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| DATE | 2014-11-26 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
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| SUBJECT | Subject: [LIU Comp Sci] More problems with modeling and normalization
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From owner-learn-outgoing-at-mrbrklyn.com Wed Nov 26 02:04:58 2014
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Subject: [LIU Comp Sci] More problems with modeling and normalization
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http://www.bkent.net/Doc/darxrp.htm
going back to 1978
What they’ve said about /Data and Reality.../
An excellent, philosophical discussion of the problems inherent in
describing the real world. There is nothing really similar to this work.
I think that all data base researchers should read this document. It
might also be assigned as supplementary reading in general graduate and
undergraduate courses in data base systems. /- Mike Senko (1978)/
I expect the book to be one of the most frequently quoted ones for the
next few years. It is unique in being an almost exhaustive, condensed
rendition of the typical problems encountered. The most striking strong
point is its penetration into major data base technology headaches… Many
well chosen examples and the lucid style make it easy to read. /-Reiner
Durcholz (1978)/
…highly recommended and even required reading for all DP people… /-
G.M. Nijssen (1978)/
Kent has produced a rather remarkable and highly readable short work…
the most important things he has to say are philosophical and go right
to the heart of the key concepts that must be understood if a system is
to be “successful” (whatever that may mean!)…This is a serious book but
not a heavy one. Kent writes easily and without hiding behind the
semantics of the data base specialists. The ideas are presented in a
straightforward manner with no attempt to preach. /-Datamation, March
1979/
This excellent study of the problems inherent in describing the real
world is unique in (1) being an almost exhaustive, condensed rendition
of the typical problems encountered, (2) not offering an own solution as
remedy for all evils, and (3) penetrating into the mists of conceptual
ambiguity… This book is of important value to all those in the field of
data bases and information systems who are concerned with developing a
deeper understanding of this matter. It is of equal importance to the
systems analyst, to the data base designer, and to the database system
designer. /-Current Engineering Practice, July 1979/
Data and Reality illustrates extensively the pitfalls of any simplistic
attempts to capture reality as data in the sense of today’s database
systems. The approach taken by the author is one which very logically
and carefully delineates the facets of reality being represented in an
information system, and also describes the data processing models used
in such systems. The linguistic, semantic, and philosophical problems of
describing reality are comprehensively examined… The depth of discussion
of these concepts, as they impact on information systems, is not likely
to be found elsewhere.… the value of this book resides in its critical,
probing approach to the difficulties of modeling reality in typical
information systems… it is very well written and should prove both
enjoyable and enlightening to a careful reader. /-ACM Computing
Reviews, August 1980/
By page eight one has been exposed to an incredible number of
philosophical ideas, all cast as concrete data-representation problems…
this is basically a book that poses problems and exposes contradictions…
A very stimulating read.
/ -Quantitative Sociology Newsletter, Spring 1981/
Kent attacks the pseudo-exactness of existing data models in a very neat
and clear (and often humorous) manner… This book is for everyone who
thinks about or works on data files and who wants to understand the
reasons for his disenchantment.
/ -European Journal of Operations Research, November 1981/
I am using Data and Reality as research material for my current project.
It is on my desk right now. /-Joe Celko, 1998/
The book is still quoted quite often and has a message even - or
especially - for today's jaded information scientists.
/-Prof. Dr. Robert Meersman, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (1998)/
Your book focuses attention on many issues that are still,
embarrassingly, not being dealt with in our formalized information
systems. It provides an important reference point not only in
identifying these problems, but in pointing out origins and the
long-standing practice of simply ignoring them. When I reopened your
book… I found lots of issues that seem as fresh as ever.
/-Roger Burkhart, John Deere (1998)/
A small number of computing and information management books are of
foundational nature, not oriented towards a particular technology,
methodology or tool. Data and Reality is such a book. The concepts and
approach described there are as valid now as they were in 1978, and are
still often ignored resulting in systems that are not what we want them
to be. Doing better than that requires Data and Reality to be an
essential component of our intellectual foundation.
/-Haim Kilov, Genesis Development Corporation (1999)/
I remember my first exposure to the work of Edward Tufte. The richness
of detail that could be presented simply was almost a physical shock.
Were it not for Bill Kent I might have forgotten that the data
represented by that richness was only a representation of reality, and
not the reality itself. In a world which reinvents the Perfect Semantic
Representation Language to End All Semantic Representation Languages
every ten years or so, it is a pleasure to have Bill's calming influence
in print in the form of Data and Reality. /-Richard Mark Soley, Ph.D.,
Chairman and CEO, Object Management Group, Inc. (1999/)
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