ICT Systems-MMC

IGCSE ICT
ICT SYSTEMS
Mashook Mujib Chowdhury

ICT Specification Content
Term 1
LO1: Know about different types of ICT systems and
be able to give examples of where and how they are
used
LO2: Understand that an ICT system is made up
hardware and software
LO3: Understand data storage capacity terminology
LO4: Be able to select appropriate ICT systems to
meet specified needs
LO23: Be able to select and use software applications
to meet needs and solve problems
Mashook Mujib Chowdhury 2

Specification Content
LO1: Know about different types of ICT
systems and be able to give examples of
where and how they are used
LO2: Understand that an ICT system is
made up hardware and software
LO3: Understand data storage capacity
terminology
LO4: Be able to select appropriate ICT
systems to meet specified needs
LO23: Be able to select and use software
applications to meet needs and solve
problems
Types of ICT Systems
PC
Laptop
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
Palmtop
Portable Data Entry Terminal (PDET)
Mainframe
Supercomputer
Embedded Computer/System
Game Console

Types of ICT Systems (continued)
PC
Microcomputer for individual use
Uses: At home or office for personal or
official uses
Laptop
A portable PC with functions similar to it
Uses: Similar to that of PC

Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
Small, handheld devices[1]
Uses: Businessmen to organize
schedules[1]
Palmtop
Small computers with limited number of
applications[1]
Uses: Sales reps for taking customer
orders[1]
Portable Data Entry Terminal (PDET)
Handheld devices used to capture data
away from a main computer[1]
Uses: Stocktaking in shops[1]
Mainframe
A large, powerful computer capable of
supporting a large number of terminals[1]
Uses: Banks, building societies,
insurance companies, utility companies
where huge number of networking is
required[1]

Supercomputer
The fastest computer available at any
given time
Normally used to solve problems
requiring intensive numerical calculations
Uses: Weather forecasting, Climate
research, Physical simulations[3]

Miniature computers serving as the
“brain” of a large piece of equipment or
machine
Uses: Washing machines, Cars, etc.
Game Console
Computers or modified computer
systems designed for the purpose of
playing video games
Uses: Playing games! Modern systems
also allow browsing the Internet

Types of ICT Systems (continued):
PC, Laptop, PDA, Palmtop

PDET, Mainframe, Supercomputer

Embedded Computer, Game Console

Uses of ICT Systems
Retail Banking
Administration Manufacturing
Education Entertainment
Communication Number crunching
Simulations Modeling
Stock control Logistics

Uses of ICT Systems (continued)
Retail
Shops, Supermarkets, etc.
Banking
Regular tasks in banks, communicating
Administration
Dealing with papers, schedules, etc.
Manufacturing
Machines creating different things

Education
Studying, taking notes, etc.
Entertainment
Playing games, music, movies
Communication
Connecting other people & computers

Number crunching
A slang term used in computer
engineering to refer to any computing
operation that requires a large number
of arithmetic operations
Simulations
Use of computer to predict the outcome
of a real-life situation by using a model
of that situation

Modeling
Representing a real or imagined system
Stock control
Keep track of current stock levels
Logistics
Management of the flow of goods,
information & other resources between
the original place and where needed
Deals with: transportation, inventory,
warehousing, material handling,
packaging, etc.
Uses ICT Systems
Retail PC, Palmtop, Portable Data
Entry Terminal (PDET),
Banking PC, Laptop, Personal Digital
Assistant (PDA), Mainframe,
Administration PC, Laptop, PDA, Palmtop

Uses ICT Systems
Manufacturing PC, Embedded
Computer/System
Education PC, Laptop
Entertainment PC, Laptop, Game Console
Communication PC, Laptop, PDA,
Mainframe, Supercomputer,
Game Console

Uses ICT Systems
Number Supercomputer
crunching
Simulations PC, Laptop, Supercomputer,
Game Console
Modeling PC, Laptop, Supercomputer

