This document defines and distinguishes between data, information, and knowledge. Data refers to raw facts and figures that have not been processed and therefore have no inherent meaning. Information is data that has been processed and organized to give it context and meaning. Knowledge builds upon information by incorporating rules about how to apply and use that information. The key distinction is that data is raw facts, information provides meaning to data through context and processing, and knowledge applies rules to information.

1. Data, Information &
Knowledge

2. Data
 Data
– Data is the raw facts and figures before they have
been processed
– Key Facts:
 Data can be alphanumeric characters (letters and
numbers), sound or graphics
 Data is raw facts before it has been processed
 Data has no meaning

3. Data Examples
• 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

4. Data into Information
• To achieve its aims the organisation will
need to process data into information.
• Data needs to be turned into meaningful
information and presented in its most useful
format
• Data must be processed in a context in order
to give it meaning

5. Information
• Information
– data that has been processed into a useful form
Data Structure Context Meaning
12102005 12/10/2005 UK Date Date of Holiday
1 Selected from a
scale of 1-4
How enjoyable
was the film? 1
being good, 4
being bad
The film was
good

6. Knowledge
– Is concerned with how to do things, with causes and
consequences
– In ICT terms it is concerned with the application of rules
to information
• Example:
Data 46, 54
Information Scores for team 1 and team 2, respectively, in
a quiz
Knowledge Team 2 won

7. Examples..
Data 101
Information BBC1 channel number
Knowledge Sky number to input to get BBC1
Data The amber light is the data
Information The information is that you will need to stop
Knowledge The knowledge is how to stop that vehicle you
are driving and when you need to stop braking
to stop the vehicle where you need it to.

8. Knowledge Workers
• Knowledge workers have specialist
knowledge that makes them “experts”
– Based on formal and informal rules they have
learned through training and experience
• Examples include doctors, managers,
librarians, scientists…

9. Expert Systems
• Because many rules are based on probabilities
computers can be programmed with “subject
knowledge” to mimic the role of experts
• One of the most common uses of expert systems is
in medicine
– The ONCOLOG system shown here analyses patient data to
provide a reference for doctors, and help for the choice,
prescription and follow-up of chemotherapy

10. Summary
Information = Data + Context + Meaning
Processing
Data – raw facts and figures
Information – data that has been processed (in a context) to give it meaning

11. Methods to convey Information
• The main representation methods are:
– Text (including writing)
– Graphics (including pictures)
– Sound (including voice)
– Moving pictures (animation or video)
– Light-emitting diode (LED)
– You need to know the advantages and
disadvantages of each method

12. Advantages & Disadvantages
• To complete Task
3, see link below:
– http://www.teach-ict.com/