8. The Processing of Data

In most cases, the data itself is not sufficient to allow decisions or actions to be made. Often, the data must be processed in some way in order to refine it.

This gives rise to the classic 3 stage diagram given below.

 

Processing transforms the data into useful information.

 

Making use of computers

Quite often, there is a vast amount of data to be processed and so it is is loaded (input) into a computer.

 

A computer program is then run to 'process' the data.

 The 'output' information is then safely stored and may also be displayed in some creative and meaningful way.

Consider the following example:

Data is gathered on computer connections on the internet, i.e. the machine addresses are paired together.

	Machine A  is connected to	Machine B
	192.156.123.002	192.132.111.034

This fairly dry set of data is input into a computer and processed to create a beautiful map of the a small part of the internet.

Each dot in this image is a machine and the colours indicate connections.

 

The value of feedback

In some cases it is useful to change the value of the input as a result of measuring the output.

This is the classic 'feedback' loop.

The output affects the value of the input. Many control systems rely on the feedback loop.

 

Consider this example:

The central heating system.

The input data is a command turning on the the boiler (process) that heats up the room. The output (room temperature) is then measured and compared inside the feedback loop. When the desired room temperature is reached, the input command is modified to tell the boiler to turn off.