Capabilities and Limitations of ICT

1. Capabilities and Limitations of ICT

2. Introduction/Objectives • In this topic we look at three things: • The capabilities of ICT for providing organisations with useful (and valuable) information. • How the response speed of ICT systems facilitates the use of feedback • The current limitations of ICT

3. Core Uses of ICT • There are six things ICT is good at or sixcore uses of ICT that make it valuable to organisations:

4. Repetitive Calculation • Computers can carry out millions of repetitive calculations per second – something that would be very labour intensive and costly without computers. • Banking • Utility Billing (gas etc.) • Research • Payroll • With a computer it doesn’t matter if it is ten calculations or ten million – it costs the same. • Not strictly speaking true but you get my drift ;-)

5. Vast Storage Capacity • Computer systems store 100s billions of data items. With the large capacity of modern hard drives, vast amounts of data can be stored electronically. • Banking records • Customer databases • Stock control • Government databases • Internet

6. Searching and Sorting • Computer databases allow us to retrieve related information quickly and accurately. • Banks • Billing Systems • Police databases • Online Retailing • Stock Control • Are there any other examples you can think of?

7. Combining Data • Computer analysis of data can show up patterns and trends not previously seen or impossible to see without vast processing power • Satellite Imaging • Medical Research • Scientific Research • Police databases (e.g. HOLMES 2) • Astronomical Research • Market Research Computer Modelling & Simulation Why is ICT so important in weather forecasting?

8. Communications • In recent years computers have revolutionised the world of communications so much a C was added to IT!!! • Internet • Cell Phones • Digital Broadcasting • Satellite communications • Global Positioning System (GPS) • Don’t forget ICT doesn’t just refer to desktop computers!

9. Fast Response Times • Allows ‘real time’ feedback • Retail Systems • Banking (e.g. ATM) • Computer Games • Systems Control • Ticket Booking systems • Medical monitoring • Note: May be pseudo real time

10. Feedback • Feedback = Output affects Input • Example 1 - Stock Control • Sufficient stock must be kept to satisfy customers but… • Storage of large levels of stock is expensive • The ICT system continually adjusts stock levels to make JIT orders of stock • Example 2 – Systems Control • Systems control on a car, aeroplane etc. continually responds to changes in its environment (measured by sensors) • Feedback is only possible because of the response speed of ICT

11. Dependence on ICT • Technology based countries are now almost totally reliant on computers • Even small scale failure can have devastating and costly consequences • Major systems/infrastructure couldn’t function without computers • Water, Gas, Electricity supply • T.V., Radio, Telephony • Food/Fuel transport, Rail, Air, Road travel • Financial Systems

12. Limitations of ICT • Hardware is pushed to its limits • Processor speed, disk capacity, bandwidth • Think about video calls on MSN etc. • Software “bugs” and design flaws • Can make a system fail or behave in an unpredictable way • Systems may be poorly designed and don’t achieve what they set out to do. There are many examples of failure covered in ICT4 • Computer output can only be as good as the input • GIGO!

13. AI (Artificial Intelligence) • AI is the goal of computer scientists but… • Many tasks that humans find easy are hardest to replicate in computers! • Reading handwriting accurately • Interpreting images • Adapting to new environments

14. Revision • Use the website and Internet sources to make supplementary notes on Capabilities and Limitations of ICT • Choose any real life situation or system e.g. preparing a gas bill. • Which of the six capabilities identified in the diagram earlier in this presentation apply to the system?