How Computers Work: Binary & Data

Summary

In this educational video, engineers Limor Fried and Federico Gomez Suarez demystify how computers operate using binary code. They explain that computers use bits, represented by on/off states, to store and process information. The binary system, with its base of 0s and 1s, allows for the representation of any number and complex data like text, images, and sound. The video emphasizes that while users don't interact with 1s and 0s directly, understanding this fundamental concept is crucial to grasping the inner workings of computers.

Takeaways

• 😀 Computers operate using binary, represented by 1s and 0s, which are the fundamental building blocks of digital information.
• 🔌 Inside a computer, electric wires and circuits carry information, using the on/off states to represent bits.
• 🛠️ A single bit, the smallest unit of information a computer can store, represents a binary choice such as YES or NO, TRUE or FALSE.
• 📈 The binary number system uses only two digits, 0 and 1, and can represent any number by multiplying by powers of 2 for each position.
• 🔢 In binary, numbers are calculated by summing the values of each position, similar to decimal but with powers of 2 instead of 10.
• 📚 Text can be represented in binary by assigning numbers to each letter of the alphabet, which are then stored as electrical signals.
• 🖼️ Images, including photos and videos, are made of pixels, each with a color value that can be represented in binary.
• 🎵 Sound is a series of air vibrations that can be graphically represented as a waveform, with each point on the waveform being a number.
• 🔊 Higher quality audio, such as 32-bit, offers a greater range of numbers to represent sound, resulting in better sound fidelity.
• 💻 When coding or creating apps, developers work with higher-level abstractions like images, sound, and video, but these are all ultimately composed of 1s and 0s.
• 🌐 The understanding of 1s and 0s and the electrical signals they represent is crucial for grasping how computers input, store, process, and output information.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script provided?

The video script focuses on explaining how computers work using data and binary, including the representation of information in binary form and the binary number system.

Who are Limor Fried and Federico Gomez Suarez, and what are their roles in the video?

Limor Fried is an engineer at Adafruit Industries who designs circuits for various applications. Federico Gomez Suarez is a software developer with Microsoft Hack for Good, focusing on using technology to solve social problems. They both explain the concepts of data and binary in computers.

Why is binary important in the context of computers?

Binary is important because it is the fundamental way computers represent and process information. It uses only two digits, 0 and 1, to represent all data, including numbers, text, images, and sound.

What is a bit, and how does it relate to the representation of information in a computer?

A bit is the smallest piece of information a computer can store, represented by the on/off state of a single wire. It can represent a YES or NO, TRUE or FALSE, or a 1 or 0.

How does the binary number system differ from the decimal number system?

The binary number system uses only two digits, 0 and 1, compared to the ten digits from 0 to 9 in the decimal system. In binary, each position represents a power of 2, whereas in decimal, each position represents a power of 10.

How can text be represented in binary?

Text can be represented in binary by assigning a number to each letter of the alphabet. These numbers are then stored as a sequence of 1s and 0s, which can be interpreted by computers as text.

What are pixels, and how are they related to images in binary?

Pixels are tiny dots that make up images on a screen. Each pixel has a color, which can be represented by a number. In binary, these numbers are used to determine the color of each pixel, creating the image.

How is sound represented in binary?

Sound is represented in binary as a series of numbers that correspond to points on a waveform. These numbers represent the vibrations in the air that we perceive as sound.

What is the significance of using more bits in audio, such as 32-bit audio over 8-bit audio?

Using more bits in audio, like 32-bit audio, allows for a higher range of numbers to represent the waveform, resulting in higher quality sound with more detail and less distortion.

How do the concepts of 1s and 0s and electrical signals relate to the broader functioning of computers?

The concepts of 1s and 0s and electrical signals are the backbone of how computers input, store, process, and output information. They form the basis for all computer operations.

Outlines

00:00

💡 Introduction to Computers and Binary

In this introductory segment, Limor Fried and Federico Gomez Suarez introduce themselves and their respective roles in technology. Limor, an engineer at Adafruit Industries, and Federico, a software developer with Microsoft's Hack for Good, explain the fundamental concept of how computers operate using binary code. They clarify that while computers are often thought to work on 1s and 0s, most people do not interact directly with this binary system. The video script delves into the basics of binary, explaining that a single wire can represent an on/off state, equating to a bit, which is the smallest unit of information a computer can store. The binary number system is introduced as a way to count using only 0s and 1s, and how it differs from the decimal system by multiplying by 2 instead of 10 for each position. The summary highlights the importance of understanding binary for anyone working with computers, even if they do not directly manipulate 1s and 0s.

05:07

🔢 Binary Representation of Data

This paragraph explores the binary representation of various types of data. It begins by discussing how letters of the alphabet can be assigned numbers, which can then be translated into binary to represent text. The concept is expanded to include images, which are made up of pixels, each with a color that can be represented numerically. The paragraph also touches on sound, explaining that vibrations in the air can be graphically represented as waveforms, and each point on the waveform can be assigned a number, thus allowing sound to be broken down into a series of numbers. The importance of using more bits for higher quality sound, such as 32-bit audio over 8-bit audio, is emphasized. The summary underscores the versatility of binary in representing not only numerical data but also text, images, and sound, highlighting the vast amount of data involved in digital media.

Keywords

💡Computers

Computers are electronic devices that process data according to a set of instructions called a program. In the context of the video, they are presented as complex systems that operate on the fundamental principle of binary, which is the basis for all digital computation. The script explains that while computers work internally with 1s and 0s, most users interact with higher-level applications without dealing directly with binary code.

