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What is Data?
Data is just information. It can be numbers, words, pictures, or sounds. Computers don’t see data the way we do — they use codes like 0s and 1s (called Binary) that can combine into different file types.
For example, a photo is stored as tiny squares of color (pixels) in a JPEG file, while a song is stored as sound waves written in code as an MP3 file.
Documents/Sheets/Presentation files can store text as well as images
Collecting and Transforming Data
Raw data is often messy. A weather station may record too many readings or errors. Before people can use it, the data must be cleaned and organized (like a radar video). Then, it can be sent across the internet. To make sure data doesn’t get lost, computers follow strict rules called protocols. Think of it like mailing a letter: you need an address, a stamp, and the postal system. Without rules like these, your message wouldn’t arrive where it’s supposed to.
Why Encode Data in Different Ways?
Not all data is the same. A text message, a YouTube video, and a game all need different ways to be stored in a computer's memory. This is why we have file types like JPEG/PNG for pictures or MP3 for music. The computer picks the best “language” for the job.
Making Models Better
Scientists and engineers often use models (digital representations of data) like traffic maps or climate predictions. At first, the model might be rough. But as more good data is collected and shared through protocols, the model improves.
Better data = better decisions
YOU have data that follows you
Advertisers and Social Media Apps collect as much data about you as possible to understand your interests by building a profile to provide you with commercials and ads that match your interests.
Your devices share data from their sensors (camera, microphone, thumbprint, tilt, date & time that you access an app, how long you were on that app, which accounts you follow, like, dislike, and watch, what types of links you share, who you share it with, your location when you use the app, etc.)
They collect a lot!!
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