Week 4 Reading Responses

Below are some summary notes that I had for this week's readings:

Database - Wikipedia:

-databases are collections of files that provide the information needed for applications. Most common organization of these files in a database is relational organization.
-database management systems organize the information within the db.
-database management systems have varying models, just like the database themselves. Relational is the most popular for these as well.
-There are different types of databases with each performing a specific function
- There are five main components of Relational Database Management Systems:
* Interface drivers
* SQL Engine
* Transaction Engine
* Relational Engine
* Storage Engine

Introduction to Metadata:

-The purpose of this article was to explain to people the different types of metadata. Delved into a discussion of what information is and the purpose that it serves to people.
-Information possess meaning for human beings and information systems.
-All information, despite the form, have three properties -- content, context, and structure
-Information professionals and institutions look at these three properties and use them at varying to degrees in terms of information management (museums are more concerned with context, etc..
-Everyone is involved with "creating, sharing, and copying metadata" throughout their daily lives.
-Types of metadata -- preservation, descriptive, administrative, technical, use