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Importance of Input/Output
However, music stored on a CD is read sequentially, so rotation speed is not an issue. Data on floppy disk – Refers to the 3Д, 5ј” and 8″ floppy disks, because when waved around they are floppy (at least the 5ј” discs were very flexible). Floppy discs are Computers are an important part of business these days, and businesses generally have multiple computers supplying each office employee with a complete personal computer system. Then the personal computers are linked together through an intranet so that employees may share information. Sharing information enables the company to stay abreast of the needs of its current and potential customers.
The way data is compiled and stored is imperative to the success of business trends. Companies use a variety of methods for data collection, input, storage, output; some of these methods and their uses are:
Printed questionnaires – Useful to question people who do not have computer access; they can generate a higher level of responses and can give replies that are more accurate. Having a database prepared for the questionnaire replies, and having trained professional data-entry personnel to enter the information into the database would ensure the best chance for accurate results as well as having the most efficient research reports.
Telephone surveys – Reach people who do not access the internet, thus giving a perspective of a different group of people. There are professional companies that specialize in phone surveys, and some companies have their own phone data collection departments.
Bank checks – Software programs encrypted to security of data, reduces duplication of information, and makes reconciliation a breeze. There are several software programs for processing checking accounts, such as Quicken, and most banking systems use Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR).
Retail tags – Help merchants tag and track their inventory. Many grocery and retail stores now use electronic tracking systems, in conjunction with alarm devices, for their merchandise. This has effectively cut down on the expense of inventory control, administrative fraud, employee theft, and shoplifting; which helps them keep their overall costs down and profit margins are more manageable.
Long documents – Scanning is much more efficient and timely, than recreating long documents. This lends accuracy and efficiency to the documented information.
There are several forms of output, and each form has its advantages and disadvantages. Convenience and quality of output are very important to reflect the integrity of the data. The following output devices are best suited as explained below:
Hand held computer – Are best for convenience and portability. PalmPilot, Palmsource, PalmOne, and other hand-held portable devices make data transportation easier and very efficient. They are small enough to hold in ones hand; lightweight and convenient to travel with you.
Color photograph – Photo printers are now available and are best for picture quality and clarity. This makes printing pictures directly from digital cameras both convenient and reasonably affordable as well as having great quality.
Resume – A laser printer puts out a professional looking resume document, as long as the data was entered and formatted correctly.
Memorandum – Displaying memorandums on the computer screen; this is usually sufficient and the memo can then be saved to your hard drive if necessary for future viewing, thus saving paper and trees.
Statistical report – Digitalized reports can be viewed on the monitor, and the data can be manipulated again or reviewed as often as possible. Printing the reports out is necessary if you have to present them to board members or other company/organization members. Depending on the data involved, you may use a laser printer or a LaserJet color printer to reflect colored graphs.
Company annual report – These reports can be printed off for mailing to all stockholders, managers, board members, etc…and/or digitally imprinted to a company website for viewing. Now that more people have personal computers, many people prefer to see digitalized information, thus saving tons of paper copies being printed and wasted.
There are several types of storage devices, used for different situations, as explained below:
Hard disk – This is the main (permanent) memory of a computer. The hard disk is where information is stored more permanently, to use repeatedly. The hard disk can be compared to a persons long-term memory.
Floppy disk – Is a portable means of transporting data and comes in several sizes: 3Ð…”, 5ј”, and 8″ discs; although, the 5ј”, and 8″ discs are not often used these days). These discs make backing up your important files very easy and affordable.
RAM – (Random Access Memory) where the information you are currently working on is kept while you are up and running. RAM keeps the data right at your fingertips for easy access and manipulation. RAM is like a persons short-term memory.
CD ROM – Compact Disc Read-only-memory stores computer data in the form of text and graphics, as well as hi-fi stereo sound. Another memory device, which retains data