Re: RM's Canonical database
Date: 3 Jul 2006 08:22:38 -0700
Message-ID: <1151940157.993945.130250_at_m79g2000cwm.googlegroups.com>
Frans Bouma wrote:
> Dan wrote:
>
> > Please, enlighten us on the difference between data and information.
>
> I think we all can handle a dictionairy, don't you? :). For the
> dictionary impaired:
> Data: 1
> information: 1, customerid of your first customer.
Which dictionary said that?
Looking at either dictionary.com or m-w.com, the definitions for data and information are virtually interchangable.
Excerpting:
dictionary.com
data: factual information
information: a collection of facts or data
m-w.com
data: factual information
information: facts, data
dictionary.com gives the CS-specific definition of "data" as:
"Numerical or other information represented in a form suitable for processing by computer."
Further I observe that these definitions are consistent with what I observe both in general usage and in my field in particular.
Marshall Received on Mon Jul 03 2006 - 17:22:38 CEST