Historical development of databases: Analyze the evolution of technological infrastructures in relation to the development of databases.
The Dawn of Databases
Have you ever pondered about how significant databases are in our lives? All the details, from our social media profiles to our bank transactions, are stored in databases. But, how did it all start? This lesson takes us back to the origins of databases, where it all began.
We kick start our journey with the punch card system developed by Herman Hollerith in the late 19th century for the US Census. Hollerith's system, though rudimentary by today's standards, was revolutionary in its time, making data recording and retrieval much more efficient.
Embracing the mid-20th century, we see the emergence of Magnetic Tape storage, a significant leap in data storage capabilities. These devices could store large amounts of data, and were primarily used with mainframe computers.
The Birth of Database Models 📚
Then comes the age of the hierarchical and network database models in the 1960s. These systems had rigid structures and were quite complex. IBM's Information Management System (IMS) is a classic example of a hierarchical database, while CODASYL (Conference on Data Systems Languages) network DBMS was another prevalent model.
The relational database model, introduced by E.F. Codd in 1970, revolutionized the database world with its simplicity and flexibility. This model uses a table-based format for data storage, making it more intuitive and user-friendly. Oracle's RDBMS and Microsoft's SQL Server are prime examples of relational databases widely used today.
Then came the object-oriented database model in the 1980s, which added another layer of sophistication to data management. This model allows complex objects and relationships to be effectively managed, with examples including PostgreSQL and MongoDB.
Technological Advancements ⚙️
Technological innovations have had a profound impact on the evolution of databases. Disk storage technology, for example, has evolved from the hard, clumsy disks of the 1950s to the sleek, high-capacity SSDs we use today.
An example of a significant hardware innovation includes the development of RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology. It improved data storage reliability and performance.
On the software front, the development of DBMS software like Oracle, MySQL, and SQL Server has helped manage and manipulate the databases more efficiently.
The Digital Revolution 🚀
The advent of the internet and cloud computing has revolutionized data storage, access, and distribution. Today, cloud databases like Amazon's AWS and Google Cloud are leading the data revolution, enabling businesses to store and access data from anywhere in the world.
This journey through the evolution of databases and the technological infrastructures surrounding them provides us a profound understanding of how our data-driven world has been shaped, offering a solid foundation for future lessons on the impact of Management Information Systems (MIS) in modern organisations.