Prepared by: Hassan Wael ElDessouki

Chapter 6 - ICT Applications

1) Communication
➢ Newsletters and Posters
A newsletter is a very useful method for getting important information
to a target group. Newsletters can be either printed out or available online as
an e-publication. The method used depends on who the target audience is,
but it is impossible to know that they have read it!

Posters are a good way of publicizing. They are used in many

countries on the sides of roads so motorists see them on their way to work.
By placing the posters in strategic positions, it is possible to target certain
people rather than the general public. The drawback is the cost of display as
they are rented, and that they are subject to weather conditions, so only
have a limited life.

➢ Websites
It is possible to use websites for advertising rather than producing
newsletters or posters. Although it can be expensive, as a specialist company
may be needed to design the ad, and maintenance from hackers and
pharming attacks.
However, it is much easier and cheaper for individuals or small
business companies to create their own website. The big advantage of
websites is that they offer worldwide advertising capability without the need
of buying paper/delivering newsletters/etc.

Page 1 of 23
➢ Multimedia Presentation
Presentations that include animations/video/sound/music are much
more interesting than static presentations. They are produced and then a
multimedia projector is used to show the presentation.
Advantages of multimedia presentations
use of sound and animation/video effects to grab the attention of the
audience and help the presentation to be easier to understand
interactive hyperlinks built into the presentation; this means the
presentation could access a company’s website or even key files
stored on the cloud
transition effects to allow a presentation to display facts in a key or
chronological order
can be interactive
more flexible; because of the links to websites and other external
systems (for example, the cloud), the presentation can be tailored to
suit a particular audience
Disadvantages of multimedia presentations
a need to have special equipment which can be expensive
danger that equipment could fail while giving multimedia
presentations
there may need to be internet access
danger when using multimedia in presentations that the focus is on
the medium (the multimedia presentation) rather than the message
or facts of the presentation
very easy to make a bad presentation with too many animation
effects and too much text or images

➢ Media Streaming
Watching movies/videos or listening to music via internet-connected
devices. This means that the device does not need to download the video or
audio file is known as Media Streaming

Streaming is a continuous transmission of video or audio files from a

remote server where the files are stored. This means data is transmitted and
played in real time.
With streaming, the file is sent as a series of packets of data.

Page 2 of 23
 As the playback of media files is faster than the rate that the data is
received, the data packets are buffered. Buffering makes sure the video
plays back smoothly without freezing.

➢ E-Publications
Most material that is available in a paper format are also available
electronically.
▪ e-Books
▪ Digital Magazines
▪ Digital Newspapers
▪ Digital Libraries
The publication can be downloaded to a device connected to the
internet where it can be read. E-publications also have the advantage that
pages can be expanded in size and it is possible to include media, which
would be impossible with the more traditional paper-based publications.

2) Mobile Communication
➢ SMS (Short Messaging Service)
SMS / text messaging allows a very quick way of communicating
with another person. Its advantage is that the other person does not need to
be available and can pick up the message as and when they want. SMS
between phones using the same cellular network may be free-of-charge.
Some of the features of SMS/text messaging include
Quicker and less expensive than making phone calls
Can be sent at any time of the day even if the recipient’s phone is
switched off
Predictive texting, where the system completes a word from the first
few letters keyed in

Page 3 of 23
➢ Phone Calls
They are an ideal way of keeping in touch anywhere, provided there is
a network signal. Mobile phone networks are still not as stable as landline
systems and for that reason alone, landline phones are still in common use.
There is no need to look for an operational public telephone in an
emergency.
It is possible to conduct business or personal phone calls on the move.
It is easier to keep in contact with co-workers at the office no matter
where you are.

➢ Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) & Video Calling

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a method used to talk to
people using the internet. VoIP converts sound, picked up by the mobile
device’s internal microphone, into data packets that can be sent to their
destination via the internet.
The main problems are usually sound quality (echo and ‘weird sounds’
are both common faults). Security is also a main concern with VoIP. The most
prominent security issues over VoIP are identity theft, viruses and malware,
spamming and phishing attacks.
One of the big advantages of using VoIP is webcams can be used for
video calls and that the phone calls are free no matter where in the world the
caller and receiver are.

➢ Internet Access
Any mobile device can connect to the internet either using a wireless
broadband connection or via the mobile phone network. Due to the use of
smaller screens, internet pages displayed on mobile phones are often
different to those on desktop or laptop computers. Software detects which
type of device is connecting to a website, which then sends out the web page
optimized for that device. Mobile devices also have a built-in feature which
automatically selects wireless broadband connectivity instead of the mobile
phone network, when connecting to the internet.
This has the following advantages:
Less expensive (‘data plans’ often have a cap on how much data can
be downloaded)
Lower power consumption (Wi-Fi routers are usually much closer than
the mobile phone towers)
Quality of service (Wi-Fi usually offers greater bandwidth than the
mobile phone network)

Page 4 of 23
 3) Modelling Applications
A simulation is the creation of a model of a real system to study the behavior of the
system. The model is computer-generated and is based on mathematical
representations.
The whole idea is to try and find out how a system behaves, predict the behavior of the
system in the future and see if it is possible to influence this future behavior.

