Data Processing Cycle

Data Collection and Preparation to produce a Source Document

To prepare it to be directly input at the Data Input stage. This means there is less chance for errors and is much faster than manually typing it in.

After this the Data is Processed and Stored

Once it is stored the Data Output gives output in one of three formats: File, Paper or/and Screen

Direct Data Input Methods Are:
MICR - Magnetic Ink Character Recognition
OCR - Optical Character Recognition (Hardware: Scanner. Software: OC Software)
Mark Sense Card - lottery
Bar Code - DUH!
Smart Card - own microprocessor chip
Magnetic Stripe - Less memory than smart cards, easier to forge and easier to damage

Commercial Data Processing

CDP is all about how large companies deal with and process a lot of data. Like the Lottery, Airports, Morrisons, Spar! (Yes, they do exist!)

Why do we need Computers and CDP
There is a lot of data (Large Volume of documents)
Faster to search through than manual (imagine trying to find a lottery winner from 32 million tickets sold)
Provides high speed access to data (trying to book in at an airport for)
Handle repetitive tasks (imagine having to check EVERY lottery ticket!)

Advantages of Using Computers
Orders processed much more quickly
Computer checks built in so errors less likely
Maintain contact with a large number of people
Easily keep information up to date
Single Entry Multiple Use
One department enters information all departments can access the information

Data and Information

Information(for people) = data(for computers) with structure

Automated Systems

What are Automated Systems
Humans provide the input
Machine/Robot/system carries out the process
Provides the output

Auto Sys in the home

* washing machine
* cameras
* sky +
* stereos
* microwaves
* dishwashers
* tumble dryers

Auto Sys in industry
* car manufacture
* coca cola factory
* irn bru factory
* tunnocks
* wool factory

Reasons why we use Auto Sys
* they are re-programmable
* faster than humans
* can work longer, 24/7
* do boring jobs
* more accurate than humans
* can do dangerous jobs

Databases, everything anything and all of it

Data File - largest piece of the database, this is whole database
Record - holds all the details on the subject on one individual person/car/ whatever
Field - smallest part of the database, this holds one piece of information


Field Types - Text, Numeric, Date/Time, Currency, Graphic

Sort or Search

Complex - means you do this on more than one field
simple - means you do it one field

Example Answers
To find all of the blue eyed cats we would ...
Complex Search on the Pet Field for "Cat" and the eyes field for "blue"

To get a list in alphabetical order
Ascending Sort

Calculated/Computed Field
A field which uses a formula to calculate using the other fields.

How much memory does one character require.
One Byte!

Databases!

Databases have three parts
Listed in order from Largest to Smallest they Are? ...


Data File
* The full database

Record(s)
*contains all the information on person/subject

Fields
* these are one piece of information

Types include

+ numeric
+ text
+ graphic
+ date/time
+ currency

A little too much to drink ...

C U A Love U Right!

Three parts of the processor

CU - Control Unit
- make sure all instructions are carried out in the correct order
- controls other parts of the processor

ALU - Arithmetic Logic Unit
- carries out all the calculations
- makes decisions based on logic

R - Registers
- Temporary storage locations in the processor
- stores results of calculations, addresses to be accessed

Graphics Operations

Crop
cutting part out of an image

Scale
increasing or decreasing the size of a graphic - keeping it in proportion (without losing any of the image)

Rotate
turning an image by a certain angle