IPOS may refer to any of the following:

  1. Alternatively called information processing cycle, IPOS (input, processing, output, and storage) is a series of events that allow a computer to work.

Information processing cycle steps

Below are brief explanations of each step in the information processing cycle, with examples of the steps.

Input

Information (input) is entered into the computer using an input device. For example, using a keyboard to type a person’s name into a computer.

Processing

Perform operations (processing) on the data to get information. For example, the computer processes the user’s name entered in the input step.

Output

Present the results (output) of what was processed. For example, if the computer processed the inputted user’s name and found results, those results would be displayed.

Storage

Store the data and information in temporary storage while used, and then optionally on a storage device for permanent storage. For example, if after inputting the person’s name, the person’s record was opened and updated, it could be stored for future reference.

  1. Short for IP over Satellite, IPoS describes getting the Internet using a satellite.
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Computer acronyms, Hardware terms