Emily Wang 11IPT6

Information Processes
There are seven information processes, each process has elements of:
The types of information or data being dealt with and the form in which it is represented
Specific hardware and software, procedures, people and groups and issues. Ergonomic considerations and
the relationship among information technologies and the environments in which they are used must also be
addressed.
COLLECTING the process by which data is captured or entered into a computer
Collecting is the information process that involves deciding what to collect, locating it and collecting it. A range of
hardware devices are used to collect different types of data. Software is used to direct the hardware collection
device. Non-Computer tools are used to collect data from particular sources.
The data that was collected for my information system included:
The documents needed for my website, which included past projects and study notes
The hardware such as USB and hard drive
The information needed for information processes and the SDLC
The images to edit for my digital manipulation project
Social and Ethical Issues in Collecting:
Bias within the collecting process
o The result of bias collection of data can lead to inaccurate data which can then lead to inaccurate
outputs from the system
o Identifying a suitable source of collection of data is another potential area for bias can occur
o The collecting process itself should take into account the perceptions held by those whom collects
the data
Inaccuracy of the collected
o Data validation and data verification should be performed inaccuracy
Privacy concerns of individuals
o The collecting process is where personal information is collected into the information system
o Collecting must be necessary, it is only accepted to be collected by an organisation to carry out on of
its functions not one of its potential functions
Failure to acknowledge the source of data
o Copyright is breached if the data within an existing database is copied without permission and
acknowledgement
Computer and Non-Computer Tools in Collecting
There are many types of hardware collection devices used for different types of data. The devices that are used to
specifically to enter data into a computer system are referred to as input devices. Hardware devices I used are input
devices such as my mouse and keyboard.
Software used for collecting include the software that interfaces with hardware collection devices. The software I
used was the operating system.
Non computer Tools used for this system were books for information.
ORGANISING the process by which data is structured into a form appropriate for use by other information
processes
Emily Wang 11IPT6
Organizing is the process that arranges, represents and formats data for use by other information processes. It is
carried out after the data is collected.
The data that needed to be organised in my information system included:
The documents under each tab, such as my study notes under the study notes tab
What tabs to use in my website and what to put underneath them
My projects into a logical order
Social and Ethical Issues in Organizing:
The ability of software to access different types of data
o Software applications no longer operate on a single media type, they are able to access and also
process data of various types
Consequences of advances in display technology
o Advances in display technologies allow media of various types to be organised and displayed more
efficiently and at a higher quality
Computer and Non-Computer Tools in Organising
Hardware devices digitise data, translating data into binary digits. The different methods of organizing data affect
how it is processed. There is a range of application software for organizing data in a variety of formats. Organizing
data so without a computer is called keeping a hard copy. Image programs such as Photoshop used in my projects
for my information system organise data be treating pixels individually.
Non-computer tools were not used in my system.
ANALYSING - the process by which data can be represented and summarised so that humans can better understand it
Analysing is the interpretation of the data once it has been collected and organized. Once the data has been given
meaning by people it is called information.
The data that needed to be analysed in my information system included:
Which study notes are which, putting them under the right subject
All the software used that analysed the data I inputted to display as information
Social and Ethical Issues in Analysing:
Unauthorised analysis of data
o Organisations that hold data on individuals are required to disclose how much data will be used
o There is a difference between legally collecting personal data and legally analysing such data,
disclosure of the purpose and detail of both these processes require the consent of the individual
Data incorrectly analysed
o The data may be correct, but the analytical process may be incorrect which can result being
misleading
o Techniques used to communicate information after analysis can result in misleading information
being communicated
o Identifying future trends based on past data, in accuracies may occur
Computer and Non-Computer Tools in Analysing
Depending on the data that is being analysed the hardware may be made to perform a large number of
computations with a very high degree of precision. Because of these large requirements a computer needs a vast
Emily Wang 11IPT6
amount of storage space as well as RAM which was a computer tool used in my system. No non computer tools were
used but searching though filing systems to retrieve documents is an example of analysing.
STORING AND RETRIEVING the two step process by which data or information can be saved and reloaded
Storing and retrieving data is a two-step process for retaining data. Storing saves data and information for later use;
retrieving obtains the data and information that has been previously saved.
