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Capabilities and Limitations of ICT.

Capabilities and Limitations of ICT. M A Fletcher Thursday, 09 October 2014. AIMS :.

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Capabilities and Limitations of ICT.

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  1. Capabilities and Limitations of ICT. M A Fletcher Thursday, 09 October 2014

  2. AIMS : 1. Understand that ICT systems offer fast repetitive processing, vast storage capability, the facility to search and combine data in many different ways which would otherwise be impossible. This can provide quality information. 2. Understand that the response speed of technology within ICT systems facilitates the use of feedback, e.g. maintenance of optimum stock levels, electronic fund/money management systems. 3. Understand that there are limitations in the use of ICT systems and in the information they produce. Factors could include hardware, software and communications limitations in addition to inappropriate data models and data control mechanisms.

  3. What is ICT? • A tool for working with information. • Information is as valuable a resource as capital or people. • Accessible, accurate and up-to-date information aids decision-making. • Data can be collected and analysed for a specific purpose, or used for a variety of purposes. • NB Data Protection Act!

  4. Why is ICT used? • Volume of data • Accuracy • Repetition • Complexity • Speed • Communication • Improved company image

  5. Try It! Group Exercise • From the information held in the database supplied, time how long it takes you to select: • Countries in Europe, who import machinery and transport equipment, and whose area is less than 0.04. • The countries of Europe, in alphabetical order of capital city, then remove those countries with population less than 10 million. • English-speaking countries, not in Europe, in order of their population density. • Countries whose capital city begins with the letter "B", and do not export machinery and chemicals, in order of their area. • How long did it take? • How long would it take using ICT?

  6. Quality of information • Quality of information is influenced by the following factors: • Accuracy / precision • Recency / ‘up-to-date-ness’ • Frequency of presentation / timeliness • Content / level of detail / relevance

  7. Question: • Name and describe three features of a non-computerised system that might make it advantageous to introduce a computerised system.

  8. Feedback: • “the use of data from sensors as input to the controlling program. In this way the result of previous actions becomes input which contributes to selecting the next action. “ (BCS Glossary of terms) • Case Studies • Greenhouse • Supermarket (stock control)

  9. There are limitations to what ICT systems can do: An example of technical or hardware limitation: Other examples might be: • the processor is too slow for the task demanded of it • the hard disk can’t retrieve data quickly enough • the printer resolution is too low so the pictures look grainy • The speed of input into the computer and the speed with which output is produced.

  10. Sometimes the software has limits e.g. • a database reaches the limit of possible files open in DOS. • a database can only hold a certain maximum number of fields in a record • a spreadsheet can only be a certain number of cells • badly designed / non-functioning software.

  11. Communication Limitations (NB: Communication includes applications such as Internet telephony, voice mail, teleconferencing, etc) • Bandwidth is a measure of the speed at which data can be transferred along a communication line. • Bandwidth is limited at the moment, and this has prevented real-time video and audio for videoconferencing.

  12. ‘People’ limitations: • Job losses. • Managers may become overloaded with information. • Garbage in, garbage out!

  13. Questions on this topic: • Describe a situation you have studied where the introduction of an ICT system has not been carried out due to the limitations of that system. (6) • Describe some typical limitations an ICT system might possess. (4) • The introduction of an ICT system has produced no advantages over the previous manual system. How could this happen? (6) • Try also Exercises 1 – 4 at the end of Chapter 9 (Heathcote AS ICT)

  14. Case Study : Ford and Microsoft • What benefits will the new system bring to dealers, manufacturers and customers? • Can you see any problems arising from the new system?

  15. Exercise 2, Chapter 9: • A college maintains an extensive database of its full-time students. The database contains personal data, the courses students attend, and higher education or employment applications. • Describe how the college might keep the personal data of the students up to date. (3) • The college wishes to sell the personal data to a local sports retailer. An agreement is to be written between the college and the retailer. Describe three issues, relating to the data, that should be included in the agreement. (3)

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