holiday hw 2

1. What is a database
A database is a collection of data organised to access, retrieve and process the data.

2. Name three types of information products that may be produced using a database.
- Address book
- Registration form
- Customer records

3. How does a database manage information?
Information is managed in databases by inputting facts/data into tables.

4. Provide three examples for each common data type.
- Text (letters, numbers or special numbers)
- Date (day, month, year and sometimes time information)
- Currency (dollar and cent amounts or numbers containing decimal values)

5. In a CD collection database, name five of the fields that may be used. For each field describe the data type that each field will contain. Using details about your favourite artist and CDs make up some data that might be used in each of these fields. Then describe and write out what a record in this database may look like.
Fields - Artist, album name, year of release, cost, language.
Artist - Shugo Chara Egg
Album name - Shugo Shugo
Release – 2009
Cost - $17
Language – Japanese

6. What is meant by the phrase "data has integrity"?
When data has integrity it means that the data has no or very little errors. The more errors it has the lower the integrity.

7. Why is it important that data has integrity?
It is important for data to have integrity because computers and people use the information to make decisions.

8. Explain the meaning of the term 'data'. Give three examples of data that may be input to a computer.
Data is the raw facts gathered from primary and secondary sources; some examples of data are surveys, electronic mail, books or internet.

9. What is the difference between primary and secondary data sources? Give examples of each.
Primary Sources are facts that we have obtained ourselves through measurement, data collection forms, like a survey, interviews, and direct observations or by electronic mail. Secondary Sources is data gathered from printed publications, electronic data sources and the internet.

Information Processing - the 9 steps

Acquisition
Jenny acquires data each week by recording on paper the amount raised and the data.

Input
inputs data into a spreadsheet using a keyboard.

Validation
Checked by inbuilt formulas that check the amount reasonable.

Manipulation
Manipulated each week using a formula to tatal the amounts.

Storage
Saved on thte hard-drive.

Retrieval
Retrieved and new data is added the next day.

Ouput
At the end of each month a print our is obtained.

Communication
Copies are printed to all students by hand.

Disposal
At the end of each year, Jenny deletes the files from the computer.

holiday hw

(http://www.engadget.com/category/storage/)

EMTEC, who manufacture USB drives and Courage International, that designed and marketed the Kooky Klickers collectable pens has launched the release of Kooky USB Drives.

Brent Reese, Founder and Senior Vice President of Courage International says these USB drives would go well with their other Kooky products.

The Kooky Klickers pen were really popular when they were released and was seen as the "Ten Hottest Toys at Retail" by industry trade publication Toy Book. The Kooky USB Drives are found at America in 1200 office depots.

I believe this product would be quite popular because of its unique shape, colours and personalities. Compared with other USB's you see, the Kooky UBS Drvies really stand out. The Kooky USB Drives would mostly appeal to younger people than adults because of the design. Young people are attracted by the unique design and would want to show it off to their friends.

The article does not tell us about the price or the size of the USB. Depending on the capacity of the USB drives the price will vary. 1 gig would be around $7-$15, 4 gig around $25-$35. I personally would not buy this product being that I would prefere to buy a USB that is cheap and can hold more than the design of the USB drive.

The way to use the Kooky USB drives would be the same as any other USB drive. Take the lid off and put it into the computer.