Worksheet

THE INFORMATION PROCESSING CYCLE

The phases of information processing or the information processing cycle (IPC) are the steps that data must follow to become useful information. What is the difference between data and information? Data is raw information or a collection of facts. For example, In a Super 66 draw the balls that are drawn are all individual pieces of data. Information is the processed data that has passed through the IPC. It is meaningful and allows an organisation to make decisions and solve problems. For example, when all six drawn balls are placed in their correct order, they become a piece of information. Examine the following supermarket cash register computerised system Unjumble the processing cycle phases into a logical order. Link the phases with the appropriate explanation and supermarket example. Phase Manipulation Acquisition Explanation Transmitting the information to those who require it. Deleting information once it has been used Example Products and their prices Cash register system rejects prices which exceed a certain amount or cash register system indicates to user if a bar code does not scan Screen base for cashier hard copy print out of receipt for customer The ongoing calculations of the products Handing over the hard copy receipt to the customer Flat bed bar code readers used to transmit data to the cash register Archiving the years transactions and storing them off site Hard disk is used as the primary storage device. This gives management a statement of all transactions at the end of each day Locate and call back the processed daily transactions

Storage Input Validation Disposal Output Retrieval

Checking the data for completeness and accuracy Displaying the information in a suitable format for the user Saving for later use Opening a saved file The processing of data to produce information Gathering of data ready to be processed

Communication

Data is entered into the computer system

ipc