List of database applications



Database applicationA?database application?is a computer program whose primary purpose is entering and retrieving information from a computerized?database. Early examples of database applications were accounting systems and airline reservations systems, such as?SABRE, developed starting in 1957.A characteristic of modern database applications is that they facilitate simultaneous updates and queries from multiple users. Systems in the 1970s might have accomplished this by having each user in front of a?3270?terminal to a?mainframe computer. By the mid-1980s it was becoming more common to give each user a?personal computer?and have a program running on that PC that is connected to a database?server. Information would be pulled from the database, transmitted over a network, and then arranged, graphed, or otherwise formatted by the program running on the PC. Starting in the mid-1990s it became more common to build database applications with a Web interface. Rather than develop custom software to run on a user's PC, the user would use the same Web browser program for every application. A database application with a Web interface had the advantage that it could be used on devices of different sizes, with different hardware, and with different operating systems. Examples of early database applications with Web interfaces include?, which used the?Oracle relational database management system, the online community, whose implementation on top of?Oracle?was described in the book Database-Backed Web Sites (Ziff-Davis Press; May 1997), and?eBay, also running Oracle.[1]Electronic medical records?are referred to on , HYPERLINK "" \l "cite_note--2" [2]?in December 2010, as "a software database application". A 2005 O'Reilly book uses the term in its title: Database Applications and the Web.Some of the most complex database applications remain accounting systems, such as?SAP, which may contain thousands of tables in only a single module.[3]?Many of today's most widely used computer systems are database applications, for example,?Facebook, which was built on top of?MySQL.[4]The etymology of the phrase "database application" comes from the practice of dividing computer software into systems programs, such as the operating system, compilers, the file system, and tools such as the database management system, and application programs, such as a payroll check processor. On a standard PC running Microsoft Windows, for example, the Windows operating system contains all of the systems programs while games, word processors, spreadsheet programs, photo editing programs, etc. would be application programs. As "application" is short for "application program", "database application" is short for "database application program".Not every program that uses a database would typically be considered a "database application". For example, many physics experiments, e.g., the Large Hadron Collider, HYPERLINK "" \l "cite_note-LHCdata-5" [5]generate massive data sets that programs subsequently analyze. The data sets constitute a "database", though they are not typically managed with a standard relational database management system. The computer programs that analyze the data are primarily developed to answer hypotheses, not to put information back into the database and therefore the overall program would not be called a "database application".List of database applicationsAmazonCNNeBayFacebookFandangoFilemaker?(Mac OS)Microsoft?AccessOracle relational databaseSAP?(Systems,?Applications &?Products in Data Processing)TicketmasterWikipediaYelpYouTubeWhat Are Database Applications?Database applications are software programs designed to collect, manage and disseminate information efficiently. Many home and small business owners create simple databases such as customer contact and mailing lists with easy to use software such as Microsoft "Access" and "FileMaker Pro." "Oracle," "SQL Server," and "FoxPro" are examples of advanced database applications with programming languages that can be used to build custom business solutions in networked environments.PurposeDatabase applications are used to search, sort, calculate, report and share information. Databases can also contain code to perform mathematical and statistical calculations on the data to support queries submitted by users. Database applications provide security by restricting access to data based upon user names and passwords. Most database applications are customized with a database programming language to automate specific types of work.Accounting ApplicationsAn accounting system is a custom database application used to manage financial data. Custom forms are used to record assets, liabilities, inventory and the transactions between customers and suppliers. The income statements, balance sheets, purchase orders and invoices generated are custom reports based upon information that is entered into the database. Accounting applications can run on a single computer suitable for a small business or in a networked shared environment to accommodate the needs of multiple departments and locations in larger organizations. "Microsoft Money," "Quicken," "QuickBooks" and "Peachtree" are accounting systems built upon database applications.CRM ApplicationsA customer relationship management system (CRM) is another example of a database application that has been customized to manage the marketing, sales, and support relationships between a business and it's customers. The ultimate goal is to maximize sales, minimize costs and foster strategic customer relationships. Simple contact management programs such as "ACT," or the task manager in Microsoft's "Outlook" can be customized to suit the needs of individuals and small businesses. "SAP," "," and Oracle's "Siebel" are robust CRM database applications suitable for larger enterprises.Web ApplicationsMany contemporary web sites are built using several database applications simultaneously as core components. Most retail store Web sites including "," and "" use database systems to store, update and present data about products for sale. These Web sites also combine an accounting database system to record sales transactions and a CRM database application to incorporate feedback and drive a positive customer experience. The popular Web-based "Facebook" application is essentially a database built upon the "MySQL" database system and is an indication of the increasing usage of database applications as foundations for Web-based applications.What is a database?At its simplest expression, a database is a gathering