Databases

Abstract

When dealing with systems, our data can be numbers, pictures, diagrams, or words. This chapter emphasizes handling numerical data, but other types of information deserve some comments. The important considerations are organization, storage, and retrieval. Older methods for organizing factual information are handbooks, dictionaries, file cabinets, storage bins, notebooks, and the like. The modern method is to use computers, often with the aid of special software and with storage on magnetic or optical devices. The old methods for searching were to thumb through pages, to use index files, or to sort mechanically such as with notched cards so that some fell through and others were held up depending on whether there was a notch where a probe went through. With computers we can even organize and store sounds and video clips for automated retrieval.