Commercial Data Processing
Standard Grade Computing
Studies
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What is Commercial Data Processing ?
• Commerce - “exchange of merchandise
esp. on a large scale”
• large companies and other
organisations
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What do we mean by large companies ?
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supermarkets
banks
building societies
mail order
dotcoms
airlines
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What do we mean by other organisations
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police
DVLC
income tax
local authorities
schools
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What do the organisation need for CDP ?
• Have to process very large amounts of
data
• A mainframe computer system can
handle large amounts of data
• It can
• process the data quickly
• process the data accurately
• give quick access to information
• carry out repetitive tasks efficiently
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What is the difference between
data and information?
• Data is numbers, text and symbols
which can be accepted, stored and
processed. Data has no context.
• Information can come from data that is
processed. Information has a context,
a meaning.
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Hardware for CDP
• Mainframe computer
• CPU
• input devices
• terminal for data input
• operators console for management
tasks
• possibly remote entry
• output devices
• backing store
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The Data Processing Cycle
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The Data Processing Cycle
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Data
Data
Data
Data
collection and preparation
input
processing and storage
output
but being a cycle means…….
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The Data Processing Cycle
Data collection
and preparation
Data output
Data processing
and storage
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Data input
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Data collection and
preparation
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Data collection and
preparation
• Source Document
• order form
• application form
• register
• marks entry sheet
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Data input
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Examples of data input
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Bar code
Magnetic stripe
Mark sense cards
Character recognition
• MICR
• OCR
• Smart Card
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Error checking
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Error checking
• Error checking is the process of making
sure the data is correct
• Two forms of error checking are
• validation
• verification
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Validation
• Checking data to ensure it is a sensible
value to process.
• The value may not be necessarily
correct.
• Validation is carried out by the
computer system
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Examples of validation
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Check digit
Range check
Length check
Data type check
Presence check
Hash total
Batch total
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Verification
• Checking data to ensure it is correct
• Verification is carried out by people
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Example of verification
The usual method for verification is for the
data to be typed in twice. This could be
• One operator typing the data in twice, or
• Two operators typing the same data in
once
• The computer system then compares the
two inputs to check if they are identical
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Data processing and storage
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Data processing
Interactive or Real time processing is
used to update information. In a big
organisation this is usually on a multiuser database.
Can be classified as
• Sequential access (serial)
• Random access (direct)
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Data storage
• Files, records, fields and data
• Update
• Backup
• File ancestry
• grandparent, parent,child
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Data output
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Data output
• Screen
• Paper
• preprinted stationary
• File
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Implications of the use of CDP
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Management information
• Stock
• Staff
• Multi user databases
• Single entry, multiple use
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Advantages over a manual
system
• Large amounts of data can be held
• Data can be processed more quickly
• Data can be processed more accurately
(less errors)
• Lists can be kept up to date more easily
• Direct mailing by the use of mail merge
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Costs
• Initial costs
• hardware
• software
• training
• Running costs
• staff
• maintenance
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Data processing staff
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Network manager
Systems analyst
Programmer
Engineer
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E-commerce
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E-commerce
• Online banking
• Online shopping
• Effects on business
• Mass market
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Banking
• What is money?
• What do we want from banks?
• Security
• Accuracy
• Reliability
• Privacy
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Transferring money
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Cash transfers
Paper transfers
Electronic fund transfer (EFT)
Home banking
• on line
• telephone
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Shopping
• Pre-computers
• Disadvantages
• Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS)
• Advantages and disadvantages
• Structure of bar code
• Social implications
• Electronic fund transfer Point of Sale
(EFTPOS)
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Crime, Security and Privacy
• Theft
• Fraud
• Sale of customer lists
• Security
• physical
• software
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CDP and the Law
• Data Protection Act
• Computer Misuse Act
• Customer lists regulated by Advertising
Standards Authority
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Commercial Data Processing
End of presentation
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