Chapter 1 - Data, Information, Knowledge and Processing

Chapter 1 - Data, Information, Knowledge and Processing

1. Data

   • Data are letters, characters, numbers, symbols, images, lights and sounds before they have been processed.
   • How data becomes information
     • Structure
       • By presenting data in a particular way, it gains structure.
         • Data: 210426 Structure: 21-04-26
           • The hyphens separate the numbers. We may guess that it's a date, but we don't know yet because there is no context given.
         • Context
           • The numbers and letters presented in a structured way can still be interpreted differently. They therefore need context.
             • Structured Data: 21-04-26 Context: A European date
               • We know know that this is a European date and so 21 is the day, 04 is the month and 26 is the year. However it isn't yet information, it needs meaning.
             • Meaning
               • Once meaning is added to data, it becomes information, which will then be useful.
                 • Structured Data: 21-04-26 Context: A European date Meaning: Queen Elizabeth II's date of birth.
                   • This is now useful because we know when the Queen was born.

2. Methods of Conveying Information

   • Text
     • Advantages
       • Explanations can be given.
       • The meaning can be clear and explicit rather than images which may be ambiguous.
       • Text can be read even if it is noisy.
     • Disadvantages
       • There may be language barriers if being used as signs.
       • It can be difficult to explain something without an image or video to support it.
       • Blind people can't read text and anybody with dyslexia will have difficulties reading.
       • It can take a long time for a person to process text rather than an image and so it is not good when information needs to be given quickly.
   • Pictures
     • Advantages
       • A picture can show exactly what something looks like, whereas it would take a long time to explain what something looks like.
       • There are no language barriers with images, anybody can interpret them.
       • Pictures can be viewed even if it's noisy.
     • Disadvantages
       • Not everybody may know what meaning is of common images, e.g road signs.
       • Images on their own cannot give explanations or instructions.
   • LED
     • Disadvantages
       • LEDs on their own do not mean anything and so text or images are also needed to show what the lights indicate.
       • LEDs can only be seen by somebody if they are close to them.
     • Advantages
       • LEDs take up very little space.
       • LEDs use up very little power and are cheap to produce.
   • Videos
     • Disadvantages
       • Videos require a display screen and speakers to be viewed and heard.
       • Videos are time consuming to produce.
       • If it's displayed in a noisy environment, then it can be difficult to hear what is being said.
       • Blind or deaf people will only be able to listen or see, they cannot interpret both aspects of a video.
     • Advantages
       • Videos can include both sound and video meaning that explanations can be given at the same time as moving images.
       • A moving image can explain exactly how something works, for example showing how to swim breaststroke.
       • Some things can only be explained by using video.
   • Animation
     • Disadvantages
       • Animation can only show steps/frames of a moving image and so some information can be missed out.
       • Animation does not include sound.
     • Advantages
       • Animations can convey a meaning effectively, such as somebody putting litter in a bin or moving arrows to tell drivers to change lane.
       • Animations are not dependent upon a person understanding a specific language.
   • Sound
     • Disadvantages
       • Deaf people cannot hear what is being said, or what noise is being made.
       • It can be difficult to hear when in a noisy environment.
       • Not everybody nearby may want to listen.
       • A person has to be there at the time to hear the sound otherwise they will miss the information.
     • Advantages
       • Sound can be used to grab people's attention.
       • People do not need to be near a display in order to hear a sound.
       • Blind people can interpret what is being said or the noise being made.
       • A person does not have their eyes distracted and so can be useful for conveying information in a car such as a beep to indicate the seat belt is not on or instructions on a SatNav.