Collecting: Collecting is the information process that involves deciding what Port is a socket used to connect peripheral devices.

devices. Parallel ports transmit

to collect, locating it and collecting it eight bits (one byte) at a time along eight parallel lines (types: Centronics and
SCSI). Serial ports transmit data one bit at a time using only one
Scanners are input devices that can electronically capture text or images such communication line (called COM).
as photographs and drawings. (Hand-held the scanner is held in the hand and
passed over the document, Flatbed scannerslook similar to a small A modem is a device that enables data to be transmitted from one computer
photocopier with the document remaining flat and stationary during the to another. The word modem stands for modulator/demodulator. A modem
scanning, Overhead scannerslook documents are placed face up on the converts (modulates) digital signals sent from a computer into analog signals.
scanning bed and a small overhead tower moves across the page)
Internal modems are a type of expansion card fitted into an expansion slot
The operating system is the software that supervises and controls the inside the system unit. External modems are usually connected to a serial
hardware. It is responsible for controlling all the peripheral devices (input and port.
output devices).
Software: Communications software, Compression, Electronic mail (email),
Data needs to be free from bias. Bias means that the data is unfairly skewed Data encryption
or gives too much weight to a particular result.
Protocol is a set of rules that governs the transfer of data between computers
The accuracy of the collected data is a vital ingredient of an information (Ethernet and Token Ring)
system. It depends on the source of the data and whether the data is entered
correctly. Social ethical issues: accuracy of information, security, Acknowledgment,
Netiquette (the way people communicate with each other on the Internet.),
Copyright is the right to use, copy or control the work of authors and artists. Privacy, information systems have improved the nature of work, Internet is
It is against the law to infringe copyright. You are not allowed to use or copy having an impact on traditional businesses.
the work of another person without their permission.
Displaying is presenting the output from an information system to meet a
Privacy is the ability of an individual to control personal data. Data collected given purpose.
on individuals is not always accurate. Inaccuracies can be caused by mistakes
in gathering or entering the data, by a mismatch of the data and the person,
or by information being out-of-date. The raster scan is repeated to maintain the image as the phosphor only glows
for a short time. This is called refreshing.
Ergonomics refers to the relationship between people and their work
environment. It is the process of designing or arranging workplaces, products
and systems so that they fit the people who use them. Software: Reporting is used to organise and display data from a database for
printing. Formatting changes the appearance of the data. Spacing between
Organising is the process that arranges, represents and formats data for use lines of text is altered to improve the appearance and readability of a
by other information processes. It is carried out after the data is collected. document. Mail merge combines a letter written on a word processor with
data from another document such as a [Link] are rows and
Analysing is the interpretation of the data. It involves examining the data and
columns of cells that are filled with text and graphics. Charts are a graphical
giving meaning to it. When data has been ordered and given meaning by
representation of numerical data
people it is called information.
Modelling and simulations are used to make predictions and examine
Social Ethical issues: Communications skills. Current trends in display are
decisions concerning real situations. A model is a representation of some
changing the way people interact with computers. Offensive material.
aspect of the real world and a simulation is the use of that model. Computer
Visually impaired people need appropriate displays.
simulations use a computer to model a real system.