The data that needed to be stored and retrieved in my information system included:
Retrieving stored data for projects and study notes. E.g. Study notes from previous years, projects from
previous years that are stored in my USB
Storing data onto the Weebly server for my website
Social and Ethical Issues in storing and retrieving:
Stored data can only be accessed and used by authorised persons for authorised purposes
o The use of passwords and encryption techniques are effective in prevention of unauthorised users
Computer and Non-Computer Tools in Storing and Retrieving
Primary storage such as RAM and ROM play a vital role in storing and retrieving as well as secondary storages such as
USBs and hard drives that were used in my system. Software controls and directs the operation of all hardware.
Software causes hardware to perform processes that ultimately assist in achieving the systems purpose. Also many
paper based storages were used before the advancements of technology, libraries used paper storages to store
collections of information to prove efficient process for its retrieval.
PROCESSING a method by which data can be manipulated in different ways to produce a new value or result
Processing is the manipulation of data by editing and updating it. It is necessary to select appropriate hardware for
specific types of processing.
The data that needed to be processed in my information system included:
Word Processing of my word documents
Image processing for the images used for my projects
Social and Ethical Issues in Processing
Ownership of processed data
o The creator or collector of data is considered the owner of the data but if there is a significant
amount to be processed it is unclear whether or not the data remains the original owners
Bias in the way data is processed
o Attempting to exclude any form of bias is difficult due to the natural human condition to be bias
o Expectations should not be allowed to influence the processing taking place
Computer and Non-Computer Tools in Processing
Processing takes place in the CPU. Other hardware tools that influence the effectiveness off the CPUs operation are
the RAM and lines connecting the CPU and other hardware components. Different softwares are available for
processing of each different media types. All data within computers is ultimately processed in binary therefore all
processing is altering binary digits. Non computer tools that were used for processing were documenting procedures
on paper. This was a much less efficient and timely way to process data. No non-computer tools were used for my
system.
Emily Wang 11IPT6
TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING the process that transfers information and data within and between information
systems
Transmitting and receiving is the transfer of data and information within and between information systems.
The data that needed to be transmitted and received in my information system included:
Transmitting that data onto the school system, the shared drive
Transmitting and receiving from the Weebly server
Social and Ethical Issues in Transmitting and Receiving:
Quality of information received from the internet
o Accuracy are the sources acknowledged
o Authority who wrote or is responsible for the information
o Objectivity is the information free of advertising
o Currency is it up to date
o Coverage - is the information complete or under construction
Security of data being transferred
o Data usually travels through a generally unknown series of servers
o Data that is not encrypted can be views and even altered by anyone with access
o Encryption can be added by users or by ISPs
Computer and Non-Computer Tools in Transmitting and Receiving
A modem which is the main device I used in my system, is a device that enables data to be transmitted from one
computer to another. It converts digital signals sent from a computer into analogue signals suitable for transmission.
All application software transmits and receives data within an individual computer. Special communications software
is used to send and receive data or packets over network communications and using modems. The software I used is
nearly all programs used in the system including the web browser. The data saved on my Weebly website must be
transmitted over to the Weebly server.
Non-computer tools such as mail or telephone system are used to transmit and receive as well. None however were
using my system.
DISPLAYING the method by which information is output from the system to meet a purpose
Displaying is presenting the output from an information system to meet a given purpose. It is the presentation of
information in the form of text, numerals, images, audio and video.
The data that needs to be displayed in my information system included:
The finished information system, the website on a monitor
The projects in different programs
The word documents need to be displayed on Microsoft Word
Social and Ethical Issues in Displaying:
Communication skills of those presenting displays
Appropriate displays for the visually impaired
o Most information is visually displayed using screens or printers
o There is software to alter the colour and size of displayed for those disabled
o Braille screens and embosses can replace standard screens and printers
Emily Wang 11IPT6
Computer and Non-Computer Tools in Displaying
Hardware for displaying includes screens, printers, speakers and plotters, commonly referred to as output devices. I
used a screen as my display surface, which provides an immediate feedback about what the computer is doing and
showing my website. Also printers were used to receive the assessment notice for this assessment.
Software applications all display some sort of data. Tables from excel display data and is what I used to create and
show my gannt chart.
Non computer tools display information not technology based, such as storyboards that are drawn on paper. I used
paper to draw a rough estimate of what my website would look like.