Module 10 Summary
Chapter 10 examines data. Data is defined by the text as values that represent concepts. This is an extremely broad definition, but I think of data as pieces to a puzzle. Taken individually they are not terribly clear, but when data is compiled, it creates a picture. This is shown in an illustration in the book that states data leads to information and information leads to knowledge. A good personal example of data collection would be my current coursework. My classwork is made up of individual bits of data relating to a course, and at the end of the semester those data points come together to form a completed course credit in that particular topic.
Data can be broken into more narrow categories as well. Valid data refers to data that is pertinent to a particular application. Metadata is data about data. Data can also be structured if it is highly organized, or unstructured if it is not. Data is the idea behind computing. Computers are essentially made to store and process massive amounts of data. An important part of using computers to understand data is the implementation of algorithms. These instructions allow computers to process data at a rate not possible by hand, looking for patterns which will lead to information that will provide knowledge.