AI Systems Article
AI Systems Article
Information systems are made up of five components that interact to generate information needed by the users
in an organization: hardware, software, data, people, and process.
The first three components of information systems — hardware, software, and data —all fall under the category
of technology which can be thought of as the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes.
From the invention of the wheel to the harnessing of electricity for artificial lighting, technology is a part of our lives
in so many ways that we tend to take it for granted.
Hardware
Information systems hardware is the part of an information system you can touch — the physical components
of the technology. Computers, keyboards, disk drives, iPads, and flash drives are all examples of information
systems hardware.
Software
Software is a set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do. Software is not tangible — it cannot be
touched. When programmers create software programs, what they are really doing is simply typing out lists of
instructions that tell the hardware what to do. There are several categories of software, with the two main
categories being operating-system software, which makes the hardware usable, and application software, which
does something useful. Examples of operating systems include Microsoft Windows on a personal computer and
Google's Android on a mobile phone. Examples of application software are Microsoft Excel and Angry Birds.
Data
The third component is data. You can think of data as a collection of facts. For example, your street address, the
city you live in, and your phone number are all pieces of data. Like software, data is also intangible. By themselves,
pieces of data are not really very useful. But aggregated, indexed, and organized together into a database, data
can become a powerful tool for businesses. Organizations collect all kinds of data and use it to make decisions.
These decisions can then be analyzed as to their effectiveness and the organization can be improved.
Besides the components of hardware, software, and data, which have long been considered the core technology of
information systems, it has been suggested that one other component should be added: communication. An
information system can exist without the ability to communicate — the first personal computers were stand-alone
machines that did not access the Internet. However, in today's hyper-connected world, it is an extremely rare
computer that does not connect to another device or to a network. Technically, the networking communication
component is made up of hardware and software, but it is such a core feature of today's information systems
that it has become its own category.
People
When thinking about information systems, it is easy to get focused on the technology components and forget
that we must look beyond these tools to fully understand how they integrate into an organization. A focus on
the people involved in information systems is the next step. From the front-line help-desk workers, to systems
analysts, to programmers, all the way up to the chief information officer (CIO), the people involved with
information systems are an essential element that must not be overlooked.
Process
The last component of information systems is process. A process is a series of steps undertaken to achieve a desired
outcome or goal. Information systems are becoming more and more integrated with organizational processes,
bringing more productivity and better control to those processes. But simply automating activities using technology
is not enough — businesses looking to effectively utilize information systems do more. Using technology to
manage and improve processes, both within a company and externally with suppliers and customers, is the
ultimate goal. Technology buzzwords such as "business process reengineering," "business process management,"
and "enterprise resource planning" all have to do with the continued improvement of these business procedures
and the integration of technology with them. Businesses hoping to gain an advantage over their competitors are
highly focused on this component of information systems.
SPEAKING
1.What are new ways people can use technology to change the world?
2.Do digital tools make us more or less productive at work?
3.Many everyday objects (such as amusement park rides, cars, elevators, and ovens) that you might not
normally associate with a computer or information system, in fact, are today. There are obvious benefits, but
are there risks as well?
4.Would you feel more or less comfortable riding on a roller coaster that was computer controlled?
5.Do the benefits of computerizing an increasing number of everyday objects outweigh the potential risks? Why
or why not?
6.Research the theme "Benefits of using Al systems".
Answers: