02 Introduction to Computer System (Data and Information)

Chapter 2

Data and Information

    Data is a collection of raw unprocessed facts, figures, and symbols. Computers process data to 

create information. Information is data that is organized, meaningful, and useful. Computer processes 

several data items to produce a paycheck. Another example of information is a grade report, which is 

generated from data items such as a student name, course names, and course grades. A user is 

someone who communicates with a computer or uses the information it generates.

Hardware is the electric, electronic, and mechanical equipment that makes up a computer. 

Software is the series of instructions that tells the hardware how to perform tasks. Without software, 

most hardware is useless. The hardware needs instructions from software to process data into 

information.

Data

  

(1) In computing, data is information that has been translated into a form that is more convenient to 

move or process. Relative to today's computers and transmission media, data is information converted 

into binary digital form.

2) In computer component interconnection and network communication, data is often distinguished 

from "control information," "control bits," and similar terms to identify the main content of a transmission 

unit.

3) In telecommunications, data sometimes means digital-encoded information to distinguish it from 

analog-encoded information such as conventional telephone voice calls. In general, "analog" or voice 

transmission requires a dedicated continual connection for the duration of a related series of 

transmissions. Data transmission can often be sent with intermittent connections in packets that arrive 

in piecemeal fashion.

4) Generally and in science, data is a gathered body of facts. Some authorities and publishers, 

cognizant of the word's Latin origin and as the plural form of "datum," use plural verb forms with "data". 

Others take the view that since "datum" is rarely used, it is more natural to treat "data" as a singular 

form.

Information
Information is stimuli that has meaning in some context for its receiver. When information is
entered into and stored in a computer, it is generally referred to as data. After processing (such as
formatting and printing), output data can again be perceived as information. Data will be converted in to
Information after processing. When information is packaged or used for understanding or doing
something, it is known as knowledge.