Question

Data processing (DP) is a term from the 1970s that refers mostly to:

(A) manufacturing measurements
(B) the ability of computers to write checks for accounts payable
(C) accounting and financial information
(D) transfer of electronic information from analog to digital storage

Answer 1

Data Processing (DP) in the 1970s mostly refers to the D. transfer of electronic information from analog to digital storage, a capability enhanced significantly by the advent of the transistor and minicomputers.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term Data Processing (DP) from the 1970s refers mostly to the transfer of electronic information from analog to digital storage. The need for efficient data handling arose from the limitations of analog computers, which were efficient at solving mathematical problems but not at managing large amounts of data. With the invention of the transistor and the subsequent production of general-purpose computers, or minicomputers, digital computers became more capable of handling complex data processing tasks. These tasks included governmental operations like calculating the Census and processing financial information, which made data processing crucial for accounting and financial purposes as well.

The correct answer to the question is (D) transfer of electronic information from analog to digital storage, as digital computers were especially designed to efficiently manage large data sets, which was a significant step forward in the Digital Computer Revolution of the 1940s and 1950s.