Information Processing Cycle

What is the information processing cycle? The sequence of events in processing information, which includes (1) input, (2) processing, (3) output and (4) storage



Input --> entering data into the computer.
Processing --> performing operations on the data.
Output --> presenting the results.
Storage --> saving data, programs, or output for future use.
1. INPUT

The collection of raw data from the outside world so it can be put into an information system. Putting the acquired data into the information system.
Typical input devices:

Keyboards, mice, flatbed scanners, bar code readers, joysticks, digital data tablets (for graphic drawing), electronic cash registers
2. PROCESSING
CPU Processor - Central Processing Unit

A central processing unit (CPU), or sometimes simply processor, is the key component in a digital computer capable of executing a program. It interprets computer program instructions and processes data. CPUs provide the fundamental digital computer trait of programmability, and are one of the necessary components found in computers of any era, along with memory and input/output facilities. A CPU that is manufactured as a single integrated circuit is usually known as a microprocessor. Beginning in the mid-1970s, microprocessors of ever-increasing complexity and power gradually supplanted other designs, and today the term "CPU" is usually applied to some type of microprocessor.
3. OUTPUT

In information processing, output is the process of transmitting the processing information
Essentially, output is the presentation of any data exiting a computer system. This could be in the form of printed paper, audio, video. In the medical industry this might include CT scans or x-rays. Typically in computing, data is entered through various forms (input) into a computer, the data is often manipulated, and then information is presented to a human (output).
Typical output devices:
Monitors,Printers
4. STORAGE

Storage, or mass storage refers to various techniques and devices for storing large amounts of data. The earliest storage devices were punched paper cards, which were used as early as 1804 to control silk-weaving looms. Modern mass storage devices include all types of disk drives and tape drives. Mass storage is distinct from memory, which refers to temporary storage areas within the computer. Unlike RAM memory, mass storage devices retain data even when the computer is turned off.
The smallest unit of storage is a file that contains such data as a resume, letter, budget, images or any one of the thousands of items that you may have saved for future reference. Additionally, files can be executable program files, or system files reserved for the operating system. Mass storage is measured in kilobytes (1,024 bytes), megabytes (1,024 kilobytes), gigabytes (1,024 megabytes) and terabytes (1,024 gigabytes).
Examples of some mass storage devices

Floppy Disks: Relatively slow and have a small capacity, but they are portable, inexpensive, and universal
Hard disks : Very fast and with more capacity than floppy disks, but also more expensive. Some hard disk systems are portable (removable cartridges), but most are not.