Uses ICT Systems
Stock control PC, PDET, Embedded
Computer/System
Logistics PC, Palmtop, PDET,
Embedded
Computer/System

terminology
problems
Hardware & Software
Hardware: Physical components of a
computer system, such as the computer
itself and input, output and storage devices
Software: The programs used in a
computer
Hardware and Software have different
categories
Hardware: Input devices, Processing,
Storage, Output devices
Software: Systems software, Applications
software

Hardware:
Input Devices
Devices used to enter data into a
computer system
Examples: keyboard, mouse, tracker
ball, joystick, graphics tablet,
scanner, digital camera, webcam,
microphone, touch screen, OMR,
OCR, bar code scanner, biometric
scanner, magnetic stripe reader, chip
and pin, sensors

Input Devices:
Keyboard & Mouse
Keyboard: Used to
input text,
numbers, special
characters and
commands
Mouse: Provides
ease of moving
along a GUI
computer screen

Input Devices:
Tracker Ball & Joystick
Tracker ball:
Provides the
function of a
mouse. Has ball
and buttons on the
upper surface
Joystick: Lever
used to move a
pointer across a
computer screen

Input Devices:
Graphics Tablet & Scanner
Graphics tablet: Allows

user to transfer line
drawings to the
computer by drawing
on a sheet of paper
that is resting on it
Scanner: Used to input
photographs, line art,
pictures and printed
text into a computer

Input Devices:
Digital Camera & Webcam
Digital camera: Camera
that records a photograph
as a digital image on some
form of storage device
Webcam: A digital camera
used to capture still images
or video and transmit them
to a computer, where they
are converted into graphic
forms and can be published
on a website

Input Devices:
Microphone & Touch Screen
Microphone:
Device used to
input sound in a
computer
Touch screen:
Screen that
enables inputting
data by touching it
with a stylus or
finger or another
object

Input Devices:
OMR & OCR
OMR: Optical Mark

Reader. Reader that
detects special marks
on a piece of paper
OCR: Optical Character
Reader. A combination
of software and
scanner which is able
to read characters into
a computer

Input Devices:
Barcode Scanner & Biometric Scanner
Barcode scanner: A device

which reads a series of
lines called a barcode
Biometric scanner: A
pattern recognition system
that makes a personal
identification based on a
person’s unique physical
characteristics (e.g. face,
fingerprint, iris, etc.)

Input Devices:
Magnetic Stripe Reader & Chip and Pin
Magnetic stripe reader: A

device that reads the data
contained in magnetic
stripes (like those in credit
cards)
Chip and pin: Refers to a
technology where the
regular plastic cards are
integrated with microchips
to make them “smart” cards

Input Devices:
Sensor
Sensor: Device
that detects or
measures physical
quantities like
temperature,
pressure, light,
sound, etc.

Hardware:
Processing Devices
Processing – Doing “something” to
the data to turn it to information
Examples: calculating, sorting,
searching, storing, drawing, etc.
Processing devices: processor,
memory (ROM and RAM)

Processing Devices:
Processor
Also called CPU

The main part of a computer, where all
the processing takes place

Processing Devices:
Processor (continued)
Consists of:
Control unit, CU (coordinates input &
output devices)
Arithmetic and logic unit, ALU (where
calculations and logical decisions take
place)
Immediate access store, IAS (provides
immediate memory for holding data and
programs)

Processing Devices:
Memory
Name given to the group of chips inside the

processing unit where data is held
temporarily whilst processing takes place
Data held here is instantly available to the
computer, unlike backing storage which has
to be accessed on disk or tape
Memory is used to hold: programs, input
data, working area and output data
Types of memory: ROM and RAM

Processing Devices:
Memory – ROM

Processing Devices:
Memory – ROM (continued)
Read-Only Memory
Computer memory that cannot be
changed by a program
Non-volatile memory
Used to store special programs, e.g.
the “boot” program that calls the
operating system
Held in a chip within the processor

Processing Devices:
Memory – RAM

Processing Devices:
Memory – RAM (continued)
Random Access Memory

A fast temporary memory area where
programs and data are stores while
the computer is still on
Volatile memory
Used to store programs and data
Connected to motherboard