of information, here called data, stored on a server. The data is organized in a way it can easily be retrieved, managed and edited in significant ways by the end-user. The data could be something very simple such as personal information about clients or customers. It could also be inventory, sales, calls or anything anyone needs to track. It’s up to the user to determine what data needs to be aggregated and the format it will take.When you’re using a database, the data is not stored on your computer’s hard drive but in the cloud on a server,?somewhere. Using a database management system (DBMS), calls/queries are made to retrieve the information. This part is called the back-end. To present the data in a consequential way to the user, web developers create a web site and easy to use database applications. This part is called the front-end.Even if there are many other database models such as?hierarchical and network models, the relational database model is the most common. The relational database model was developed in the early 1970’s and it is still the most common model to this day. The data is stored in relations, taking the form of tables made of columns (fields) and rows (records/items). To access and interact with the data contained in a relational database, its user needs to use a relational database management system (RDBMS). The most common language used to query and manage relational databases is SQL (Structured Query Language).SQL: The ClassicSQL is the language most IT experts use to interact with relational databases. These interactions are called transactions. To be efficient and accurate, transactions must be?ACID?(atomic, consistency, isolation, durability). Atomic means the transaction is all or nothing. Consistency refers to the fact that the database must remain in a consistent state before and after the transaction. Isolation means all transactions must be independent of one another. Durability refers to the fact that a transaction cannot be undone after the user has been notified of a successful transaction.The best example I can find to explain SQL and its ACID properties is a banking system. Let’s say I want to transfer funds from my own account to my husband’s. There will be a series of calls or queries made to send the money from one account to the other. All calls must be answered and completed in order for the transaction to be completed. If a call fails, the transaction will not be completed and we’ll both keep our money (atomic). The information in each of our account won’t be affected by the transaction (consistency). Each call made to the database will only be related to our transaction (isolation). Finally, once the transaction is successful, we won’t be able to cancel it (durability).The best-known RDBMS using SQL to create and query databases are IBM DB2, Oracle, Microsoft Access and MySQL. Examples of SQL-based databases citizens use every day include banking systems, computerized medical records, and online shopping to name just a few.Pros of SQLWell-known language, has been around for over 40 years.Great storage solution (servers, not your hard drive!)Allows query of the entire databaseAllows relations between tablesThe best solution for structured data and transactional needsCan be accessed by many users at the same timeCons of SQLNeed for deep expertise of programming skills: steep learning curvePoorly designed database calls for poorly managed dataSome will say that SQL is not easily scaled-outNot the best solution when dealing with data growing exponentially (ex. social media)TRY KOHEZION FOR FREE NOWNoSQL/NewSQL: The HipstersNoSQL refers more to what it is not then to what it is. It refers to a language system not using SQL. It is mostly used for unstructured data in situations where the ability of the database to accept (create) or access (get) large amounts of data quickly is required. It offers great flexibility with alternative data models (ex.: non-relational data, unstructured documents). It doesn’t always bother with real-time accessibility to the data as you could be accessing an old version of the data since it was not yet updated. It is much less rigid than the transactional structure of SQL but it can get much messier! It definitely doesn’t respect the ACID properties of SQL. Best known NoSQL systems include MongoDB, Couchbase and Redis.NewSQL could be referred to as the modern relational databases languages. These are based on the relational database model and the SQL query language but offers better consistency. Some of them offer solid ACID guarantees.Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram are the best examples of the use of NoSQL and NewSQL. These require the ability to process astonishing amounts of data very quickly but (mostly) don’t need the ACID properties.Pros of NoSQL/NewSQLVery fast (NoSQL)Not requiring fixed table schemas (NoSQL)Scales horizontally (NoSQL)Stronger consistency (NewSQL)Full transactional support possible (NewSQL)Cons of NoSQL/NewSQLNot transactional/ACID (NoSQL)Can get messy (NoSQL)Not offering as many development tools as SQL (NewSQL)This was just a brief introduction to the newest languages. If you would like to learn more about NoSQL and NewSQL, click?here?or?here.Excel: Databases or spreadsheets?Let’s get back to the relational databases. Based on the assumption relational databases take the form of tables made of columns and rows, is Excel a database? If you want a real entertaining discussion, drop this question to a bunch of programmers. I suggest you run in the other direction, as it may get real ugly!Most of us will agree that even if Excel and its spreadsheets can be extremely useful, they’re not databases. If we look at it objectively, Excel creates spreadsheets. Spreadsheets are in fact tables made of columns and rows. It’s the table format that tends to confuse people into thinking that spreadsheets are relational databases. We already agreed on the fact that databases are used for data management. Spreadsheets don’t go as far and are mostly used for data storage and analysis.Pros of using ExcelEase of useShort learning curveNo programming skills neededPerfect for numerical dataPerfect to manage small pools of dataGreat for data analysisInexpensive solutionCons of using ExcelStaticOnly one user at a time can update dataSubstantial spreadsheets will eventually become tougher to manage and lead to errors in the dataOne action could break something somewhere without the users realizing itData stored on your computer (hard drive) versus databases (servers)what is