Input and

Output
Devices

Input Devices
Ways of putting data INTO a computer
Keyboard
Mouse
Microphone
Scanner

Keyboards
Normal
Concept

Ergonomic

Keyboards
Advantages
Fast data entry
Proven technology
Easy to use
Disadvantages
Can be difficult for people with disabilities
Relatively slow
Big

Numeric Keypads
Keypads to enter numbers
Used at ATMs, POS
Advantages
Small and easy to use
Disadvantages
Keys may be too small for some people
No text entry

Mice
Used to point at stuff on screen
Cordless, optical mice are normal now
Advantages
Easy and intuitive to use
Disadvantages
Can be difficult for people with poor motor skills

Tracker Ball
Advantages
Easier to use than normal mouse with poor motor
skills
More accurate positioning of screen pointer
Disadvantages
Not standard issue Training may be required
Bigger than a normal mouse

Joystick
Advantages
Intuitive control
Uses 3 dimensions
Disadvantages
Cant do the job of a mouse

Touch Screens
Advantages
Dont need a mouse
Very easy to use
Disadvantages
Limited options
RSI
Need to be cleaned regularly

Magnetic Stripe Readers

Reads the black stripe on a credit card
Advantages
Fast Data entry Faster than typing
Secure no-one can see the data
Disadvantages
Black Stripe needs to be undamaged
Card needs to be near card reader

Smart Card Reader

Different from stripe reader
Card does not get swiped
Reads a chip in the car
Advantages
Can be used instead of money
Disadvantages
More difficult to replace

Input
Devices(2)

Chip and Pin Readers

Owner has to enter a secret number
Advantages
More secure signatures are easy to copy
Disadvantages
Must not let anyone know the PIN

Scanners
Scan documents produce a digital copy
Advantages
Images can be stored in the computer
Can email the images
Disadvantages
Trade-off between quality and file size

Barcode Readers
Instead of typing the number read the stripes
Advantages
Much faster more accurate than typing the
number
Disadvantages
Expensive to buy the equipment.

OMR devices
Optical Mark Recognition
Advantages
Can mark multiple choice exam papers quickly
Disadvantages
Forms need to be carefully designed
Forms need to be filled in accurately

OCR Readers
Optical Character Recognition Cheques,
Passports
Advantages
Can scan a whole paper document and create
a Word document much quicker than
typing
Disadvantages
Cant read handwriting
90% accurate

MICR Devices
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition
Used to process Cheques
Advantages
Error free, no handwriting
Disadvantages
Can only read certain characters

Digital Camera
Advantages
Easier to use than traditional cameras
Cheaper no film to process
Do it all at home
Disadvantage
Requires ICT skills
Loss of artistry

Webcams
Advantages
Cheap
Allow easy access to internet communications
Disadvantages
Security
Poor picture

Microphones
Used to record sound
Advantages
They can enable you to record sound
Disadvantages
They dont make ice-cream

Sensors
Smoke, heat, pressure, humidity, speed
Advantages
More accurate than a person taking the reading
24X7
Safer than manually reading the temperature at
the bottom of an erupting volcano
Disadvantages
Bad sensor bad results

Graphics Tablet
Advantages
Makes computer drawing easier
More accurate than a mouse
Disadvantages
Expensive

Light Pen
You can point to stuff on a monitor
Advantages
You can point to stuff on a monitor
Disadvantages
Software can be slow lag
Not accurate
Old technology

Output devices

Output devices

Screen or monitor

Printer

Speakers

Multimedia projector

Plotter

Control device (e.g.,

robot arm, motor, light,
etc.)

Screens/monitors

LCD (liquid crystal

display)

CRT (cathode ray tube)

Used to output
information that is not
needed permanently

CRT Monitors
Cathode Ray Tube monitors
Advantages
Better image than TFT
Wider viewing angle
Disadvantages
Very heavy
Use more power

TFT Monitors
Thin-film transistor Monitors.
Advantages
Thinner
Less energy than CRT
Disadvantages
Poorer image than CRT

Multimedia Projector
Can project computer output on a large screen.
Advantages
Can project computer output on a large screen.
Disadvantages
Expensive to buy
Fuzzy image
Difficult setup

Printers

Used to output
information as hard copy
(i.e. printed on paper)

Ink-jet printers cheap to

buy but expensive to run

Laser printers more

expensive to buy but
cheaper to run

Dot matrix printers ideal

for multi-part printouts

Laser Printers
Fast, high quality, high volume print.
Advantages
Fast, high quality, high volume
Disadvantages
Expensive to buy

Inkjet Printers
Advantages
Cheap alternative to a laser printer with high quality
Disadvantages
Slower than Laser printer

3D Inkjet Printer
Uses inkjet technology to create 3D models.
Advantages
Save a lot of money creating prototypes
Disadvantages
Expensive to buy

Dot Matrix Printer

Advantages
Can be used in dusty environments
Uses continuous stationery
Disadvantages
Poor print quality
Very noisy

Speakers

Used to output the sound/music

after processing/storage by the
computer

Plotters

Used to output scale drawings (e.g., maps and

plans)

Can print on much larger paper (e.g., A0)

Used by architects, engineers, pattern

makers, etc.
Advantages
Very large, very highest quality output
Disadvantages
Very expensive to buy
Very, very slow

Actuators

Used to control devices

Can turn devices such as

switches, motors, pumps, etc.,
on and off

They respond to signals sent by

the computer

Motors, buzzers, heaters and lights/lamps

Motors:

Used to turn valves

Can turn watering

systems on/off

Can close/open windows

Can turn drums of

washing machines

Motors, buzzers, heaters and lights/lamps

Buzzers:

Act as warning signs

Used to tell when a

process has finished

Washing machines make a

buzz when they have
finished

Motors, buzzers, heaters and lights/lamps

Heaters:

Can be controlled by
signals from a computer

Can be found in cookers,

washing machines,
dishwashers,
greenhouses, etc.

