Activity.

Information systems using word processing skills.

Syllabus outcomes

P1.1 Describes the nature of information processes and information technology

P5.1 Selects and ethically uses computer based and non-computer based resources and tools to process information.

P6.2Generates ideas, considers alternatives and develops solutions for a defined need.

Instructions:

  1. Open a word processor program.
  2. Save the new document as Standard.
  3. Save as type – Document Template.
  4. From the view menu, open Header and Footer.
  5. Insert your name into the header and align your name to the right of the page.
  6. Insert the title (Insert – File Name) into the footer. Leave two spaces and insert the word Page. Leave one space and use the menu to insert automatic page number into your footer. Leave two spaces and use the menu to insert the date into the footer. Close the Header and Footer menu.
  7. Save the document.
  8. Use Save As to save a copy of the document as InfoSys.

You now have two documents. One can be used repeatedly for word-processing exercises and will hold the basics of the document – your name, filename, date creates and page number. This is a document template. The other will be used for the contents of this document.

  1. Make sure you are using the document named InfoSys. Type in the following definition of an information system and the accompanying information.

An information system is a group of elements that work together to process information. The group of elements in an information system, include:

Participants

Data/ information

Technology

Hardware is the physical equipment used to process information. Information technology refers to the electronic hardware and software used to process information.

Input hardware includes input devices such as the mouse, keyboard and software used to process information.

Processing hardware is the equipment used to change data into a form that can be interpreted as information. It includes devices such as the central processing unit.

Output hardware includes output devices such as printer, plotter and visual display unit. Output can be in the form of paper (hard copy) and digital output (soft copy).

Storage hardware involves devices used to retain data over a period of time. Such devices can be magnetic (hard disk) or optical (digital versatile disk).

Control hardware involves devices that coordinate the operations of input, output, processing and storage. Such organisation is carried out by the control unit in the central processing unit.

The impact of information technology affects nearly every aspect of everyday life in our society.

Information technology is used by many organisations and people to:

Save time

Save money

Increase output reduce effort

Avoid repetitious tasks

Design, develop and market new products

Some examples of the impact of information technology in our society are evident in the following areas:

The banking industry – ATMs allow a participant to withdraw money, deposit, transfer money between accounts and check account balances using a machine. EFTPOS is the transfer of data at a retail outlet which allows for the payment of bills and the withdrawal of money from the participant’s account. Using EDE, legal, banking documents and other material can be exchanged between those involved in the transaction without the need for a meeting between participants. Online banking is a development from phone banking to allow for limited banking facilities to be available on secure bank websites.

The engineering industry – information technology is used in the design and development of products such as integrated circuits. Computer systems are used to design the computer components that control ands process the data using microscopic silicon chip technology. In assembly line control, robotic and other systems are used to assist in the production of goods.

Manufactured goods – computers are used for modelling, simulation and testing of new products.

Medicine – information system technology has been used in the development of artificial human parts, making individualised components a possibility. Disease trends over short and long terms can be analysed, and there are expert systems to assist with diagnosis. These are information systems holding the data obtained from human experts in the specific field from which the opinions can be obtained. Computerised record keeping enables far greater detail to be stored on patients and treatments than by using manual methods. Robotic techniques facilitate surgery using microscopic instruments to accomplish operations impossible with human hands, and computer imaging assists in the understanding of illness. Developments of techniques for brain and body scanning can pinpoint the earliest signs of potentially life-threatening techniques.

  1. Format the document after you have finished typing in the text by following these guidelines
  2. Insert an appropriate heading in your document.
  3. Align the heading to the centre of the page. Use Select All (Edit menu) and change all text to 12pt and use the font Times or Times New Roman for all text. Format the heading as 14pt Bold.
  4. Insert and/or format appropriate subheadings for each section in your document.
  5. Align the subheadings to the default settings for the page (left align). Format the subheadings as Bold.
  6. Use the View menu to change to Normal view.
  7. Insert a page break (Insert-Break) at the start of the paragraph beginning ‘The impact of…..’
  8. Format bullet points where appropriate.
  9. Use the cursor control keys (arrow keys) to locate the line beginning ‘The banking industry’. Use the Enter key to place each example on a new line and the edit the text to include the following:

ATMs – automatic teller machines

EFTPOS – electronic funds transfer at point of sale

EDE – electronic document exchange

Online banking – banking over the Internet

  1. Copy and paste the words ‘Engineering industry’ to make a new subheading at the end of the document. Under this subheading describe the term ‘integrated circuit’ in greater detail.
  2. Cut and pasts the line beginning ‘save money’ to follow the words ‘save time’. Place an and between the two concepts.
  3. Double click on the word ‘output’ on the next line and overwrite the word by typing ‘productivity’ to replace ‘output’.
  4. Use Replace from the Edit menu to find the term ‘people’ and replace it with ‘individuals.
  5. Choose Page Setup from the File menu. Under Paper Size, check to ensure that the orientation is set to Portrait and that the paper is A4.
  6. Alter margins to 3 cm for top, bottom, left and right.
  7. Block select at the start of the section beginning ‘Input hardware’ by using the cursor at the start of the line in the paragraph to be selected and dragging down to highlight all the text up to the end of the paragraph. Change the text to italic.
  8. Select the sentence’ Hardware is the physical equipment used to process information’ and drag and drop it to follow the next sentence beginning ‘Information technology…..’
  9. Spell check and Grammar check (Tools menu) your document. Make changes where needed. Ensure that you are using Australian spelling)
  10. Double click the word ‘artificial; in the last part of the text (use Find to locate). From the Language option (Tools menu) choose Thesaurus. Select another word to replace artificial from the list provided. Make sure your choice is suitable.
  11. Delete the subheading ‘The engineering industry’ and select and drag the sentence on integrated circuits to a position in the paragraph above related to the engineering industry.
  12. Undo (Edit menu) your last step.
  13. Redo (Edit menu) the Undo command.
  14. Scroll to the top of page 2 and change the format of the subheading to italic.
  15. Scroll to the end of the first page and insert a section break using Insert (menu) – Break.
  16. Scroll to the end of your document. Leave two blank lines.
  17. Select Insert-Symbol and locate a graphic symbol from Windings, Webdings or a similar font.
  18. Insert the symbol. Size th4e symbol to 26pt. copy and paste a row of these characters at the bottom of your document. Centre the row of symbols.
  19. Change back to Page Layout view.
  1. Save the file.
  2. Print Preview the document using the File menu or icon on the toolbar,.
  3. Print your document
  4. Hand it in………

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