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Introduction to Computer Science

8.7 Informatics and Data Management

Introduction to Computer Science8.7 Informatics and Data Management

8.7 Informatics and Data Management

Learning Objectives

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

  • Define informatics and discuss its applications in various industries
  • Explain the role and life cycle of information systems

As discussed earlier, the data analysis process produces reports that help the decision-maker at all management levels. Informatics is collaborating activities that involve humans and technologies to apply data management tools.

Definition and Applications

The term informatics broadly describes the study, design, and development of information technology for the good of people, organizations, and society. Informatics focuses on computer systems from a user-centered perspective and studies the structure, behavior, and interactions of natural and artificial systems that store, process, and communicate information.

Informatics has applications in many areas including sports informatics, behavior informatics, business informatics, privacy informatics, community informatics, geoinformatics, health informatics, imaging informatics, museum informatics, research informatics, social informatics, and urban informatics.

Informatics as a Data Management Solution

Informatics leverages information sciences (big data analytics, electronic records management, digital assets management, and information security and governance), human computer interaction (human-centered design), information system analysis and design, telecommunications structure, and information architecture and management. All these fields are supporting components of end-to-end data management solutions. Therefore, one can view informatics as a data management solution.

Informatics Information Systems

Information systems support informatics and provide an organizational context for using database systems to help collect, organize, store, analyze, preserve, retrieve, and govern data and records relevant to an organization. These systems also help informatics professionals turn data and information into actionable knowledge from a user-centered perspective within the context of specific disciplines or industry such as health or sports. Helping uncover critical information that can improve the user experience may ultimately lead to achieving a company’s goals and is an example of how valuable informatics is to a business.

Think It Through

Informatics Approach

Suppose you work for a health-care provider and you have been tasked with developing and launching a new patient portal to help patients better communicate with health-care providers while providing patients easy access to their health-care data.

What will your technical requirements be in relation to software, hardware, data, and network? What will you need to support an informatics solution? What approach will you take?

Information System Creation Life Cycle

Information systems provide resources involved in the collection, management, use, and dissemination of information resources of organizations. The macro life cycle for the creation of an information system includes feasibility analysis, requirements collection and analysis, design, implementation, and validation and acceptance testing. The micro life cycle for the creation of an information system focuses on system definition, database design, database implementation, loading or data conversion, application conversion, testing and validation, operation, monitoring, and maintenance.

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