Flow of Data Through an Information System - Input, Processing, Storage and Output.

Syllabus Detail

  •  Flow of data through an information system; input, processing, storage, output. 11 GEN

 

Input

  • Information systems have multiple stages of data flow
  • The first stage of data flow is input
  • This is where the data to be processed is put in to the system
  • Data input can occur in many ways, such as from:
    • A keyboard
    • A mouse / trackpad
    • Scanners
    • Barcode readers
    • Touch screens (common on mobile computing systems)
    • Microphones
    • Web-cams
  • Data must be converted from an analogue to digital format if it is not already digital
  • This is because computers work in a digital format (i.e. binary)

 

Processing

  • Processing is the next phase of data flow
  • This is the stage where the data is prepared for the task being performed
  • The data is shaped to provide an output of useful information
  • Data processing can refer to multiple tasks, such as:
    • Sorting
    • Searching
    • Graphing
    • Calculations
    • Converting (e.g. to another format)
    • Validation (ensuring the data's validity)
    • Aggregation (combining multiple pieces of data)
    • Analyzing
    • Reporting
  • There are different types of processing types that are each suited to particular situations
  • Read The Computing Teacher's article on Processing Types here

 

Storage

  • Data is often stored after it has been processed, but not necessarily permenantly
  • Data can be held temporarily in memory or stored on non-volatile storage devices, such as:
    • Hard Disk Drives (HDD)
    • Solid-state Drives (SSD)
    • Optical Drives
    • Flash drives
  • Storage is useful for data that we may need to process in the future
  • Read The Computing Teacher's article on primary and secondary storage here
  • Read The Computing Teacher's article on storage capacities here

 

Output

  • Data that has been processed is now ready for output
  • The data is presented in a suitable format depending on the desired result
  • For example:
    • We can hear the output for data involving sounds (such as music)
    • We can see data such as text and graphs as a visual output
    • We can feel certain outputs such as haptic feedback (e.g. mobile phone vibrations upon touch input)
    • Other data that has been output may be re-used for further processing
    • Some devices such as printers allow for data output in other physical forms
  • Multiple systems include various types of output
  • We generally think of data that has been output as information from a process that we can see, hear, feel or work with

 

Further Research

  1. Computer Systems - Input, Process Output from Slideshare here
  2. Output devices from ComputerHope here

 

Worksheet and Practice (yet to be added)

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