Motors, buzzers, heaters and lights/lamps

Lights/lamps:

Can be used with

sensors to turn lights on
when light level falls

Can be used to provide

artificial light in
greenhouses

STORAGE DEVICES
AND MEDIA

Storage Devices
Methods of access
Serial access (like a cassette tape)
Start at the beginning and read until you find your
data.
Direct Access(cd or dvd)
Go straight to your data

Backup Storage Media

Magnetic

Optical

Solid State

ROM and RAM

Used to hold data

(program instructions
and data it is currently
processing)

Stored in chips

Contents of memory are

available immediately

Two types ROM and RAM

ROM (Read Only Memory)

Non volatile does not lose contents

when power is turned off

Contents cannot be altered by the

user

Used to hold instructions needed to

start the computer (i.e. the boot
program)

RAM (Random Access Memory)

Temporary the contents are

continually changing

Volatile loses contents when

power is turned off

Contents can be altered by the

user (i.e. it is read/write)

Stores data while the power is

supplied

Backing/secondary storage devices and

media

Used for the storage of data

and programs not needed
instantly by the computer

Used to take backups (i.e.

copies) for security purposes

Data is usually backed up on

Magnetic Tape or CD or DVD

Memory stick/pen drives/

USB drives

Small and portable

Large storage for size

Very reliable

Can easily be lost

Slow transfer rate\

Connections can
wear out

Magnetic fixed hard disk drives

Advantages

Very high storage capacity

Very high access speed

Very high transfer rate (i.e. speed

of reading/copying data)

Most computers come with one

Disadvantages

Easily Damaged and not portable

Portable hard drives

Advantages

Can be removed from the

computer

Useful for backup copies

Useful for transferring files

between computers

Usually attached via a USB port

Disadvantages

Easily Damaged

Magnetic tapes
Advantages

Used for backing up large amounts of

data

Huge storage capacity

Takes time for data to be found on a

tape so not much use except for backup

Disadvantages

Serial Access (slow)

Easily Damaged

Optical drives

Use removable media (i.e. CD or

DVD)

Can be used for backups

DVD used for films

CD used for music or software

Blu-ray used as an alternative to DVD

as it has a much larger storage
capacity

CD drives/media
CD ROM(Compact disk read only memory):

used mainly for transfer of software

data can only be read

storage capacity of 700 Mb

data transfer speeds lower than for a hard disk

CD RW (CD Rewritable):

allows data to be stored over and over again

smaller transfer rate than a hard drive

not as robust as a hard drive

CD drives/media continued

CD R (CD Recordable)
Can only be recorded onto once
Can be used for archive versions of data

DVD drives/media
DVD-ROM

Can only be read

Higher storage capacity

compared to CDs

Used for movies,

multimedia programs,
etc.

Drives can also read

CDs

DVD drives/media
DVD RAM

Allows repeated storage like hard disk

Fast transfer rate

Quite expensive compared with other methods

DVD R

Can only be recorded onto once

Ideal for TV recordings where you do not want

to record over them

DVD drives/media continued

DVD+RW

Are read/write

Sometimes called DVD

burners

Ideal for data that needs

continual updating

Storage Devices
Blu-Ray Discs
Advantages

Much higher storage capacity than DVD

Used to store high definition video

Disadvantages
Expensive
Need Blu Ray drive to read them

Storage Devices
DVD-RAM
Advantages
Allow reading and writing SIMULTANEOUSLY
Used in satellite recorders
Disadvantages
Relatively expensive
Not as compatible as DVD

Solid state backing

storage/memory

Is the smallest form of memory

No moving parts so very

robust

Flash memory card drives and

cards

Thin cards used in digital

cameras

Can be used in MP3 players

Storage Devices
Flash Memory Cards
EEPROMs Electrically Eraseable Programmable
Read Only Memory
Advantages
Very small so very portable
Robust
Disadvantages
Expensive

Solid state backing

storage/memory
Consists of:

Memory sticks/pen drives

Flash memory cards

Computer
networks

What is a computer network?

A network is two or more computers
that are linked together so that they
are able to share resources.

Resources which can be

shared include

Hardware - printers, scanners,

storage, etc.

Software need only be

installed on one computer

Data (e.g. database files)

An Internet connection

Network Types
LAN Local Area Network
Inside a building
WAN Wide Area Network
Between countries

LANs and WANs

Local area networks:

Confined to a small area

Usually located in a single

building

Wide area networks:

Use cable, wireless, infra-red

and microwave links which
are usually owned by the
organization

Cover a wide geographical

area (e.g. between cities,
countries and even
continents) in lots of different
buildings, etc.

