Database Programs
A database is a collection of organized information that encompasses
a theme or area of interest. Believe it or not, we have all created
and used data bases in the form of address books, phone books, library catalogues,
recipe boxes, encyclopedias, and filing cabinets.
Because of the vast amount of information available today, many traditional
print data bases (encyclopaedias for example) are now computerized and available
on CD-ROM; Groliers encyclopedia, CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory)
can hold up to 660 megabytes of information which translates 250,000 to
660,000 pages of text (about 200 large books!). Many software packages and
simulation programs use large data bases; PC-Globe, EcoLab, Knowledge Adventure.
Uses of an Electronic Databases
When organizing information using non-electronic databases there is usually
one method of organization. You may remember the card catalogue at the library.
This is one database where we can look up a book by the author. If we know
the title, but not the author, we have to use a second database which is
a duplication of the first but organized differently. An electronic database
reduces redundancy by allowing us to enter information once. We can then
organize the information by a variety of methods, and search to retrieve
information instantaneously.
People that have to deal with large amounts of information usually store
that information in a database. Many organizations today are able to use
database software programs that are pre-designed to hold specific types
of information. TREVLAC is used in our schools to input student records;
SCI-MATE is used by scientists to keep a record of periodicals that they
read and assists them in printing out manuscript bibliographies in any format;
and dBASE is a generic database program that can be used for inventories,
product information, addresses, etc. and has a programming option so that
information can be manipulated.
Many institutions have programmers develop data base systems specifically
designed for their use. For example, Revenue Canada has developed systems
for entry of data, such as income, SIN, and name. This information is necessary
to process income tax payments. The Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health
Centre and Atlantic Vet College use databases to track information such
as cause of death, location, etc. for the analysis of disease in the wildlife
population in Atlantic Canada.
| Technology Integration
Document |
| P.E.I. Department of
Education, 2000 |
|
|
Definition of a database program |
