data,information

Data and Information Data

– Raw, unorganised facts– Ideas or concepts

Information– When data is manipulated into a meaningful

form– Used to assist in decision making– Information presented in two forms

• Hard copy or soft copy

data,information

Data and Information Information, contd Digital information output not designed to be

printed, thus format & presentation are different Digital information formatted so best viewed on

screen Also can produce information not suited to hard

copy, eg. digital files, DVDs, etc. Output, end production of a solution Solution, a method of solving a problem

data,information

Purposes of Information

Inform– Convey facts, like reporting on issue

Persuade– Influence a decision or change a point of view

Entertain– Engage in a activity in a pleasing or amusing way

Educate– Provide knowledge & skills to use that knowledge

data,information

Types of data Integer data types

– A finite subset of numbers without a fractional or decimal component; used to represent whole numbers

Floating point numbers– Too small or big to be given as integers– Represented as decimal numbers

Character data types– Includes alphanumerical text, eg. letters, nos., spaces, symbols– Character variable holds a single letter, no. or symbol– Used in character fields not used in mathematical calculations,

such as names, telephone nos. , postcodes

data,information

Types of data String data types

– A series of symbols or values, such as a character string (a sequence of characters) or a binary string (a sequence of binary values;

– phone nos. postcodes, are strings that include numbers. – String data types require less memory.