a database management system(DBMS)?"A database management system (DBMS) is a collection of programs that manages the database structure and controls access to the data stored in the database".??The DBMS serves as the intermediary between the user and the database. The database structure itself is stored as a collection of files, So, we can access the data in those files through the DBMS.The DBMS receives all application requests and translates them into the complex operations required to fulfill those requests. The DBMS hides much of the database’s internal complexity from the application programs and users.Advantages of Database Management System (DBMS)?1. Improved data sharing?An advantage of the database management approach is, the DBMS helps to create an environment in which end users have better access to more and better-managed data.Such access makes it possible for end users to respond quickly to changes in their environment.?2. Improved data security?The more users access the data, the greater the risks of data security breaches. Corporations invest considerable amounts of time, effort, and money to ensure that corporate data are used properly. A DBMS provides a framework for better enforcement of data privacy and security policies.3. Better data integration?Wider access to well-managed data promotes an integrated view of the organization’s operations and a clearer view of the big picture. It becomes much easier to see how actions in one segment of the company affect other segments.?4. Minimized data inconsistencyData inconsistency exists when different versions of the same data appear in different places. For example, data inconsistency exists when a company’s sales department stores a sales representative’s name as “Bill Brown” and the company’s personnel department stores that same person’s name as “William G. Brown,” or when the company’s regional sales office shows the price of a product as $45.95 and its national sales office shows the same product’s price as $43.95. The probability of data inconsistency is greatly reduced in a properly designed database.5. Improved data access??The DBMS makes it possible to produce quick answers to ad hoc queries. From a database perspective, a query is a specific request issued to the DBMS for data manipulation—for example, to read or update the data. Simply put, a query is a question, and an ad hoc query is a spur-of-the-moment question. The DBMS sends back an answer (called the query result set) to the application. For example, end users, when dealing with large amounts of sales data, might want quick answers to questions (ad hoc queries) such as:- What was the dollar volume of sales by product during the past six months?- What is the sales bonus figure for each of our salespeople during the past three months?- How many of our customers have credit balances of 3,000 or more??6. Improved decision making?Better-managed data and improved data access make it possible to generate better-quality information, on which better decisions are based. The quality of the information generated depends on the quality of the underlying data. Data quality is a comprehensive approach to promoting the accuracy, validity, and timeliness of the data. While the DBMS does not guarantee data quality, it provides a framework to facilitate data quality initiatives.?7. Increased end-user productivity?The availability of data, combined with the tools that transform data into usable information, empowers end users to make quick, informed decisions that can make the difference between success and failure in the global economy.Till now we have seen different?benefits of database management systems. But it has certain limitations or disadvantages.Let's find various disadvantages of database system.?Disadvantages of Database Management System (DBMS):?Although the database system yields considerable advantages over previous data management approaches, database systems do carry significant disadvantages. For example:1. Increased costs?one of the disadvantages of dbms is Database systems require sophisticated hardware and software and highly skilled personnel. The cost of maintaining the hardware, software, and personnel required to operate and manage a database system can be substantial. Training, licensing, and regulation compliance costs are often overlooked when database systems are implemented.?2. Management complexityDatabase systems interface with many different technologies and have a significant impact on a company’s resources and culture. The changes introduced by the adoption of a database system must be properly managed to ensure that they help advance the company’s objectives. Given the fact that database systems hold crucial company data that are accessed from multiple sources, security issues must be assessed constantly.?3. Maintaining currency?To maximize the efficiency of the database system, you must keep your system current. Therefore, you must perform frequent updates and apply the latest patches and security measures to all components.Because database technology advances rapidly, personnel training costs tend to be significant. Vendor dependence. Given the heavy investment in technology and personnel training, companies might be reluctant to change database vendors.As a consequence, vendors are less likely to offer pricing point advantages to existing customers, and those customers might be limited in their choice of database system components.4. Frequent upgrade/replacement cycles?DBMS vendors frequently upgrade their products by adding new functionality. Such new features often come bundled in new upgrade versions of the software. Some of these versions require hardware upgrades. Not only do the upgrades themselves cost money, but it also costs money to train database users and administrators to properly use and manage the new features.An interactive application customizes the user experience on your website by putting the visitor in control. A quality application blends function and form, becoming a digital asset that people can use. When this purpose is served, your site reaps many benefits, including:Boosted Conversions – Applications provide the resource your customers need to make an educated decision and further invest in your product or service.Backlink and Social Citations – When embedded on other websites, you will earn quality citations from relevant sources as well as social votes and shares.Expanded Audience – Interactive applications can be used specifically on your Facebook page to boost your social following.The following