BOS Definition: the process by which data is captured or entered into a computer system, including:
deciding what data is required
how it is sourced
how it is encoded for entry into the system
Collecting, the first step in the cycle, is usually referred to as the input process where one gathers ideas about how to construct the desired system. This includes collecting basic data to be translated later into the system.
Examples for data to be collected include newspapers, books, electronic databases etc.