Week 6 Assignment 3 - Input Controls Systems Analysis And Development - CIS 210 Abstract In user interface design, input controls are an integral part of any form and allows users to perform a variety of functions to ensure that input data is correct complete and secure. Data input controls ensure the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of data during its conversion from its original source into computer data, or into a computer application. Data can be entered into a computer application from either manual online input or by scheduled automated processing.The input control designer should determine the adequacy of both manual and automated controls over data input to ensure that data is input accurately with optimum use of computerized validation and editing and that error handling procedures facilitate the timely and accurate resubmission of all corrected data. (Audit and Management Advisory Services, 2012) also instruct users that input edits should be used with a form or computer application, these input edits range from checks for invalid field lengths, invalid characters, missing or erroneous data, and corrected dates, or the use of check digits.Input data should also be controlled by the use of record counts, control totals, and event logs.
The duties of input controls are to ensure data entry through authorization; in addition, these duties should be separate to ensure that no one individual input control performs multiple critical tasks. Input Controls User interface (UI) design is the first task in the systems design phase of the SCLD. One element of the UI design process is input technology.System Analysis and Design (Shelly & Rosenblatt, 2012) states that Input and data entry methods should be cost efficient, timely, and simple as possible. In addition to the traditional methods of data entry, there has been a rapid development of new hardware in ways to capture and enter data into a system.
Data entry requires a lot of time and effort to reduce excessive labor it is important to reduce the amount of data that is needed in a system. Moreover, with the circumstance of data input volume reduction, it is also important o protect the data of the system. Input security and control is designed to ensure the complete and accurate recording of authorized data by authorized users though tools such as audit trails which monitors system activity and can also be used to reconstruct events after a problem has occurred. System Analysis and Design (Shelly & Rosenblatt, 2012), mentions that input control includes the necessary measures to ensure that input data is correct, complete, and secure. Every piece of information should be traceable back to the input data that produced it.
An audit trail records a source of each data item when it is entered into the system. Another element of input security and control requires data security policies and procedures to protect data from being damaged or lost. The records retention policy is the practice of storing documents in a safe location and making sure to see to legal requirements or business needs. Input security and control also involves the process of encrypting or encryption of data so only users with the code it software can read it.
When creating a logical model of a system an analyst must decide how to organize, store, and manage data. Data control measures are important issues that effect data quality and consistency. Input control types associated with proper data structure is needed to work with the request of a program. Some example of data integrity errors that could occur if input security and control prompts are not in place are: errors in individual data items; systematic errors; violation of protocol; problems with individual staff or site performance; and fraud or scientific misconduct. According to (Lammi, J. 009) the general guidelines for all input controls/UI are: keep the input control label texts clear and short; associate input labels with input controls; indicate where the user is, (especially with longer forms, highlight the input control group currently being active using a light background color if possible); use good defaults; prefer controls that you have already used on the form if you are not sure which control to use to be consistent; sort options in a logical order; in most cases alphabetical ordering works best; keep the controls static do not perform commands when options are being selected.
Basically, the user interface is the method by which users exchange information and instructions with a computer or an application. There are several input types that can be used for any web or (UI) design. Each pattern is intended to be read by the user who may or may not have knowledge of an UI design concept and terminology. Four of the more noticeable input control types are: textbox, checkbox, radio buttons and drop-down lists.A text box allows any text to be inputted, checkboxes allows users to choose any number of choices from predefined alternatives. Radio buttons offer only few options, usually yes-no style, and user can pick only one while a drop-down list offers several options from which to choose.
There are three different types of user interface: Command Line Interface (CLI); Menu Driven Interface (MDI); and Graphical User Interface (GUI). Each type of interface has its own advantages and disadvantages; often the type of UI is determined by the Operating System (P.Meakin, 1998). The UI advantages and disadvantages could vary from user to user and system.
The advantages of the graphical user interface is that its user friendly, it can speed up the work, its more attractive to non-technical users, and it looks more professional. The disadvantages of interfaces are when it is not properly built it can be hard to work with, it requires more memory, it may need additional programs installed to work, and it may need more time to be implemented.Illustrated below is a designed graphical representation of a Web-based input for making a hotel reservation. References Shelly & Rosenblatt (2012), System Analysis and Design (9th ed.
), Thomson Course Technology. Lammi (2009), Input Controls. Retrieved from http://patternry. com/p=input-controls/ Meakin (1998), User Interfaces. Retrieved from http://www. hollyfield.
kingston. sch. uk/gcseit/GCSE/userint. htm Audit and Management Advisory Services (2012), Retrieved from http://amas.
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