1. Uses and Limitations of ICT

2. Introduction/Objectives
In this topic we look at three things:
What makes ICT so useful.
Is the use of ICT systems always appropriate?
Types of processing

3. Uses of ICT
There are six things ICT is good at or six core uses of ICT that make it valuable to organisations:
Security of Data
Accessibility
to Information
and Services
Improved
Presentation
of Information
Search
and Combine
Data
Vast Storage
Capacity
Fast Repetitive
Processing
Uses of ICT

4. Fast Repetitive Processing
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 Combining Data
Communications technologies such as networks and the Internet mean that data can be obtained quickly from different sources and combined together.
For Example:
The police often have to solve crimes using information from a large number of sources such as the DVLA, CCTV footage, mobile phone and records and HOLMES2
Are there any other examples
you can think of?

7. More ideas for 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. Improved Presentation of Information
It’s now very easy to obtain images using digital cameras, copy them from the Internet or download them from an Image Library.
Can be incorporated into presentations, reports etc.
Also easy to create graphs in one package and copy and paste them into another.

9. Accessibility to Information and Services
Ability to shop for groceries and other items from home, using online stores
Useful for old or housebound
Have a global library at your disposal:
Latest news
Reviews of books, films, music, holidays
Road maps and routes
Weather anywhere in the world
Timetables of buses and trains
Financial details
Etc Etc

10. Security of Data With a network, security is centralised by:
Someone being given responsibility for taking backups
A single backup being taken to back up all files on the network and done at the server
Logs can be taken of who accesses the data
Passwords used to log onto the network
Biometric security can be used to check that only authorised people have access to the system
Encryption can be used when transferring sensitive data

11. Limitations of ICT Information it produces
Doesn’t always provide the most effective solution
What it can be used for

12. Limitations of ICT Current Legislation Poor Data Control Mechanisms
Inappropriate
System
Design
Operational
Procedures
Software
Communications
Hardware
Limitations

13. 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!

14. 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