Data vs. Information
Data versus Information
Elisha Hawkins-Beason
Cis/105
May 23, 2013
Dennis Puckett
Introduction
The frequency of the use of the words data and information are very high in our daily lives. Depending on the context the meanings and use of these words differ. Both data and information are types of knowledge or something used to attain knowledge. Through used interchangeably, there are many differences between the meanings of these two words.
Data refers to the lowest abstract or a raw input which when processed or arranged makes meaningful output. It is the group or chucks which represent quantitative and qualitative attributes pertaining to variables. Information is usually the processed outcome data. More specifically speaking, it is derived from data. Information is a concept and can be used in many domains.
Information can be a mental stimulus, perception, representation, knowledge, or even an instruction. The examples of data can be facts, analysis, or statistics. In computer terms, symbols, characters, images, or numbers are data. These are the inputs for the system to give a meaningful interpretation. In order, data in a meaningful form is information.
In a computer, however, all data is represented by the state of the computer’s electronic switches. A switch has only two possible states- on and off –so it can represent only two numeric values. To a computer, when a switch is off, it represents a 0; when a switch is on, it represents a 1. Because there are only two values, computers are said to function in base 2, which is also known as the binary number system. Computer process data by: recording, analyzing, sorting, summarizing, calculating, and sorting data. Then data processing system take raw date as input to produce information as output.
Conclusion
Data is the lowest level of knowledge and information is the second level. Data by itself alone is not significant. Information is significant by itself. Observations and recording are done to
Elisha Hawkins-Beason
Cis/105
May 23, 2013
Dennis Puckett
Introduction
The frequency of the use of the words data and information are very high in our daily lives. Depending on the context the meanings and use of these words differ. Both data and information are types of knowledge or something used to attain knowledge. Through used interchangeably, there are many differences between the meanings of these two words.
Data refers to the lowest abstract or a raw input which when processed or arranged makes meaningful output. It is the group or chucks which represent quantitative and qualitative attributes pertaining to variables. Information is usually the processed outcome data. More specifically speaking, it is derived from data. Information is a concept and can be used in many domains.
Information can be a mental stimulus, perception, representation, knowledge, or even an instruction. The examples of data can be facts, analysis, or statistics. In computer terms, symbols, characters, images, or numbers are data. These are the inputs for the system to give a meaningful interpretation. In order, data in a meaningful form is information.
In a computer, however, all data is represented by the state of the computer’s electronic switches. A switch has only two possible states- on and off –so it can represent only two numeric values. To a computer, when a switch is off, it represents a 0; when a switch is on, it represents a 1. Because there are only two values, computers are said to function in base 2, which is also known as the binary number system. Computer process data by: recording, analyzing, sorting, summarizing, calculating, and sorting data. Then data processing system take raw date as input to produce information as output.
Conclusion
Data is the lowest level of knowledge and information is the second level. Data by itself alone is not significant. Information is significant by itself. Observations and recording are done to