Less expensive to build as

equipment is owned by the
organization so no rental of
lines and equipment needed

Uses more expensive

telecommunication links that
are supplied by
telecommunication companies

More expensive to build as

sophisticated communication
systems are used and rental of
lines and equipment needed

WLAN

Stands for wireless local area

network

Is a LAN where all the

devices on the network
communicate wirelessly

Advantages

A network without wires

Disadvantages

Security (viruses, hackers)

Interference

Wi Fi
Connecting without wires to a network
e.g. In a caf
Bluetooth (mobile phone)
WAN via a wireless router

Network topology

Is the way the devices are arranged

in a network

In a wired network, it shows how

the computers are connected
together

In a wireless network it shows how

the computers communicate with
each other

Network topologies
The three main network
topologies are:

Ring

Bus

Star

Tree

The Ring Topologies

Advantages
Easy to set up
Fast
Disadvantages
Any fault and whole network is
dead

The bus topology

A backbone cable is usually used

Advantages

A small amount of cable is

needed

Simple to install

Easy to add extra devices

Disadvantages

Slow for larger networks

Reliance on the backbone cable

The star topology

Uses a central connection point

This can be a server or a hub/switch

Advantages

Easy to add extra computers without

disturbing the network

Disadvantages

They use a lot of wire

They depend on the central

device

Fault tolerant

The tree topology

Combines bus and star topologies

Advantages

Good for widely spread networks

Disadvantages

If a bus cable failed, the

computers in a single star could
still communicate

Not suitable for small networks as

it uses too much cable

Network Devices
Modems (modulate demodulate)
Translates analog to digital, digital to analog
Used to connect computers to networks across dialup(not digital) telephone lines

Networks
Network Traffic
All data in a network is sent as PACKETS.
All communication is broken down to packets.
Each packet contains a source address, destination
address and the data.
All network devices in the world have a unique MAC
address.

Network devices
A hub:

is used to join
computers in a network

allows the connection

of cables

allows the sharing of

files and Internet access

Network Devices
Network Hubs
Connect multiple devices to one network connection

HUB
NETWORK
CONNECTION
SERVER

A hub has no
intelligence

Network devices
A switch:

is a similar device to a hub

but more intelligent

can look at a packet of

data to decide where it
should go

reduces the number of

packets of data on a
network which speeds the
network up

Network Devices
Network Switch
Connect multiple devices to one network connection

Switch
NETWORK
CONNECTION
SERVER

A switch has
intelligence

Network devices
A router:

can be wired or wireless

is used to join several

networks together

is often used to connect

several computers in the
home to the Internet

Network devices
A network interface card:

prepares data for sending

over the network

sends the data

controls the flow of data

Network Devices
Network Bridge
Makes a connection between two LANs.
Packets are sent to the relevant LAN
All devices on each LAN see all packets.

Sales
HUB

Account
s HUB

Router

Only relevant packets

are routed to each
device.

Marketi
ng HUB

HTTP Proxy Servers

Server between the internet and a LAN.
All internet traffic goes through the Proxy Server.
Emails and web searches are filtered
Performs virus checking

The Internet
Proxy
Server

All QP Computers

Authentication

Ensuring only authorised people access the network

Username/passwords

Biometrics

Digital signatures

This is a special code used to check that electronic media

(e.g. Emails) are really from the person they say they are
from

Encryption

Data being transported across a network is

encrypted at the source and decrypted at the
destination using a key. Hackers cannot steal the
data.
Encrypted Data

Encrypt data using

key

Decrypt using same key.

Methods of
Communication

Network Communcation
Networking computers and other
devices allow improved
communication between people using
services such as:
1.Fax
2.Email
3.Teleconferencing/Video

Conferencing

Fax

A fax machine scans paper documents and

converts them into digital format.

The digital version is then converted into

analogue format and sent over an ordinary
telephone line to another fax machine.

The fax machine at the receiving end

converts the analogue information back into
digital format and reproduces an exact hard
copy of the original document.

Fax advantages

Unlike emails, faxes do not spread viruses

Faxes cannot be hacked

Faxed signed documents are legally acceptable.

Fax - disadvantages

Faxes are usually printed in areas that are accessible

by others

Printer jams waste time

The receivers fax machine might not be on or out of

paper

Information sent is a hard copy and therefore cannot

be editted.

E-mail

Used to send messages from one computer to another

Can be sent between computers on a local area

network (LAN) or between computers on the Internet

Email advantages

Some advantages of e-mail:

Arrives at its destination in at most a few hours

Send and receive e-mail anywhere in the world, at

any time

One e-mail message can be sent to a group of people

Registered e-mail can be sent

Can be cheaper than sending mail through the post

Can attach a file

E-mail - disadvantages

Some workers receive so

many e-mails that they
are unable to answer
them all

Computer viruses are

often sent by e-mail

Can send junk mail just

as with conventional post

Video/Tele Conferencing

The use of a computer to send sound and

video images from one computer to
another in real time.

