Data is raw facts and figures that have no meaning on their own. Information is data that has been processed into a meaningful context. Knowledge is derived from information by applying rules to determine likely effects and make decisions. For example, swim times recorded for individuals are data, times organized by swimmer and event are information, and knowing the fastest swimmers based on times applies knowledge. Encoding information as data, like assigning codes to survey responses, allows computer analysis but can lose precision by overgeneralizing details.

1. Data, Information & Knowledge
AS I.C.T.
Lecture:
Syllabus Section:
References:
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1.1
Essential ICT for WJEC
AS Level Doyle
AS ICT Module 1
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2. Research Topics
• Definitions of
• Data
• Information
• Knowledge
• Relationships between data, information &
knowledge and appropriate examples
• Encoding information as data
• Knowledge-based (expert) systems & their
uses + the 3 components of an expert system
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3. What is ICT?
• Definition of Information and
Communications Technology (ICT)
• “The use of computer related technology
and devices to input and process data in
order to output information that can be
stored or shared.”
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4. Input-Process-Output
The main purpose of using a computer is to
process data to produce information
input
Computers
read
incoming
data
process
output
Process it
And display or print
information - this may
be used to influence
further input
(feedback)
What exactly is data?
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5. Data - what is it?
Data – definition
• Data is a set of raw facts or figures
• E.g. readings from sensors, or survey facts
• Data items on their own have no real
meaning - they are a stream of raw
values which have not been sorted or
structured in any way
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6. Data - what is it?
• Examples of data
1,12,1.4; 2,12,1.2; 3,16,1.1
Could be:
• Swim times in minutes for 3 swimmers in 2 different age
groups over 100 metres
• Or, height in metres of 3 students in 2 different age
groups
• Another example of data:
9:00, 135/75, 10:00, 135/75, 11:00, 120/60
Could be:
• A patient’s blood pressure reading taken at 3 different
times of the day
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7. So, what use is data?
To reiterate, what is data? Can you remember?
• data items are a stream of raw facts which
have not been sorted or structured in any
way
So, what use is data?
• When many items of similar data are
collected and processed, it becomes useful
• It becomes Information!
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8. So, what use is data?
Data
Examples
of
information
that might
be
obtained
from
processing
many items
of similar
raw data
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Information
the mark achieved
by student
0134289 in ICT
Paper 1
the percentage of
candidates gaining
“A” grades in a
particular year
the time at which
I clocked in for
work
the total number
of hours I worked
last week
the time it took
me to swim 100
metres
average 100 metre
swim times for a
swim club
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9. So what is information?
• To reiterate, what is Information?
• Information is data that has been processed into a
useful form
• Information is needed in organisations to help
support decision making
• e.g. “What consumables do we need to order for
this term?”
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10. What, therefore, is knowledge?
Knowledge – definition
• Knowledge is derived from
information by applying rules to it
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11. What, therefore, is Knowledge?
Knowledge - examples
• Think about the knowledge needed by a doctor to
make a diagnosis
• A doctor could order various tests for a patient such as
blood tests, X-rays and so on.
• From the results of the test, he/she would have
information about the condition of the patient.
• What knowledge would he/she need to be able to make
a diagnosis? remember, knowledge applies rules to
information to ascertain the likely effects of certain
courses of action
• Blood Pressure Rules Blood Sugar Levels
• What does this have to do with ICT?
• Blood pressure graphs
What are the
• More Blood pressure charts
data inputs?
• Ideal weight calculator
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12. Encoding information as data
• Surveys are carried out everyday
•
They may ask
• What product you buy?
• How often do you shop? And so on!
•
To be of use, the information collected needs to be analysed
• E.g. 27.5% respondents had blond hair
•
•
Computers are excellent at analysing data
So first, the mass of information collected needs
to be changed into data that is
• Fast & easy to enter into the computer, with no errors
• Easy to analyse
• Is in a consistent format
•
So we simplify information received into data by
giving it a code
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13. Encoding information as data
• Encoding information as data
• Data Encoding is used to allow some survey
results to be entered into a computer for analysis
• E.g. there may be a survey outside a hair stylists
collecting data on customer’s hair colour
• The data may be encoded:
A = for Brown Hair
C = for Black hair
E = for Grey hair
B = for Blond hair
D = for Red hair
F = Bald, no hair
• Unfortunately, it is not possible to categorise every hair
colour with a code
• Researchers will then have to make a value judgement
• For instance, they may encode Dark Brown or Light
Brown as “A”, thus losing precision
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14. Encoding information as data
Another example:
• College registers could use the following codes:
present
O absent
A authorised absence
L late
- not required in class
• So, how do we record On Holiday?
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15. Encoding information as data
Advantages
Disadvantages
• Saves memory
• Faster to enter – click not
•
•
•
type
Less likely to have
transcription errors
Able to analyse
Greater consistency of data
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• Value judgments are fitted into
a certain category
• Coarsens data by fitting it into
groups, leading to loss of
precision
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16. Summary
Data definition
Raw facts and figures – on their own they have no meaning
e.g. readings from sensors, survey facts
Information definition
Data which has been processed by the computer. It has a
context which makes it meaningful
Knowledge definition
Is derived from information by applying rules to it.
Using information to make decisions
e.g. Data:
1,12,1.4, 2,12,1.2, 3,16,1.1
e.g. Information:
Swim times for 100m
Swimmer No
Age group
Times (mins)
1
12
1.4
2
12
1.2
3
16
1.1
e.g. Knowledge:
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Swimmer No 2 is the fastest in the age 12 group.
Certificates go to swimmers 2 and 3.
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17. Exercise 1
• Using a table similar to that shown on
slide 20
• Measure & record heights & gender of 10
students in your class
• What knowledge can you derive from this
table of information?
• Needs a volunteer to write results on
whiteboard!
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18. Exercise 2
• Using the following codes
• Measure & record hair
colour of 10 students in
your class
• What knowledge can you
derive from this table of
information?
 What are the advantages of
encoding information as
data?
 What are the disadvantages
of using value judgements?
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Codes:
A=Brown hair
B=Blonde hair
C=Black hair
D=Red hair
E=Grey hair
F=Bald, no hair
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19. Directed Study 1
(a) Define the terms Data, Information
and Knowledge.
[3]
(b) By using an appropriate example,
explain the relationship between Data,
Information and Knowledge.
[3]
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