Data processing: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 00:56, 3 June 2022

Revision as of 09:15, 13 July 2022

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{{Short description|Collection and manipulation of items of data to produce meaningful information}}

{{other uses}}

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changes are unwelcome and will be removed. Thanks.

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'''Data processing''' is, generally, "the [[data collection|collection]] and manipulation of items of data to produce meaningful information."<ref>{{cite book|last=French|first=Carl|title=Data Processing and Information Technology (10th ed.)|year=1996|publisher=Thomson|isbn=1844801004|page=2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zVCdg7Tg6-AC&q=inauthor%3A%22Carl%20French%22&pg=PR2}}</ref>

InData thisprocessing sense it can be consideredis a subsetform of ''[[information processing]]'', "which is the changemodification (processing) of information in any manner detectable by an observer."<ref group="note">Data processing is distinct from ''[[word processing]]'', which is manipulation of text specifically rather than data generally. {{cite web|title=data processing|url=http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/D/data_processing.html|work=Webopedia|date=September 1996|access-date=June 24, 2013}}</ref>

The term "Data Processing", (or "DP)" has also been used to refer to a department within an organization responsible for the operation of data processing applicationsprograms.<ref>{{cite book | title=Dictionary of Computing | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=9780192800466 | edition=4th | first=Valerie | last=Illingworth | series=Oxford Paperback Reference | date=11 December 1997 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofcomp00illi }}</ref>

== Data processing functions ==

==Data processing functions==

Data processing may involve various processes, including:

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* [[Data classification (business intelligence)|Classification]] &ndash; separation of data into various categories.

== History ==

The [[United States Census Bureau]] history illustrates the evolution of data processing from manual through electronic procedures.

=== Manual data processing ===

Although widespread use of the term ''data processing'' dates only from the 1950's, <ref name=DPuse>{{cite book|title=Google N gram viewer|url=https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=data+processing&year_start=1800&year_end=2000&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=|access-date=June 26, 2013}}</ref> data processing functions have been performed manually for millennia. For example, [[bookkeeping]] involves functions such as posting transactions and producing reports like the [[balance sheet]] and the [[cash flow statement]]. Completely manual methods were augmented by the application of [[mechanical calculator|mechanical]] or electronic [[calculator]]s. A person whose job was to perform calculations manually or using a calculator was called a "[[Human computer|computer]]."

The [[1890 United States Census]] schedule was the first to gather data by individual rather than [[household]]. A number of questions could be answered by making a check in the appropriate box on the form. From 1850 to 1880 the Census Bureau employed "a system of tallying, which, by reason of the increasing number of combinations of classifications required, became increasingly complex. Only a limited number of combinations could be recorded in one tally, so it was necessary to handle the schedules 5 or 6 times, for as many independent tallies."<ref name=Truesdell65>{{cite book|last=Truesdell|first=Leon E.|title=The development of punch card tabulation in the Bureau of the Census, 1890|year=1965|publisher=United States Department of Commerce|url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=MGZqAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&authuser=0&hl=en&pg=GBS.PR1}}</ref> "It took over 7 years to publish the results of the 1880 census"<ref name=Bohme91>{{cite book|last1=Bohme|first1=Frederick|last2=Wyatt|first2=J. Paul|last3=Curry|first3=James P.|title=100 Years of Data Processing: The Punchcard Century|year=1991|publisher=United States Bureau of the Census|url=https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=uCeu4sHRLfgC&rdid=book-uCeu4sHRLfgC&rdot=1}}</ref> using manual processing methods.

=== Automatic data processing ===

The term ''[[Electronic data processing|automatic data processing]]'' was applied to operations performed by means of [[unit record equipment]], such as [[Herman Hollerith]]'s application of [[punched card]] equipment for the [[1890 United States Census]]. "Using Hollerith's punchcard equipment, the Census Office was able to complete tabulating most of the 1890 census data in 2 to 3 years, compared with 7 to 8 years for the 1880 census. It is estimated that using Hollerith's system saved some $5 million in processing costs"<ref name=Bohme91 /> in 1890 dollars even though there were twice as many questions as in 1880.

=== Electronic data processing ===

Computerized data processing, or [[Electronic data processing]] represents a later development, with a computer used instead of several independent pieces of equipment. The Census Bureau first made limited use of [[electronic computers]] for the [[1950 United States Census]], using a [[UNIVAC I]] system,<ref name=Truesdell65 /> delivered in 1952.

=== Other developments ===

The term ''data processing'' has mostly been subsumed by the more general term ''[[information technology]]'' (IT).<ref>{{cite book|title=Google N gram viewer|url=https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=information+technology&year_start=1900&year_end=2000&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cinformation%20technology%3B%2Cc0|access-date=April 28, 2018}}</ref> The older term "data processing" is suggestive of older technologies. For example, in 1996 the ''[[Data Processing Management Association]]'' (DPMA) changed its name to the ''Association of Information Technology Professionals." Nevertheless, the terms are approximately synonymous.

== Applications ==

=== Commercial data processing ===

===Commercial data processing===

{{main|Electronic data processing}}

Commercial data processing involves a large volume of input data, relatively few computational operations, and a large volume of output. For example, an insurance company needs to keep records on tens or hundreds of thousands of policies, print and mail bills, and receive and post payments.

=== Data analysis ===

{{main|Data analysis}}

In science and engineering, the terms ''data processing'' and ''[[information system]]s'' are considered too broad, and the term ''data processing'' is typically used for the initial stage followed by a [[data analysis]] in the second stage of the overall data handling.

Data analysis uses specialized [[algorithm]]s and [[statistical]] calculations that are less often observed in a typical general business environment. For data analysis, software suites like [[SPSS]] or [[SAS (software)|SAS]], or their free counterparts such as [[DAP (software)|DAP]], [[gretl]] or [[PSPP]] are often used.

== See also ==

*[[Data processing system]]

*[[Big data]]

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*[[Computer science]]

== Notes ==

{{reflist|group=note}}

== External links ==

{{wikiquote}}

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==

*Bourque, Linda B.; Clark, Virginia A. (1992) ''Processing Data: The Survey Example''. (Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences, no. 07-085). Sage Publications. {{ISBN|0-8039-4741-0}}

*Levy, Joseph (1967) ''[http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/ibm/punchedCard/Training/Levy_Punched_Card_Data_Processing_1967.pdf Punched Card Data Processing]''. McGraw-Hill Book Company.