Video/Tele Conferencing

Input/Output Devices needed:

Microphones to capture speech
Headphones or speakers to hear the speech
A web cam is needed to capture images of
themselves
A monitor/screen is used to view the video images

Advantages of Videoconferencing

You can communicate with other people

over long distances and see them as well
as hear them

Videoconferencing is more personal than

just a telephone call

Businesses can use videoconferencing to

hold meetings in which many people can
be involved

There is less need for people to travel

Disadvantages of
videoconferencing

The hardware and software

needed are very expensive

Not many people have

videoconferencing systems

ISDN lines are needed which

are expensive to set-up and
use

There is no substitute for a

face-to-face meeting.

Data types

Data types

Logical/Boolean

Alphanumeric/text

Numeric (real and integer)

Date

A database is made up of tables

Tables are made up from records
Records are made up from fields
Fields have different data types

Data types
Logical/Boolean:

Can have only one of two values

Examples include: true/false, 1 or 0, Yes or

No

Alphanumeric text:

Alphanumeric refers to letters, numbers and

all other characters you see on the
keyboard

Text is just the letters on the keyboard

Data types
Numeric (real and integer)

Real numbers contain numbers after

the decimal point

Integers are whole numbers which can

be positive, negative or zero

Data types
Dates:

There are lots of different

ways of representing a date

Examples include:
dd/mm/yy,
mm/dd/yy,
yyyy-mm-dd

Some important database terms

Field an item of data. Surname would be

a field.

Record the detail relating to a single

thing or person. A record consists of fields.

File a collection of related records.

Table used to hold data with each row

(other than the first) representing a record
and the columns representing fields.

More important terms

Key field:

A piece of data in a database that

is unique to a particular record

In a school database a pupil

number would be unique and
therefore could be used as the key
field

Tables

Consist of rows and

columns

The first row

contains the field
names

Following rows
contain the records

Columns contain
database fields

Relational databases

Data is stored in
more than one table

Tables are linked

Most commercial
databases are
relational databases

Foreign key is a
field of one table
which is also the
key field of another

The problems with flat-file systems

Data redundancy data is duplicated

so more data needs to be entered than
is needed

When a record is deleted then lots of

data which may still be useful is
deleted

The advantages of relational databases

Time is saved by not having to

type as much data

Entering less data means fewer

typing errors

Data redundancy is reduced

Systems analysis and design

VALIDATION AND VERIFICATION

Valid data

Data that is valid is allowable

Valid data has to obey certain rules

Data can be incorrect yet still be valid

Data can be valid

and incorrect
Example:

A person has a date of birth 19/12/87

A user enters it incorrectly as

19/12/78

Both are valid as dates

Yet one is incorrect

Two techniques for

reducing errors

Verification

Validation

Verification

Checks that errors are not introduced

by the user during typing

Checks data entered is the same as on

a source document (e.g., order form,
application form, etc.)

Two methods of verification

Visual comparison checking what has

been typed in against the source of the
data

Double entry of data two people enter

the same data only if both sets of data
are the same will it be accepted

Validation checks include

Data type checks is data entered the right type for

the field (e.g., letters are not entered into a numeric
field)?

Presence checks has a field been left empty?

Length and format checks is data of the right length

and the right combination of characters for a field
(e.g., code FF019J has length 6 characters with first
two letters, the next three numbers and the last a
letter)?

Boolean checks data is either: True or False, Y or N

Consistency checks checks to see if the data in one

field is consistent with the data in another field

Check digits

Added to important numbers such as

bank account numbers, International
Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs).

Added at the end of the block of digits

Used in a calculation using all the digits

to check that all the digits have been
entered correctly

Keeping data safe

and secure

Software copyright theft

Copyright is the right given to software
developers to protect them against
having their work copied.

Software copyright

Software being copied or given to others

Using the name of copyrighted software

without permission

Using the software on a network of more

computers than you have paid for

Software being copied, amended and then

passed off as your own

Computer viruses

Install anti-virus software

Do not open email file

attachments unless you
know who they are from

Do not allow anyone to

attach portable drives
or memory sticks without
scanning them for viruses first

Do not load illegal

games/software/music as these
often contain viruses

Keeping data safe and secure

Passwords and usernames/user-IDs

Levels of access: only certain staff can access

very personal details (e.g., medical records)

Firewalls to prevent hackers

Encryption to prevent unauthorized access

Use of anti-virus software to ensure viruses

do not enter the computer system

Keeping hackers out

Hacking is the process of accessing a

computer system without permission

Most hackers use the Internet to hack

into networks

Protecting against hackers using a firewall

Looks at the data coming in

from the Internet (i.e. the
grey arrows)

If it is allowable it lets it
through (i.e. the green
arrows)

If not it is rejected by the

firewall (i.e. the red wall
shown here)

In this way it stops hackers

http://us.fotolia.com/id/6457669

Protecting data from unauthorized access

Use usernames (userIDs) and passwords

Use encryption when

data is stored or
transmitted (e.g. over
the Internet)

Users must remember

to log off when away
from their computer

Protecting data from unauthorized access

Use physical methods to
prevent access to computers
or computer room such as:

Keypads to gain access to

rooms

Biometric access to rooms

and computers using
fingerprinting or retinal
scanning

Encryption

Scrambles data before

sending or storing data

Used when banking or

credit card details are
sent over the Internet

If data is intercepted
or stolen, it cannot be
understood

The Effects
of Using ICT

Social Divide
On one side those who have the technology
On the other side those who do not

Employment
Technology leads to unemployment ?
Robots can do many
dangerous manual tasks:
Paint spraying
Assembly line
construction

Employment
Technology creates unemployment?

