2-9 What is ICT

ICT is the use of technology for the input, processing storage, transfer and output of information

2 - Whats is an IT system?
 This is a procedure that involves, procession & output. A system does not always have to be a virutal system it can be a manual system as well.

3 - What is an ICT system?
This is where the output from the system goes directly to a human being or another ICT system.

4 - Components of ICT systems

The following are examples of compoments in an ICT system:
- People

• No ICT system can work without people being involved. One of the main stages is the analysis, desgin & the implementation of they system (Each linked to the clients requirements)
• After this there will need to be the occasiaonal maintinence

- Data

• This is the Raw facts and figures for examples numbers such as 40,50,34,72 are raw figures or A,C, G,E etc.
• Data is inputed using various hardware devices, the most common is a keyboard. Others could include a Bar-code Scanner, Digital camera or a Microphone.

- Procedures

• For an ICT system to work it requires  procedures. Procedures are a set a series of instructionsv which are conducted in a certain order or manner.
• Examples would be the Data proctection act, Computer misuse act & Copyright.
• Having procedures helps to protect data and can also help in communication such as everyone using the same hardware.

- Software

• Software is a program created to run hardware, meeting the users requirements. The choice of the software implemented by a company would depend on the role it will have for the company. Examples of this would be:
• Word processors
• Webpage designs
• Spreadsheets
• Desktop Publishing

- Hardware

• Hardware is the physical components of a Computer such as the Hardrive. The type of component chosen depends on the needs of the system, for example a supermarket system needs a VDU, visual display unit to show the weight and price of a product to the customer. Specialist output devices such as colour laser printers could be used, or normal peripherals such a keyboard which is an input device.
• There are 5 main hardware types:

• Input devices e.g. Keyboard, Scanner
• Processors e.g. CPU
• Output devices e.g. Printer, Monitor
• Ports & cables e.g. USB Univesal serial bus, Serial
• Storage Devices e.g. Hard drive, CD-RW, Memory sticks

- Information

• The final output of a system is called information. Information is data that has been processed such as a calculation,e.g. 2+2 = 4, 4 is the information  that is outputted by the system.