INFORMATION PROCESSING CYCLE CONTINUED

Output stage

This refers to the stage in which processed data (information) is displayed to users. It can be displayed in two distinct formats which are softcopy and hardcopy. Devices used in this stage are referred to as output devices. Some of these output devices have been highlighted below:

Devices that display information in softcopy format

MONITOR              PROJECTOR

Devices that display information in hardcopy format

PRINTER                PLOTTER 

Other examples are:

HEADPHONES 

Storage stage

This refers to the stage in which information that will be needed in the near future is kept. If processed data is not kept for future use when the information is needed at a later time it’ll be needed to be processed again which will waste time therefore the need to keep or store this information. Devices used in this stage are referred to as storage devices. Some of these devices have been highlighted below:

PENDRIVES          HARD DISK DRIVES

COMPACT DISKS       FLOPPY DISKS

MEMORY CARDS                      SOLID-STATE DRIVES

Distribution/Communication stage

This is the stage in which information is shared to other users who need the information as well. If information is readily available there’s no need for one to go and processed that data since you can request for it and it will be sent to you for a fee or for free. Some of the devices used in this stage are shown below:

FAX MACHINES       WORLD WIDE WEB

INFORMATION KIOSK                INFORMATION KIOSK

TELEPHONE         MOBILE PHONES

in all, this cycle just tells us how data is transformed into information and how information spreads from its point of processing to the other.

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Christian Tagoe

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