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AS ICT Topics

• 1. Data, information and knowledge
• 2. The value and importance of information
• 3. Quality of information
• 4. Validation and verification
• 5.Capabilities and limitations of ICT
• 6. Uses of ICT
• 7. Presenting information
• 8. Networks
• 9. Human computer interface
• 10. Social issues
• 11. Database systems
• 12.Modelling

T1.Relationship of data, info & knowledge

• Data = A set of raw facts and figures which can include numbers, words, images or sound.
• Information = Data which has been processed, converted to give it meaning or organised in some way.
• Knowledge = Applying rules to a set of information so that decisions can be made.
• Example:
• Data - 4.31, 4.18, 4.29, 4.32, 4.19, 4.21
• Information - These numbers are race times.
• Knowledge - The one with the fastest time wins the race so we know that the person with the time of 4.18 had the fastest race time and won the race.

T1. Encoding data

• Encoding examples:
• GB = Great Britain
• S = Small
• MAN = Manchester
• Why do we encode data?
• Takes less effort to type.
• More data on screen.
• Takes up less storage.
• Easier to check a code is accurate using validation checks.
• Problem with encoding data: It coarsens precision.
• Example: A database has a system with eye colours that are blue, green, brown and grey. What if a person has eyes described as green/blue? They wouldn't fit into a category and if we chose one category then information would be inaccurate.

T1. Encoding data cont.

• A problem with encoding is that is relies on value judgements.
• Example:
• Heights = 6ft 5, 5ft 10,4ft 9, 6ft 1, 5ft 5.
• There would be problems when deciding which height codes these people would fall in out of...
• T = Tall
• M = Medium
• S = Small
• This is because every individual will have a different idea of what a tall person or what a short person looks like.
• To fix this problem, there would need to be a balance of keeping codes to a minimum while still keeping them large enough for an accurate reflection of data.This needs to be considered when creating a database with codes.

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