Data processing: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:51, 10 May 2004

Revision as of 17:40, 14 May 2004

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'''Data Processing''' is any [[process]] that converts [[data]] into [[information]]. The processing is usually assumed to be automated and running on an [[information system]] like an electronic [[computer]].

In this context [[data]] is defined as a collection of numbers[[number]]s or characters[[character]]s that represent a [[measurement]] from the real world ([[evidence]]).

[[Information]] is defined as a meaningful answer to a [[query]].

More generally, the term ''data processing'' can apply to any process that converts data from one format to another, although ''data [[conversion]]'' would be the more logical and correct term. From this perspective, data processing becomes the process of [[convering]]converting [[information]] into [[data]] and also the converting of data back into information. The distinction is that conversion doesn't require a question (query) to be answered. For Example, [[information]] in the form of an string of characters forming a sentence in English is converted or [[encode]]d at a keyboard into [[ASCII]] code afterwhich it may be more easily processed by a computer and finally converted or [[decode]]d to be displayed as characters on the computer display.

[[fi:Tietojenkäsittely]]