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- Introducing ICT systems
Introducing ICT systems

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) systems now dominate our everyday lives. This free course, Introducing ICT systems, will explain what constitutes such a system and how ICT systems work. You will also look at how ICT systems convey, store and manipulate data, and how they process data. Finally you will learn how these systems are used.
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
- understand the meaning of all the terms highlighted in the text
- demonstrate an awareness of the main processes in an ICT system (sending, receiving, storing, retrieving, manipulating, conveying)
- demonstrate an awareness of some of the hardware, software and communication components used in ICT systems
- use a system map or a block diagram to identify the components of an ICT system
- use the units for conveying data and those for storing data appropriately, including use of the prefixes kilo, mega and giga.
First Published: 09/08/2012
Updated: 14/05/2019
You can start this course right now without signing-up. Click on any of the course content sections below to start at any point in this course.
If you want to be able to track your progress, earn a free Statement of Participation, and access all course quizzes and activities, sign-up.
Course content
- Introduction
- Learning outcomes
- 1 Describing an ICT system
- 2 Exploring systems
- 3 Communication systems
- 4 System components
- 5 The processes
- 6 Communication links
- 7 Describing an ICT system: conclusion
- 8 Computers
- 9 A stand-alone computer
- 10 Sending and receiving data
- 11 Manipulating data
- 12 Storing data
- 13 Different types of storage
- 14 Networked computers
- 15 Computers and communication systems working together
- 16 ICT systems in a supermarket
- 17 Taking an overview of ICT systems
- 18 Electronic commerce
- 19 Conclusion
- Keep on learning
- References
- Acknowledgements
Your course resources
As you work through this course you will need various resources to help you complete some of the activities.
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About this free course
9 hours study
Level 1: Introductory
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