Unauthorised analysis of data occurs when people gain illegal access to an

A feasibility study is a short report that analyses potential solutions and
information system. The theft of information and its subsequent analysis is a
makes a recommendation.
major concern for any organisation
The incorrect analysis of data results in inaccurate information. If data has
Economic feasibility compares the costs of developing the new system with
been poorly organised or an inappropriate model used to represent a
the expected benefits. Technical feasibility determines the information
situation, the analysis will be wrong.
technology requirements of
Privacy is eroded by linking databases for analysis. Most people in pursuit of the new system and the technical demands that will be placed on the new
society’s benefits readily give information about themselves to selected system. Schedule feasibility determines whether time is available to
organisations. implement the
new system. Organisational feasibility determines whether the new system
A backup is a copy of data held on a separate storage medium for security will fit into
purposes. the organisation and meet its current goals.
Volatile means that when the computer is switched off, or the power supply
is interrupted, the memory are lost. Non volatile is when the ,computer is Single process: A circle is used to represent the
switched off or the power supply is interrupted, the memory not lost. entire system, Data flow: An arrow is used to represent the flow of data
A floppy disk, or diskette, is a magnetic disk made of flexible plastic and between the process and external entities, External entity: A square or
covered with magnetic material. A hard disk is a magnetic disk made of rectangle represents any person or organisation that sends data to or
metal or glass and covered with magnetic material. It is rigid and not flexible receives data, Data store: An open rectangle represents the
like a floppy disk. Magnetic tape is a long, thin strip of plastic coated with a location where data is stored.
thin layer of magnetic material. A context diagram is a graphical method of representing a system using a
single process together with inputs and outputs (external entities).
Non comuter tool: Paper-based storage systems, Microfiche, library data flow diagram (DFD) is a graphical method of representing a system
using a number of processes together with inputs, outputs and storage.
Social n ethical issues: Security: data that is deliberately or accidentally
A system flow chart is a graphical method of representing both the flow of
damaged is enormous. Unauthorised
data and the logic of a system.
Processing is the manipulation of data by editing and updating it. Conversion involves changing from the old system to the new system. It must
be carefully planned and executed to avoid errors.
CPU is contained on a single integrated circuit and is called a microprocessor. Direct conversion involves an immediate change to the new system. Parallel
The central processing unit CPU) is a set of electrical circuits responsible for conversion involves the old and new systems working together for some
controlling and processing data within the computer. These integrated time. Phased conversion involves the gradual implementation of the new
circuits are located on a flat printed circuit board inside the computer called system. Pilot conversion involves trialling the new system in a small part of
the motherboard or main board. The motherboard also contains other the organisation.
integrated circuits for special functions such as storage, video, arithmetic and files: a block of data and is divided into a set of related records.
sound.
Arithmetic logic unit (ALU) is part of the CPU that carries out all the records: a collection of facts about one specific entry in a database and is
arithmetical and logical calculations. Arithmetical calculations include divided into one or more related fields.
addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Logical calculations have a
true or false answer and include relational operators.
fields, key fields: A field is a specific category of data in a database and is
Fetch-execute cycle, or machine cycle, is a cycle of events on a single made up of characters. A key field is a field that uniquely identifies a specific
instruction carried out by the CPU to process data. 1 The control unit fetches record.
the instructions from memory. 2 The control unit decodes the instructions
(works out what to do) and makes the data available to the arithmetic logic
unit. The first two steps are called the instruction time or i-time. 3 The characters: is the smallest unit of data that people can use.
arithmetic logic unit performs the operation on the data. 4 The control unit
places the result of the operation into memory or a register. Steps 3 and 4 are
schemas (An organised plan of the entire database showing how and where
called the execution time or e-time.
the data is found, descriptions of the data and the data's logical
RAM (random access memory) is where data and instructions are held relationships.)
temporarily. It depends on a supply of electricity to maintain data storage
(volatile). Dynamic RAM is memory that must be constantly refreshed.
Entities: a specific 'thing' about which an information system collects and
Synchronous DRAM is a type of DRAM that is synchronised with the CPU.
processes data. Attributes: a defined property of an entity. Relationships: the
Static RAM is memory that does not have to be updated or refreshed.
way in which entities are related to each other (one-one, one-many, many-
Cache is a temporary storage area used to store frequently requested data many).
and instructions. Type: Cache memory is high-speed memory located
between the CPU and RAM. Disk cache works in a similar way to cache
table: attributes. A column of the table is the attribute of the entity and
memory
represents the field. records. A row in the table is called a tuple of an entity
ROM (read only memory) holds data and instructions that are fixed at the and represents a record. Linking tables using primary and foreign keys.
time of production and cannot be changed by the user or the computer. Primary key: a field that stores data that uniquely identifies the record,
ROM is non-volatile. Type: Programmable ROM, chips allow data and Foreign key: an attribute which is the primary key for another table.
instructions to be entered only once and cannot be reprogrammed. Erasable
programmable ROM chips can be erased and reprogrammed by the
manufacturer. Data modelling tools: data dictionaries to describe(A data dictionary contains
metadata, or information about data): field name: the name of the field as it
Type of processing: Centralised processing is controlled by a central appears in the database, data type, data format: any special formatting
computer. Distributed processing consists of workstations connected to applied to the field, field size: the number of characters allowed for a given
shared data and resources at a local site. Parallel processing is the field, description: a simple description of field contents, example.
simultaneous processing of instructions using multiple processors or CPUs.
Non computer tools: documentation, Data flow diagrams (DFDs) Hypermedia is is a combination of media whose locations are linked
electronically t to provide an easy way to navigate between the information.
Social etnical issues: type of processing raises issues of security and flexibility,
Hypertext is a system that allows documents to be cross-linked in such a way
Ownership of processed data is causing increasing concern in society, Bias in
that the user can move from one document to another by clicking on a link
processing can be caused by biased data being collected, or incorrect
manipulation of that data.
nodes and links: link, or hyperlink, is indicated by a highlighted item that
Transmitting and receiving is the transfer of data and information within and
allows the electronic connection.
between information systems.
Serial transfer transmits data one bit at a time through a single line. Parallel
A relational database is 'a database in which data is organised in a series of
transfer transmits more than one bit of data simultaneously using separate
relationships, or two-dimensional tables. A flat file is a type of database
lines.
where all of the data is contained in one file'.
Asynchronous transmission, each byte is identified with special start and stop
bits. Synchronous transmission requires all the data to be sent at the same
Normalisation is a process required during the development of a relational
rate.
database.
Simplex mode allows transmission in one direction only, from the sender to
the receiver. It is limited and is not widely used in telecommunications. Half
normalisation avoid: data redundancy and data integrity
duplex mode allows transmission in both directions but not at the same time.
Full duplex mode allows transmission in both directions at the same time
A bus is a pathway of wires and connectors that provides the link between
input, storage, process and output devices.
An internal bus is located on the motherboard and links the CPU and
memory. An expansion bus connects peripheral devices to the CPU and
memory. If the expansion bus connects directly to the CPU and bypasses RAM
it is called a local bus.