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The ways in which ICT is used

Communication Interactive Data handling Measurement Control Modelling Business Schools Booking systems Banking Medicine Libraries Expert systems Retail Desktop publishing and word processing; newsletters, websites, multimedia presentations, flyers, posters, business cards blogs, wikis, social network websites surveys, contact lists, school reports, school records scientific experiments, environmental and weather conditions air conditioning, greenhouses, central heating, electronic gadgets simulators, spreadsheets, financial models billing systems, stock control, e-commerce, m-commerce electronic registration, school reports, school records theatre, travel EFT, ATM, Internet banking, phone banking, credit/debit cards expert system diagnostics, patient records, pharmacy records members, books, issuing systems geological surveys, medical diagnostics, car engine diagnostics, share dealing stock control, POS, EFTPOS, Internet shopping

On the following pages are examples of some of the applications listed above.

IGCSE ICT Cambridge University Press 2010

Revision notes: Module 7 1

Control systems
Computer systems are used in a variety of control situations including domestic appliances such as washing machines and large industrial processes such as glass manufacture. Any control system can be broken down into the stages of input, processing and output.
Input

Sensors take readings at regular time intervals and send the readings to the computer. Sensors may be measuring temperature, pressure, water flow, wind speed.
Processing

The computer compares these readings and decides what action to take.
Output

The computer sends output signals to devices which control motors/heaters/switches.

Process control
Process control is an example of a real-time system. Data is processed as soon as the computer receives it, allowing the system to respond immediately to any changes.
Advantages

Immediate response Fewer staff needed System can work 24/7, 365 days per year Used where it may be dangerous for people.

Disadvantages

Greater unemployment Large initial cost of setting up the system.

IGCSE ICT Cambridge University Press 2010

Revision notes: Module 7 2

Library systems
Every book in the library has a bar code printed inside it. When a new member joins, a card is issued containing a bar code. When a member borrows or returns a book, the barcodes of the book and the members card are read by a bar code reader.
Input

The bar code from the book The bar code from the members card The date

Process

If the book is being returned, the system will calculate if any book is overdue and any fines to pay.
Output

The library system is a real-time system as a book is taken out or returned the database is immediately updated. The database can be searched for any book to find if it is currently in stock in the library or whether it is out on loan.

IGCSE ICT Cambridge University Press 2010

Revision notes: Module 7 3

Billing systems
Invoice billing systems The company has a database of all its customers. As well as name and address, this includes details such as previous order history and possibly payment method.
Input

At regular intervals, customers submit their orders via the Internet, by post or by telephone.
Processing

The invoice for each customer is calculated by the computer. A billing system is usually run as a batch processing system. Large volumes of data may be entered and then processed when all the data has been collected. Often the bill processing may be run at off-peak times (e.g. overnight). The database is updated in the billing process. A backup copy of the database is made before this is done. The files can then be re-created and the whole process repeated with no loss of data.
Output

Depending on their payment method with the company, the invoice is posted or emailed to the customer and payment will be made electronically. Otherwise the customer will send payment to the company after receiving the invoice.

IGCSE ICT Cambridge University Press 2010

Revision notes: Module 7 4

Booking systems
Many people now book on-line for holidays, trains, planes, hotel rooms and theatre tickets.
Input

When a booking is made, the customer will need to provide input details (name, date, place, number of people etc.). These details may be entered by: a ticket/booking agency, at a computer terminal in a multi-access system; an individual person, on a form on an Internet web page; the company, by transcribing them from a paper booking form posted to them or input during a telephone booking.
Processing

This data is validated and checks are made for availability, the booking is made and details saved in the database. On-line payments for the booking are required and can generally be made using a credit or debit card from a secure web page (or over the counter). As soon as the booking has been processed, no other customer can make the same booking. This is a real-time (transaction processing) system.
Output

Documents will need to be printed for the customer and sent, but these are often printed at home by the customer as an e-ticket.

IGCSE ICT Cambridge University Press 2010

Revision notes: Module 7 5

Stock control
Stock control is the name given to the process where the number of items for sale in a shop is under constant examination. A stock control system: keeps track of how many of each item are in stock; decides (using the in-built rules and stock reorder level) if items need to be reordered from their suppliers; analyses sales to determine which items are selling well. The computer stores a master file with records of every item sold in the shop. As an item is sold, the barcode is scanned and the computer will deduct 1 from the stock level for that item. The computer will therefore know exactly how many of each item is in stock. Once the number of items falls below the reorder level then the computer is able to automatically order new stock from the supplier. This is another example of a real-time system.

IGCSE ICT Cambridge University Press 2010

Revision notes: Module 7 6

Payroll systems
At the end of each month or week, employees have to be paid. A payroll system uses a computer to calculate the salaries, print out payslips, record the information for financial accounts and arrange for the money to be transferred to the employees bank accounts.
Input

Employees database (salaries, pay rates, bonus rates etc.) If employees are paid by the hour then the number of hours worked and number of hours overtime are needed.

Process

Calculate: actual pay deductions such as tax net amount for each employee. A payroll system is usually run as a batch processing system. Large volumes of data may be entered and then processed when all the data has been collected. Often the payroll processing may be run at off-peak times (e.g. overnight). The employee database is updated in the payroll process. A backup copy of the database is made before this is done. The files can then be re-created and the whole process repeated with no loss of data.
Output

Print payslips with actual pay, deductions and net amount. Update the employee database. Pay money directly into employees bank accounts.

IGCSE ICT Cambridge University Press 2010

Revision notes: Module 7 7

Expert systems
Expert systems, also known as knowledge-base systems, simulate human knowledge and suggest solutions to given problems. The four parts of a medical expert system are: the facts about illnesses and conditions the knowledge base; the means of asking questions and getting responses from the system the user interface or human computer interface (HCI); the set of rules which the data has to abide by the rule base; the program that can apply the rules to the data in order to get sensible results the inference engine.
Examples:

medical diagnosis engine diagnostics energy conservation geological surveys commodity prices share dealing.

Limitations

Training is needed to operate the system. Knowledge base is only as good as the experts who set up the system. Could become out of date as knowledge improves.

Medical diagnosis using expert systems The patients details and symptoms are input, and the system outputs probable diagnoses, recommended treatments or drugs which may be prescribed.
The advantages of an expert system over a doctor are: database knowledge can be kept up to date; system can store more specialised knowledge than a non-specialist doctor; system cannot forget or get facts wrong, provided the original rules were correct; no loss of knowledge as there would be when a doctor leaves.

IGCSE ICT Cambridge University Press 2010

Revision notes: Module 7 8

Robotics
A robot can carry out the same task over and over again, and it can be reprogrammed to change the task. Used on repetitive work and jobs that may be dangerous Robotic systems are real-time systems. Any data the processor receives from the sensors will be processed immediately. An embedded system contains a ROM chip which has special software to control a machine. This software will run continuously. The program processes the data and sends output signals to motors to control the robot.
Advantages

Robots: work 24/7 no need for breaks do not have to be paid work consistently no mistakes.
Example (in car-making factory)

The jobs may include: welding or assembling parts paint spraying moving heavy parts around the factory.

IGCSE ICT Cambridge University Press 2010

Revision notes: Module 7 9