IPO stands for the Input – Process – Output model.
As the name suggests, the IPO cycle is the input and output after the information is processed. Individuals are required to provide an input first to get an output, and then the input is processed to obtain the desired results.
In simple terms, the IPO cycle can be defined as a computing procedure for processing information. In the computation process, it is an important cycle by which users are able to get the outcome.
It consists of mainly three elements:
Input is the necessity that either the user or any other source enters the machine from the environment via input devices such as keyboards and so on.
Processing of the information is the calculation and computation that the CPU does on the demand of the user.
The output is the result that is given to the user via the monitor as per the criteria.
It is a continuous loop through which millions of users will generate the results of their desired results.
Manufacturing: Input = raw materials (steel, plastic, etc.), Process = assembly, Output = finished product (car, phone, etc.)
Software development: Input = user requirements and design specifications, Process = coding and testing, Output = functional software application
Healthcare: Input = patient information (symptoms, medical history, etc.), Process = diagnosis and treatment plan, Output = improved patient health
By understanding the input, process, and output of a system or process, we can identify areas for improvement and optimise efficiency and effectiveness.
The IPO cycle has many real-life applications:
Corporate Business
Programming
Scientific research
In order for the IPO principle to work, several conditions must be met. A processor, the right hardware, software and an operating system are required.
The writing of a text document is also subject to this principle. The input is done via the keyboard. In the next step, the input is converted into visible text, for example, by OCR text recognition. The text documents can either be displayed on the monitor or saved or printed.
The other methods like IPO are:
Reading-evaluating-printing loops (REPLs), also known as language shells, are very simple, interactive programming environments that take user input, evaluate it, and then return the output.
Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL) is a process that involves three phases. This process involves extracting, transforming (cleaning, sanitising) and loading the data.
The additional stage is storage. Storage is applicable for both data and program code. Storage normally refers to secondary storage in the device, but it can also be referred to as temporary storage, such as main memory (RAM) or short-term storage(Cache).