IBM 5110 User Manual page 7

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The task performed by a computer is called data processing. Data
processing means that information is handled according to a set of
rules. Whether you process information by hand or use a computer,
the requirements of a job remain about the same. You must have
input, which is the data you want to do something with; you must
process
the data, which is the act of doing something with data
according to instructions; and you must have
output,
which is the
result of your processing.
To help you understand the 5110 and data processing, let's first look
at how a clerk might process information for the job of billing. For this
job, assume the clerk works with the following data:
• Customer orders
.. Price catalogs
•• Customer records
•• Accounts receivable records
.. Inventory files