Advantages Disadvantages
Using computer models is less expensive than A model is only as good as the programming,
having to build the real thing or the data entered
It is nearly impossible to try out some tasks in Computer modelling may also be a very costly
advance in real life because of the high risk option, and the two costs need to be
involved or the remoteness compared before deciding which to use
Computer modelling allows you to try out People’s reactions to the results of a
various scenarios in advance simulation may not be positive as they may
On many occasions it is safer to use a not trust the results it produces
computer model
It is often faster to use a computer model than
do the real thing

Examples where computer modelling is used include:

▪ personal finance
▪ bridge and building design
▪ flood water management
▪ traffic management
▪ weather forecasting.

Bridge and building design

Simulation of the final structure is often done as a combination of computer
modelling and wind-tunnel tests on scale models of the final designs.

Flood water management

Computer models are used to predict water levels, water flows and potential
flood depths. Once a model exists which simulates the area where there is potential
flooding, a plan can be put forward to guard against future flooding.

Traffic management
Closure of motorway lanes
The company will run model ‘A’ and model ‘B’ using different traffic densities at
different times of the day to see which one allows for the best traffic flow. The model
will also try out the effect of different speed limits through the roadworks. They will also
simulate the effects of a breakdown to see how this would impact on the traffic flow.

Weather forecasting
Data such as (rainfall, temperature, wind speed, wind direction, barometric
pressure (air pressure), humidity) can be input into a model which simulates weather
patterns. By running the computer model, weather forecasters can predict the weather
for the next few days or even longer.

Page 5 of 23
 4) Computer Controlled Systems
Robotics in manufacturing
Robots are used in many areas of manufacturing. Examples include:
paint spraying of car bodies, welding bodywork on cars, manufacturing of
microchips, manufacturing electrical goods and stock movement in automatic
warehouses.
Control of robots is either through embedded (built-in)
microprocessors or linked to a computer system. Programming of the robot
to do a series of tasks is generally done in two ways:
a) The robot is programmed with a sequence of instructions which allow it
to carry out the series of tasks
b) Alternatively, a human operator manually carries out the series of tasks;
this can be done in two ways:
i) The robot arm is guided by a worker when spraying the object;
each movement of the arm is stored as an instruction in the
computer.
ii) The worker straps sensors to his own arm and sprays the object;
each movement is stored as a set of instructions in a computer;
the sensors send back information such as position relative to
the object, arm rotation, and so on – this information forms part
of the instructions stored in the computer.

Robots are also equipped with sensors so they can gather important
information about their surroundings and prevent them, for example,
spraying a car if no car is present, or to stop the spraying operation if the
supply of paint has run out, etc.
Advantages Disadvantages
They can work in harmful environments to human Robots find it difficult to do ‘unusual’ tasks
They can work non-stop (24/7) They can cause higher unemployment
They can carry out different tasks by fitting them There is a real risk of certain skills being lost as
with different end-effectors robots do many of the tasks done by humans
They can do boring, repetitive tasks, leaving Because robots are independent of the skills base,
humans free to do other more skilled work factories can be moved anywhere
They provide greater consistency The initial set-up and maintenance of robots can
They have higher productivity be expensive
They are less expensive in the long term
Production line control
Production line control using robots is used extensively in industry.
For example:
filling bottles with a liquid, capping the bottle and applying a label
filling metal cans with baked beans, sealing the cans and applying
labels.
The production line will be continuous, with various robots at each
station given a specific task. Using robots in this way leads to:
faster operations
much greater productivity (may run 24/7)
greater consistency
built-in quality control
reduced cost to the consumer
Page 6 of 23
 5) School Management Systems
➢ Registration and Attendance Records of Students
The traditional way to record the registration and attendance of a
student was to complete daily registers, which is very time-consuming. It is also
prone to error if a student’s name was missed. They can now be automated
using hardware and software, as included below:
Magnetic Stripe Card
Each student can be issued an ID card containing a magnetic stripe on
the rear of the card. The magnetic stripe would contain:
the name of the school
the name of the student
the student’s data of birth
their unique ID number
The student would arrive at school and swipe their ID card through a
magnetic card reader, storing the time and date they entered the school’s
premises of that student on a database. On leaving the school, the ID card would
again be swiped. This would now record the leaving time and date on the
database.
Biometrics
Each student would have their fingerprints recorded. Their personal
details (as in a Magnetic Stripe Card) plus fingerprints would be stored on a
database. When a student enters the school premises, they would be asked to
put their finger on a fingerprint scanner. Because each student has unique
fingerprints, this system would be very secure.
Advantages Disadvantages
biometrics comparted to the use of magnetic stripe cards
Fingerprints are unique, so it would be impossible for It would take a long time to collect the fingerprints for
a student to sign in pretending to be someone else every student in the school
ID cards could easily be lost – fingerprints are ‘part of The equipment is more expensive than magnetic
you’ so cannot be lost stripe reading equipment
It is much easier to make copies of an ID cards than it If a student cuts a finger, the fingerprint may not be
would be to copy fingerprints identified by the system
The date and time of entering or leaving the school There are invasion-of-privacy issues, and a number of
would be accurately recorded on the database. students and parents may object to having
ID cards could be affected by magnetic fields fingerprints stored on a database

