Information Technology

a collection of unprocessed items.

Examples of Data:

• include text, numbers, images audio, video

is processed data that conveys meaning.

Examples of information:

• Grocery list

• A recipe

• Directions

• books - comprehensive (depth), not very current

• journals – reliable, authoritative, current, have depth

• magazines – current, may incur cost

• newspapers – available, current, little or no cost, needs to be evaluated, may not have depth

• online libraries/electronic databases – reliable, may be costly

• websites - Interesting, informative, sometimes biased.

• people – available, relevant, not the most reliable

• how appropriate or relevant the information is (e.g. does information is (e.g. does information exist on the country or area in which the research is to be done, it is related to the age group being studied),

• whether multiple sources are required (e.g. background information may come from journals and students could be surveyed or interviewed to obtain primary information),

• the amount of depth required (e.g. will students need to interviewed, will only a small number of schools be selected or will it be an island-wide survey),

• the audience for a publication, stakeholders in the Health Ministry or the entire country at large)

- (input) - Data captured or entered from surveys/questionnaires/interviews or observations

- (processing) for example, data needs to be analysed,

- (Storage) data stored for later use

- (Output/transmit) information presented using charts, graphs, diagrams etc.;

- (Feedback/ data and information can be evaluated/updated via the input stage

Chart or graph depicting some output

Examples of analogue output:

1. Sound (bell ringing)

2. Siren (blinking lights of siren)

• search engine

• social media tools

• conferencing tools

• cross-platform messaging tools
  

  Reasons: Appropriate, timely, current, reliable

• computing

• software engineering

• computer engineering

• Information systems

• IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

• BCS (British Computer Society)

• ACM (Association for Computing Machinery)

• AIS (Applied Information Sciences)

• Users provide input to the system (1 mark) (via various devices) for the correct functioning of the system (1 mark)

• Users receive output from the system (1 mark) via various output devices and formats (1 mark) and interpret these outputs

• Users monitor the system (1 mark) to detect problems (1 mark) OR provide solutions/decision-making and feedback when problems occur (1 mark)

The section of software which defines how a user interacts/works with/responds to a computer

• Command Line (1 mark): instructions or commands (1 mark) are typed from a console

• OR No (1 mark) option to choose an item from a menu or selecting an icon (1 mark) (any key terms in description = 1 mark)

• Menu driven (1 mark): provides a list of options similar to a meal menu (1 mark), user makes a selection in order to activate a process (1 mark). (any key terms in description = 1 mark)

• Graphical User Interface (1 mark): uses pointers or pointing devices (1 mark), icons, menus, desktop and other computer graphics capabilities to facilitate a process / communicate with users (1 mark).

Command line (1 mark): accesses a computer's operating system or an application faster (1 mark); uses less memory (1 mark); a set of commands can be linked together or typed in a batch file (1 mark) to achieve a range of results

A Virtual private network (VPN) (1 mark); it provides a user with a secure connection to a company network.

Star topology

It depends on the central node called a hub or a switch for the transmission of data. All data is passed through this device so that the network is not dependent on inter computer connections for communication. (1 mark)

coding or scrambling of information (1 mark) so that it can only be decoded (1 mark) and read by someone who has the correct decoding key; used in secure documents. (1 mark)

individual, company, entity or account holder has their identity confirmed to allow access to accounts and services. (1 mark) It usually refers to the entry of a series of username and password, PIN codes, security keys, commands or biometric data for comparison and matching or verification to information (1 mark) stored in a database.

access is reduced through procedures and security principles, limited privileges and segregation of duties

Example:

• (user id) and password

• encryption

• antivirus software

• firewall software,

a tangible (capable of being touched) measure or device is used to allow someone to gain access to the computer system

Examples:

• lock

• swipe card

• firewall hardware

• biometric device

A DFD is a graphical representation (1 mark) used to show the flow of data (1 mark) through an information system.

1. Shows the system as a large, single process

2. Little or no detail about the internal operations of the system

3. Does not generally show data stores

4. Shows data stores only when they are owned by external systems.

5. Most basic dfds

1. Describes a system with much more detail

2. Showing individual sub-systems

3. Shows data stores needed

4. How data flows between various parts of the system

Repetitive Control Structures - shows loops that execute code multiple times based on conditions.

Sequence: shows the next processing step; is usually simple

Selection: demonstrates that a choice is being made

Recursive: a call by the function to repeat itself

A wiki is a website, an online information source, from which anyone who accesses it can edit the contents of the webpage.

1. Anyone can edit the website and falsify it.

2. Information may not be up to date.

3. Information may not be credible or reliable.

4. Wiki navigating and editing can be intimidating for newcomers, potentially limiting diverse contributions.

1. Allows multiple users to edit together.

2. Supports collaboration for remote teams.

3. Tracks changes and edit history.

4. Affordable or open-source options available.

5. Centralized info accessible from anywhere.

Show the overall functions and purposes of a software system by illustrating its interactions with external entities and the flow of data between them.

shows a more detailed outline of how data flows within a software system by breaking down the processes identified in the context level diagram into smaller subprocesses and showing the interactions between them. Additionally, it also typically shows where data is stored within the system, such as in data stores or databases.