INFORMATION SYSTEMS 1 Chapitre An information system gathers and stores information which can be compiled and aggregated to produce analyses and make both daily and strategic decisions. A number of innovations and inventions have contributed to make the sophisticated systems that are in use today. Information systems comprise various devices including computer stations, procedures, and communication tools. Individual computer stations include internal hardware parts: a hard drive which is a data- storage device, integrated circuits, or microchips (motherboards and microprocessors) and external peripherals which encompass a computer monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, memory sticks and sometimes a printer plus a scanner. Software applications or programs are loaded onto the computer and enable it to operate and process information. They necessarily include an operating system and nowadays a web browser. & TECHNICAL TERMS A computer station A hard drive An integrated circuit or a microchip A motherboard A microprocessor Peripherals An operating system A web browser Un poste informatique Un disque dur Un circuit intégré, une puce Une carte mère Un microprocesseur Des outils périphériques Un système d'exploitation Un navigateur Internet 199