DATA
PROCESSING
Data processing
Data processing is any activity that manipulates or
carries out operations on data.
Data processing includes actions such as:
✔ collection and storage
✔ editing and updating
✔ sorting and searching
✔ output and dissemination.
There are several different methods of data
processing, but the three most popular ones are
Batch processing
Online processing
Real time processing
Batch processing
Batch processing
the individual operations or transactions that need
to be performed on the data are not done one by
one by an operator in ‘real time’ but are collected
together into a batch
Examples: automated backups, the processing of
employees’ wages, customer orders and stock
control.
Do you know?
✔Batch processing allows computers to process data when
computing resources are not being fully utilised, such as overnight,
and requires very little, and often no human interaction.
✔Compared to real-time processing, batch processing requires a
simpler computer system without complex hardware or software
✔it does not need as much maintenance as a real-time system
✔data entry methods used in batch processing tend to be more
accurate.
There are two main file types that are used to store
data,
master files -contains all the important data that does not
change often, such as person, place or object
transaction files -stores data about an event, such as an
order, electricity usage and travel expenses.
Online processing
Online processing
✔Some processing, however, has to be done almost immediately,
such as at supermarket checkouts or interrogating a database for
an employee’s details.
✔online processing also known as interactive processing, data is
input by the user and feedback given in the form of outputs
✔processing takes place almost immediately with just a short
delay, so short that the user believes they are in direct
communication with the computer.
Electronic funds transfer
✔electronic transfer of money from one bank account to another
using computer-based systems, without the direct intervention
of bank staff. types of EFT payments include:
✔Direct payments where money can be sent from one bank
account to another
✔Automated teller machines (ATMs) are used to withdraw cash
from a bank account.
✔Debit cards can be used to give an instruction to your bank to
take funds to pay for goods or a service.
✔Debit cards can be used to give an instruction to your bank to
take funds to pay for goods or a service.
Online stores
✔Online stores enable a customer
to purchase a product from
anywhere in the world and have
it delivered to their home
address.
✔An online store uses an
interactive system where the
customer can browse or search
for products using a website
Automatic stock control
✔stock control system is to ensure that a shop always has
enough stock (products) to sell and never has too many.
✔The system will need to store the following data about stock
❑quantity in stock
❑reorder level (the point at which more stock
will be ordered)
❑reorder amount (the quantity that should be
ordered when the reorder level is reached)
Electronic data exchange
✔Electronic data exchange, or electronic data
interchange (EDI) is a standardised format for
exchanging data between organisations.
✔Application program interfaces (APIs) are used to
provide a standard interface for importing and
exporting data between different software.
Business-to-business buying and selling
✔When a business buys in bulk from a supplier, the process
can be made easier by having a common interface for sending
the order and receiving the order.
✔The traditional process of placing an order would involve the
buyer creating a purchase order, printing it and posting it to
the supplier.
✔With business-to-business (B2B) electronic data interchange,
the buyer can create a purchase order but, instead of printing
it, the software will transmit the order using EDI directly to
the supplier’s ordering system.
Real-time processing
Real-time processing
✔A real-time processing system processes data as
soon as it has been input
✔data is processed as soon as it has been input and
outputs are generated immediately
✔Such systems are normally used when the
immediacy of the data is vital
Air traffic control
✔data such as the location of all the aeroplanes
currently in the air, is processed immediately so that
the location of the planes can be known by
everybody using the system.
✔There cannot be any delay in the processing of this
data because the result of a delay could be
catastrophic.
Computer games
✔When playing computer games, the input from the
user needs to be processed immediately
✔Each time a user asks a game character to move
forward by pressing a key or button, the character
needs to do this immediately
✔the game needs to have a real-time processing
system to process the data
Rocket guidance systems
✔When a rocket is launched, the launch happens in
real-time
✔Any delay in receiving instructions could see the
rocket continue in the wrong direction or, ultimately,
crash
✔A rocket guidance system needs to provide stability
for the rocket and to control its movement.
