Data Processing
Data processing may be defined as those activities, which are concerned with the
systematic recording, arranging, filing, processing and dissemination of facts relating to
the physical events occurring in the business. Data processing can also be described as
the activity of manipulating the raw facts to generate a set or an assembly of meaningful
data, what is described as information. Data processing activities include data collection,
classification, sorting, adding, merging, summarizing, storing, retrieval and
dissemination.
The black box model is an extremely simple principle of a machine, that is, irrespective
of how a machine operates internally any machine takes an input, operates on it and then
produces an output.
Input Output
Processing
In dealing with digital computers this data consists of: numerical data, character data
and special (control) characters.
Use of computers for data processing involves four stages:
Data input – This is the process of data capture into the computer system for
processing. Input devices are used.
Storage – This is an intermediary stage where input data is stored within the
computer system or on secondary storage awaiting processing or output after
processing. Program instructions to operate on the data are also stored in the
computer.
Processing – The central processing unit of the computer manipulates data using
arithmetic and logical operations.
Data output – The results of the processing function are output by the computer
using a variety of output devices.
Data processing activities
The basic processing activities include:
Record – bring facts into a processing system in usable form
Classify – data with similar characteristics are placed in the same category, or
group.
Sort – arrangement of data items in a desired sequence
Calculate – apply arithmetic functions to data
Summarize – to condense data or to put it in a briefer form
Compare – perform an evaluation in relation to some known measures
Communicate – the process of sharing information
Store – to hold processed data for continuing or later use.
Retrieve – to recover data previously stored
Data processing life cycle
Data Processing
Data processing is an important function that converts our data into meaningful
information. In this process, difference calculations are performed. In recent time, most of
data processing is done using computers. Data processing life cycle is collection of steps
required to convert into information. Basically there are three main steps.
Input
Processing
Output
There are many other steps which are related to these steps. The complete data life cycle
is give blow.
Collection - In this step data is collected from different sources.
Classification - In this step, the collected data classified into different categories.
Input - In this step, the collected data is given to the computer as in input for
processing.
Verification - The data given to computer is verified to make sure that data is correct
and valid for processing.
Coding - The data is stored in computer in binary form. In this step data is converted
into binary form so that it may be stored into computer.
Storing - It is easy to process sorted data. In this step the data is sorted in different
sequence so that processing become easy.
Processing - In this step the processing on data is applied. Different calculation and
formulas are applied on stored data to get the desired result.
Summarizing - Some time in spite of having all the stored data in summarized form
is obtained. In this step data is processed in summarized form. For example a bank
manager may ask for summary of the transactions done in the whole day.
Output - The basic purpose of data processing is to generate desired information from
the raw data. In this step the data is displayed on the required medium e.g. Screen and
printer.
Retrieval - If data is stored on storage devices like hard disk, in this step data is
retrieval from the storage devices.
Conversion - The information in this step is conversion into different forms like charts,
graphs etc.
Communication - Some time information is required at different places, In this step
the information is sent to different places.
Feedback - In this step, the comments are taken from the users about the data
processing system and its output. This process is very important to improve the data
processing system.