Difference between revisions of "CSC103: DT's Notes 1"
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===Current Computer Design is the Result of an Evolutionary Process=== | ===Current Computer Design is the Result of an Evolutionary Process=== | ||
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[[Image:SteamboyTheMovie.png|right|200px]] In this course we are going to look at the computer as a tool, as the result of technological experiments that have crystalized currently on a particular design, the von Neumann architecture, on a particular source of energy, electricity, on a particular fabrication technology, silicon transistors, and a particular information representation, the binary system, but any of these could have been different, depending on many factors. In fact, in the next ten or twenty years, one of more of these fundamental parts that make today's computers could change. | [[Image:SteamboyTheMovie.png|right|200px]] In this course we are going to look at the computer as a tool, as the result of technological experiments that have crystalized currently on a particular design, the von Neumann architecture, on a particular source of energy, electricity, on a particular fabrication technology, silicon transistors, and a particular information representation, the binary system, but any of these could have been different, depending on many factors. In fact, in the next ten or twenty years, one of more of these fundamental parts that make today's computers could change. | ||
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The choice of using electricity has influenced greatly a fundamental way in which modern computers work. They all use the binary system at the lowest level. Because electricity can be turned ON or OFF with a switch, it was only logical that these two states would be used to represent information. ON and OFF. 0 and 1. True and False. But if we can represent two different states, two different levels of information, can we represent other than 0 or 1? Say 257? Can we also organize electrical circuitry that can perform the addition of two numbers? The answer is Yes; using the binary numbering system. | The choice of using electricity has influenced greatly a fundamental way in which modern computers work. They all use the binary system at the lowest level. Because electricity can be turned ON or OFF with a switch, it was only logical that these two states would be used to represent information. ON and OFF. 0 and 1. True and False. But if we can represent two different states, two different levels of information, can we represent other than 0 or 1? Say 257? Can we also organize electrical circuitry that can perform the addition of two numbers? The answer is Yes; using the binary numbering system. | ||
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This section is an overview of the binary system. Better sources of information can be found on this subject, including [http://courses.cs.vt.edu/csonline/NumberSystems/Lessons/index.html this one] from the University of Vermont. | This section is an overview of the binary system. Better sources of information can be found on this subject, including [http://courses.cs.vt.edu/csonline/NumberSystems/Lessons/index.html this one] from the University of Vermont. | ||
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In binary, the base is 2; we have only two digits to write numbers with: 0, and 1. | In binary, the base is 2; we have only two digits to write numbers with: 0, and 1. | ||
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| + | ===Counting in Decimal=== | ||
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Let's now count in decimal and go slowly, figuring out how we come up with the numbers. | Let's now count in decimal and go slowly, figuring out how we come up with the numbers. | ||
Revision as of 11:47, 5 February 2012
--© D. Thiebaut 08:10, 30 January 2012 (EST)
