Data vs.

Information
 DATA AND INFORMATION
 Generally, in introductory text on Information system, information is
considered to be the output from an information system, with data (raw,
unprocessed, collected “facts”) being input. This is very simplistic view and
is often qualified by saying that the information only becomes useful if it is
in context and meaningful.
 WHAT IS DATA
 Facts, statistics used for reference or analysis.

 Numbers, characters, symbols, images etc., which can be processed by a

computer.

 Data must be interpreted, by a human or machine, to derive meaning

 So data is meaningless.
 EXAMPLES OF DATA
 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.
 TYPES OF DATA
 Mainly Data is divided into two types:
1. Numeric Data
2. Character Data
 1. Numeric Data
 The data which is represented in the form of numbers is known as Numeric Data. This includes
0-9 digits, a decimal point (.), +, /, – sign and the letters “E” or “D”.
 2. Character Data
 Character data falls into two groups.
i. String Data
ii. Graphical Data
 String Data
String data consists of the sequence of characters. Characters may be English alphabets,
numbers or space. The space, which separates two words, is also a character. The string data is
further divided into two types.
a. Alphabetic Data
b. Alphanumeric Data
 Graphical Data
It is possible that pictures, charts and maps can be treated as data. The scanner is normally
used to enter this type of data. The common use of this data is found in the National Identity
Card.
THE OBJECTIVE POINT OF VIEW
OF DATA
 They are factual, resulting from recording of measurable events, or objects.

 They record particular instances of reality.

 They are explicit as they are in a fixed, recorded form.

 Hence, they can be communicated digitally.

 Modern society generates enormous amount of data that record details of

individual events and objects.

 This objective point of view accepts that data are validated in the sense that
they must be measured and recorded accurately.
 WHAT IS INFORMATION
 Data that has been processed within a context to give it meaning.

 "Information is data that has been processed”

 "Information is interpreted data" .

 Information is meaningful.
DATA INTO MEANINGFUL
INFORMATION
 For example: What does the number 29061996 mean?

 Is it:

 A birthday? (29th June 1996)

 A bank account number?

 A club membership number?

 A telephone number?

 Without processing or more information this data is meaningless.

 EXAMPLE OF INFORMATION
 The colour red is data as it has no meaning.

 What information we attach to the red colour is information -

 For example:

 On a traffic light it means STOP.

 In a football match a red card means that the player has been suspended.

 In certain places the red colour may mean a danger zone.

THE OBJECTIVE POINT OF VIEW
OF INFORMATION
 Information is a output from a computer program.

 The system analyst decides which information is useful.

 The processing which produces information includes –

1. Summarizing the data

2. Averaging the data

3. Selecting part of the data

4. Graphing the data

5. Adding context

6. Adding value.
THE OBJECTIVE POINT OF VIEW
OF INFORMATION
 Data may be associated with other data, which may be obtained from

different sources, to produce the information.

 The processing (classifying, linking, summarizing,sorting,presentation) add

value in the form of potential meaning(information).

 TYPES/LEVEL OF INFORMATION
 There are a number of level of information which are used in different ways
and carry different kind of meaning –

1) LEAN INFORMATION : - The first sort of information is data which has

been processed electronically (summarized, sorted, classified, analyzed or
simply collated or associated with other appropriate data) , reformatted
and made available to someone who is expected to find it meaningful and
useful. The processing associated with the production of this type of
information is mechanistic and procedural and can be described by an
algorithm. The processing is done deliberately inorder to add value.
TYPES/LEVEL OF INFORMATION
2) RICH INFORMATION – What then is the type of information that is not
the output from a computer process, such as information in newspaper and text
books – intended to inform? Such information has been carefully put in
context (explained) and human has done this processing but it is artifact
form(information is printed on paper or on computer screen) and is a
commodity. It is not as likely to initiate immediate actions or decisions as Lean
Information but is intended to initiate thought and to influence the reader by
altering his thought process. It has a wider readership (as the newspaper is not
prepared for one specific reader, it is prepared with the intention to
inform).Readers need not to interpret the information to a greater extent.
TYPES/LEVEL OF INFORMATION
3) Appropriated Information – When a human acquires information and
mentally processes it, some form of learning occurs. The user or acquirer of
information relates it to existing knowledge and information and a third type of
information results. During this process meaning is attributed to the
information. Such information is personal and mentally stored and has
meaning. This is the richest information. It is impossible to express it exactly
and completely. It probably does not correspond entirely with anyone else’s
version. The creation of such information is the process of learning.
TYPES/LEVEL OF INFORMATION
4) TACIT INFORMATION – Certain type of information are more difficult
than others to put into words. Tacit Information may be difficult to verbalize.
In fact some skills, such as balancing while riding a bicycle, do not seem to
have words that describe them. Hence, this information is usually imparted by
demonstrating it and by the recipient learning by trial and error or by practising
the skill.
DATA vs. INFORMATION
DATA
1. Data are raw material or other
findings which by themselves are
of limited value.
2.Data are unprocessed facts,
figures or merely numbers based
on records and observation.
3.Data does not depend on
information.
4.Data is the input language for
computer.
5.Data lack meaning.
6.Data is valueless.
7.Data is not specific.
INFORMATION
1. Information is data that has
been converted into a meaningful
and useful context.
2. Information are processed and
interpreted data(i.e., facts, figure
or numbers) based on research.
3. Information depends on data
and without it information cannot
be processed.
4.Information is the output
language for human.
5.Information is meaningful.
6.Information is useful and
valuable.
7.Information is specific.
THANKS