Data processing

2 Areas of data processing
1. Business Data processing (BDP) .
Business data processing is characterized by the need to establish, retain, and process files of data for producing useful information. Generally, it involves a large volume of input data, limited arithmetical operations, and a relatively large volume of output. For example, a large retail store must maintain a record for each customer who purchases on account, update the balance owned on each account, and a periodically present a bill to the customer for merchandise purchased. This type of record keeping requires reading a customer’s account number, name, address, and previous balance. The bill involves a few basic calculations and the result are printed and mailed to the customer for collection. Tens of thousands of similar bills are commonly handled in the same way.

2. Scientific Data Processing (SDP) .
In science, data processing involves a limited volume of input and many logical or arithmetic calculations. Unlike business problems, most of the scientific problems are non-repetitive, requiring a “one-time” solution. For example, in cancer research, data on cancer patients (collected over a period of time) are analyzed by a computer to produce a possible cure. Although a final cure is unavailable, computer analysis of the hundreds of man-years of computations. It has also brought us a step closer to the final answer to the cancer horror. Although scientific data may differ from business data, the processing pattern is quite similar.

4 Methods of data processing
1. Batch processing
- all input has to be ready beforehand
- time to get your result may be long if interleaved with other batch jobs
- any errors may ruin the whole run but you won 't know it until results are returned

2. Online processing
- break in communication can leave your session in an unknown state
- may only be able to run a single session (may be no multiple logins)
- slow communication line can make the processing not work -- can 't get to the next step until the first one processed

3. Real time processing
(when done properly I can 't think of end-user restrictions, so here are some for programmers)
- operating systems that support it are often proprietary
- languages that support it are not the mainstream ones
- concepts in programming for it are unknown to the average programmer

4. Distributed processing
- processors may not be available when needed e.g. due to networking problems
- requires networking
- requires parallel programming or at least attention, in design, to distributing the tasks

5 Generation of computer
First Generation (1940-1956) Vacuum Tubes
The first computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory, and were often enormous, taking up entire rooms. They were very expensive to operate and in addition to using a great deal of electricity, generated a lot of heat, which was often the cause of malfunctions.
First generation computers relied on machine language, the lowest-level programming language understood by computers, to perform operations, and they could only solve one problem at a time. Input was based on punched cards and paper tape, and output was displayed on printouts.
The UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are examples of first-generation computing devices. The UNIVAC was the first commercial computer delivered to a business client, the U.S. Census Bureau in 1951.

Second Generation (1956-1963) Transistors
Transistors replaced vacuum tubes and ushered in the second generation of computers. The transistor was invented in 1947 but did not see widespread use in computers until the late 1950s. The transistor was far superior to the vacuum tube, allowing computers to become smaller, faster, cheaper, more energy-efficient and more reliable than their first-generation predecessors. Though the transistor still generated a great deal of heat that subjected the computer to damage, it was a vast improvement over the vacuum tube. Second-generation computers still relied on punched cards for input and printouts for output.
Second-generation computers moved from cryptic binary machine language to symbolic, or assembly, languages, which allowed programmers to specify instructions in words. High-level programming languages were also being developed at this time, such as early versions of COBOL and FORTRAN. These were also the first computers that stored their instructions in their memory, which moved from a magnetic drum to magnetic core technology.
The first computers of this generation were developed for the atomic energy industry.
Third Generation (1964-1971) Integrated Circuits
The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the third generation of computers. Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon chips, called semiconductors, which drastically increased the speed and efficiency of computers.
Instead of punched cards and printouts, users interacted with third generation computers through keyboards and monitors and interfaced with an operating system, which allowed the device to run many different applications at one time with a central program that monitored the memory. Computers for the first time became accessible to a mass audience because they were smaller and cheaper than their predecessors.
Fourth Generation (1971-Present) Microprocessors
The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of integrated circuits were built onto a single silicon chip. What in the first generation filled an entire room could now fit in the palm of the hand. The Intel 4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all the components of the computer—from the central processing unit and memory to input/output controls—on a single chip.
In 1981 IBM introduced its first computer for the home user, and in 1984 Apple introduced the Macintosh. Microprocessors also moved out of the realm of desktop computers and into many areas of life as more and more everyday products began to use microprocessors.
As these small computers became more powerful, they could be linked together to form networks, which eventually led to the development of the Internet. Fourth generation computers also saw the development of GUIs, the mouse and handheld devices.
Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond) Artificial Intelligence
Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial intelligence, are still in development, though there are some applications, such as voice recognition, that are being used today. The use of parallel processing and superconductors is helping to make artificial intelligence a reality. Quantum computation and molecular and nanotechnology will radically change the face of computers in years to come. The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop devices that respond to natural language input and are capable of learning and self-organization.

References http://www.mbaknol.com/management-information-systems/areas-of-data-processing/ http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Hardware_Software/2002/FiveGenerations.asp

References: http://www.mbaknol.com/management-information-systems/areas-of-data-processing/ http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Hardware_Software/2002/FiveGenerations.asp