Database Applications

and Implications

8

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Chapter Outline

• The Electronic File Cabinet: Database Basics

• Beyond the Basics: Database Management Systems

• No Secrets: Computers and Privacy

“The goal is information at your fingertips.”

Bill Gates

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The Electronic File Cabinet:

Database BasicsDatabase software is…

• application software (like word processing and spreadsheet software)

• designed to maintain databases (collections of information)

A Database is…• a collection of information stored in

an organized form on a computer

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What Good Is a Database?

An electronic database allows you to:

– store large quantities of information

– retrieve information quickly

– organize and reorganize information

– print and distribute information in a variety of ways

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Database Anatomy

A database is a collection of one or more database files

A file is a collection of related information (records)

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Database Anatomy

A record is the information relating to one person, product, or event

A field is a discrete chunk of information in a record

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Database Anatomy

The view is a display of the information in fields based on a particular layout of field data.

Form ViewList View

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Database Operations

These operations are used to manipulate the information in the database:

– Import: receives data in the form of text files

– Browse: navigates through information by just looking at it

– Query: finds records that match a specific criteria

– Sort: rearranges records (alpha or numerically)

– Report: printout of an ordered list of records

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Special-Purpose Database Programs

Geographical information systems (GISs): include geographic and demographic data in map form.

Specialized database software is preprogrammed for specific data storage and retrieval purposes.

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Special-Purpose Database Programs

Personal information managers (PIMs): an electronic organizer that is customized to fit individual needs.

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Beyond the Basics: Database Management

Systems

A file manager is a program that allows users to work with one file at a time.

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Beyond the Basics: Database Management

Systems

Database Management Systems (DBMS)

– is a program or system of programs that can manipulate data in a large collection of files

– redundant information is stored as a key field

– different users see different points of view

– may be interactive

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What Makes a Database Relational?

A database is relational when files are related to each other, such as this Student ID field in the Student file.

If a change is made in one file, all files are updated immediately.

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Database Trends

• Real-Time Computing

– Allows instant access to information

• Downsizing and Decentralizing

– Using a client/server approach

• Data Mining

– Allows technology to find valuable information

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Database Trends

• Databases and the Web

– Information is available via a company’s Intranet and the Internet

• Object-Oriented Databases

– Make database construction and usage more flexible

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Database Trends

• Multimedia Databases

– Serve as an index for art, photographs, maps, video clips, and other media files

• Natural Language Databases

– Allows users to ask for data using the same language used to address humans

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The Privacy Problem

• More than 15,000 specialized marketing databases contain 2 billion names.

• These databases contain characteristics like age, income, religion, and even sexual preference.

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Rules of Thumb:Your Private Right

• Your social security number is yours – don’t give it away

• Say no to direct mail and phone solicitations, sharing of personal information, and pollsters

• Know your electronic rights

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Big Brother and Big Business

• Government uses record matching to locate criminals ranging from tax evaders to mass murderers.

• Credit bureaus collect information about us and allow us to borrow money where ever we go.

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Big Brother and Big Business

• With the increased amount of information available:

– Data errors are common

– Data can become nearly immortal

– Data isn’t secure