INFORMATION SYSTEM

      When you think of a a microcomputer, perhaps you think of just the equipment
Witseli. That is, you think of the monitor or the keyboard. Yet, the is more
to it than that. e way to think about a microcomputer is as part of an informa-
tion system. An information system has five parts: people. procedures, software, hardware and data.

People: It is easy to overlook people as one of the five parts of an informat
system. Yet this is what microcomputers are all about t-making people, end
users like you, more productive.

Procedures: The rules or guidelines for people to follow when using software,

hardware, and data are procedures. These procedures are typically documented
in manuals written by computer specialists. Software and hardware manufac-

turers provide manuals with their products. These manuals are provided either
in printed or electronic form.

Software: A program consists of the step-by-step instructions tha at te
computer how to do its work. Software is another name for a program or
programs. The purpose of software is to convert data (unprocessed facts) into
information (processed facts). For example, a payroll program would instruct
the computer to take the number of hours you worked in a week (data) and
multiply it by your pay rate (data) to determine how much you are paid for the
week (information).

Hardware: The equipment that processes the data to create information is

called hardware. It includes the keyboard, mouse, monitor, system unit, and
other deyices. Hardware is controlled by software.

Data: The raw, unprocessed facts, including text, numbers, imageS,
and
sounds, are called data. Processed data yields information. Using the previous

example of a payroll progra
the data (number of hours
worked and pay rate) i
processed (multiplied) to yield
information (weekly pay).

All most all of today's computer
systems add an additional part to
the information system. This part,
called connectivity, allows com-
puters to connect and to share
information. These connections,
including Internet connections,

can be by telephone lines, by cable, or through the air Connectivity allows users to
greatly expand the capability and usefulness of their information systems.
In large computer systems, there are specialists who write procedures, develop
software, and capture data. In microcomputer systems, however, end users often
perform these operations. To be a competent end user, you must understand the
essentials of infor

mation technology (IT), including software, hardware, and data.