Hardware:
Storage Devices
Devices used to store data while the
computer is off
Not part of the computer’s memory
Examples: Hard Disks, CDs, DVDs,
Floppies, Magnetic Tapes, Pendrives,
Memory Cards, Blu-ray Disks
Devices other than hard disks can also be
called backing storage devices
Can be categorized into: optical storage
devices, magnetic media and flash memory
Q: How can you read each of the following
devices?
Storage Devices:
Optical Storage Devices

Storage Devices:
Optical Storage Devices (continued)
Devices where data is read from or

written into by using lasers (light)
CDs (CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW), DVDs
(DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RAM), Blu-
rays
Q: What are the
advantages/disadvantages of this
type of storage device?

Storage Devices:
Magnetic Media

Storage Devices:
Magnetic Media (continued)
Devices where data is stored in a magnetic
pattern
Hard Disks, Floppies, Tapes, Zip Disks
Hard disks contain several disks on a single
spindle[1]
Each disk surface is able to store data and
can hence have its own read/write heads[1]
This enables the heads to operate
simultaneously thus increasing speed of
data transfer[1]
Q: What are the advantages/disadvantages
of this type of storage device?
Storage Devices:
Flash Memory

Storage Devices:
Flash Memory (continued)
Devices that can be electrically

erased and reprogrammed
Pen drives, Memory Cards
Q: What are the
advantages/disadvantages of this
type of storage device?

Hardware:
Output Devices
Devices used to “output” (e.g. screen
displays, print-outs) data/information
from the computer
Examples: Monitor, Printer, Plotter,
Data projector, Speakers, Control
Devices

Output Devices:
Monitor
Screen on which data is displayed

Broadly two types: Cathode Ray Tube
(CRT), LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
Q: What are the advantages and
disadvantages of the two types of monitors?
Output Devices:
Printer
Device used to create hardcopies of

documents, images, etc.
Two major categories: Bubble-jet and Laser
Q: Where would you use each type of
printer?
Output Devices:
Plotter
A device that draws by moving a pen

Useful for scale drawings and is used mainly
with CAD packages
Two types: Drum and Flat-bed
Q: Where would you use each type of plotter?
Output Devices:
Data Projector
Displays data on a screen (wall, boards,

etc.)
Useful in case of presentations
Q: Where are projectors used?

Output Devices:
Speaker
An electro-acoustic transducer that

converts electrical signals into sounds loud
enough to be heard at a distance
Q: Can you make a list of uses of
speakers?!
Output Devices:
Control Device
Devices which respond to commands given

by a computer
They are output devices since they
“receive” commands from the computer
Q: Where can control devices be used?
Software:
Systems Software
Software that allows the components
of a computer to work together
Without this, the computer cannot
operate as single unit
Examples:
Operating system
System software tools
Translation programs

Systems Software:
Operating System
Software that controls the hardware

and also runs the programs[1]
Performs the following tasks:[1]
Provide a way for applications software
to communicate with the hardware
Manage system resources (e.g. memory)
Manage data transfer to and from the
various peripherals
Manage system security (e.g. logins and
passwords, user rights)
Systems Software:
Operating System Examples

Systems Software:
Systems Software Tools
Include the following:

Loaders – Starts up programs
Linkers – Combines different files to
one executable program
Desktop environment – Loads the
“desktop” program
BIOS – Identifies, tests, initializes
system devices (e.g. video card, hard
disks, etc.)
Systems Software:
Systems Software Tools (continued)
Utility programs – Helps manage and

tune computer hardware; e.g.:
File management programs
Rename files
Copy/Paste/Delete files
Sorting files
Backing up files
Anti-virus
Disk defragmenter
Systems Software:
Translation programs
Nope! These are not programs which

translate from English to Bengali!
Programs which are required to
convert high-level language (e.g.
C++, Java) or low-level language
(assembly language) to machine
language (1s and 0s, i.e. binary)[1]
Types: compilers, interpreters,
assemblers[1]

