Commercial Data Processing Glossary

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A		Top
Accuracy of Information		Whether or not information is correct - this is essential.

B		Top
Background job		A secondary task or program which runs in a computer system at the same time as an interactive program being run by the user.
Backing storage		A system for permanently holding data on such media as disk or tape.
Backup		A copy of the program or data made in case the original is lost or destroyed.
Bar code		A bar code is a set of lines of varying widths which can be read by passing a bar code reader across them. Used to identify goods in a shop.
Basic hardware for CDP		Basic hardware for CDP is a mainframe computer and terminals (VDU's)
Batch processing		Collecting together all the data to be processed and inputting it into the computer in one set of 'batch'.
Batch system		A system which carries out batch processing, for example cheque clearing, gas and electricity billing.

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Capacity of backing storage		The quantity of data that can held on backing storage medium, such as CD-ROM.
Capital costs		The cost of buying or setting up a computerised system. Also called initial costs.
Check digit		A figure that's calculated from the digits of a number and placed at the end of a number. Use to check that the number has been input correctly.
Computer Operator		A person who oversees the day to day operation of a mainframe computer system using a terminal.

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Data		A general term used for numbers, characters, symbols, graphics and sound which are accepted and processed by a computer system.
Data Collection		Part of the data processing cycle which involves the gathering of data. May involve source documents.
Data file		A file containing data on backing storage or in memory. May be organized as a set of records.
Data Input		Part of the data processing cycle when data is input into the computer system. May be direct or indirect.
Data Output		Part of the data processing cycle where data is sent out.
Data Preparation		Part of the data processing cycle where data is made ready for input.
Data Preparation Operator		Person who inputs the data into the computer system.
Data Processing		Processing data as part of the data processing cycle.
Data Processing Cycle		A cycle of events begriming with data collection and preparation and ending with data output.
Data Protection Act		A law which regulate how personal data about individuals should be kept on computer.
Data Storage		Part of the data processing cycle which involves the transfer of data to backing storage.
Data Subject		A person about whom data is held.
Data User		The person or organisation holding the data (now known as the data controller)
Database		A structured collection of similar information which can be searched.


E		Top
e-commerce		A method of doing business over a network.
EFTPOS		Electronic Funds Transfer at Point Of Sale - a way of paying for goods using a bank card instead of cash.
Electronic Funds transfer (EFT)		Automatically moving money from one account to another using a computer system where no cash changes hands.

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File ancestry		A system for keeping backups of files using generations of files like grandparent, parent and child.
File		Information held on backing storage or in memory. Files may hold data or programs.

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Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Graphics package

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Hacking		Illegally interfering with information stored on a computer system.
Hard Copy		A printed copy of your work, usually on paper.
Hardware		The physical items of a computer system. You can touch it and carry it arround with you.
Human Computer Interface (HCI)		How people interact with the computer. Most common is the WIMP system.

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Interactive processing		A way of using a computer in which the operator's instructions are processed continuously, like a conversation
Interactive system		A system which carries out interactive processing.

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M	Top
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)	An input process which can read characters written in magnetic ink
Magnetic stripe	A narrow ban of magnetic material on which data is held. You can see the magnetic strip on the back of a credit card.
Mail Merge	The process of automatically loading personal details from a separate mailing list and placing them in the correct places in a standard letter.
Mail shot	Letters prepared by mail merge and sent out to individuals on a mailing list - also called direct mail or junk mail
Mainframe computer	A computer system that can process a very large amount of data at high speed.
Mark sense card	A card with lines drawn on it to indicate one or more choices.
Multi-programming	More than one program running on a computer system at once.
Multi-user database	A database that may be accessed by many users at the same time.

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O	Top
Optical Character Recognition (OCR)	Characters that can be read in automatically from a page of text.

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Point of Sale	A computer terminal or 'till' in a shop where goods can change hands.
Print file	To obtain hard copy.

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R	Top
Random/direct access	Being able to locate a data item straight away, wherever it is stored on disk or in the main memory.
Remote data entry	Where data is input from a terminal at some distance from the host computer.

S	Top
Security	Passwords, Encryption, Physical - Methods of making sure data is kept private and only authorised people can see the data.
Sequential access	Reading a set of records in the same order as they were originally stored.
Single entry, multiple use	Entering data only once on a central computer and making data available to different users.
Smart card	A smart card has its own processor and is able to store much more information that fits on a magnetic stripe.
Staff costs	The cost of employing staff.
Standard letter	A general letter with spaces for personal details (such as a person's name and address). Use for mail shots.
Standard paragraphs	A piece of prewritten text (held on backing storage) that you can combine with others like it to make up a complete document.
Systems analysis	Examining a method of working
Systems analyst	A person who examines a method of working and decides the best of doing it using a computer system

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Teleworking	Working from home and communicating with your employer or workplace using electronic mail

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Update	Adding new data to a file

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Validation	Checking that the data is sensible. A range check is a way of validating data.
Verification	Checking that the data has been entered correctly. Entering the same data twice is a way of verifying data.

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Commercial Data Processing

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Commercial Data Processing Glossary

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