➢ Student Performance
Spreadsheets could be used to monitor the performance of their
students. It can make it easy to import data into a report (summarizing a student’s
performance over the academic year, for example). School management systems are used to
record the performance of students.
Performance can consist of both academic achievement and behavior.
To produce an end-of term or end-of-year report, the system would need to
have access to the following data:
Student’s exam and test results in all subjects studied over the term/year
Behavioral Data
CAT scores
After processing this data, the system could produce:
▪ the average grades for all students in a class
▪ class and year group reports showing academic and behavioral
performance.
Page 7 of 23
 ➢ Computer-Aided Learning
Computer-aided learning (CAL) is the use of computer-based systems to
assist in the academic teaching of students. They are designed to enhance
traditional classroom teaching. Students would use computers as part of their
learning and complete online tests to monitor their performance.
Advantages Disadvantages
Students can learn when they want to and at CAL cannot give students the experience of
their own pace handling laboratory equipment
The student can stop at any point and return It is expensive and time consuming to
later to continue where they left off integrate CAL into the learning environment.
It allows virtual reality (VR) learning to be used Students can easily be distracted while online
CAL can make use of multiple-choice questions It can lead to the isolation of a student
(MCQs) which can be marked immediately by because they are spending their time on their
the computer system own in front of a computer screen
CAL can make learning more interactive CAL cannot answer unusual questions, and the
CAL makes use of various multimedia student will need to seek out guidance from a
It is possible to re-take tests until the student teacher; in other words, CAL is not a self-
reaches the required skills level contained learning system.
It can deliver micro-learning

6) Booking Systems
Online booking systems rely on the ability to update files immediately, thus
preventing double-booking. They are mainly used for:
➢ the travel industry
➢ for concerts (theatre and music events)
➢ for cinema tickets
➢ when booking sporting events

Advantages Disadvantages
It is easier to browse the seating plans on The setting up and maintenance of online
flights booking systems is expensive
The customer gets immediate feedback on the All customers using this service need access to
availability of seats and whether or not their a computer or mobile phone and a reliable
booking has been successful internet connection
The customer can make bookings at any time It is often more difficult to cancel the booking
of the day. and get your money back using online systems.
The customer’s email allows the booking If the server is down for maintenance, or if the
company to connect ‘special offers’ to their systems break down, it becomes impossible to
email book seats by any method
They prevent double-booking If the websites are not well designed, it can be
It is possible to ‘reserve’ a seat for a period of difficult to make exactly the booking you want
time – allowing customers to ‘make up their or can lead you to make mistakes; costing the
mind’ before finalizing the booking of the seat customer an additional fee.
Very often there are no printed tickets, which
saves postal costs and also allows ‘impulse’
bookings only a few hours in advance.
Online booking allows the use of modern
smartphone apps technology.

Page 8 of 23
 7) Banking Applications
➢ Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs)
Automatic teller machines (ATMs) allow the customer to:
▪ withdraw cash
▪ deposit cash/cheques
▪ check the balance of their account
▪ see a mini bank statement
▪ pay a bill
▪ do a money transfer

Depositing cheques at an ATM

• The user is asked to insert their debit card and type in the PIN
• A message will then appear asking the customer which service they require
• The customer chooses to deposit a cheque
• A drawer will then open and the customer inserts the cheque
• The drawer will then close and an OCR device will read the cheque details
including the amount of money
• The amount appears on the screen and the customer confirms the amount.
• The customer’s account is updated with the amount on the cheque (up to 48 hours)
• A printed receipt of the cheque and the card is given back to the customer

Advantages Disadvantages
It is possible to withdraw cash at any time of day Some banks charge customers for using ATMs
They offer many banking services such as There is potential for shoulder-surfing and card-
statements, account balance and bill paying cloning scams
It is possible to access an account from They are often in places where theft can take
anywhere in the world place at night
Provides quicker service than waiting in a queue Cash withdrawal limits are often imposed on
in a bank customers
If the debit card is faulty then no transaction can
take place
There is a loss of the personal touch
Page 9 of 23
 ➢ Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
Electronic funds transfer (EFT) is a system that allows money
transfer instructions to be sent directly to a bank’s computer system. When an EFT
instruction is received, the computer system automatically transfers the specified
amount from one account to another.
i) Payment of salaries to the staff of a company. On the day when
payments are made, the company informs the bank to transfer money
from their account into the bank accounts of their employees
ii) Another example of EFT in use is when a credit/debit card is used to pay
for a purchase in a store, the payment is made using a system called
Electronic Fund Transfer at Point-Of-Sale (EFTPOS)

Advantages Disadvantages
It is a very secure and payment method It cannot guarantee the recipient
It is less expensive than using cheques The customer needs to have funds available immediately
The customer has the right to dispute an EFT Once an amount has been transferred the bank cannot
payment for up to 60 days reverse a transaction

➢ Credit/Debit Card Transactions

This system is designed to enhance security because it is better than relying
only on a signature. Paying for items using a chip and PIN card is a form of electronic
funds transfer (EFT).

