Data representation, storage and social implications

Raw data only becomes valuable when it is processed into information, and information becomes knowledge when people interpret and apply it to make decisions.

Computers work in binary (base 2) because circuits have two reliable states: on and off. Programmers also use hexadecimal (base 16) as a compact way to write binary.

Everything a computer stores — text, numbers, images — is ultimately encoded as binary. Programming languages give us primitive data types so the computer knows how to interpret those bits.

Good file management means you (and your programs) can find, protect and back up data quickly. The operating system organises storage as a tree of drives, folders and files.

A file extension tells the operating system (and you) what kind of data a file holds and which program should open it.

Storing personal data digitally raises real responsibilities: who may see it, how long it is kept, and what happens if it leaks.