Data, Information & Knowledge

Data

Data– Data is the raw facts and figures before

they have been processed– Key Facts:

Data can be alphanumeric characters (letters and numbers), sound or graphics

Data is raw facts before it has been processed

Data has no meaning

Data Examples

• Yes, Yes, No, Yes, No, Yes, No, Yes• 42, 63, 96, 74, 56, 86• 111192, 111234

• None of the above data sets have any meaning until they are given a CONTEXT and PROCESSED into a useable form

• To achieve its aims the organisation will need to process data into information.

• Data needs to be turned into meaningful information and presented in its most useful format

• Data must be processed in a context in order to give it meaning

Data into Information

Information

• Information– data that has been processed into a useful form

Data Structure Context Meaning

12102005 12/10/2005 UK Date Date of Holiday

1 Selected from a scale

of 1-4

How enjoyable

was the film? 1 being good, 4

being bad

The film was good

Knowledge

– Is concerned with how to do things, with causes and consequences

– In ICT terms it is concerned with the application of rules to information

• Example:

Data 46, 54

Information

Scores for team 1 and team 2, respectively, in a quiz

Knowledge

Team 2 won

Examples..

Data 101

Information BBC1 channel number

Knowledge Sky number to input to get BBC1

Data The amber light is the data

Information

The information is that you will need to stop

Knowledge

The knowledge is how to stop that vehicle you are driving and when you need to stop braking to stop the vehicle where you need it to.

Knowledge Workers

• Knowledge workers have specialist knowledge that makes them “experts”– Based on formal and informal rules they

have learned through training and experience

• Examples include doctors, managers, librarians, scientists…

Expert Systems

• Because many rules are based on probabilities computers can be programmed with “subject knowledge” to mimic the role of experts

• One of the most common uses of expert systems is in medicine– The ONCOLOG system shown here analyses

patient data to provide a reference for doctors, and help for the choice, prescription and follow-up of chemotherapy

Summary

Information Data Context Meaning= ++

Processing

Data – raw facts and figures

Information – data that has been processed (in a context) to give it meaning

Methods to convey Information

• The main representation methods are:– Text (including writing)– Graphics (including pictures)– Sound (including voice)– Moving pictures (animation or video)– Light-emitting diode (LED)

– You need to know the advantages and disadvantages of each method

Advantages & Disadvantages

• To complete Task 3, see link below:– http://www.teac

h-ict.com/as_a2_ict_new/ocr/AS_G061/311_data_info_knowledge/methods_convey_information/miniweb/index.htm