➢ Cheque Clearing
Cheques are one of the oldest ways of paying somebody for services or goods.
Because it is a relatively expensive, slow and less secure way of making payments,
cheques are slowly being phased out.

Advantages Disadvantages
more convenient and safer than cash cheques are not legal tender and can be refused
it is possible to stop payments if necessary it is a slow method of payment
cheques can be post-dated relatively expensive payment method
a cheque can be drawn any time (up to six easier for fraudsters than credit card or debit card
months after signed) payment methods
cheques can be traced if they are 'lost'

Page 10 of 23
Centralized Clearing of Cheques
Cheques are cleared using an image-based system that speeds up the cheque
clearing process considerably. When a cheque is paid into a bank, an electronic image is
made of the cheque using OCR software. All of the bank details plus the sum of money
to be paid are read.
Example: Someone uses a bank called Hodder Bank and they pay a cheque for
$50 to a company called H&S Ltd, who bank with the Smith Bank. How is the H&S bank
account credited with $50?
a) The first step is called out clearing. At this stage, when Smith Bank are presented
with the cheque, a camera takes an image of the cheque and OCR software turns
this image into an electronic data format.
b) Smith Bank uses this electronic data to create a digital record of the money to be
paid, the sort code on the cheque and the account number on the cheque.
c) The cheque image and digital record are added to a file of other cheque images paid
in that day. There are several files made. Each file contains all the cheque images
and digital records for a particular bank. Therefore, there will be a file for Hodder
Bank created by Smith Bank containing cheque data referring to Hodder Bank only;
other banks will have their own files created containing cheque data referring to
their bank only.
d) Smith Bank now sends all the files to a central facility. One of the files contains all
cheques relating to Hodder Bank. The central facility processes this file in the
following way:
– It breaks the file down into individual payment messages.
– It does a payment validation.
– It creates and sends a ‘request to pay’ message to Hodder Bank. This
includes a copy of the cheque images as well as the encoded information
(sort code, account number and payment amount).
e) Hodder Bank receives a stream of ‘request to pay’ images and carries out the
transactions. A ‘no pay’ decision will be made if the person paying has insufficient
funds, if their account is blocked, if the cheque has not been signed or if there is
suspected fraud.
f) Once a ‘pay’ or ‘no pay’ message has been received, the central facility routes the
‘pay/no pay’ response to Smith Bank.
g) All of this happens usually in less than 24 hours; still slow compared to card
payments

Page 11 of 23
 ➢ Internet Banking
Using internet banking requires good online security. It allows the
management of a bank account online, including the transfer of sums of money
between accounts, payment of bills, ordering of statements, etc. This is beneficial to
people who are unable to visit banks during their normal opening hours or if
travelling to the bank is difficult.

Advantages Disadvantages
There is no longer a need to travel into town There are possible health risks associated with
centers, thus reducing costs online banking due to lack of exercise
Being able to access the bank without the need There is the possibility of isolation and lack of
to leave home may be of benefit to some people socialization if people stay at home to do all
with disabilities and elderly people. their banking.
Because it is online, banking can be done at any It is easier to make errors with online banking
time on any day of the week (i.e. 24/7) and transfer money incorrectly
People can spend more time doing other things, Accidentally using fraudulent bank is always a
making them free to do more leisure activities. risk and this is linked to security issues.
Paying bills or posting cheques online can be It is necessary to have a computer and to pay
done simply and easily using online banking. for the internet to take part in online banking.
Many people find it less embarrassing to ask for a High-street banks are closing because of the
bank loan using the internet rather than enduring increase in online banking, and this is leading to
a face-to-face discussion with bank staff. deserted high streets.
There are often long queues at the banks so Security issues are a major concern (for
internet banking saves time. example, hacking, stealing credit card details,
The bank saves money by not having as many etc.) as are viruses and other malware (for
staff working for them or needing as many high- example, phishing, pharming, and so on).
street premises

8) Computers in Medicine
➢ Patient and Pharmacy Records
Doctors and hospitals need to keep accurate records of all their patients.
Databases are kept by doctors and hospitals so that data can be shared between
medical practitioners and pharmacies.
Databases also allow a quick and easy search for patient records – this could be
very important in an emergency, when accessing the patient’s medical history
could mean the difference between life and death. It also means that medication
can be prescribed without issuing paper prescriptions.
The sort of data which would be required on a patient database is as follows:
a unique identification number
name and address
date of birth
gender
medical history (any known allergies/etc)
blood group

