Module 2 — Introduction to Information Systems

Module 2 · week of 08/31/2026 · Tech+: IT Concepts & Terminology — the components of a computing system and the input/processing/output/storage cycle. · Download .docx

Objectives

Explain how the fundamental components of computer systems interact to perform essential functions.

Key terms

Hardware: The physical parts of a computer system — anything you can touch.
Software: The programs and instructions that tell hardware what to do.
Procedures (processes): The steps and rules people follow to make an information system work.
People: Users, designers, and support staff — the most important component of any information system.
Input: Getting data into the computer (keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, microphone, scanner, sensor).
Processing: The work the CPU does on data — calculating, comparing, sorting, transforming.
Output: Delivering results to people (monitor, printer, speakers) or to other systems.
Storage: Saving data and programs for later use (SSD, hard drive, flash drive, cloud).
Server: A computer that provides services (files, web pages, email, databases) to other computers on a network.
Client: A computer or app that requests a service from a server.
Embedded computer: A small computer built into another device — a car, thermostat, or pacemaker.
Digital convergence: Many separate technologies combining into one device, such as a smartphone.

The concept

Five components of an information system: hardware, software, data, procedures (processes), and people. Remove any one and the system fails.

Hardware is what you can touch (laptop, server, phone, printer). Software is the instructions that tell hardware what to do. Data is what the system stores and processes.

Procedures are the rules and steps people follow to use the system (how to submit in Canvas, how to back up). People design, run, and use the system — and are the most important component.

The information processing cycle: INPUT (keyboard, mouse, camera, sensor) → PROCESSING (the CPU works on the data) → OUTPUT (screen, printer, speaker) → STORAGE (saved for later).

Types of computers: personal computers (desktop, laptop), tablets and smartphones, servers (serve many users over a network), mainframes and supercomputers (huge workloads), and embedded computers (inside cars, appliances, medical devices).

A server is a computer that provides a service to other computers (clients) — file, web, mail, or database servers.

Information systems support business: transaction processing (a sale), management reports, decision support, and communication.

Digital convergence: one device (a phone) now does what many devices used to do — camera, phone, computer, music player.

Module 2 items: Reflection Assignment – IT Components (25) and Module 2 Quiz (20).

Worked examples

Example 1: The Largo cafeteria uses a point-of-sale system. Name the five components in that system. — Hardware: register, scanner, card reader. Software: the POS program. Data: prices, sales, student IDs. Procedures: how cashiers ring up and close out. People: cashiers, manager, students.

Example 2: Trace the processing cycle for taking a selfie and posting it. — Input: camera captures the image. Processing: phone compresses and applies filters. Output: image on screen. Storage: saved to the phone and uploaded to a server (the app's cloud storage).

Example 3: Which is the server and which is the client when you open Canvas on a Chromebook? — The Chromebook browser is the client; PGCC's Canvas web server (the computer that sends the pages) is the server.

Common mistakes

"An information system is just the computer." It is five components: hardware, software, data, procedures, and people. Remove any one and the system fails.
"Storage and output are the same stage." Output delivers results to people (screen, printer, speaker); storage saves data and programs for later use.
"A server is a special giant computer." A server is defined by its role: it provides a service (files, web pages, email, databases) to clients over a network.

Self-check

Try each one before you look. A miss here costs nothing and tells you exactly what to reread.

1. Which list names the five components of an information system?

2. In the information processing cycle, typing a search term into Google is an example of which step?

3. A spreadsheet adds up a column of numbers. Which step of the information processing cycle is this?

4. A finished report is saved to a hard drive so it can be opened next week. Which step is this?

5. Which component of an information system refers to the rules and steps people follow, such as how to back up files each Friday?

Canvas is the official record. This companion enhances the PGCC curriculum; it does not replace it. Last name and class year only. Students with a 504 plan or IEP: your accommodations apply.

↑ Back to top