Topic 5: Capabilities and limitations of ICT Flashcards
Repetitive processing
Repeatedly carrying out the same task to the same standard.
For example: printing council tax bills all contain similar “base” data but different names and addresses of residents.
Speed of processing (no need to learn for mock)
Some processes require a great deal of data to be processed quickly to get acceptable results.
Speed of processing allows for intensive-care monitoring of patient’s condition, with on-screen moving images (CAT and MRI are other examples of medical systems that depend on massive computer processing to generate images from directly captured data) - speed is crucial in providing doctors with detailed results quickly.
Speed of searching
Very fast searching through large file directories is possible.
Users are able to locate files based on filename, data of creation or on particular strings of text within the file. This high speed makes internet searches possible, using a web browser and search engines.
Speed of data communications
Messages sent out across the world instantaneously.
A radiologist can receive x-ray scans via the internet at home - and can work for several different hospitals at the same time without time-consuming travel. (This would not be practical if he/she had to wait hours for each download).
Data storage capacity
Millions of records can be physically stored in a very small hard disc.
Hospitals are now storing x ray images, CAT scans, MRI scans and ultra sound video as digital computer files. This requires very large storage capacity, especially for colour graphics and video images.
Ability to produce different output formats
Information can be produced in tabular or graphical format.
Data can be combined and outputs as graphs, charts, reports, graphic images, moving video or even sound. One example is school attendance data which can be printed out once a week as a report with graphs for the headmaster or a daily table for the head of year showing names of a students who are late.
Accuracy (with context)
Calculations are carried out consistently.
Example: In a spreadsheet for working out quotes for a stationary company if formula and data are correct then calculations will be correct. You must not write, using a spell checker, or there will be no errors
What are the factors that efficiency of data processing system
- software
- insufficient testing
- maintenance procedures
- effective backups
Software (efficiency of data)
Are there compatibility issues between two different types of software? Head office may send out a report in a format that the branches cannot read/use.
New software needs to be compatible with existing software for example on invoicing system.
Insufficient (efficiency of data)
Has the system been checked in all sorts of situations? If a system is fine processing 20 records will it be ok with 20,000 or will it need upgrading?
Maintenance procedure
Is there someone whose job it is to keep the system up to date? For example, a technician wo can add memory modules to allow for new software to be run.
Effective backups
If the system gets a virus that wipes all the customer records, is there an effective backup and restore procedure?
