Re: database systems and organizational intelligence

From: mAsterdam <mAsterdam_at_vrijdag.org>
Date: Mon, 31 May 2004 13:22:53 +0200
Message-ID: <40bb1584$0$33919$e4fe514c_at_news.xs4all.nl>

x wrote:

> mAsterdam wrote:

>>Dawn M. Wolthuis wrote:
>>>Alfredo Novoa wrote:
>>>>x wrote:
>>>>>>>When those facts are stored in some computer memory,
>>>>>>>how do you call the stored representation ?
>>>>>>The internal representation or the physical representation.
>>>>>Wow !
>>>>>An this is not data, I suppose.
>>>>Of course not. The data are the facts not the stored representation.
>>>
>>>I have used terms like "storing data" and "retrieving data"
>>>entire career to date -- what should I be saying instead?
>>Why would you say something else?
>>When you store data some mechanism creates some
>>physical representation that can be transformed
>>back into a user or program usable presentation
>>when it is retrieved. I don't see why
>>acknowledging that the physical representation is not
>>the data itself should force you to change your
>>use of these terms.
>
> When you say "physical representation" you mean the electrical signal ?

Not necessarily. Optical and sensory media (punchcards, braille) come to mind. They can carry signs.

> How do you call a "program usable presentation" ?

Hm.... let me think about it.... hey! What about "program usable presentation"? ;-)

Variable and values maybe? Received on Mon May 31 2004 - 13:22:53 CEST