Automated
Warehouse
No people

Employment
Technology causes unemployment?

Printing was
slow, highly
skilled and used
very nasty
chemicals.

Employment
Technology causes unemployment?

Now
printing
uses
software
requiring
no special
skills and
uses no
nasty
chemicals

Employment
Technology creates jobs

People are needed to design, build and

program the robots

Printers re-train to use publishing software

Software and hardware needs to be designed

and created to run the automated warehouse
There is always a net gain of jobs
when new technology is introduced.

Effects of introducing new technology

Retraining to use the new technology e.g.

printers

Machines now do the dirty, unpleasant and

dangerous jobs

Skilled jobs become unskilled e.g. printers

Fewer repetitive, manual jobs

Advantages to
Companies

Reduced labour costs

Higher productivity robots dont need breaks

Greater consistency in the quality of work e.g.

every car is the same

Microprocessor

What are Microprocessors?

Microprocessors in the Home

Microprocessors in the Workplace

Microprocessors in Everyday Life

Advantages

More leisure time as the devices do the work

People can meet other people while the dishwasher is

on

People are becoming more technology-aware

DVD players are plugged into the internet

Disadvantages

People become too dependent on technology

TV dinners unhealthy, convenience food

People become lazy

Society becomes more wasteful of energy

Technology illiterate people get left behind

Information from the

Internet

Can you trust it?

NO!

Quality of Internet
Information
Reliability
Undesirability

of certain

websites
Security

issues (personal
and national)

Other

issues

Reliability of Information
Web info is more up-to-date than books and can be easily
updated
Search engines, e.g.

Make it very easy to find information

However.
Information on the Internet can be:

Unreliable

Inaccurate

Not up-to-date

Biased

As there is no checking process.

Undesirability of certain
websites
There is always a risk of coming across undesirable
websites
Some weblinks may take you to undesirable websites
Security risks are high
Who decides what is undesirable?

Security Issues
Viruses
Phishing Fraud by email tempting you to go to a
website and give away personal information

Phishing Example

Pharming
Fraud where users are re-directed to a fraudulent
website usually by a virus.
Panix - In January of 2005, someone fraudulently changed the
DNS address for the domain panix.com, a New York State Internet
service provider.
Ebay (Germany) - In September 2004, a teenager in Germany
managed to hijack the domain for eBay.de.

SPAM
Unsolicited email
We all get them. Get rich quick, get a green card, Viagra
etc.
Some ISPs filter them out. Some mail systems have
facilities to do your own filtering.

Spyware
Software which
gathers information
from your computer.
Like a virus but its
purpose is to steal
credit card details,
email lists or use
webcams and
broadcast on the
internet.

Cookies
Not biscuits

When I log onto the Amazon website it displays my name. A cookie is used.
Amazon creates a cookie on my machine which the website reads from.
Is a Cookie spyware??

Use of Cookies
Cookies are very small
Websites use them to display targeted advertising
e.g. latest Blu-Ray discs
Cookies enable a website to know if you have used
their website before.
Cookies are easily removed from your computer.
If a website can create a cookie, it can create
anything.

Effect of ICT on Society

Employment

Over the years, the introduction of ICT

has affected employment. Key areas are:

Manufacturing

Warehousing

Other labour intensive areas

Manufacturing

Many tasks in manufacturing have now been

automated with robots that are controlled by
computers.

For example, most cars are now mostly constructed

using robots. The robots can screw and weld parts
together, lift heavy objects easily and paint the car
body.

Warehousing

This is where items on an order list can be

collected automatically by special robots.
The humans then just have to send the order
to the customer.

Labour Intensive Work

Other work can also be done by machines.

A good example is printing newspapers and
magazines. This used to be a very manual
job but can now be automated with
machines.

Advantages of using Robots and

other Machines

Productivity is increased this means that more

work can be done in a shorter time

You dont have to pay the robot wages

They do not need to take breaks

There is also less chance of human errors

The work is consistent the quality is always the

same

It is safer to use robots for dangerous heavy

work

Disadvantages of robots
and other machines

Robots and large manufacturing machines

are expensive to buy in the first place

De-skilled workforce since some of the

highly skilled jobs are now done by robots
and other machines, the jobs that are left
for people to do require less skills and
qualifications

Increased unemployment

Online shopping and

banking

What is it?

This is where you visit a special website (like

Amazon) in order to buy items. You search
for the item you like, click buy and then
enter your delivery address and your credit
card details. After a short time the item you
bought is delivered to your house.

Online shopping and

banking

Advantages

You dont have to leave your house to do it so you

save time and money travelling

There are a wide range of products because you

can get them from all over the world

The products are cheaper because the company

selling them does not have to pay for a shop, so
they save money on rent, heating, lighting, staff
etc

You can shop at any time because the website is

available 24/7

Online shopping and

banking

Disadvantages

Fraud it is possible (although unlikely) that your

credit card details could be stolen and then used by
someone else to buy other things. It is unlikely
because on most websites the information is
encrypted which means that it is converted to a
special code that only the customers computer can
understand

Online shopping and

banking

Disadvantages

You might become lazy or lonely because of a lack of

social interaction with other people

There could be an increase in the health risks

associated with using computers

You cannot try out the product before you buy it

You have to have a computer and internet connection

Online Banking

What is it?