are two of the most popular types of interactive applications:CalculatorsIf you offer products with a cost that is measured by size, or you offer bundling opportunities for your products, a calculator application is a useful asset. Calculator applications are also useful for creating a tool to help your audience run complex formulas or useful calculations. This type of application can also be made embeddable, so other websites can include it and link back to you – providing a relevant citation and boosting your domain authority.QuizzesQuizzes allow users to answer questions to achieve a unique result. For e-commerce websites, visitors might click to determine what product is right for their particular situation. Quizzes can also be used to entertain or engage your target audience. Not only are they fun to take, but quizzes spread all over the Web. Users want to share the results with their friends, prompting them to post the results to both their websites and social networks. In both serious and fun natures, quizzes engage users through questions and fun results. Quizzes can be created for any type of business and will be promoted through social media.Interactive systems are computers which accept input from humans. Human send commands or data to computers by typing or by any gestures. Examples are MS word or spreadsheet. An operating system which supports interactive behavior is known as interactive operating systems. Examples of interactive operating systems are Mac and Windows operating system.Interactive operating systems can also get input from the graphical interface. To know more about graphical user interface check Advantages and disadvantages of graphical user interface.To design interactive system, customer-oriented communication is used which involves media and collaborative process between technology and people. The aim of the interactive system is simplicity with unique goals and eye-catching interface. Interactive media plays an important role in designing interface. Interactive media includes text, animation, video, animated image and buttons, video games etc.Advantages of interactive systemsIt helps disabled people perform their tasks like iPad and other interactive devices used. For example, in latest home AC, disabled people can control the temperature of a room, check the voltage of AC, AC timer from mobile or tablet device.Interactive systems are easy to use.These systems are used in testing phase also like testing interface elements and before launching product all items can be checked accurately.It is used in the medical field like cardiac device and different chips used in the body which sends signals to the computer screen.Performs better in doing marketing than old marketing like TV, radio or newspaper. It gets an immediate response from the audience.Also performs well in the promotional offer like we see on various websites. If a user performs some actions on the websites then a popup may appear to offer user discounted prices of products.It helps business to make a long-term relationship between customers.Interactive tools provide continuous support to customers in an easy way.Getting feedback from the customer is also done with the interactive system, for example, online polls and surveys.Giving rewards on more purchases is also done by interactive tools. On getting rewards customers feel more comfortable and it builds his interest and trust in the company.Learning is part of every human and human continues his learning in his entire life. Now learning becomes easy in modern life. E-learning is a new way of learning which involves projectors, interactive screens, and presentations. The audience becomes interested in the class and they tend to be active and innovative. Audience response becomes higher in this type of presentation learning. Due to high audience response they not get bored and get their attention in focus. Communication becomes higher during the speech of speaker and more questions and answers are exchanged between audience and speaker. Due to interactive technology more realistic feedback is received from the audience. More interactive and visual items are used for audience training like interested videos, animated graphics, graphs which makes the training interested and meaningful.Interactive systems are used for voice recognition and many tools are available in the market which performs well in this field.The attractive portable software is available to be downloaded and use on the internet. These software work on internet and they perform by user input combined with web-based data.Disadvantages of interactive systemsInteractive systems may cause extra noise pollution like recognizing the voice in public places.These systems are easy to break and get scratched by touching interface.Designing complex and nice graphical interactive systems are difficult and take longer time.Nowadays some telephone systems are interactive and they record and recognize the voice. But it is difficult for old aged people to communicate with these systems. These systems are difficult to design and perform inaccurately.Text to speech is another type of interactive system in which user interacts by inputting text. Some text cannot be converted as we pronounce it due to culture difference. The real-time text of the speech is difficult to understand and requires highly skilled people for voice over.During receiving calls of customers, text to speech software needs to be accurate to respond and if the customer takes interest in product then guiding him to the accurate path is difficult to manage and may involve live representative to talk.Automatic calls are also managed by interactive systems. Sometimes people are busy with their work and when receiving automatic calls make them insecure. These calls are made by company computers for campaigns which sometimes result in bad result.Some interactive web-based software needs an internet connection to perform which limits access to the user. Sometimes web-based software needs to put information to the public which effects company business.Some interactive software needs extra hardware and memory resources to perform well.In interactive marketing, if a customer has already a product then he will just pass away without taking the interest.Some interactive system cost higher due to its installation and setup, for example, interactive whiteboard. It also makes bad impact on user’s eyes. The content preparation for the interactive whiteboard is also tough. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download