Introducing ICT systems

http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=397533

• Time: 9 hours
  Level: Introductory
• Information and communication technologies (ICTs) systems now dominate our everyday lives. This unit will explain what constitutes such a system and how ICT systems work. You will also look at how ICT systems convey, store and manipulate data, and how they process data. Finally you will learn how these systems are used.

Introduction

This unit is from our archive and it is an adapted extract from Networked living: exploring information and communication technologies (T175) which is no longer in presentation. If you wish to study formally at The Open University, you may wish to explore the courses we offer in this curriculum area. [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]

This unit will introduce you to some ideas about how information and communiction technologies (ICTs) systems work. We will look at how ICT systems convey, store and manipulate data, and how they process data. Finally, using the example of a supermarket, we will analyse how ICT systems are used.

Learning outcomes

This is what you should have achieved when you have completed your study of this unit:

· Know the meaning of all the terms highlighted in the text.

· Be aware of the main processes in an ICT system (sending, receiving, storing, retrieving, manipulating, conveying).

· Be aware of some of the hardware, software and communication components used in ICT systems.

· Use a system map or a block diagram to identify the components of an ICT system.

· Use the units for conveying data and those for storing data apporpriaterly, including use of the prefixes kilo, mega and giga.

1 Describing an ICT system

In this unit I shall be introducing you to some ideas about how ICT systems work. Because this unit is about ICT systems, I'll be starting with a discussion about what constitutes a system. I'll go on to introduce some diagrammatic ways of representing ICT systems. Then I'll look at some examples to illustrate how they carry out certain processes, namely conveying, storing and manipulating data. You will also find out about other processes performed by ICT systems.

In this section I'll start by discussing how taking a ‘systems’ view of ICT systems can help our understanding of them. Later in the session. I'll be focusing on the communication component of an ICT system.

2 Exploring systems

2.1 Introduction

There are many types of system – not just ICT systems. For example, we all have a nervous system and, as you are studying T175, you are in a higher education system. Our homes have plumbing systems and electrical systems.

Activity 1 (exploratory)

What systems do you come across in your daily life? Write down two or three examples under each of the two headings below:

Systems in your home

Systems outside the home

Reveal discussion

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20