11 IPT
Processing
Tools for Processing
What is processing?
Processing is the
of data - changing, editing, or updating the data. For example,
correcting spelling, altering a photo, editing sound effects in a video or changing the price of a product
are all processing, as they result in a change to the data.
Processing is central to the operation of all information systems, as all information processes depend on
processing to achieve their purpose.
Relationship between processing and other information processes
Other information processes use data but do not alter it. That is,

Organising …

Analysing … makes sense of the

Storing and retrieving … maintains the
data, but not its actual contents.
.
, but leaving the data unchanged.
. It changes the physical representation of the
In all of the above, the central processing unit (CPU) or some other processor, is executing instructions
to manage,
and control the operation of the information process – it does not change the actual
data first collected. Processing occurs in
information processes, as data is changed as a result of
every instruction executed- however, the data in this case is the data that controls, manages and directs
the operations being done, not the data collected for the information systems use.
Types of processing
An information system should reflect the methods used to process the information. If people are
working individually and rarely share work they use a non-networked information system. If they are
working as a team and need to share resources and data, then a networked information system is
appropriate.
There are three types of processing used with networks to increase a computer’s performance.

Centralised processing – controlled by a
or a
CPU. It uses a
central computer (a powerful mini or mainframe computer) to perform processing for multiple
users. In the past,
terminals (a monitor, keyboard and connection to the central
computer) unable to perform any processing were used. Later, more intelligent terminals (which
contained a
) were used which could independently perform simple organising,
collecting and displaying processes. This allows the central computer to concentrate on the
main task of data processing, although it must allocate time to each user to
the limited
number of processing instructions executed at a time (time-sharing). Advantages – cheap and
relatively simple to set up. Disadvantages – if this system malfunctions, the entire system ‘goes
down’ as the system totally depends on the central computer; also, each system is
from
other systems.

Distributed processing – consists of
to shared data and resources.
Processing tasks and resources such as printers and storage devices can be
between
computer systems using a network (or the internet). Advantages – processing can still continue
even when some of the workstations are not functioning; shared workload and resources; not
necessary for all systems to be in the same
location. Disadvantages – complex
networking and
to set up.

Parallel processing – is the
processing of instructions using multiple processors
or CPU’s in a single computer system. Each CPU performs a different processing task, or the
same task but on different parts of the data. Advantages – enormous
and processing
Tools for Information Processes
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11 IPT
Processing
power (super computers); reduces the
involved in managing large number of user
file requests on large networks. Disadvantages – hardware needed is
and complex.
Processing Hardware
Image, audio and video data types need fast processors and a lot of storage space. The enormous
quantities of data mean that compression is used frequently to reduce the storage and transmission
problems. It also means that a lot of extra processing will be required to work with this type of data,
particularly to compress and decompress this data.
Parts of the CPU
The main components are:

ALU – Arithmetic Logic Unit

Control unit -

Registers

Clock

Buses
Activity:
Label the diagram of the CPU below with the missing components and the data buses:
System Clock
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
Cache
The Fetch-Execute cycle
Software and hardware work together to process the input of the computer system. This process is
carried out by the fetch-execute cycle of the CPU.
Each instruction in a program is stored in a separate memory location, called an address. The CPU
goes through the fetch-execute cycle for each instruction in the program.
Activity:
Using your text (page 170) and the handout to complete the following:
1. Describe each of the steps in the fetch-execute cycle


Tools for Information Processes
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11 IPT
Processing
2. Label the diagram of the fetch-execute cycle below:
The Fetch Execute Cycle
3. What is a cache? Why are they used in modern computer systems?
4. What is pipelining?
Processing Speed
The processing speed of a computer system is determined by a range of factors related to the CPU and
memory. In particular the following two features can have a great impact on the speed of data
processing:
Activity:
Describe how these two features of a CPU that can effect its data processing speed:

Clock Speed

Data Bus width
Processing Software
The software tools used to process data are often the same tools used to collect and organise data.
1. Copy the table 7.1 showing the software tools for processing each of the data types, from page
172 – include its heading.
Tools for Information Processes
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11 IPT
Processing
2. Briefly (1-2 lines) describe the role each of these software tools in the data processing.
3. Read pages 172 – 174 of the text and answer the following questions from the Activities on
page 174: Question 4, 5.
Non-computer processing tools
System users require
that allows them to understand the process involved to obtain
the results they want. It should be easy to
, explain all the
and avoid
the use of
.
User documentation should be provided in more than one
documentation,
and
.
, where possible. Eg. hypertext
Activity:
1. Explain the importance of user documentation.
2. Distinguish between the documentation for users and documentation for system participants.
3. List and outline the types of documentation that system participants require.
Social and Ethical issues
1. In a paragraph of writing, describe the issues that relate to the processing of data:

Security

Ownership

Bias
2. Read the InfoBox on page 178 of the text. List some of the arguments to support the statement,
then answer the question at the bottom of the article.
Tools for Information Processes
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