This is a service provided by banks to allow

people to work with their bank accounts
using an internet website.

Because they deal with money and personal

details, online bank websites need to be
secure so they are always encrypted. Also,
users have to put in a username, password
and often another secret code to log in.

Online Banking

Advantages

Online banks have the same type of

advantages as online shops like no need to
travel, saves time and fuel etc

It is also available 24/7

You can get up-to-the-minute information

about your account

Online Banking

Disadvantages

Same type of disadvantages as with online

shopping

Security is particularly important as the website

deals with lots of money and so extra login details
are normally required etc

Effects on Business
Customers using online shopping and banking also
has an effect on businesses and companies.

They can save on the costs of staff and buildings for

their shops/branches

Over the internet they have access to more

customers

They do have to pay to set the online sites up

They might have to employ or train more staff to do

other jobs like deliveries and fixing the website

The effects
of using ICT
INTERNET SHOPPING

Internet/online shopping and

searching for products on websites

Many people search for and order services

and products using the Internet

Online stores have databases of their goods

and services which you can access

You can browse or search for a specific thing

Internet/online shopping

Purchasing goods and services using the

Internet

Customers browse online catalogues

They add goods to their virtual shopping

basket/trolley

They go to the checkout

They then enter their card (debit or

credit) details and other details, which are
encrypted for security reasons

Advantages of online
shopping to customers

Disadvantages of online
shopping to customers

Advantages of online
shopping to the store

Disadvantages of online
shopping to the store

Online booking services

Low cost airlines and ease of booking

mean many people book flights and
hotels direct

Can get impartial reports from others

about resorts and hotels

Can book car rental

Advantages of booking
online

Book from the comfort of your home

More time to look for holidays than when at a

travel agent

Make savings when booking direct because no

travel agent commission to pay

Read reports of people who have been on the

same holiday that we intend to book

Arrange our own travel and accommodation

Find out about the resort before you go

Disadvantages of booking online

You have to enter credit/debit card details and

these may not be kept safe

People could hack into the site and know you

were away and burgle your house

There is no personal service like at a high street

travel agent

You could easily enter the wrong information and

book the wrong flights

Verification of bookings

You are responsible for

entering booking details

You need to carefully

verify data entered

This is done by a visual

check (i.e., proof
reading)

http://www.fotolia.com/id/14190586

Verification of a booking
Need to check:

Credit card number entered is correct by comparing it

again with the number on the actual card

Card expiry date

All the fields that should have data in them contain data

All the name and address details are correct this is

particularly important with flight tickets where the name
on the passport has to match the name on the ticket

Passport numbers against the numbers on the actual

passports

Internet
Developments

Social Networking

A social network site

allows you to post
messages, upload
pictures and stories on
to your own personal
page. This is then
viewed by friends,
family and colleagues.

Blogs

A Blog is a shortened form of the words Web

Log.

A blog is a web site that is intended to offer and

opinion or stories of what is happening to the
author.

They started out

as personal diaries.

Wikis

Wikis are software that allow users to create and edit

web pages. They are often known as web pages with
an edit button.

Wikis should be treated with caution as anyone can

edit them. One famous one is Wikipedia.

Digital Media Sharing

Websites

Digital Media Sharing Websites allow you to upload

and share videos on host websites.

An example of this is Youtube

Folksonomies

A way of adding a tag or classification to data of a

particular type.

For example

http://www.delicious.com/?view=hotlist

Expert Systems

What are they?

An expert system is a computer system that

has been programmed with the knowledge of
real human experts. It can then be given a
situation and it can use logic to apply the
knowledge as if it were a real expert.

For example, a computer chess game is a type

of expert system. It has been programmed
with moves that real chess players have made
and it can use the rules of the game to choose
the best move to make when it is its turn.

Examples

Diagnosing illness (the system acts like a doctor and has

the knowledge of expert doctors programmed into it)

Mineral prospecting this means looking for oil and

other minerals like chalk, limestone and other rocky
type things. Experts like geologists are used to
program the system. The system can then help people
to decide where to dig in order to find oil quickly.

Examples

Other diagnosis like finding faults with car engines or

circuit boards (the system has the knowledge of
mechanics and electronic engineers)

Chess games

Calculating tax tax experts are used to program the

system to help people to work out how much money
they owe the government in tax

Why do we have them?

We have expert systems to help us. For

example, knowledge that experts have can be
saved in the system to be used even when
they are not available (perhaps the experts
are in a different place or even dead).

Why do we have them?

They can save time a doctor might be able

to diagnose an illness quicker because he or
she can use the expert system to help. This
would be quicker than looking up in a book.

They can also help people to do jobs in

which they are not an expert. For example
you might be able to find out what is wrong
with your car by using an expert system.

How do they work?

Expert systems follow these steps when they are

working:

The ES asks the user questions about the problem. These

questions appear on the screen and the user types in the
answers. This is the USER INTERFACE. The questions are
about the symptoms of the problem.

