Information And Data : Summary

1. Data is raw figures, text etc. which have no meaning by themselves.
 
2. Information is data that has been placed in a context so that it has a meaning to a human being.
 
3. Computers do not process information, they process data.
 
4. Data can become information when it is given a context : Information = Data + Context
 
5. 

Information can be qualitative or quantitative :

Quantitative Quantitative information is information which can be accurately measured against a scale.
Qualitative Qualitative information is information which involves an element of judgement or opinion.
 
6. Knowledge is the information, skills and experiences that have been learned by a human. New knowledge can be created from existing information by applying logical rules to the information : Knowledge = Information + Processing
 
7. Coding or encoding information is converting information into data so that it can be stored and processed.
 
8. Most computers store data digitally. Numbers are stored as binary patterns (0s and 1s) and characters and symbols are represented using a standard coding system such as ASCII.
 
9. Information can be presented in different ways. How you choose to present information will depend upon :
  • The purpose that the information is being used for.
  • Who the information is being presented to.
  • What facilities you have to help you present the information.
 
10. If an audience has special needs then the method of presenting information must be tailored to these.
 
11. Information systems present information on an output device.

(C) P Meakin 2004