BATO INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Dolho, Bato, Leyte

GE ELECT 1 – LIVING IN THE I.T. ERA

MODULE 4. DATA AND DATABASES

Introduction

Welcome to the module on Data and Databases. In this module, we will explore the fundamental concepts of
data, information, and knowledge, and understand the importance of databases for managing data resources.
Additionally, we will delve into the concept of big data, various types of databases, and the basics of SQL.

Intended Learning Outcome (ILO):

By the end of this module, students will be able to:

1. Define and differentiate between data, information, and knowledge.

2. Explain the significance of databases in managing data resources.
3. Discuss the concept of big data and its impact on data management.
4. Identify and describe different types of databases and their uses.
5. Demonstrate a basic understanding of SQL and its role in database management.

1. Data, Information, and Knowledge

1.1 Data

• Definition: Data consists of raw, unprocessed facts and figures without context. It can include
numbers, text, images, and other types of raw input.
• Examples:
o A list of customer names and their contact numbers.
o A series of numerical values like 25, 30, 35, 40.

1.2 Information

• Definition: Information is data that has been processed, organized, and structured to be meaningful
and useful. It provides context and relevance to raw data.
• Examples:
o A report showing the average age of customers based on the numerical data.
o A summary of customer contact information categorized by region.

1.3 Knowledge

• Definition: Knowledge is derived from information through analysis and interpretation. It involves
understanding patterns and making informed decisions based on information.
• Examples:
o Using customer age data to create marketing strategies tailored to different age groups.
o Predicting future customer needs based on historical purchasing patterns.

Why Understanding These Concepts is Important:

• Data: Represents the raw input collected from various sources.

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 • Information: Transforms data into something that has meaning and can be used for decision-making.
• Knowledge: Utilizes information to gain insights and make informed decisions.

2. Big Data

2.1 Definition

• Big Data: Refers to extremely large datasets that are complex and difficult to process using traditional
data processing tools.

2.2 Characteristics

• Volume: Refers to the enormous amount of data generated every second. For example, social media
platforms generate terabytes of data daily.
• Velocity: Refers to the speed at which data is generated and processed. For instance, real-time data
streaming from sensors.
• Variety: Refers to the different types of data formats, such as structured data (tables), semi-structured
data (XML, JSON), and unstructured data (text, images).

2.3 Difference from Traditional Data

• Traditional Data: Often structured and manageable with conventional tools and databases.
• Big Data: Requires advanced technologies and tools (e.g., Hadoop, Spark) to handle its scale and
complexity.

Why It Matters:

Big Data matters because it has transformed the way organizations, businesses, and societies gather
insights, make decisions, and create value. Here are key reasons why Big Data is important:

1. Improved Decision-Making

• Data-Driven Insights: Big Data allows businesses and organizations to analyze vast amounts of
information, enabling more informed and accurate decisions. Data-driven decision-making reduces
guesswork and helps in anticipating trends or identifying problems before they escalate.
• Real-Time Analytics: The ability to process and analyze data in real-time allows for immediate
insights, helping organizations respond quickly to market changes, customer behaviors, or
operational challenges.

2. Personalization and Customer Experience

• Enhanced Customer Insights: Big Data enables companies to better understand customer
preferences, behaviors, and feedback by analyzing data from various sources such as social media,
online activity, and purchase history. This helps businesses offer personalized experiences and
improve customer satisfaction.
• Targeted Marketing: By analyzing consumer patterns and preferences, businesses can tailor their
marketing strategies to target specific customer groups more effectively, increasing conversion rates
and customer retention.

3. Operational Efficiency

• Process Optimization: Big Data can identify inefficiencies in business operations and suggest
improvements. By analyzing operational data (e.g., supply chain, logistics), companies can reduce
costs, streamline workflows, and increase productivity.

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 • Predictive Maintenance: In industries like manufacturing and transportation, Big Data can be used
to predict equipment failures before they occur, reducing downtime and improving maintenance
scheduling.

4. Innovation and Competitive Advantage

• New Product Development: Analyzing Big Data can uncover unmet customer needs, helping
businesses develop new products or services that cater to specific market demands. It can also
identify trends or gaps in the market, giving companies a competitive edge.
• Competitive Insights: Big Data allows businesses to monitor competitor activities, customer
reviews, and market trends, enabling them to adapt their strategies faster and stay ahead of the
competition.

5. Scientific and Medical Advancements

• Healthcare Improvements: In medicine, Big Data plays a crucial role in advancing personalized
healthcare, improving diagnostics, and identifying disease patterns. Large datasets from medical
records, genetic research, and clinical trials are used to discover new treatments and improve patient
outcomes.
• Scientific Research: Big Data allows researchers to analyze vast amounts of data in fields like
climate science, genomics, and astrophysics, leading to breakthroughs and advancements that were
previously impossible due to data limitations.

