Manually-processed
Describing a task or data that is handled, operated, or treated by human hands, physical effort, or human intervention, rather than by automated machinery, computer programs, or electronic systems. This often implies a slower pace, a greater potential for human error, and a higher degree of subjective interpretation or judgment compared to automated processes. Manually processed data can also mean the absence of automation, which is not necessary a negative thing, and may provide greater quality or control. The term emphasizes the absence of automation or the use of machinery or computer control.
Manually-processed meaning with examples
- Before computers, analyzing census data was a laborious, manually-processed task. Clerks meticulously hand-recorded, sorted, and tallied information from millions of forms. This process was incredibly time-consuming and prone to errors, highlighting the efficiency gains of automated systems that came to replace this labor.
- In the early days of photography, developing film required manually-processed chemicals. The photographer needed to carefully mix the solutions and control the development time. The resulting photos had unique characteristics dependent on the processes of mixing the chemicals, and developing and are now a sought after skill.
- A company might opt for manually-processed customer support tickets initially to understand common issues and create automated responses or systems based on human observations and understanding. This allows a deeper comprehension of the subject. Also, manual processing may allow for a more empathetic handling of specific or complex cases.
- During software development, debugging a program might involve manually-processed code reviews. Developers read each other's code line by line, looking for bugs. Though slow, this process catches issues that automated testing may miss, improving overall software quality and allowing for a more intimate knowledge of the code.
