Scientists make breakthrough in database research

[dwarakesh]

Scientists have developed a method of correcting errors and inconsistencies in commercial database information, a leading database expert from Britain's Edinburgh University said Wednesday.

Professor Fan Wenfei, a Beijing-born database researcher at the university, made the remark while receiving the 2008 BCS Roger Needham Award, an accolade given annually to the best Britain-based researcher in computing within 10 years of completing their PhD.

"Though the recent technology cannot guarantee 100 percent accuracy in blocking 'dirty' information, about 93 percent of errors are expected to be spotted and blocked, which could save the world billion of pounds on a yearly basis," he said.

Recent statistics show that businesses typically expect between one and five percent of all data to be wrong, or "dirty."

The researcher also recently won the Yangtze River Scholar award, the highest academic honor in China.