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Rm off-topic material on another use of the same term WP:NOTDICT. We could mention data processing departments here, but the fact that a data processing department is responsible for data processing is so obvious that it does not need to be said. Misc other cleanup. |
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'''Data processing''' is the [[data collection|collection]] and manipulation of digital 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> Data processing is a form of ''information processing'', which is the modification (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>
== Functions ==
Data processing may involve various processes, including:
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The [[United States Census Bureau]] history illustrates the evolution of data processing from manual through electronic procedures.
=== Manual
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]]."
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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|author1-link=Leon E. Truesdell|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
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
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.
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