Topic one - Data and quality of data

Topic one - Data and quality of data

1. Data

   • Forms data can take
     • Numbers
     • Words
     • Images
     • Sounds
     • Video
   • Definition of Data
     • Data consists of raw facts and figures (e.g reading from sensor survey facts, etc
     • These raw facts and figures are meaningless because they lack relevance
     • If you look at data, it is either no use to you or not in a form you can't use
   • Ways in which data can arise
     • From the results of experiments
     • From automatic measurements using sensors (temperature, rainfall, pressure.)
     • From a transaction (buying a download on the internet)
     • From a survey
   • Encoding data
     • Data is often coded when it is collected on input into an ICT. The reasons for this are:
       • Coded data is quicker to type in
       • It takes up less storage space on a disk
       • If is easier to do validation checks
       • Faster to access data that is coded
       • It is quicker to send data over a network

2. Information

   • Data processed by the computer
     • Having calculations performed on it
     • Converted to give it meaning
     • Organised in some ways (putting it into numerical order.)

3. Knowledge

   • Obtained from information by applying rules to it.

4. GIGO (Garbage in, Garbage out)

   • If you enter incorrect data into the computer then the output from the computer will also be incorrect