What is Information Processing Cycle?
Information processing cycle refers to the series of stages through which data is transformed into meaningful information.
Meaning information processing cycle refer to the various changes that data goes through before it becomes information.
Main stages of information processing cycle
The four main stages of information processing cycle are:
- Input stage
- Processing stage
- Storage stage
- Output stage
- The Input Stage:
At the input stage, data is entered into a data processing device for storage and processing. Input can be in the form of text, symbol, audio, video, or images. Examples of input devices that can be used to enter data include microphone, mouse, keyboard, motions sensors, and joystick.
2. Processing Stage:
This is the stage at which electronic processing devices such as computers manipulate data and convert them into meaningful information. For example, raw data entered onto a spreadsheet can be cleaned, aggregated, and converted into charts and dashboards consisting of relevant information. The component of the computer that is responsible for data processing is the central processing unit (CPU).
3. Storage Stage: This is when the computer temporarily or permanently stored the processed data (information). Information can be store locally or in the cloud. Local storage media used for storage include flash drive (pen drive), floppy disk (diskette), hard disk and optical disc such as CD.
4. Output stage: This is stage where results of information are displayed. The output can be in the form of audio, video, text, electric signals, images, etc. Devices used to output information include monitor, projector, loudspeakers, headsets and printers.
The stages data goes through during the information processing cycle are:
- Data
- Processing
- Information
- Storage
What is Data?
Data refers to the collection of raw or unprocessed facts and figures. Data may or may not be meaning full to the recipient.
Consider the following:
Mike, 1977, 2017, Accra, Belgium, Rebecca, 170cm, doctor, 27. We can consider the above as data since it only gives us raw facts and figures which are subject to unlimited interpretations
What is Information?
Information is a processed data that is meaningful and ready for use. Information is basically a processed data.
Mike was born in the year 1967 at Accra to Madam Rebecca. In the year 2017, his first child became a medical doctor in Belgium at the age of 27. With the average height of 170cm, Mike was considered as the tallest amongst his siblings.
The above provides more meaningful details for the raw facts and figures from the previous, and hence can be considered as information.
Uses of Information
Information is useful for the following reasons:
- Planning purposes
- Decision making
- Controlling and coordinating people and activities
- Measuring performance
- Acquisition of knowledge
- Solving of problems
CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD INFORMATION
For any information to be valuable, it must be:
- Information must be accurate
- Information must be complete
- Information must be simple to understand
- Information must be relevant
- Information must be reliable
- Information must be timely and available
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
- News papers
- Magazines
- Radio
- Television
- World Wide Web
- Road signs, Posters and Billboards
Difference Between Data and Information
| Data | Information |
| Data is unprocessed facts and figures | Information is processed facts |
| Data is not organized | Information is organized |
| Data is meaningless | Information is meaningful and useful |
| Data refers to numbers, characters, and symbols. | Information is knowledge derived from study |
| Data can be collected in an un-sequenced form | Information comes in a sequenced form |
| Data does not depend on information | Information depends on data |
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