Page 12 of 23
➢ Use of 3D Printers
▪ Surgical and Diagnostic Aids
3D printers can be used to print anatomical parts. First, the patient is
scanned using either:
CT (computed tomography)
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
A 3D printer can then produce a three-dimensional representation of a
patient’s internal organs, blood vessels, major arteries, tumors, etc. The
doctor or surgeon can use this to show the patient exactly what is wrong
and then show them what procedures are required. It can also help the
surgeons when planning surgical procedures.
▪ Prosthetics
Prosthetics can now be built via 3D Printers. The price for 3D-printing a
prosthetic arm or hand can be as little as $100. Many people now have a
higher chance to replace missing limbs at a fraction of the cost.
▪ Tissue Engineering
3D printing of bio-compatible materials is now possible via recent advances.
This has enabled the producing artificial cells and tissues within a 3D printed
object. It has already been used successfully to produce multi-layered skin
tissue, bone tissue, heart/artery grafts and tracheal splints.
▪ Artificial Blood Vessels
Artificial blood vessels can be 3D printed using human cells. These bio-
printed tissues work in much the same way as natural blood vessels.
▪ Customized Medicines
3D printed medicines are sometimes referred to as printlets (printed
tablets). 3D printing offers the possibility of creating personalized medicine
which allows automatically controlled release of the medicine into the
patient. It even allows multiple medicines, within a single printlet, to make
fixed-dose combinations and allows for the optimum release of each
medicine into the body.
Some of the advantages of this technology include:
tailor-made medicines to suit the individual
better control of medicine release into the body
saves money (many modern medicines are very expensive)
better targeting of the medicine so its effects can be optimized
less chance of an overdose of the medicine, thus reducing harmful
side-effects

Page 13 of 23
 9) Expert Systems
These systems have been developed to mimic the expertise and knowledge of an expert
in a particular field. Examples include:
• diagnosing a person’s illness
• diagnostics (finding faults in a car engine, finding faults on a circuit board, etc.)
• prospecting for oil and minerals
• tax and financial calculations
• chess games
• identification of plants, animals, and chemical compounds
• road scheduling for delivery vehicles.

An expert system is a knowledge-based system that attempts to replace a human

‘expert’ in a particular field. The system will consist of:
• a large database of knowledge collected from experts
• facilities for searching the knowledge database using an Inference engine
• a set of rules for making deductions from the data (rules base)
• a human-computer interface to accept input to the system
• a human-computer interface to display results (output) from the system

➢ Creating and setting up an Expert System

• Gathering knowledge from experts or from written resources to design and
create the knowledge base
• The rules base is created of a series of inference rules so that the inference
engine can draw conclusions
• The inference engine is created to get at the data and to make reasoned
conclusions from data in the knowledge base
• Developing the user interface to allow users to communicate with the expert
system
• Designing a method of displaying the results and testing the system

Advantages Disadvantages
They offer a high level of expertise The set-up & maintenance costs are very high
They offer high accuracy Users sometimes make the very dangerous
The results are consistent assumption that they are infallible
They have the ability to store vast amounts of They tend to give very ‘cold’ responses which
ideas and facts may not be appropriate in certain medical
They can make traceable logical solutions and situations.
diagnostics
It is possible for an expert system to have Users of the expert system need considerable
multiple types of expertise training in its use to ensure the system is being
They offer a very fast response time used correctly
They provide unbiased reporting and analysis They are only as good as the information/facts
They indicate the probability of any suggested entered into the system
solution being correct

Page 14 of 23
▪ User interface
This is the method by which the expert system interacts with a user
It allows interaction through dialogue boxes, command prompts or other
input methods
The questions being asked usually only have yes/no answers and are based
on the responses to previous questions
▪ Explanation system
This informs the user of the reasoning behind the expert system’s
conclusions and recommended actions
The expert system will supply a conclusion and any suggested actions to
take; the important thing is it will also give the percentage probability of the
accuracy of its conclusions
▪ Inference engine
This is the main processing element of the expert system.
The inference engine acts like a search engine examining the knowledge base
for information/data that matches the queries
It is responsible for gathering information from the user by asking a series of
questions and applying responses where necessary; each question being
asked is based on the previous responses
The inference engine is the problem-solving part of the expert system, which
makes use of inference rules in the rules base
Because the knowledge base is a collection of objects and attributes, the
inference engine attempts to use information gathered from the user to find
an object that matches
▪ Knowledge base
The knowledge base is a repository of facts.
It stores all the knowledge about an area of expertise obtained from a
number of expert resources.
It is basically a collection of objects and their attributes
▪ Rules base
The rules base is a set of inference rules.
Inference rules are used by the inference engine to draw conclusions
They follow logical thinking, usually involving a series of ‘IF’ statements

Page 15 of 23
 ➢ Using an Expert System
Example 1: Using expert systems to diagnose patients

