Data

1
Data

• A2 Module 2 13.4.3
• Heathcote Ch. 43

2
Methods of Data Entry

• Basic manual method
• Keyboard
•  Direct data capture
• Bar code readers
• Magnetic stripe readers
• Smart cards
• MICR
• EDI electronic data interchange
• Transfers data already entered from one
  organisation to another

3
Using bar codes

• Management is provided with very detailed up to
  date information, enabling decisions to be made
  quicker and with more confidence. For example
• Fast-selling items can be identified quickly and
  automatically reordered to meet demand
• Slow-selling items can be identified, preventing
  a build-up of unwanted stock
• Effects of repositioning a given product within a
  store can be monitored, allowing fast-moving more
  profitable items to occupy the best space
• Historical data can be used to predict seasonal
  fluctuations very accurately.

4
Other uses of bar codes

• Warehousing
• for containers of raw materials stored in racks
  of bins which are also bar coded
• Transport and distribution
• freight carriers individual packages are bar
  coded as are depot consignments
• Manufacturing
• accurate data on work in progress obtained using
  bar codes as for data entry
• Marketing
• polling companies for multiple choice
  questionnaires to enter data quickly and
  accurately

5
Other uses of bar codes 2

• Medical
• to identify blood and other samples, and
  patients records
• Libraries
• to record loans and provide information on stock
• Banking, insurance and local government
• for accurate document control and retrieval

6
Data collection methods

• Bar codes
• Magnetic stripe cards
• widely used for applications ranging from
  railway cards to customer loyalty cards
• Electronic data interchange (EDI)
• transmission of business data from one firms
  computerised information to that of another firm

7
Data collection methods 2

• Smart cards
• cards containing a microchip are likely to
  replace cash over the next five years
• Keying in data
• keyboard still widely used for data input in
  spite of the drawbacks
• inaccurate data transcription
• comparatively slow data entry
• risk to health (RSI)

8
Usefulness of data

• Data is of poor quality if it is
• Inaccurate
• Incomplete
• Out-of-date
• To be useful, data must be
• Accurate
• Complete
• Up-to-date

9
Collecting and analysing data

• Data may be collected for a specific purpose
  (direct)
• Or it may be collected for one use and then used
  for another (indirect)
• Store loyalty cards
• Information gained can influence shop layout
• It may determine the type of vouchers that you
  receive
• Junk mail
• Information derived from credit card sales used
  for marketing purposes
• Every time you use a credit card or answer a
  survey a further profile is being created of you
  and stored on computer

10
Coding value judgements

• What is a value judgement?
• A subjective opinion
• ICT lessons are cp!
• Liverpool FC are good? Very good? Excellent!
• Anne Widdecombe is better looking than Anna
  Kournikova
• If you have ever filled in a questionnaire on
  which you were asked to tick a box rating
  something from Poor to Excellent you will
  know how difficult it can be.
• Try the example on page 41 of Heathcote