Data and information

By the end of this, you should be able to state the difference between DATE and INFORMAITON.

Information and data

Information systems = hardware and software working together

It will take DATA that has been INPUT and converted it into INFORMATION

In other words and information system processes the DATA to produce INFORMATION

What's the diffrence

Data is raw facts and figures which have no meaning and have not been put into a context (given a purpose)

Example: this is a set of data 85,60,65,90,70,50,40.

As it is, it has no meaning, the numbers could mean anything (within reason).

It becomes information when given a purpose or put into content.

Define the difference

The DATA as now become INFORMATION since it has been given a meaning…

INFORMATION occurs when DATA has been PROCESED…

*processed means taking the values and manipulation them (doing something with them)

Define the difference

Information is data which has been processed to give it meaning.

When we have information we can come up with conclusions and answer questions about the data

Information = data + context + meaning

Define the difference

If the average mark of the class is calculated, the data will give the teacher some useful information…

…ICT system produce information which has been formatted so that a user can make use of it (understand it)…

…information can be paper-based e.g. a report or electronic e.g. a chart shown on a screen.

Define the difference

All data is stored in a table A database is a persistent collection of data

or information which is held together in an organized or logical way.

Lots of tables create a relational database. Data stored in a relational database are

linked together e.g. address books.

Data

Google SIMS (school registers) Yellow pages Mobil phones Electoral registers

Database examples:

Each field must be specified as a data type Data must first be captured (collected in a

way that then makes it easy to put in) Data must be input into the computer

system The system analyst will select a data

capture method and data input method that best suit the requirements of the new system

Or an optical marker reader captures the data

Optical character recognition form

Validation and Verification

Choosing the best data capture and input methods for the system

Collecting data into a form that is ready for input to a computer system can be done in many years

Form can be simple one with spaces for number and text to be written in

The data from this form would be typed into the computer

Forms can also be machine readable such as OMR

Barcode reader capture the numeric code that the barcode represents

Typically used with POS system and also stock control system

Card reader many cards contain data stored on a magnetic strip

Camera capture still or moving images which can then be input to a computer for processing

Finger printer reader employees could put a finger on the reader at the smart and end of work

As data is entered into the system it needs to be checked for accuracy

Data validation only checks whether the data entered is sensible its does not mean that the data is right data

To check that data is the correct value we use system called data verification

Proof reading after the data has been entered a person compares the orignal data with the data in the computer

If mistakes are spotted they can be corrected by person

Proof reading is quick and simple , but doesn’t catch every mistake

Data Entry

Double entry is entered into the computer twice

The computer compares the sets or data to see if they match if not it generates an error and person will need to correct the mistake