Expert system:
Input screen: • The inference engine compares the
• An interactive screen is presented to the user symptoms with those in the knowledge base
• System asks series of questions about the patient’s illness looking for matches
• The user answers the questions • The rules base is used in the matching
• Another set of questions are asked based on the user’s process
responses to previous questions • Once a match is found, the system suggests
the probability of the patient’s illness being
identified accurately
• The expert system also suggests possible
solutions and remedies to cure the patient
or recommendations on what to do next
• The explanation system will give reasons for
its diagnosis so that the user can determine
the validity of the diagnosis or suggested
treatment.
Output screen:

• The diagnosis can be in the form of text, or it may show images

of the human anatomy to indicate where the problem may be
• The user can request from the expert system to narrow down
even further the possible illness and its treatment

Example 2: Using expert systems for oil prospecting

• An interactive user screen appears
• Questions are asked about geological profiles
• Answers to the questions and information about the geological profiles are typed in.
• The inference engine searches the knowledge base using the rules base
• The system:
o suggests the probability of finding oil as an output
o indicates the probable depth of deposits
o makes predictions about geological deposits above the soil
o produces contour maps showing the concentration of minerals, rocks, oil, etc

Example 3: Using expert systems for route scheduling of delivery vehicles.

The software will determine the fastest and least expensive route, as well as suggest
the number of vehicles and drivers that should be used. The inputs needed for the
delivery system are:
▪ the number of drop-off points and their location
▪ the distance between the drop-off points
▪ the type of vehicle used
▪ delivery times expected at each drop-off point
▪ layout of the road network.

Page 16 of 23
 The following table shows input & output for various expert systems

System Examples Input Output

Medical Diagnostic System medical symptoms possible diagnosis
medical investigation results
Car/Machine Diagnostic System Car/Machine Problem Symptoms possible diagnosis
Performance measurements
Mineral/Rock Identification Depth of digging probability of finding specific
Prospecting System Soil components analysis/types of minerals
rocks
Income/Legal Advice System Earnings / income details / marital eligibility allowance
status / family details / job details
Chess Game chess moves resulting chess moves

10) Computers in the retail industry

➢ Point-Of-Sale (POS) Terminals
Barcodes are used on items sold in shops to easily identify them. POS Terminals
include barcode readers to scan the barcode and retrieve the product prices. They are
made up of alternating dark and light lines of varying thickness.

A number underneath the barcode usually consists of four parts: a country

code, manufacturer’s code, product code and a check digit. The check digit is a form of
validation which is used to make sure no errors occurred during the reading of the
barcode.

They are also used to automatically control the stock levels as shown below
o The barcode on each item is scanned at the EPOS (Electronic Point of Sale)
▪ (keyed in if the barcode does not work)
o Barcode is searched for on the stock file record by record until a match is found.
o The appropriate record is accessed
o The price & description are sent to EPOS
o The stock level for the item is found in the record and reduced by 1.
o The new stock level is written back to the file
o If the stock level is =< the reorder level, a new order automatically takes place
o The customer will be given an itemized bill
o The computer updates the files
o When the new goods arrive, the stock level file is updated

Page 17 of 23
➢ Electronic Funds Transfer at Point-Of-Sale (EFTPOS)
When payment is made by card or electronic device at the POS terminal, it is known
as electronic funds transfer at the point-of-sale (EFTPOS).
▪ Chip and PIN
▪ Contactless Cards
▪ Near Field Communication (NFC) Devices
When using NFC payment at a POS terminal, the sequence of events
taking place is:
The electronic device is held close to the NFC reader (terminal);
at a distance up to 5 cm
When the NFC payment is initiated, the NFC terminal and
electronic device pass encrypted data back and forth to each
other to enable the payment to be made.
This is very secure because NFC communications are encrypted
and are dynamic (encrypted data being shared changes every
time a transaction takes place)
Mobile phone manufacturers use tokenisation to improve
security

▪ Use of Tokenisation with Mobile Phones

Tokenisation is used when setting up a mobile wallet. The details on
the card (such as card number) are securely sent by the mobile wallet
company to the bank that issued the card. The bank replaces the
details on the card with a series of randomly generated numbers
(called tokens), which is then send back to the mobile wallet company,
who then programs this random number into the user’s smartphone.
This random number is then the one used for transactions. This means
that retailers or other third parties involved in mobile wallet
transactions never have access to real credit card details

➢ Internet Banking and Internet Shopping (refer back for Internet Banking)
Online shopping means that more and more people are staying at home to buy
goods and services and to book holidays, etc. This can all be done using a
computer connected to the internet and some form of electronic payment
(usually a credit or debit card).

