All through the different stages of civilization, man has always tried to look for ways to simplify work and to solve problem more' 'efficiently., Many problem involved numbers 'and quantities, so man started, looking for easier ways to count, and to add, to subtract, to multiply, and divide. As society has grown in both size and complexity, so has the data that is generated within it.
Data
is defined as any collection of unprocessed facts.
>> sales reports
>> inventory figures
>> test scores
>> Customer ‘s names and addresses
>> weather reports
>> photographs, drawings, and maps are considered data.
Data Processing
is the manipulation of data into a meaningful and useful form.
Information
is a collection of data or processed facts.
CATEGORIES OF DATA PROCESSING
Manual Data Processing
Mechanical Data Processing
Electronic Data Processing
Manual Data Processing
These system, employs tools and materials 'such as pencils, pens, multiple-copy forms, carbon paper and filing cabinets.
Mechanical Data Processing
Systems use a combination of manual procedures and, mechanical equipment. The system uses various devices such as typewriters, sorters, calculators, collators, tabulator, duplicators, and verifiers. Most of these system operate, on punched cards.
Electronic Data Processing
Different types of input, output, and storage devices may be interconnected to an electronic computer to process data.
DATA PROCESSING CYCLE
INPUT
In this step the initial data, or input data, are prepared in some convenient form for processing. The form will depend on the processing machine. For example, when electro mechanical devices are used, the input data- are punched on cards; but if electronic computers are used, the input data could be recorded on any of several types of input medium, such as cards, tapes, disks, and so on.
PROCESSING
In this step the input data are changed, and usually combined with other information, to produce data in a -more useful form. Thus, paychecks -may be calculated from the time cards, or a summary of sales for the month may be calculated, from the sales orders. The processing step usually involves A sequence of certain basic processing operations.
OUTPUT
Here the results of the preceding processing steps are, collected. The particular form of the output data depends on the use of the data. For example, output data may be paychecks for employees, a printed summary of monthly sales for management, or simply data to be stored for further processing at a later date.
