Manual Data Processing

Data processing is the means by which raw data is turned into usable information. Manual data processing is the physical entering and organization of data. Though most data processing is now done by computers, there was a time when collected data was recorded and tabulated by hand in paper spreadsheets. The tables were used to calculate, analyze and summarize data, but calculations were done by .

Data processing is the means by which raw data is turned into useable information. Manual data processing is the physical act of actually entering that information and the subsequent organization of that particular data. Though most of today's data processing is now done by computers, there was a time, before the miraculous advent of computers, when all of this collected data was essentially recorded and tabulated by hand in paper spreadsheets.At that time, before the computer came into existence, the spreadsheet tables were used to calculate, analyze, and summarize data, but the actual calculations were done entirely by hand or calculator. The limitations rendered by the insurmountable stacks of paper, a high percentage of unavoidable human error and the high cost of man-hours meant that manual data processing could not handle the increasing demands of modern data collection. Unfortunately, until the advent of the computer and the various programs that exist now to handle this type of processing work, there was no way around having to do the bulk of this grunt work by hand and the expected turn-times for getting this work done was measured in days and weeks, as opposed to minutes and hours as is the case today.The development of computers and programs designed for manipulating data rendered manual data processing obsolete. The computer programs of today are much more efficient and capable of handling an enormous volume of data which would take human processors inordinate amounts of time to complete. In addition, computers can quickly analyze algorithms and other patterns automatically, and present several representations simultaneously so that analysts can compare the results almost immediately. The underlying problem with such advanced developments is that methods for manual data processing are essentially at risk of getting lost or forgotten-which is only an issue in the event of computer failure.