WJEC AS ICT - Topic 5

Main advantages of ICT

Repetitive processing

• Processors are very fast. Similar tasks are repeated ovr and over again with a few small changes.
• Used in billing systems for utility bills
• Performing a mailmerge
• Sending email to multiple recipients
• Template style sheet

Speed of processing

• Depends on the speed of processor, speed of communications (if online) and speed at which data arrives
• Faster processing - less time to get outputs

Data storage capacity

• Cost of digital storage has fallen, organisations can store a lot more data than they used to . They have come to realise that the more data they hold the more they can process to get useful information

Speed of searching

• Manual searching for information can take a long time, computers are fast and specific conditions can be entered

Accuracy

• Computers make no mistakes when programmed correctly, therefore computers are more accuarate

Speed of data communications

• Broadband/fibre means that companies have fast access to information, Leads to online 24Hr orders being a thing

The ability to produce different output formats

• Numerical data can be put into many formats such as text, tables, graphs and pictures.

Abiliy to search and combine data

• Databases can have complex search conditions used on them. Search data can be incomplete. E.g. Police can search all white ford fiestas with a number plate that stars MT and ends in 08. This would be impossible using manual systems

Improved security

• Easy to back up
• Fewer mistakes during processing
• Better security

Factors affecting the efficiency of data processing systems

Effects of hardware

• Certain software will only run if minimum requirements are met
• Speed of processing depends on type and speed of processor and amount of RAM

Effects of software

• Needs to suit the purpose (DTP for leaflet, WPS for documents)
• Poorly designed software frustrates users - bugs, cause crashes and loss of data
• If no software…