The ES uses the answers. An INFERENCE ENGINE

searches the KNOWLEDGE BASE using the RULE BASE.

The ES then suggests possible answer to the problem.

How do they work?

For example, with diagnosing a fault with a

car, the user will type in things that the
car does or does not do like Does the car
start?

The ES will use the answers to the

questions to perform its searches and then
come up with a list of possible or suggested
faults with the car.

Some Disadvantages

It might be expensive to set up because it is

complicated and you need to get the real
expert opinions.

It is not a person and so does not have

common sense. This means that the person
reading the suggestions (output) needs to
check the answers are sensible in the
situation.

You might need to be trained to use it, which

could be expensive.

The ways in which

ICT is used: Expert
systems

Expert systems

An ICT system that thinks and behaves

like a human expert in a certain field

These are systems that can be used to

mimic a human expert

They use artificial intelligence to make

decisions based on answers to questions

Components

Knowledge base set of knowledge about a

particular field/subject

Inference engine a set of rules on which the

decisions made by the system are based these rules are applied to the knowledge base

User interface the way the expert system

communicates with the user - it presents the
user with questions and allows them to type
in the answers

Applications of expert
systems

Doctors for medical diagnosis

Geologists to help them find the best

place to look for minerals or oil

Accountants for giving tax advice to

individuals/companies

Car engine fault diagnosis

Medical diagnosis

Enables a doctor to make an

accurate diagnosis

Gives a doctor the the

knowledge and decision-making
ability of a consultant in the
field

Enables a patient to be put on

the correct treatment without
delay

Prospecting for
minerals/oil

Can take geological

information from maps to
create the knowledge base

Use knowledge base and apply

the rules in the inference
engine to it

The user can enter locations

using the user interface

The expert system will suggest

the most likely places where
minerals/oil could be found

Giving tax advice to

companies/individuals

Tax is complex

Companies and individuals

want to legally minimize the
tax they pay

Expert systems ask a series of

question to arrive at an
expert decision

Advantages and disadvantages

of expert systems

Advantages

Disadvantages

Fewer mistakes they do not

forget things

Fewer mistakes they do not

forget things

Less time to train human

experts take a long time to train

Less time to train human

experts take a long time to train

More expertise than a single

expert systems based on
expertise of many experts

More expertise than a single

expert systems based on
expertise of many experts

Always asks the questions that a

human expert may forget to ask

Always asks the questions that a

human expert may forget to ask

Cheaper dont have the wage

costs of a human expert

Cheaper dont have the wage

costs of a human expert

Systems analysis and design

VALIDATION AND VERIFICATION

Valid data

Data that is valid is allowable

Valid data has to obey certain rules

Data can be incorrect yet still be valid

Data can be valid

and incorrect
Example:

A person has a date of birth 19/12/87

A user enters it incorrectly as

19/12/78

Both are valid as dates

Yet one is incorrect

Two techniques for

reducing errors

Verification

Validation

Verification

Checks that errors are not introduced

by the user during typing

Checks data entered is the same as on

a source document (e.g., order form,
application form, etc.)

Two methods of verification

Visual comparison checking what has

been typed in against the source of the
data

Double entry of data two people enter

the same data only if both sets of data
are the same will it be accepted

Validation checks include

Data type checks is data entered the right type for

the field (e.g., letters are not entered into a numeric
field)?

Presence checks has a field been left empty?

Length and format checks is data of the right length

and the right combination of characters for a field
(e.g., code FF019J has length 6 characters with first
two letters, the next three numbers and the last a
letter)?

Boolean checks data is either: True or False, Y or N

Consistency checks checks to see if the data in one

field is consistent with the data in another field

Check digits

Added to important numbers such as

bank account numbers, International
Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs).

Added at the end of the block of digits

Used in a calculation using all the digits

to check that all the digits have been
entered correctly

Systems
Analysis

We Are Learning To

Explore the different stages of

the Systems Lifecycle

Identify and describe in detail

what happens at each of the
different stages.

Systems Analysis
What

is it?

Systems

Analysis and Design is the process we use in

business to make sure that when we do a new project for
a customer we deliver the correct thing at the end.

To

do this we have to:

investigate
ask

the problem

the customer questions

design

the solution to the problem using the answers to the

questions and the investigation to help us get it right

In

ICT we are talking about designing new computer programs or

systems.

The

process involves several different stages.

Analysis

This is where we (the systems analyst)

do two things.

We find out exactly how the old or existing

system works. This is because we cant
replace it with a new system if we dont know
how the old one works.

We find out how the customer wants to

improve on their existing system. Normally
someone who wants to buy a new computer
system is in some way unhappy with the old
one.

Analysis

How do we do this?

There are 4 ways that we perform analysis, they are

Observation, Questionnaires, Interviews and Looking
at existing documents. We need to know about all of
these.

Analysis

Observation This is where the systems analyst simply

watches people doing their work using the old system.

Advantages

You can see exactly what is going on

It does not cost much money

The information is reliable

Disadvantages

Some staff dont like being watched and so they might be

uncomfortable. This means that they might not do everything in
the normal way.

Analysis

Questionnaires This is where the systems analyst creates a

list of questions about the old system and gives them to many
employees to answer.

Advantages

Making questionnaires does not cost much money

The questions can be answered quite quickly: many people can give you their answers
all at the same time.

