or poor design.
• Limited information produced due to poor analysis, user requirements not met.
• Some solutions are better without computers, artistic solutions, musical instrument, singing etc.

See the Capabilities & Limitations Slides.

There are three main types of Data Processing: Batch, Transaction, and Real Time Processing.

Batch Processing:

The details of transactions are grouped together 'Batched' until there is sufficient transactions or usually a set time has passed, then they are processed in one go (daily or weekly). Systems are set to do this automatically, so there is minimal intervention. The data input is usually of a particular format such as a meter reading, a cheque, a multiple choice answer paper.The processing can be timed to happen at weekends or at night when there is little other computer activity. There are usually validation checks of the data to ensure correctness, done by hash or control totals where a mathematical formula is used on the data to ensure it is reasonable for entry into the system. Examples of batch processing are:

• banks processing a batch of cheques; and a batch of monthly statements;
• the electricity company processing a batch of bills;
• the exam board processing a batch of multiple choice answer papers.

Transaction Processing:

The details of the transaction is processed as it happens. This is where the main files need to hold the new data as and when it happens. A transaction is the purchase of an item or of a service. If an airline ticket has been purchased then it needs processing so that other potential purchasers cannot book that particular seat. Processing this data in a 'batch' at the end of the day would be useless. The transaction has to be processed before the next transaction is allowed to take place. It doesn't occur in 'real-time' but the process is fast. Examples of transaction processing are:

• booking an airline ticket, or any other ticket where there are set seats or a limited number available;
• bank loan or insurance quotes;
• ordering goods and services over the telephone.

The system where the user has a dialog with the telephone operative or on Internet forms is Interactive Processing, where the user makes a request and the computer system responds. Depending on the questions asked the system will respond and sent the user onto the next part of the request. The software through questions and forms will guide the user through the system until the end of the process is reached. Examples of interactive processing are:

• purchasing an item through the website where questions asked would be how many, where to send, card details etc.
• getting a quote for life insurance where questions asked would be age, smoker, working, illnesses etc.

Real Time Processing:

• The details of the transaction has to be processed immediately. As soon as the transaction is recorded it is processed. The system response may be another input to the system. This may be a nuclear processing plant where the cooling temperature must be kept to a constant level. The temperature is measured every hundreth of a second and if it is recorded above the safety level then the output will trigger an input to the cooler to cool the water. Other examples would be the automatic pilot control on an aeroplane where many hundreds of readings are processed every second, the result of the outputs willl control what operations need to be done to keep the aeroplane flying on course at the right height and speed etc. Special computers are used that only deal with the systems and are not slowed up by other tasks.

See the Types of Processing Slides.