Database Definitions Part 1

Provide a basic definition for each of the following terms:

FIELD: A space allocated for a particular item of information. A tax form, for example, contains a number of fields: one for your name, one for your Social Security number, one for your income, and so on. In database systems, fields are the smallest units of information you can access.

RECORD: Records are composed of fields, each of which contains one item of information.

FILE: A set of records makes up a file.

QUERY: A request for information from a database.

DATABASE: A collection of information organized in such a way that a computer program can quickly select desired pieces of data. You can think of a database as an electronic filing system

REPORT: A formatted and organized presentation of data.

DBMS: A collection of programs that enables you to store, modify, and extract information from a database.

DATA DICTIONARY: In database management systems, a file that defines the basic organization of a database. A data dictionary contains a list of all files in the database, the number of records in each file, and the names and types of each field.

DATA TYPE: Classification of a particular type of information e.g. Alphanumeric, numeric or objects

Using Electronic Databases Part 2

Open your browser at the following address.

www.yellowpages.com.au

 Use the website to answer the following problems.

1.    I know there is a computer shop in the main street of Katoomba (Katoomba St.), but I don’t know its name. See if you can find the number for me.

Blue Mountains Business Machines

     Ph: (02) 4782 2333

2.    Sally lives in Merrylands on Fowler Rd. and she wants to know the closest florist to where she lives. Help her out (see if you can get her a map).

     M &A Fresh Cut Flowers

     91a Fowler Rd, Merrylands NSW 2160
     Ph: (02) 9892 1564

3.    You want the phone numbers of some motels in Noosa QLD. But of course your phone book only has NSW numbers?

Noosa Heads Motel

71 Noosa Drv, Noosa Heads QLD 4567
Ph: (07) 5440 4550

Noosa Village Motel

10 Hastings St, Noosa Heads QLD 4567
Ph: (07) 5447 5800


Is the yellow/white pages a database? Give reasons for your answer.

Yes. As yellow pages have the name, address and phone numbers of different business and the white pages has the address and phone numbers of many people. They are both a collection of information that is similar, so they can be seen as a database.


 What can you see as some of the advantages of using this electronic database compared to the conventional paper based version of the yellow pages?

-       Faster to find information

-       Tells you where to find it exactly

-       Easier to keep up to date- making it more reliable

-       More time efficient

-       Search any category- multiple categories

-       Save space and paper

-       Ready access

Do you see any dangers or disadvantages in this online version of the yellow pages?

-       Invasion of privacy

-       Remote area don’t have easy access

-       Poorer people/ disadvantaged who don’t have money for internet

-       The Elderly who can’t access the internet

Using Electronic Databases Part1

What is a database?

Database: an organized body of related information

Examples of Databases

Given your above definition what would be some examples of commonly encountered databases.                         

-       Street Directory

-       Library

-       Genre

-       Author

-       Title

-       Student Attendance

-       TV guide

-       Movie Listing 

-       Address Book Contacts

How is it Wolfram Aplha different?

Wolfram Alpha is different because  it runs on millions of different lines of mathematical codes. While Wolfram Alpha is still an answer search engine it doesn’t give you web pages that are related to what you asked, but rather uses an internal database and using the mathematical codes answers the question.

Answer questions, do math, instantly get facts, create plots, calculators, unit conversions, scientific data and statistics, help with homework—and much more.