Introduction to Information Skills and Systems

information systems in context


 * diagrammatic representation of an information system in context
 * the environment – everything that influences and is influenced by the information system
 * the purpose – a statement identifying who the information system is for and what it needs to achieve
 * who the information system is for includes individuals and organisations
 * the information system – a set of information processes requiring participants, data/information and information technology built to satisfy a purpose
 * information processes – computer based and non-computer based activities
 * information technology – hardware and software used in information processes
 * data – the raw material used by information processes
 * information – the output displayed by an information system
 * user – a person who views or uses the information output from an information system
 * participant – a special class of user who carries out the information processes within an information system

information processes


 * collecting – the process by which data is entered into or captured by a computer system, including:
 * deciding what data is required
 * how it is sourced
 * how it is encoded for entry into the system
 * organising – the process by which data is structured into a form appropriate for the use of other information processes such as the format in which data will be represented
 * analysing – the process by which data is interpreted, transforming it into information
 * storing and retrieving – the process by which data and information is saved and accessed later
 * processing – a procedure that manipulates data and information
 * transmitting and receiving – the process that sends and receives data and information within and beyond information systems
 * displaying – the process that controls the format of information presented to the participant or user

the nature of data and information


 * data – the input to an information system
 * data representation – the different types of media, namely:
 * images
 * audio
 * video
 * text
 * numbers
 * information – the output which has been processed by an information system for human understanding
 * the generation of information from data via the information processes
 * how information from one information system can be data for another information system

reasons for digital data representation


 * the need for quality data, including:


 * accuracy
 * timeliness
 * accessibility


 * current data digitising trends, for example:


 * newspapers on the Internet
 * telephone system
 * video on DVD
 * facsimile
 * media retrieval management

social and ethical issues


 * social and ethical issues arising from the processing of information, including:
 * privacy of the individual
 * security of data and information
 * accuracy of data and information
 * data quality
 * changing nature of work
 * appropriate information use
 * health and safety
 * copyright laws


 * the people affected by social and ethical issues, including:
 * participants within the information system
 * users of the information system
 * those in the environment


 * the ethical and social responsibility of developers
 * current government legislation to protect the individual and organisations
 * the use of information systems in fields such as manufacturing as well as the traditional fields of observation and recording
 * global information systems:
 * where the purpose involves international organisations, or
 * where the data and processes are distributed across national boundaries

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