Types of ICT system

The three main types of ICT system to be considered for GCSE are:

Information systems

This type of ICT system is focused on managing data [data: information without context, eg a list of students with numbers beside their names is data, when it's made clear that those numbers represent their placing in a 100 metre race, the data becomes information ] and informationinformation: data with context or meaning. Examples of these are a sports club membership system or a supermarket stock system.

Control systems

These ICT systems mainly control machines. They use inputinput: A systems block or component that activates a system. For example, this could be a switch or an LDR. In a manufacturing system in a factory, inputs might include materials, components, labour, research and development., process and outputoutput: A systems block or component that is activated by the process block. For example, this could be an LED, a buzzer or a motor., but the output may be moving a robot arm to weld a car chassis rather than information.

Communications systems

The output of these ICT systems is the successful transport of data from one place to another.