Databases: More Powerful Than You Can Imagine

This week I learned about the importance of databases and how to design and create relationships among them. Here I will talk about what kinds of databases there are and how big they can be. Did you know, for instance, that the FBI database holds record on 1.5 billion people? Can you imagine how incredible it would be if you knew how to design and manage databases yourself? What about the downsides on that, with hackers invading databases and causing terrible consequences? We will see how learning to use such things can be promising in today’s world.

Keeping record of things has been a natural process since the beginning of times. As Information Technology has developed, the same has happened to the creation and storage of databases. Programs such as Microsoft Visio and Access allow me to draw and manage my own databases, creating relationships and making it easier to get information when I need. In my accounting class, for instance, we are learning how to create journals and records of every transaction into different ledgers. There is a reference number which is associated with the previous journal. This is a relationship. As I learn to do that, I see how easier it becomes if I know how to use programs such as QuickBooks to help me with storing data and turning it into information. Another great example of the use of databases is the Family History program of the Church. It is a huge database that keeps record of millions of our ancestors. Thanks to that, we can perform temple ordinances in their behalf and “bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of men.” (Moses Ch. 1, v. 39) The FBI also has a huge database that holds record of 1.5 billion people. One of the reasons they keep such track of things is to prevent further terrorist attacks. That’s what they call the “total information awareness system.” (Ashford, W. Par. 4) Privacy groups are opposed to such practice. “People have no idea of how many “digital footprints” they leave as they surf the Internet, travel and use their mobile phones.” (Ashford, W. Par. 4) At the same time that there is an intention to bring more security, there is also a great risk of immeasurable damage if a database ends up in wrong hands.

Hackers have shown great expertise in invading systems and stealing precious information. Not too long ago we heard the story of Albert Gonzales, accused of orchestrating one of the biggest identity thefts in history after stealing more than 40 million credit card numbers. (Johnson, B., Par. 1) Just imagine how much damage it must have caused to the lives of many people, banks, and credit card companies.

For good or evil, databases have proven to be much more powerful as well as needful than most people can imagine. The effective use of databases can be implied in accuracy in reports; integrating companies and nations, and even bringing us more protection. Most importantly, it can help us record things from the past and have them maintained in the future, if we only understand their essentialness in today’s world.

REFERENCES
Ashford, W., (2009, September 24), FBI database holds records on 1.5 billion people. Computer Weekly, Par. 1. Retrieved September 24, 2009, from http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2009/09/24/237851/fbi-database-holds-records-on-1.5-billion-people.htm

Johnson, B., (2009, September 11), US credit card hacker pleads guilty to massive ID theft. Guardian.co.uk, Par. 1. Retrieved September 24, 2009, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/sep/11/hacking-usa

Smith, J., Revelator, An extract of the translation of the Bible. Book of Moses, The Pearl of Great Price of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Chapter 1, verse 39 (Salt Lake City, Utah: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), Retrieved September 24, 2009, from http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/1