Data And Its Importance In Accurate And Quick Processing

Running head: DATA-ITS IMPORTANCE AND ACCURACY

Data and its Importance in Accurate and Quick Processing

By

Priscilla A. Williams

Computers and Information Processing-CIS/319

University Of Phoenix

Abstract

This paper provides information on data and its importance in the speed of a computer and how it is stored. This paper gives examples of the different input as well as output forms for data. This paper also details the way that data effects memory in a computer as well as the different types of memory and data storage that a computer may have.

Data and its Importance in Accurate and Quick Processing

Data plays an important role for computers and how well they perform. The accuracy of data entry is very important in that if bad data or too much data is stored on a computer that the processing of that data is flawed and can significantly slow the computer's processing down. The storage of data is available in different mediums and how one stores ones data is of vast importance as well.

There are several ways that data can be input into the computer one of which is called Optical Data Reader. The Optical Data Reader can be used to input the information off of printed questionnaires. There are two categories of optical data readers; the Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) and the Optical Character Recognition (OCR). Optical Mark Recognition is used when pencils are used to fill in boxes on Optical Mark Recognition paper or a mark sense forms such as is used in standardized tests like the SAT and the GMAT. Voice Recognition Devices are used to recognize human speech and are commonly used for telephone surveys, security systems that allow only authorized personnel and are now available in cars and trucks allowing the driver to activate the radio and CD players. Voice Recognition Devices will also respond to certain commands in an audible voice. Special software and microphones are used to record the sound of the human voice and convert it into digital signals. Another data entry method is used by financial institutions with the use of the Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) device. Banks use them to process checks, loan applications and bank statements in order to reduce the time it took to manually read these types of documents and data more quickly. Bar code scanners are another form of data input used mostly by retailers. A laser scans the bar code label and transfers the data for easy and fast processing. For long documents, a desktop scanner is used to scan long paper documents into manageable digital files.

Now that data input and its importance has been explored, take a look at the importance of the convenience and quality of data output. For a hand held computer a small, hand held sized monitor is needed that balances with the size of the hand held computer. Any color monitor or printer will do when viewing or printing color photographs, resumes, memorandums, statistical reports or company annual reports.

The difference between primary storage and secondary storage is that primary storage, also called internal memory, is memory that the computer uses. Primary storage is accessible to the central processing unit of the computer without any type of input or output channel. Active data is stored in the primary storage and it is very fast. An example of that would be RAM or Random Access Memory. RAM loses its information when there is a power loss and it can be expensive. Other examples of primary storage would be cache memory or special registers. ROM or Read Only Memory is memory that is not lost if there is a power loss but it is also not good for storage of large data quantities because it is so expensive. Secondary storage or external memory is used for long-term storage. Some examples of secondary storage would be hard disks and online storage.

Different types of storage are available for different types of