1. Data vs. Information
Data
 raw facts
 no context
 just numbers and text
Information
 data with context
 processed data
 value-added to data
 summarized
 organized
 analyzed

2. Data vs. Information
 Data: 51007
 Information:
 5/10/07 The date of you said yes to your
boyfriend.
 $51,007 The average starting salary of an
accounting major.
 51007 Zip code of Bronson Iowa.

3. Data vs. Information
Data
 6.34
 6.45
 6.39
 6.62
 6.57
 6.64
 6.71
 6.82
 7.12
 7.06
SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO INC.
$5.80
$6.00
$6.20
$6.40
$6.60
$6.80
$7.00
$7.20
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Last 10 Days
StockPrice
Information

4. Data  Information  Knowledge
Data
Information
Summarizing the data
Averaging the data
Selecting part of the data
Graphing the data
Adding context
Adding value

5. Data  Information  Knowledge
Information
Knowledge
How is the info tied to outcomes?
Are there any patterns in the info?
What info is relevant to the problem?
How does this info effect the system?
What is the best way to use the info?
How can we add more value to the info?

6. Information Systems
Generic Goal:
 Transform Data into Information
 At the Core of an Information System is a
Database (raw data).

7. Information Systems (TSP and PCS)
 Data doesn’t just appear,
Capturing Data is really the first step
 These systems help capture data but
they also have other purposes (goals):
1. Transaction Processing Systems (TPS)
2. Process Control Systems (PCS)

8. Capturing Data
 What are some examples of real TPS’s?
 What kind of data is being captured?
 How is this data transformed into
Information?

9. Data Processing
 Recall that a basic system is composed of
5 components
 Input, Output, Processing, Feedback, Control
 Typically processing helps transform data
into information.
Input Output
Processing
Raw Data Information

10. Processing
 Summarizing
 Computing Averages
 Graphing
 Creating Charts
 Visualizing Data

11. Processing: Great Example
 Navigation System
 Specialized Geographic Information System
 Input: Maps, Addresses, Points of Interest,
“Yellow Pages”
 Processing:
 Computing Shortest Paths;
 Finding the Nearest Chinese Restaurant
 Output:
 Directions (each turn + a map with arrows)
 List of nearby Chinese Restaurants (sorted by dist.)

12. Analysis – Navigation System
 Recall that Information Systems have five
more specific components:
 People, Data, Communication Network,
Hardware, Software.
 In a Navigation System…
 what is the Communication Network?
 what is the Hardware?
 who are the People?

13. Course Goal: Help you analyze systems?
 Step 1: Always ask yourself…What is the
purpose of the system?
 Step 2: Identify People, Data, Hardware,
Software, Communication Network.
 Step 3: Identify Input, Output, Processing,
Feedback, Control.

14. Navigation System Feedback
 So what is the feedback in a navigation system?
 Feedback is information about how the system
is performing.
 Feedback can help you identify problems with the
system…so you can improve it.
 Feedback helps you determine if the system is
achieving its goal.
 In a heating system, the feedback was the actual
temperature.

15. Navigation System Control
 So what are some of the controls in a
navigation system?
 Control: Changing a variable to help the
system reach its goal or to set a new goal.
 In a heating system, the control was the
desired temperature.

16. Navigation System Control
 Obviously, entering a new destination
 Not so obvious…
 zooming in
 changing the map view
 selecting an alternative route

17. Key Points
 A Navigation System takes raw data
(maps, locations) and displays it visually
(data  information) so that it is
easier to drive to a location. Goal
 The feedback (your current location) is
perhaps the most important feature.
 Paper maps can NOT show your location.

18. Geographic Information Systems (GIS
 In lab we are going to learn more
about…
1. GIS systems…
 Data more informational (more valuable) if you
visualize it on a map.
1. Attributes that make information more
valuable…
 Information is more valuable if it helps you
achieve your goal.