Systems Software:
Translation programs (continued)
Compiler – Converts the whole of a

program written in high-level language
into machine code in one go[1]
Interpreter – Takes each instruction in
turn, converts it into machine code and
then carries it out[1]
Assembler – Translates assembly
language instructions into machine
code[1]
Software:
Applications Software
Software used to perform specific
tasks[1] (e.g. word-processing)
Examples:
Office productivity tools
Web authoring
Image and sound editing
Control software
Project management software

Applications Software:
Office Productivity Tools
Programs required for common tasks

within an office
Common programs present:
Word Processor
Spreadsheet
Database Management System
(DBMS)
Presentation Program
Web Authoring, Image/Sound Editors
Can you guess what each of these

programs do?
For details of these, follow the notes
given in class

Control Software
Software used to control processes or

machinery[6]
E.g. keeping a building at a constant
temperature using a feedback
mechanism: temperature sensor,
microprocessor, heater or fan[6]
Understand that there are specific
programs to control devices

Project Management Software
This term covers many types of

software which are useful to deal with
the complexity of larger projects[3]
The programs include:[3] scheduling,
cost control, budget management,
etc.
Example: Microsoft Project[3]

Integrated Package
Consists of a collection of applications

packages which share a common set
of commands[1]
Examples: Microsoft Office, Microsoft
Project
Advantage: Cheaper to buy than
individual programs[1]
Disadvantage: All programs are not
equally strong[1]
terminology
problems
Storage Capacity Terms
Terms used: bits (b), bytes (B), kilobytes
(kB), megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB),
terabytes (TB), etc.
8b = 1B
1024 B = 1 kB
1024 kB = 1 MB
1024 MB = 1 GB
1024 GB = 1 TB
ALWAYS a power of 2 (1024 = 210)

terminology
problems
ICT Systems Upon Needs
The IGCSE ICT syllabus divides this
section into the following parts
User Needs
Hardware
Software
Settings
Other considerations

User Needs
Identify the ICT systems (hardware

and software) for:
Retail; Administration; Education;
Communication; Simulations; Stock
control; Banking; Manufacturing;
Entertainment; Number crunching;
Modeling; Logistics
The specific uses of different ICT
systems will be covered in detail later

Hardware
Type/speed of processor
Amount of memory
Capacity of hard drive
External storage devices
Type of monitor
Type of printer
Additional requirements, for example
graphics card, sound card
Software
Operating system
Applications software

Settings
Options that can be changed upon user
needs include:
Window size
Mouse settings
Icon size
Screen resolution
Desktop contrast
Sound volume
Q: What specific options can be changed for
the above settings?
Other Considerations
Some other conditions for ICT (computer)
systems can be:
Range of facilities – Multipurpose
Versatility – One configuration for totally
different uses
Speed of transmission – Data transfer
speed (storage devices or over the
Internet)
Compatibility – Whether a configuration is
sufficient to run a task
Performance – How good/bad a
configuration is
terminology
problems
Uses of Applications Software
Identify the uses of the following
programs:
Word processing
Spreadsheet
Database
Graphics
Web authoring
Presentation
Audio and video editing software

References
1. Stephen Doyle, “Information Systems For
You”, Third Edition, Nelson-Thornes
2. Roger Crawford, Roland Birbal, Joseph
Blair, “Longman ICT for IGCSE”, Pearson
3. Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.org/)
4. Webopedia (http://www.webopedia.com/)
5. Teach ICT (http://www.teach-ict.com/)
6. Emails from igcseict@edexcelexperts.co.uk
7. All images are from various different
websites found “Google-ing”!

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IGCSE ICT

Mashook Mujib Chowdhury

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Graphics tablet: Allows

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OMR: Optical Mark

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Barcode scanner: A device

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Magnetic stripe reader: A

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Also called CPU

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Name given to the group of chips inside the

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Random Access Memory

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Devices where data is read from or

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Devices that can be electrically

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Screen on which data is displayed

Device used to create hardcopies of

A device that draws by moving a pen

Displays data on a screen (wall, boards,

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An electro-acoustic transducer that

Devices which respond to commands given

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Software that controls the hardware

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