The Algorithmic Language ALGOL 60, Essay Example

Explanation of Records

Each piece of data needs to be associated with a variable name that could be easily pulled up using a variety of software programs (Davis & LaCour, 2013). To ensure that the program will be able to read the data correctly, it is important to avoid the use of spaces. Instead, to represent different words, a “_” should to be used to ensure that all information can be retrieved in one place. The “_” is also used to attach a data description to the variable names used. In each case, the variable name was derived by first considering the initials of each patient and whether they are the first patient in the system with these initials. In this case, each patient listed were the first, so they were assigned “1” following their initials. However, increasing numbers will represent the order in which the patients appear on the patient list for each name. This ensures that each individual has their own unique identifier.

Next, it is important to attach a variable description to the variable name (Clark, 2011). The variable description is the actual information that will be recalled using the variable name. Thus, when the variable name is typed into the database or software program, it will retrieve information in the description. Depending upon the particular program being used, it may be necessary to create an array using coding that will attach the variable name to the description. In addition, this process can be used to associate the information that describes a particular patient in a manner that will allow their name, telephone number, and address to be retrieved simultaneously. An advantageous way of accomplishing this is by coding for a data array.

In addition, it is essential to specify whether the data will appear in string or integer form. This information is needed to tell the program that it should be expecting numbers, letters, or a mixture of the two. Therefore, the system will be prepared to process qualitative or quantitative data as necessary.

Relationship to Modern Records

This coding system is frequently used in the information technology field, although many data systems have the data array coding integrated into the system already, enabling untrained employees to simply enter the data into the system. Once this data is entered, it could be saved and retrieved in the same format. However, it is important for health information technology professionals to understand the underlying coding needed to produce such programs in order to determine which programs would be best for a particular health care setting in addition to understanding how to utilize data if the software meant to read it is not functioning properly.

Formal Definitions of Fields of Data

1. Variable Name: A label to identify the information that is being inserted into the system.
2. Type: Distinguishes the data between string, integer, and Boolean.
3. Size: Indicates the length of the field.
4. Scope: Describes which entities should be visible or bound (Backus et al., 1960).
5. Description: Indicates what the variable is meant to represent.

References

Backus, J. W.; Wegstein, J. H.; Van Wijngaarden, A.; Woodger, M.; Bauer, F. L.; Green, J.; Katz, C.; McCarthy, J.; Perlis, A. J.; Rutishauser, H.; Samelson, K.; Vauquois, B. (1960). Report on the algorithmic language ALGOL 60. Communications of the ACM, 3(5): 299.

Clark, Jill. (2011). Tools for Data Analysis: New Toolkit Provides Resources for Health Data Analysts. Journal of AHIMA, 82(2).

Davis NA, LaCour M. (2013). Health Information Technology. Saunders.

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