Top 5 Easy to Use Database Software Solutions

Databases are organized collections of data information such as names, numbers, sounds, and pictures. Today, most databases are computerized. Computers enable quick access to individual pieces of data, even if they are stored in databases that are large and complex.

Computers help many kinds of users store, organize, and retrieve their data. With databases, governments can maintain tax records, doctors can confirm health insurance coverage, and businesses can update inventory and customer information. Individuals can use simple databases to track household expenses or organize personal files. Individuals can also open accounts with banks that have sophisticated databases that process electronic (non-cash) transactions.

People use databases by inputting information in a form that can be understood by a computer. To enter or request data, a user can type on a computer keyboard, press buttons on a telephone keypad, slide a credit card through a credit card reader, or scan an object’s bar code. Some systems even respond to spoken commands. Once the user’s request has been expressed in the appropriate form, the computer can search through its electronic files, adding, changing, or retrieving information. Finally, the computer can deliver a report in a form that is understandable to the user.

A typical report, such as an account summary, can be printed out or displayed on a computer monitor. In many cases, an actual report is unnecessary. For example, a database-equipped telephone answering system can respond to a caller’s telephone keypad input by simply transferring the call to a particular extension.

How did we get along before computers? In the distant past, information was handed down by word of mouth. With the rise of commercial activity and the need for record keeping, people developed handwritten records and accounting methods. Companies developed large product catalogues and detailed customer records. However, the number of transactions was limited by the ability of people to record them by hand.

With the arrival of computerized databases, the number of transactions that could be processed was greatly increased. But for data processing to be truly efficient, databases had to organize data efficiently. The open source database softwares makes it even better.

Database Organization

There are many different ways to organize data. The best way to organize data depends on the answers to two basic questions:

(1) What questions will we need to ask of our data, and how often will we need to ask each of these questions?

(2) What kinds of changes will we need to make in our data, and how often will each of these kinds of changes need to be made?

Here is a simple example: the organization of a database of names, telephone numbers, and addresses. If the purpose of the database is to generate printed telephone directories, and if updated directories will be prepared just once each year, a very simple database structure will work well enough. However, if the purpose of the database is to enable emergency personnel to respond to 911 calls, the database will have to be organized to enable efficient searching. In a typical search, a phone number would be used to look up an address. (Imagine how long it would take to use a phone number to look up an address in a printed telephone book!)

Database Management

Because so many people rely on databases, the management of databases is very complex especially when many people try to access the same databases at the same time. Database management systems ensure that one user’s database interactions do not interfere with another’s. Some of these systems process database interactions that are enabled by communications lines and wireless technology. Some of these systems are open source database software.

Future Challenges

Rapid progress in communications, finance, medicine, and many other fields has created a need to store more and more data. Of course, in many cases, information stored in a database is linked to the person who provided it. This raises serious questions about the security of private information.

As private information gathers in commercial and government databases, it becomes much easier to use computers to search these databases. All that is needed is a common piece of identifying data, such as a social security number. With this number, it is possible to bring together many pieces of private information about a person.

Another challenge is the design of electronic voting systems. These systems should be easy to use. However, they must also be protected against fraud. In other words, the database for an electronic voting system must be secure even though the data itself must be freely accessed, updated, and processed.

All these challenges show that database designers have a lot of work to do. They must build systems that promote ease of use, protect privacy, and enhance security all at the same time.

Top 5 Easy to Use Database Software:

KNACK

Online database software made easy. Knack makes it easy to build online databases without coding. Simple, powerful, and backed by world class support. Build your own online database today!

KNACK

DATABASEOASIS

Database Oasis provides database software solutions with no coding requirements. Rather than spending money on custom application development for your small business solutions, purchasing multiple desktop applications, or paying a DBA for custom database solutions, this simple database designer uses point-and-click to offer an easy database creation alternative.