CDP Standard Grade 1

Commercial Data Processing

Standard Grade Computing Studies

CDP Standard Grade 2

What is Commercial Data Processing ?

• Commerce - “exchange of merchandise esp. on a large scale”

• large companies and other organisations

CDP Standard Grade 3

What do we mean by large companies ?

• supermarkets• banks• building societies• mail order• dotcoms• airlines

CDP Standard Grade 4

What do we mean by other organisations ?

• police• DVLC• income tax• local authorities• schools

CDP Standard Grade 5

What do the organisation need for CDP ?

• Have to process very large amounts of data

• A mainframe computer system can handle large amounts of data

• It can• process the data quickly• process the data accurately• give quick access to information• carry out repetitive tasks

efficiently

CDP Standard Grade 6

What is the difference between data and information?

• Data is numbers, text and symbols which can be accepted, stored and processed. Data has no context.

• Information can come from data that is processed. Information has a context, a meaning.

CDP Standard Grade 7

Hardware for CDP• Mainframe computer

• CPU• input devices

• terminal for data input• operators console for management tasks• possibly remote entry

• output devices• backing store

CDP Standard Grade 8

The Data Processing Cycle

CDP Standard Grade 9

The Data Processing Cycle

• Data collection and preparation• Data input• Data processing and storage• Data output

but being a cycle means…….

CDP Standard Grade 10

The Data Processing Cycle

Data output Data collection and preparation

Data processing and storage

Data input

CDP Standard Grade 11

Data collection and preparation

CDP Standard Grade 12

Data collection and preparation

• Source Document• order form• application form• register• marks entry sheet

CDP Standard Grade 13

Data input

CDP Standard Grade 14

Examples of data input

• Bar code• Magnetic stripe• Mark sense cards• Character recognition

• MICR• OCR

• Smart Card

CDP Standard Grade 15

Error checking

CDP Standard Grade 16

Error checking

• Error checking is the process of making sure the data is correct

• Two forms of error checking are• validation • verification

CDP Standard Grade 17

Validation• Checking data to ensure it is a

sensible value to process. • The value may not be necessarily

correct.• Validation is carried out by the

computer system

CDP Standard Grade 18

Examples of validation

• Check digit• Range check• Length check• Data type check• Presence check• Hash total• Batch total

CDP Standard Grade 19

Verification• Checking data to ensure it is

correct• Verification is carried out by

people

CDP Standard Grade 20

Example of verification

The usual method for verification is for the data to be typed in twice. This could be

• One operator typing the data in twice, or• Two operators typing the same data in

once

• The computer system then compares the two inputs to check if they are identical

CDP Standard Grade 21

Data processing and storage

CDP Standard Grade 22

Interactive or Real time processing is used to update information. In a big organisation this is usually on a multi-user database.

Can be classified as• Sequential access (serial)• Random access (direct)

Data processing

CDP Standard Grade 23

Data storage

• Files, records, fields and data• Update• Backup

• File ancestry• grandparent, parent,child

CDP Standard Grade 24

Data output

CDP Standard Grade 25

Data output

• Screen• Paper

• preprinted stationary• File

CDP Standard Grade 26

Implications of the use of CDP

CDP Standard Grade 27

Management information

•Stock•Staff•Multi user databases•Single entry, multiple use

CDP Standard Grade 28

Advantages over a manual system

• Large amounts of data can be held• Data can be processed more

quickly • Data can be processed more

accurately (less errors)• Lists can be kept up to date more

easily• Direct mailing by the use of mail

merge

CDP Standard Grade 29

Costs

• Initial costs• hardware• software• training

• Running costs• staff• maintenan

ce

CDP Standard Grade 30

Data processing staff

• Network manager

• Systems analyst• Programmer• Engineer

CDP Standard Grade 31

E-commerce

CDP Standard Grade 32

E-commerce

• Online banking• Online shopping

• Effects on business• Mass market

CDP Standard Grade 33

Banking

• What is money?• What do we want from banks?

•Security•Accuracy•Reliability•Privacy

CDP Standard Grade 34

Transferring money

• Cash transfers• Paper transfers• Electronic fund transfer (EFT)• Home banking

•on line•telephone

CDP Standard Grade 35

Shopping

• Pre-computers•Disadvantages

• Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS)•Advantages and disadvantages•Structure of bar code•Social implications

• Electronic fund transfer Point of Sale (EFTPOS)

CDP Standard Grade 36

Crime, Security and Privacy

• Theft• Fraud• Sale of customer lists

• Security• physical• software

CDP Standard Grade 37

CDP and the Law• Data Protection Act• Computer Misuse Act

• Customer lists regulated by Advertising Standards Authority

CDP Standard Grade 38

Commercial Data Processing

End of presentation