The people answering the questions may not need to give their names (they are
anonymous)

A computer can be used to check the answers

Disadvantages

People might not take them seriously and give silly answers or not give in the papers
at all (if it is anonymous)

The questions are fixed if you were with the person answering, you might think of
another question to ask them based on their answer. With a questionnaire you cannot
ask new questions like this

Analysis

Interviews This is where the analyst has a face to face

conversation with the customer to ask them about the old
system and the way it works.

Advantages

You can ask extra questions based on the answers given the questions are
flexible

You can ask questions that have much longer answers than on a questionnaire to
give in depth knowledge

Disadvantages

It takes a long time as the analyst has to sit with each person individually

This makes it expensive too as it takes up a lot of the analysts time

Obviously, the person being interviewed cannot be anonymous

Analysis

Looking at existing paperwork this is where the

systems analyst collects examples of all the different
printouts that come from the old system and then looks
at them very closely.

Advantages

There is some information that can only be collected in this way

It also gives the analyst information about how many prints the system
produces

Disadvantages

For looking in detail to be done properly, a lot of time must be taken

This means that it can be quite an expensive method of doing analysis

Design

This is where the person doing the design (could be the systems
analyst or could be a new person - the system designer it depends on
the size of the project), takes the results of the analysis and
designs a new way of solving the problem. There are many things
that need to be designed.

Data capture forms

Screen layouts for input screens

Output forms and reports

System Flow Charts

Design
Data

capture forms

These are the paper forms that are used to gather the data that
is to be input into the new system

Design

Screen layouts for input screens

These are the designs of the screen displays that users of the system
will see and use

Design

Output forms and reports

When the computer is asked for information by the user, the screen
display it shows is called an output form, and the way this form looks
has to be designed.

The users can also ask the computer for printed output and these are
called reports. The layout of the reports (i.e. The columns that are
shown, the width of the columns, the column titles, the colour of the
writing etc) all have to be designed.

Design

System Flow Charts

This is a description of how the system will work that uses special flow
chart symbols (or shapes). Part of a flow chart might look like this:

Design

Select the hardware that is needed

The designer will also have to decide which type of computers

will be needed for the new system. He or she will need to say
how large the hard disks will need to be, how much memory the
computer will need, how big the screen will be, the type of
processors the computers will need etc.

Design

Select any software that is needed

As well as writing new programs (or applications) some projects

can be completed by using software that already exists.

For example a person who needed to do the accounts for their

business could use a spreadsheet package. So selecting software
is also something a designer might do. Also doing the new
project might mean the a new operating system is required (e.g. a
newer version of Windows).

Design

Design the test plan

Every type of computer system will need to be tested to check that it

works properly.

To do the testing properly to make sure everything is tested, there

must be a plan that says which tests are needed and what we expect
the result to be.

For each of the tests, the designer has to decide on which data is to
be typed in as part of the test.

There are 3 types of test data:

Normal

Extreme

Abnormal

Design

Design the test plan

Normal Normal data is data that we expect the system to allow.

For example, if there were a box to type in the year group, any
number between 1 and 13 should be allowed. If any of these
values is not allowed then the test has failed.

Extreme Extreme data is the two values at the upper and lower
limits of the range so in the example of year groups, the extreme
data would be 1 and 13. They should be allowed by the system.

Abnormal Abnormal data is data that the system should not

allow at all. In our example any number greater than 13 or less
than 1 should not be allowed. The number 25 would be abnormal
data in this case and should be rejected by the system.

Design

Verification and Validation Rules

Another thing the designer must design is the verification and

validation rules.

These are the checks that the system uses on the data that is
entered.

The tests in the above section are designed to test whether the
validation rules are working properly.

Design

Verification and Validation Rules

Validation

This is where the computer checks to see if the data that is entered is valid.

Valid means that the data is allowable and sensible.

IT CANNOT CHECK THAT THE DATA IS CORRECT, because it doesnt

already know the correct values.

There are many types of validation rule (see sheet), but the main ones are
Length Check, Range Check and Presence Check.

Design

Verification and Validation Rules

Verification

This is a process that can be used to check if information is correct when it

is entered into a computer system. There are two ways of doing this:

Double entry this is where the computer asks the user to enter the same
data twice. The computer compares the two and if they are the same it says
the data is correct or incorrect.

Visual Check often data entered into a computer is copied from somewhere
else like a piece of paper, for example an application form on paper will be
copied into a computer system. A visual check is where a person compares
the information on the original paper with the information that has been
entered. When errors are spotted they are corrected.

Development

This is where the system that has been designed is

made. Computer programmers (the people that write
programs) will create any databases that are needed, the
screen layouts, the reports, all the calculations and the
verification and validation routines.

Testing

Once the development (or parts of the development) is

finished, they will be tested using the test plan that was
designed in the design stage.

Sometimes when the system is very large, it will be

tested in smaller pieces before being put together.

Otherwise the tests would be very long and confusing.

Implementation

This is where the completed and tested system is finally

given to the customer.

There are 4 ways of doing this:

Direct

Parallel

Pilot

Phased.

Each of them has their own advantages and

disadvantages (see sheet).

This is sometimes called changeover as the customer has

to change over from the old system to the new one.