Page 18 of 23
 Advantages Disadvantages
Users now have access to a worldwide market There is the possibility of isolation and lack of
and can thus look for products that are cheaper, socialization if people stay at home to do all
having access to a much wider choice of goods their shopping
There is no longer a need to travel into town There are possible health risks associated with
centers, thus reducing costs online shopping due to lack of exercise
Being able to access any shop without the need Security issues are a major concern (for
to leave home may be of benefit to some people example, hacking, stealing credit card details,
with disabilities and elderly people. etc.) as are viruses and other malware (phishing, etc)
Because it is online, shopping can be done at any Accidentally using fraudulent shopping sites is
time on any day of the week (i.e. 24/7) always a risk and this is linked to security issues
People can spend more time doing other things, It is necessary to have a computer and to pay
making them free to do more leisure activities. for the internet to take part in online banking.
Shops save money by not having as many staff High-street shops are closing because of the
working for them or needing as many high-street increase in online banking and this is leading to
premises deserted high streets.
Unlike high-street shopping, it is only possible to
see a picture of the goods, and nor can you try
something on to see if it fits before buying
them; you also have to wait several days for the
goods to arrive
Next-day delivery of individual items leads to
more delivery traffic and pollution

Effects on companies due to the spread of online shopping and banking

Companies and other organizations have also been affected by the growth of ICT
and online shopping and banking.
• Potential customer base is increased as the internet is global
• There will be some increased costs due to the need to retrain staff and the
need to employ more staff in dispatch departments
• There are also costs due to the setting up and maintaining of websites to
enable online shopping
• Because there is very little or no customer–employee interaction, this could
lead to a drop in customer loyalty, which could lead to loss of customers
• Robberies are less likely due to the decrease in the number of high-street
banks.

11) Recognition Systems

➢ Optical Mark Recognition (OMR)
Uses: At schools, OMR is used for attendance by scanning in paper-based registers
to store attendance records. OMR is also used to scan and correct multiple choice
exams by checking the XY coordinates of each lozenge.
Advantages Disadvantages
It is a very fast way of inputting the results of a Carefully designed to make sure the marks are
survey, etc correctly positioned
Because there is no typing, they are more There can be problems if they have not been
accurate than keying in the data. filled in correctly and maybe checked manually
They are more accurate than OCR methods. They often only work with black pen or pencil.
They are limited to the true/false questions
Page 19 of 23
 ➢ Barcode Readers & QR Code Readers
please refer back to Chapter 2 notes

➢ Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

please refer back to Chapter 2 notes for adv/disadv

ANPR Systems using OCR: Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems use OCR
to read the number plates on cars. First, a sensor detects a vehicle and sends a
signal to the camera to capture the front of the image. Then, an algorithm locates
the number plate and isolates it and adjusts its contrast and brightness. Each
character on the number plate is segmented and then gets recognized by OCR
software as a string of editable text.

Advantages Disadvantages
It can be used to automatically monitor average There is a lack of manned security car park
speed of vehicles over a stretch of road surveillance which could lead to vandalism;
CCTV is often used but after the event
There is no need to employ car park security There could be invasion of privacy issues due to
guards, which saves money the recording of drivers’ number plates
It is a much faster system than having to check a Damaged or very dirty number plates will not be
ticket at the exit recognized by the system
It can be used to automatically control the entry ANPR system only recognizes the number plate
and exit to a car park or and not the car, therefore a car may be fitted
private roads. with a cloned number plate thus by-passing car
It can be used as a security system; preventing park security
illegal parking and preventing unauthorized
access to private car parks.
It can be used to analyze driver behavior (that is,
route choice and destinations) to help in
transport planning
It can be used in inner-city congestion charging
systems; it is possible to automatically charge a
motorist if they enter a congestion zone, but also
allows in permitted vehicles without charge

Page 20 of 23
 ➢ Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID)
please refer back to Chapter 2 notes for different uses of RFID

RFID is the usage of radio waves to capture and store information on a tag.
The chip is presented near a computer with a radio-frequency scanner. Then, the
scanning antenna puts out radio-frequency signals in a relatively short range, which
provides a means of communicating with the transponder/the RFID tag as the
scanning device provides energy so that the chips can broadcast the information in
them for the computer to read.

Advantages Disadvantages
No line-of-sight contact is necessary; the tags can Tag collision where signals from two or more
be read from a distance. tags overlap, interfering with each other
It is a very robust and reliable technology. High initial cost than a barcode system
Tags are much more difficult to forge than It is relatively easy to hack into the data
barcodes transmitted by the tag.
RFID tags can reduce the number of staff needed They are relatively easy to jam or interrupt as
as tracking of items can be done automatically they use radio waves
Very fast read rate at around 100 msec
Bi-directional data transfer (both read/write)
Can bulk detect several RFID tags

RFID tags may be used for several applications, such as livestock tracking to keep track
of animals, retail shops that can store more information than barcodes, passport as it
contains security data that cannot be forged, cars for accessing private car parking or
toll roads, and contactless payments (credit/debit).

