Information System Components Part 2

4.    Telecommunication, Networks and the Internet

Telecommunication is essential to enable transactional activities being made in remotely using an ATM machine . Without telecommunication , ATM machine would simply be a slab of iron machinery with money inside of it. Internet telecommunications is used to connect ATM machines through network infrastructure and into the networks of a banking institutions , their database . ATM access the data stored in bank’s database that is later needed to be used in order for the completion of the transaction. However , connection of these machines and database is unlike those used in regular homes , it has far superior security encryption to ensure that the data cannot simply be rendered by other unwanted parties.

5.    People

People is the one important element of Information component , an element that creates , manages , use and maintain that information system itself. People are those who creates the networking infrastructure of this Shared Interbank Network , enabling it to interconnect between different banking system from different banks nationwide . It is also people who maintains these networking infrastructure to keep them in working order, and it is also people who uses this network to have their transaction processed at the ATM machines.

6.    Procedures

Procedures are set of actions that needs to be followed in order for a transaction to reach its end starting from its initial starting point. Each transaction made using ATM machines and network infrastructure of a banking system requires a key which is the ATM card itself with a pin number. Starting from there, various transaction can be made , such as withdrawal , transfer , prepaid reload , all of these transaction has its own procedure involving input of different data for different transaction. These transaction has its own procedures that is need to be completed in order for that transaction to be successful.

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Information System Components

1.    Hardware

Hardware consists of electronic equipment that used to perform input, process and output activities. Hardware used in every Automated Teller machine is basically the screen of the machine (can be both CRT or touch screen TFT) , the encrypted keypad where user will input their data and instructions, smartcard reader slot  where customer inserts their ATM cards , receipt output printing slot , where customer will receive their transaction data in printed form if they choose to print it out and money slot and reserve tanks , where customer would receive their cash upon withdrawal transaction.

2.    Software

ATM machine is made available by suppliers free of OS , where different banking institutions will then install their own personalized operating system with their own personalized User interface . Graphics of the interface may differ according to their organization color , can be seen with some examples . ATM operating system are mostly based from Microsoft windows operating system , ranging from NT versions to XP , running personalized programs to process customer transaction.

3.    Databases

A database is an organized collection of facts and information which basically consist of two or more related data files. It is believed that each and every banking firms has their own infrastructure and data banks , stored safely in a secluded location where a collection of server or server farms is gathered. Database of banks stores vital information of clients details , account numbers , account’s worth , all history transaction and many more. MEPS came into play of engineering a network infrastructure where all of these database from all of these different banks can work together , acquiring , using and storing transactional data made remotely from different ATM machines from various locations.

next post will continue the others 3 components

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