Introduction to Computing, Part 11
Question 1: Discuss data, information, and data representation.
Answer 1: In computing, data is defined as symbols that represent pieces of information. Data and information are distinct from one another; information is data that has been converted into a form that is comprehensible to people. While computers operate according to data and instructions, humans require information. The data on a computer may be digital or analog. The manner in which data is stored or displayed is called a data representation. Images, numbers, and text are some common representations of data.
There are lots of good resources about Hardware that you can find available.
Question 2: Discuss the difference between digital data and analog data.
Answer 2: Digital data consists entirely of ones and zeros, a system known as binary code. All of the information on a computer, including text, images, and sound, is stored on the hard drive as a series of ones and zeros. Analog data, on the other hand, can be expressed through many values besides one and zero. Analog data is typically expressed in wavelengths. The visual data a human acquires from the external world, for instance, is made up of light waves with various lengths. Storing and representing this kind of data on a computer would be very difficult, which is why computers instead use the simple binary system.
Question 3: Explain a modem, including how it works with telecommunications.
Answer 3: A modem (short for modulate/demodulate) is a device for converting digital signals into analog waves and sending them over telephone lines. In other words, a modem takes data from one computer and converts it into a sound which can be heard and translated by another computer. With the aid of a modem, computer users can communicate with one another over vast distances. The creation of modems enabled such communication without requiring the invention and implementation of a new communications infrastructure.
Previous: Introduction to Computing, Part 10 - Next: Introduction to Computing, Part 12
|