➢ Near Field Communication (NFC)

NFC is used by smartphones primarily for payments. NFC is a subset of RFID but
operates at a particular frequency, and requires both sender and reciever to be very
close to each other for a securer connection. There are three NFC modes:
1) Peer-to-Peer: Allows two NFC devices to send information to each other
2) Read/Write: One way transmission of data such as sending advertisements
3) Card Emulation: Emulating a smart or contactless card for a payment or bus

➢ Biometric Recognition Systems

please refer back to Chapter 8 notes for face recog. and finger and thumb recog.
please refer back to Chapter 1 notes for hand recog. and voice recog.

▪ Retina Recognition: Retina is the light sensitive area at the back of the eye,
special technology is used to see the retina which is quite expensive by
taking an infrared photograph. It is slower in scanning and used in high
security settings.
▪ Iris Recognition: Iris is the colored part of the eye around the pupil, where a
camera and infrared light is used to take a photograph of the iris, producing
a unique pattern by locating the center and edge of the pupil, edge of the iris
and the eyelids and eye lashes.

Page 21 of 23
 12) Satellite Systems
➢ Global Positioning Systems and Satellite Navigation
Global Position Systems (GPS) is used to determine the exact location of a car for
example, where it is referred to as satellite navigation systems (satnav). Basically,
satellites surrounding the earth transmit signals to the surface, containing data such
as its position and time, satellite need accurate time to know their position relative
to the earth, therefore they use atomic clocks. GPS calculates its exact position
based on the information from at least three satellites.

Advantages Disadvantages
The driver does not have to consult paper maps, If the maps are not kept up to date, they can
so it is far safer give incorrect instructions
It removes errors (can warn drivers about one- Road closures due to accidents or roadworks,
way streets, street closures, etc.) can cause problems
The system can estimate the time of arrival Loss of satellite signals can cause problems
It is also possible to program in the fastest route, If an incorrect start-point or end-point is keyed
route to avoid towns, etc in the system will give incorrect information
The system can also give useful information such
as location of petrol stations

➢ Geographic Information System

Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer system that allows us to map,
model, query and analyze large amounts of data according to their location. It is
used to create interactive queries, edit map data or analyze spatial information. GIS
allows the performance of complex analytical calculation that is then presented in
the form of maps, tables or graphics, geographers, scientists and engineers are able
to see the data in several ways to see different patterns or relationships. Anything
that is placed on a map is considered as GIS.

Examples include:
o Emergency services use GIS to send the closest emergency personnel to a location
o Biologists and environmentalists use GIS to protect animal life and plants in certain
vulnerable areas
o Teachers can use GIS in their geography, science or engineering lessons
o It can be used for crime mapping in a region or in a country
o It can be used for route monitoring
o It can be used for management of agricultural crop data
o It can address public health issues (as used during Covid 19 to show how the virus
spread in different parts of the world combing data such as, age groups, ethnic
group, population density, and so on) to create a unique insight into how it spread
o It can map of wildfire risks (it was used in Australia in 2019 during the wildfire
outbreak where it was possible to map out where and how the fire was spreading)
Advantages Disadvantages
It allows the handling and exploration of huge The learning curve on GIS software can be very
amounts of data long
Allows geographical and thematic data of any It is difficult to make GIS programs which are
kind to be combined in a way that shows how both fast and user-friendly as GIS requires very
they are connected to each other. complex CLIs to work properly
It allows data to be integrated from a wide range GIS requires enormous amounts of data to be
of very different sources (which appear at first to input (thus increasing the chances of errors)
be totally unconnected). GIS software is very expensive
Page 22 of 23
 ➢ Media Communication Systems
Satellites contain antennas, transponders, solar panels and propulsion. Signals are
converted to analogue then beamed to the satellite from a satellite dish on the
Earth. The signals are delivered by carrier waves which consist of radio waves. Each
signal has its own frequency and bandwidth. Once the data reaches the satellite, it
is boosted then re-sent to the Earth. Satellite systems are used to transmit
television, telephone and internet data around the world.

Advantages Disadvantages
It is relatively easy to move stations on the ground The signals received can be affected by bad
from one place to another. Satellites also can weather, obstructions and whether the satellite
change their orbits if needed using built-in boosters dish has been correctly orientated.
They are cheaper, faster and safer than laying Sunspot activity can affect the performance of a
cables in difficult or treacherous terrain satellite
They have a very high bandwidth If they are not in a fixed position relative to the
Security in satellite transmission is very good due to Earth then they need to be monitored and
the data being coded and the receiver requires controlled on a regular basis to ensure they
decoding equipment to read the data remain in the correct orbit
It is relatively easy to expand the network There is a time delay in receipt of the signals (this
They have good global coverage covering a big can be a problem in voice communications, where
majority of the Earth’s surface even 0.5 seconds delay can be noticeable as the
They are well-suited for broadcasting, that is, one sound and video appear out of synchronisation) or
satellite signal being picked up by many different there may appear to be an ‘echo’ on the sound
receivers on the ground (note that there would also be a time delay for
Satellite receivers on the ground can be portable long-distance fibre-optic communications too)

Page 23 of 23