{"id":986,"date":"2025-01-12T20:28:54","date_gmt":"2025-01-13T01:28:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/nelson\/chapter\/chapter-1-the-handling-of-data-over-the-years\/"},"modified":"2025-01-12T20:59:25","modified_gmt":"2025-01-13T01:59:25","slug":"chapter01thirdedition","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/nelson\/chapter\/chapter01thirdedition\/","title":{"raw":"Chapter 1 The Handling of Data Over the Years","rendered":"Chapter 1 The Handling of Data Over the Years"},"content":{"raw":"
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Original Author: Adrienne Watt<\/p>\r\n

Rewrite: Fred Strickland<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Learning Outcomes<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Computing Sub Discipline<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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Document <\/strong>C<\/strong>ode, Reference Code, and Page Number<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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Text<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

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Computer Engineering<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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CE2016<\/p>\r\n

CE-SWD-10 Database systems<\/p>\r\n

(Page 103)<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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Explain how use of database systems evolved from programming with simple collections of data files.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

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Computer Science<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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CS2013<\/p>\r\n

IM\/Database Systems (DS)<\/p>\r\n

(Page 113)<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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1. Explain the characteristics that distinguish the database approach from the approach of programming with data files. [Familiarity]<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

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CS2023<\/p>\r\n

DM-Core: Core Database Systems Concepts<\/p>\r\n

(Page 115-116))<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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ILO CS Core 1. Identify at least four advantages that using a database system provides.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

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CS2023<\/p>\r\n

DM-Modeling: Data Modeling<\/p>\r\n

(Pages 116-117)<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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Non-core 5. Spreadsheet models<\/p>\r\n

Non-core 6. Object-oriented models<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

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CS2023<\/p>\r\n

DM-Relational: Relational Databases<\/p>\r\n

(Pages 117-118)<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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KA Core 4. Physical database design: file and storage structures.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

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Information Technology<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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IT2017<\/p>\r\n

ITE-IMA Domain: Information Management<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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  • Competencies<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

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A. Express how the growth of the internet and demands for information have changed data handling and transactional and analytical processing, and led to the creation of special purpose databases. (Requirements)<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

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IT2017<\/p>\r\n

Subdomains:<\/p>\r\n

ITE-IMA-01 Perspectives and Impact<\/p>\r\n

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a. Describe how data storage and retrieval has changed over time.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

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b. Justify the advantages of a database approach compared to traditional file processing.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

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c. Describe how the growth of the internet and demands for information for users outside the organization (customers and suppliers) impact data handling and processing.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

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d. <\/a>Tell a brief history of database models and their evolution.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

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<\/a>Introduction<\/h2>\r\n

Data1<\/a><\/sup> could be stored in filing cabinets, in folders, in ledgers, in lists, or in piles on a desk. When computers became common place, then the data could be stored in spreadsheets, in electronic documents, in file-based systems, or in in a database management system.<\/p>\r\n

In the early days, the data was stored in file-based systems. It was discovered that file-based systems had limitations. Database management systems were developed. Today\u2019s users take for granted the many benefits found in a database system.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

(Clay) Tablets to Handwritten Records<\/h2>\r\n

According to Staxbill.com, the earliest evidence of a primitive accounting method may have been around 5000 BC in Mesopotamia, in Sumer, in Assyria, and in Babylon. These documents recorded that people exchanged good. According to Oldest.org, the first appearance of written language may have been around 3500 to 3000 BC. The Sumerians from Mesopotamia used cuneiform and the Egyptians used hieroglyphics for recording information about daily life.<\/p>\r\n

According to Investopedia, bartering has existed for centuries. There are no records of earliest bartering. Around 800 to 770 BC, coins were created in China. Having a medium of exchange made it easier to have a trading system.<\/p>\r\n

Between 500 BC and 450 BC, the Roman Empire created an accounting system that documented public spending and revenue. The Roman army kept detailed records of cash, provisions, and business transactions. Private estates had their own accounting systems. The Romans used these detailed records to making decisions. These are the earliest instances of using data for driving decisions.<\/p>\r\n

China moved to a paper currency around 1260 AD. Europe did not embrace paper currency until the 16th<\/sup> century.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Early Mechanical Data Recording<\/h2>\r\n

The Industrial Revolution brought about many changes. One noteworthy change is the beginning of mechanical recording data. Punch cards came out this period. These provided instructions to textile looms and player pianos. In 1837 Charels Babbage proposed the Analytical Engine, which was a primitive calculate that would use punch cares for instructions and response. Later Herman Hollerith made this into a reality. The United States Census Bureau used punch cards for the 1890 census. This enabled a rapid processing of data. Government offices, libraries, hospitals, and businesses developed elaborate database systems. One noteworthy example is the Dewey Decimal System.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

File-Based Systems<\/h2>\r\n

Before the computing systems became wide-spread, data was stored in physical files. When computing systems became more available, the data was stored in electronic files. These would be organized in folders and folders would be organized in a hierarchy of directories and subdirectories. A person would follow a path from a directory to a subdirectory to the actual file. This hierarchical storage methodology may be known as \u201cfile Storage\u201d or \u201cfile-level storage\u201d or \u201cfile-based storage.\u201d This works well for easily organized amounts of structured data. As the number of files increased, the file retrieval approach would become very cumbersome and very time-consuming. To scale (to expand) meant adding more hardware devices or upgrading to higher-capacity devices.<\/p>\r\n

The data could be in two or more places within the organization. Having quick access meant creating a computer program. This was manageable for small organizations when the amount of data is a reasonable amount. The stored data was also known as a \u201cflat file.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Consider a traditional banking system that uses a file-based system to manage the organization\u2019s data as shown in Figure 1.1. As we can see, there are different departments in the bank. Each department has its own suite of applications for managing and manipulating the data files. For banking systems, the programs may be used to debit or credit an account, find the balance of an account, add a new mortgage loan and generate monthly statements.<\/p>\r\n

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Figure 1.1. Example of a file-based system used by banks to manage data.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Characteristics of a File-Based Approach<\/h3>\r\n

The Geeks for Geeks website listed seven characteristics:<\/p>\r\n\r\n