Data and information
Concepts of Data and Information
- Data refers to raw, unprocessed facts and statistics collected to be analysed or used.
- Information is data that has been processed, organised, structured, or presented in a given context to make it meaningful and useful.
- Knowledge is information that is understood and applied by individuals.
Attributes of Information
- Timeliness: Accurate information must be available when required. Delays in obtaining information could lead to missed opportunities.
- Relevance: The information must be relevant to what is being done or the decision that needs to be made.
- Accuracy: Inaccurate information can lead to wrong decisions. Therefore, it's critical to ensure the data input is correct.
- Completeness: Information should provide a complete picture. If any details are missing, then decisions may be made on the basis of incomplete information.
- Reliability: Information should be reliable, meaning that it consistently provides the same results under the same conditions.
Representing Data
- Binary is a base-2 number system that is made up of two numerals: 0 and 1.
- Binary number system is widely used in computing because it's straightforward to implement with digital electronic circuitry.
- ASCII and Unicode are two of the standards used to represent text in computers. ASCII uses seven bits to represent each character, while Unicode uses 16 bits.
- Graphical data can be bitmapped (raster) or vector. Bitmap graphics are made up of pixels, while vector graphics are made up of paths.
Data Processing
- Data processing generally refers to the process of transforming raw data into meaningful information.
- Key steps in data processing include data input, data processing, and information output.
- Real-time processing processes data as soon as it is input into the system. It is often used in systems that require immediate action based on input data.
- Batch processing processes large volumes of data all at once at a later time. It's more efficient at processing large volumes of data and doesn't require human interaction during processing.