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ICT SYSTEMS USED IN EVERYDAY LIFE
ICT SYSTEMS USED IN EVERYDAY LIFE
ICT systems are often confused with computers; however, they are not the same thing. Computers refer to the hardware that forms part of an ICT system. The ICT system refers to the overall set-up, consisting of hardware, software, data and the people that use it. It commonly includes communication technology, such as the internet.
Information and communication technology (ICT) is a field that is related to computers and communication networks. It can also be in the form of audiovisuals, for example, film and digital productions. Digital technologies use data, such as text, numbers, images, sounds and videos. Computers use this data to show information.
In the past, these technologies used to be separate systems, but recently, these technologies have become almost “one”. Computers have become more like smartphones and smartphones have become more like computers. ICT is the field that looks at all these technologies as one.
An ICT system depends on computers, data and people to make the system work. For ICT systems to function correctly, they need to receive, store, retrieve, manipulate and transmit data. Data is often in the form of text, numbers, sounds and images.
EXAMPLE OF AN ICT SYSTEM IN EVERYDAY LIFE
Computers, however, cannot act on their own; a computer needs someone to give it (enter) the data that needs to be processed. To understand how it works, look at the following example.
Supermarkets and chain stores use ICT systems for a variety of reasons. In this example, we will look at the processes of receiving, manipulating, storing and communicating data at a point-of-sale (POS) system.
PROCESSES AT A POS SYSTEM
When you look at a supermarket’s ICT system from the cashier and customer’s point of view, all you see is a stand-alone computer. This computer is called a cash register. However, the cash register consists of much more than that.
All items have a barcode, which is a pattern of narrow and wide stripes that can be read by a barcode reader. The barcode reader is used to scan the barcode optically and convert the stripes into numerical data, which can automatically be transferred to the check-out computer (i.e. the cash register). The barcode reader sometimes beeps after scanning an item to signal to the cashier that the item has been identified.
INPUT AND STORING DATA
When an item is scanned, the check-out computer checks for the price of the item in the database. The running total of each item is stored temporarily in the check-out terminal. (There may be other data stored there as well, such as money that was taken out of the till during the day.)
MANIPULATING DATA
After all the items have been scanned, the check-out computer calculates the data to determine the total cost. If the customer pays with cash and requires change, the cashier will enter the amount given and the check-out computer will calculate any change that should be given to the customer. This is an example of the computer receiving data from the user.
TRANSMITTING DATA
When all the items are scanned into the check-out computer, the customer can see information about the price of each item, which is shown on a small display.
After all the items have been scanned, the total amount is shown. The customer then pays and is given a printed till receipt showing all the items that were bought and how much each item costs.
COMMUNICATION
In some instances, a product’s data can also be sent to the shop’s main computer for stocktaking purposes, as well as to the manufacturer for their stock purposes.
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