Week 11: Clear: Data vs. Information

It's hard to distinguish between data and information.  I almost always have a dyslexic moment and switch the two around.  I know one means raw facts and the other means something you use to make decisions.  The former is data, while the latter is information.  I try to distinguish the two by using "raw data" = "raw facts and figures."

Data you can put onto a graph.  Information you can't.  Information aids you in deciding what to do.  Data aids the user by providing information.  Data BECOMES information.

Image created by Chris Guderian

Another way is "databases."  We input numbers and items into a database.  This we use as a means to glean information for our company's profit or structure or any other number of things.  Data becomes information.  The cycle is complete *cue 'Circle of Life' music*