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Data refers to a collection of facts usually collected as the result of experience, observation or experiment, or processes within a computer system, or a set of premises. This may consist of numbers, words, or images, particularly as measurements or observations of a set of variables. Data is often viewed as a lowest level of abstraction from which information and knowledge are derived. The word data (pronounced /'de?t?/, /'dæt?/, or /'d??t?/) is the Latin plural of datum, neuter past participle of dare, "to give", hence "something given". The past participle of "to give" has been used for millennia, in the sense of a statement accepted at face value; one of the works of Euclid, circa 300 BC, was the Dedomena (in Latin, Data). In discussions of problems in geometry, mathematics, engineering, and so on, the terms givens and data are used interchangeably. Such usage is the origin of data as a concept in computer science data are numbers, words, images, etc., accepted as they stand. In English, the word datum is still used in the general sense of "something given". In cartography, geography, NMR and technical drawing it is often used to refer to a single specific reference datum from which distances to all other data are measured. Any measurement or result is a datum, but data point is more common[1], albeit tautological. Both datums (see usage in datum article) and the originally Latin plural data are used as the plural of datum in English, but data is more commonly treated as a mass noun and used in the singular, especially in day-to-day usage. For example, "This is all the data from the experiment". This usage is inconsistent with the rules of Latin grammar and traditional English[citation needed], which would instead suggest "These are all the data from the experiment". Some British and UN academic, scientific, and professional style guides (e.g., see page 43 of the World Health Organization Style Guide) request that authors treat data as a plural noun. Other international organization, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society [2], allow its usage as either a mass noun or plural based on author preference. It is now usually treated as a singular mass noun in informal usage, but usage in scientific publications shows a strong divide between the United States and United Kingdom. Usage in the United States tends to treat data in the singular, including in serious and academic publishing, although some major newspapers (such as the New York Times) regularly use it in the plural. "The plural usage is still common, as this headline from the New York Times attests “Data Are Elusive on the Homeless”. Sometimes scientists use data as plural, as in These data do not support the conclusions. Often scientists and researchers think of data as a singular mass entity like information, and most people now follow this in general usage."[3] UK usage now widely accepts treating data as singular in standard English[4], including everyday newspaper usage[5] at least in non-scientific use.[6] UK scientific publishing usually still prefers treating it as a plural.[7]. Some UK university style guides recommend using data for both singular and plural use[8] and some recommend treating it only as a singular in connection with computers.[9] Mechanical computing devices are classified according to the means by which they represent data. An analog computer represents a datum as a voltage, distance, position, or other physical quantity. A digital computer represents a datum as a sequence of symbols drawn from a fixed alphabet. The most common digital computers use a binary alphabet, that is, an alphabet of two characters, typically denoted "0" and "1". More familiar representations, such as numbers or letters, are then constructed from the binary alphabet.
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Data Subcategories
Data Articles
Online Typing Jobs from Home - Scam Free Online Data Entry Jobs by Teresa Tackett
Dec 29, 2008
Over the last several years the internet has become so overrun with scams that people find it hard to believe there are real online typing jobs from home. If typing or online data entry jobs are what your true interest is, there is plenty of work av...
Internet Programs: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly by Jason Spears
Dec 03, 2008
So, you've decided to try an online opportunity. After all, they are quite the rage. But, before you sign up for just anything, know that Internet programs come in three types: the good, the bad, and the ugly.
It's pretty obvious that the goo...
Loo-Lee.com's Cell Phone Directory Has Emerged by Julia Aidan
Nov 17, 2008
So you lost a friends number and want to call information but you remember that they just moved and did not hook up a home phone yet. Your first instinct may be to call 411, however cell phones are not listed with directory assistance. This is a prob...
Reasons to Engage a Virtual Assistant (VA) by Amit Ganotra
Sep 22, 2008
Outsourcing your project to a Virtual Assistant is rapidly becoming a requirement for a small business organization & for busy entrepreneur. With the help of growing Internet technologies and ways of doing business, the Virtual assistant has stepped...
Outsource your Job and reduce your Project Cost, Time Spent and Efforts. by Amit Ganotra
Sep 22, 2008
By Outsourcing your work to a Virtual Assistant, businesses reduce the cost related to overheads, taxes, insurance, and boost efficiency with the flexibility a Virtual Assistant provide.
The varying face of worldwide financial system is witn...
Outsource to VA (Virtual Assistant) by Amit Ganotra
Sep 22, 2008
Outsourcing is the one of the best way to utilize the outside resources to carry out activities typically handled by internal staff and resources. Business owner can outsource non-core functions to dedicated and competent service providers. The diss...
FAQ related to Virtual Assistant by Amit Ganotra
Sep 22, 2008
I have seen many queries from business professionals, small business owners that what is a virtual assistant, Who hire a Virtual assistant, How they work for business owner, How much they charge for a work, What type of work they can do, How they com...
Benefits of outsourcing to Virtual Assistant's Team by Amit Ganotra
Sep 22, 2008
Outsourcing is the planned use of exterior resources to carry out activities usually handled by internal resources. Business owners can contract out non-core functions to particular and well-organized service providers. It’s a requirement of a busine...
Free Articles at Amazines.Com - Author Publishing and Free Article Database by Chakra Pani
May 20, 2008
Automotix has just made the business of salvaged automotive vehicles a lot easier. Here you will find a way to not only buy
but also sell salvaged autos.Automotix has put together a clearinghouse not just licensed salvage yard dealers and po...
Define your business with the help of data entry services by Allies Harbor
Dec 19, 2007
To do well enough in life is one’s goal and dream, and to accomplish such tasks you strive to do anything. Therefore, the aim here is to progress and progress with a difference. And in objective to run a successful business, the owner will always vou...
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