6. Enhanced Security and Fraud Detection

• Anomaly Detection: In sectors like finance and cybersecurity, Big Data helps detect fraudulent
activities by identifying unusual patterns in large datasets. This allows organizations to respond
quickly to threats and minimize losses.
• Proactive Risk Management: Businesses can use Big Data to predict risks and vulnerabilities by
analyzing historical data and patterns, enabling them to take preventive measures and safeguard
assets.

7. Social and Economic Impact

• Smart Cities: Big Data is being used to create more efficient urban environments, improving
transportation systems, energy management, and public services. Sensors and real-time data help
cities manage resources, reduce waste, and improve residents' quality of life.
• Public Health and Safety: Governments and organizations can analyze Big Data to track disease
outbreaks, manage disaster response, and improve public safety by understanding population
movements and patterns.

8. Scalability and Growth

• Business Expansion: Big Data allows organizations to scale rapidly by analyzing trends, market
demands, and resource needs. As data grows, businesses can use it to fuel innovation and drive
growth strategies.
• Global Connectivity: The ability to analyze data from global sources (social media, sensors, mobile
devices) enables businesses to tap into new markets and operate on a global scale with localized
strategies.

3. Databases

A database is an organized collection of structured information, or data, that is stored electronically and
managed in a way that allows easy access, retrieval, management, and updating. Databases are typically used

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to store large volumes of data in a structured format and are designed to handle a wide variety of data types.
They are essential for managing, storing, and processing information efficiently, especially in large-scale
applications such as websites, financial systems, and corporate data management systems.

Key Components of a Database:

1. Data: The raw information stored in the database. This could be anything from numbers and text to
images, videos, and more.
2. Schema: The structure of the database that defines how the data is organized (e.g., tables, fields,
relationships).
3. Tables: In a relational database, data is stored in tables, which consist of rows (records) and columns
(fields).
4. Database Management System (DBMS): The software that allows users to interact with the
database, manage the data, and perform operations such as inserting, updating, deleting, and querying
data.
5. Query Language: A tool for accessing and manipulating the data. The most common language used
is SQL (Structured Query Language).

Types of Databases:

1. Relational Databases: Data is stored in tables (relations) and the relationships between the tables are
defined using keys (primary and foreign keys). Relational databases use SQL for queries. Examples
include:
o MySQL
o PostgreSQL
o Oracle Database
o Microsoft SQL Server
2. NoSQL Databases: These databases handle unstructured or semi-structured data and are designed
for large-scale data storage. They do not use the traditional table structure found in relational
databases. Types include:
o Document Databases (e.g., MongoDB, CouchDB)
o Key-Value Stores (e.g., Redis, DynamoDB)
o Column Family Stores (e.g., Cassandra, HBase)
o Graph Databases (e.g., Neo4j)
3. Cloud Databases: These are databases that run on cloud computing platforms. They offer scalability
and flexibility for businesses. Examples include:
o Amazon Web Services (AWS) RDS
o Google Cloud SQL
o Microsoft Azure SQL Database
4. In-Memory Databases: These databases store data in a computer’s main memory (RAM) for faster
access. Examples include:
o Redis
o Memcached
5. Distributed Databases: Data is spread across multiple locations or servers but appears as a single
database to the user. This improves performance and redundancy.

Why Databases Matter:

• Data Organization: Databases help organize and structure large amounts of data so that it can be
efficiently stored and accessed.
• Data Management: With features like indexing, querying, and updating, databases allow easy data
management, retrieval, and manipulation.
• Scalability: Databases are scalable and can grow with the size of the data, enabling businesses to
handle increasing amounts of information.
• Security: Databases provide mechanisms to secure data with authentication, encryption, and user
access control.
• Data Integrity: Databases ensure that the data remains consistent and accurate through constraints,
rules, and relationships.

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Use Cases for Databases:

• E-commerce: Storing product information, customer data, and transaction histories.

• Banking: Managing account details, transactions, and customer information.
• Healthcare: Storing patient records, medical histories, and treatments.
• Social media: Managing user profiles, posts, comments, and messages.
• Government: Storing records like census data, taxation information, and public records.

Conclusion

A database is a fundamental tool for storing, organizing, and managing data efficiently, allowing businesses
and organizations to access and utilize information easily and reliably.

Prepared by:

MARY JANE PAGAY-CIERVA, LPT, MSIT

Instructor

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