Types of database structure

A database is a collection of data
o Maybe computerized
o Will be organized so as to make the retrieval and maintenance of data as easy as possible

Two types of database structure. Databases typically have one of two basic forms:
*Single-file or flat file database
*Multi-file relational or structured database

Flat file
A flat file is a database held in a single file. The data stored in one file cannot easily be linked to data stored in another file. A flat file, also known as a text database, is a type of database that stores data in a plain text format. Flat files typically text files that have all word processing and structure markup removed. A flat file features a table with a single record per line.

They are only suitable for very simple databases. The patient database is an example of a flat-file as all of the information is stored in one single table.

Multi-file relational
A database that is perceived by the user as a collection of two-dimensional tables. A relational database contains multiple tables of data that relate to each other and allows the user to specify information about multiple tables and the relationships between those tables, allowing more flexibility and control over database constraints. This database management system has the capability to recombine data elements to form different relations resulting in a great flexibility of data usage.
Types of database structure

Data management system

The term 'DATA' can be defined as the value of an attribute of an entity. An entity in general, may be an object, idea, event, condition or situation. A set of attributes describes an entity. Information in a form which can be processed by a raw computer is called data. Data are raw material of information.

Any collection of related data items of entities having the same attributes may be referred to as a 'DATABASE'.

Data management includes all aspects of data planning, handling, analysis, documentation and storage, and takes place during all stages of a study. The objective is to create a reliable data base containing high quality data.

Such systems are commonly digital, but the term equally applies to paper-based systems where the term records management is commonly used.

The basic goals of data management systems are storing, delivering and describing data. The Data Management System is a distributed system featuring data access and delivery. It is based on the pattern of autonomic agents using the accessible network infrastructure for mutual communication.

Data management systems typically store huge quantities of data representing the historical records of an organization. These databases grow by accretion. It is important that the old data and applications continue to work as new data and applications are added. The systems are in constant change.
Data management system

Face recognition system

Face recognition is a task that humans perform and effortlessly in daily lives. Face recognition has been studied for many years and has practical applications such as face-based access control system, security system and system automation based on computer vision.

The first automated face recognition system was developed by Takeo Kanade in his PhD thesis work in 1973. There was a dormant period in automatic face recognition until the work by Sirovich and Kirby on low dimensional face representation.

The systems generally include a database, known as gallery, consisting of facial images from a set of known subjects of interest.

It is one of the major biometric technologies, has become increasingly important owing to rapid advances in image capture devices (including surveillance cameras, camera in mobile phones), availability of huge amounts of face images on the web, and increased demands for higher security.

There have many efforts to design human face recognition systems some of which have employed artificial neural networks [TURK91] [SOL92] [CAST] [TOOL88] [MIDO88] {PERR90] and others [NAKA91] [WU90] [KAUF76] [WONG89], such as:
*Template matching of iso-density lines of subjects; faces
*Comparing of sizes/relative distance of facial features (nose, eyes, mouth) of subjects facial images

To build a reliable and robust face recognition system, one has to consider various issues:
*Computation and storage
*System engineering
*Security issue
Face recognition system

Managing Information: Accessible Filing

The reason why computers are sure to take over in more and more areas of organizational life is that they can make any information already collected for one purpose instantly available, to be used for many other secondary purposes. This has opened up totally new ways of using information.

Let us take for example the way information about groceries bought by consumers can be used in a retail outlet. In corner shops the proprietor often operates the till and once the customer has paid for his or her purchases the only record of the transaction is on the till roll – to all intents and purposes inaccessible.

It is of little consequence though because the proprietor is close enough to the action for decision making and knows roughly what the day’s taking are, how many customer have been served and whether there has been a run on a particular item.

In the supermarket, however, there may be 30 checkout operators and 10 000 or more different lines stocked. At peak times, purchases may be leaving the supermarket at a rate of 40 000 items per hour. Stocks of each line must be reordered to arrive at the rate of consumption or changing demand for particular lines caused by promotional; activities or food scarce could be easily lead to empty shelves to throw away ‘till roll’ data collected for the primary purpose of calculating how much to charge the customer.

Once collected it must be used again for stock control, a secondary use. And that’s not the end of the story. Information is expensive to collect, but once held in digital form it costs next to nothing to store and so can be freely used over and over gain for a variety of secondary purpose.

For instance, till roll data collected over a period of months or years can be analyzed for long term trends and presented graphically to aid in forecasting and strategic planning.

Till roll data becomes valuables for direct marketing when linked to particular customers who presented a loyalty card. Customer who buys cat food may be interested in special offers in cat litter, and those who buy diapers may try a new range of baby foods. Their addresses are known, so they can be targeted for mail shots customized to their life styles and preferences.
Managing Information: Accessible Filing

Database program

Database management is very crucial and tedious work for every organization as databases contains all important information’s of an organization.

A database acts like a big bucket where the user can put in information. The two most important parts of any databases is storing information and take it back out again.

A modern-day database is a structure collection of data in a computer. The term structured implies that each record in the database sis stored in a certain format.

An application programs is needed to retrieve or manipulate data in this file. The data retrieval capability is provided by a query language and the data manipulation capability is provided with a transaction language.

Database programs differ from other types of computer programs in the sense that they are dominated by data retrieval and manipulation tasks rather than complex computation.

A database management system is a specific type of software than can organize data in a flexible manner. It has the ability to add, modify or delete data from the database, ask question or queries about the data stored in the database, and also summarize selected contents.
Database program

Single Database in Organization

One of the reasons that organization were so slow to respond in the past was that they simply did not have a clear view of what was happening within their company. Yes, a large amount of data was available, but it was fragmented around the organization in many different places, different isolated systems and incompatible formats. Additional, the data was inconsistent due to different definitions, cut-off dates and measurement criteria.

Large businesses (and countries) have been traditionally less efficient than smaller organizations due to the cost of coordination and the increase in bureaucracy to deal with large amounts of information. Delegation of authority to compensate for this factor has led to lack of control, lower efficiency and fragmentation of business.

The solution is a single, logical, central database that gives everybody in the organization access to the same data at the same time. Many organizations are now bringing together all their separate systems to achieve this singular view.

A single source of data gives the organization the ability to combine information across all business operations. Whereas managers used to receive a separate printed monthly report from each system, they can now obtain daily, or even hourly, electronic reports that give a single view of what matters, as it happens, across their entire organization.

Chief executive can access a single dynamic report on screen to monitor their critical success factors and key performance indicators, such as sales, leads, liquidity, staffing or inventory levels. These interactive reports allow the user, not just to monitor everything that is important to the company, but also to investigate variances and get immediate answers within a few mouse clicks.

The availability of global information systems enables companies to maintain a functional structure on a large scale, which is more efficient, rather than creating multiple business units with complicated communication cycles.
Single Database in Organization

Database Management

Microcomputer versions of database management programs have become so popular that they are now view as general purpose application software packages like word processing and spreadsheet packages.

Database management packages such as Microsoft Access, Lotus Approach, or Coral Paradox allow customer to set up and manage databases in PC, network server, or the World Wide Web.

Most database managers can perform four primary tasks.
Database development
Define and organize the content, relationship and structure of the data needed to build a database, including any hyperlinks to data on Web pages.

Database interrogation
Access the data in a database to display information in a variety of formats. End users can selectively retrieve and display information and produce forms, reports and other documents, including Web pages.

Database maintenance
Add, delete, update, and correct the data in a database, including hyperlinked data on Web pages.

Application development
Develop prototypes of Web pages, queries, forms, reports and labels for a proposed application. Use application generator to program application.
Database Management