💡Binary

Binary refers to a numeral system that uses only two digits: 0 and 1. It is fundamental to computer science as it represents the on/off states of electronic signals. The video emphasizes that binary is the core of how computers store and process information, with all data ultimately being translated into sequences of 1s and 0s.

💡Bits

A bit is the smallest unit of data in computing, representing a single binary digit that can be either a 0 or a 1. The script mentions that the on/off state of a wire corresponds to a bit, and multiple bits can be combined to represent more complex information, such as numbers, text, images, and sounds.

💡Electrical Signals

Electrical signals are the means by which information is transmitted and processed within a computer. The video script describes how these signals, represented by the flow of electricity, can be either on or off, directly correlating to the binary digits of 1 and 0.

💡Circuits

Circuits are interconnected components that allow the flow of electrical current in a computer. The script explains that circuits are the physical pathways through which binary data is stored and manipulated, highlighting their importance in the internal workings of a computer.

💡Decimal Number System

The decimal number system, also known as the base-10 system, is the numerical system most commonly used in everyday life. It consists of ten digits (0-9) and is contrasted in the video with the binary system, which uses only two digits. The script uses the decimal system to explain how binary works by comparison.

💡Pixels

Pixels are the tiny dots that make up images on a screen. The video script discusses how each pixel has a color, which can be represented by a number, and collectively, these numbers form the binary representation of an image.

💡Waveform

A waveform is a graphical representation of sound vibrations over time. In the context of the video, it is used to explain how sound can be digitized into a series of numbers, which are then represented in binary form within a computer.

💡Text in Binary

The concept of 'Text in Binary' refers to the process of encoding textual information into binary code. The script explains that by assigning a number to each letter of the alphabet, any word or paragraph can be represented as a sequence of numbers, which are then translated into binary.

💡Images in Binary

This term refers to the representation of images as a series of binary numbers. The video script describes how images are composed of pixels, each with a color value that can be expressed in binary, allowing for the digital storage and manipulation of visual data.

💡Sound in Binary

Sound in Binary is the process of encoding audio data into binary form. The script explains that sound waves can be broken down into a series of numbers, which represent different points on the waveform, and these numbers can be stored and processed in binary.

💡Software Developer

A software developer is a professional who designs, codes, and maintains applications or systems software. In the video, Federico Gomez Suarez is introduced as a software developer, emphasizing the role of software in utilizing technology to address social issues.

Highlights

Computers use 1s and 0s, or binary, to represent information internally, even though most people don't deal directly with this binary code.

A single wire can represent a bit, the smallest unit of information in a computer, with its on/off state corresponding to 1 or 0.

The binary number system uses only 0s and 1s to represent any number, similar to how the decimal system uses 0-9 but with powers of 10 instead of 2.

In binary, each position has a value that doubles with each step, such as 1s, 2s, 4s, 8s, etc., allowing representation of numbers like 9 as 1, 0, 0, 1.

The more wires used, the larger the numbers that can be stored, scaling from 0 to 255 with eight wires and up to over 4 billion with 32 wires.

All types of information, including text, images, and sound, can be represented as numbers and thus as binary code.

Text can be encoded by assigning numbers to each letter of the alphabet, turning words and paragraphs into sequences of numbers.

Images are made of pixels, each with a color that can be represented by numbers, leading to vast amounts of data in high-resolution images and videos.

Sound is a series of air vibrations that can be graphed as a waveform, with each point on the waveform being representable by a number.

Higher quality sound, like 32-bit audio, uses more bits to represent a wider range of numbers compared to 8-bit audio.

Computers automatically calculate the values of binary representations, simplifying the process for users.

Understanding binary and electrical signals is key to grasping how computers input, store, process, and output information.

Even though users don't work with raw 1s and 0s when coding or creating apps, they do work with binary representations of images, sound, and video.

The binary system and electrical circuits form the backbone of all computer operations, from simple inputs to complex data processing.

The video explains complex computer concepts in an accessible way, making binary and electrical signals understandable for a broader audience.

Transcripts

[Music] [Title: HOW COMPUTERS  WORK: DATA & BINARY]  

Limor: Hi! My name is Limor Fried, and I’m an  engineer here at Adafruit Industries. And this  

is where I do engineering and design, and I design  circuits for fashion and music and technology.  

Federico: My name is Federico Gomez Suarez,  and I’m a software developer with Microsoft  

Hack for Good. And I look into using technology  to help us solve some of the big social problems  

of our times. [Music] Limor:  

You may have heard that  computers work on 1s and 0s,  

or you may have seen scary  looking visuals like this.  

But almost nobody today actually deals directly  with these 1s and 0s. But 1s and 0s do play a big  

role in how computers work on the inside. Federico: Inside a computer are electric  

wires and circuits that carry all the  information in a computer. How do you store  

or represent information using electricity? Limor: Well, if you have a single wire with  

electricity flowing through it, the signal can  either be ON or OFF. That’s not a lot of choices,  

but it’s a really important start. With  one wire we can represent a YES or a NO,  

TRUE or FALSE, a 1 or a 0, or anything else with  only two options. This on/off state of a single  

wire is called a bit, and it’s the smallest  piece of information a computer can store.  

If you use more wires, you get more bits: more  1s and 0s. With more bits you can represent more  

complex information. But to understand that, we  need to learn about something called the binary  

number system. Federico:  

In the decimal number system, we have ten digits  from 0 to 9, and that’s how we’ve all learned to  

count. In the binary number system we only have  two digits: 0 and 1. With these two digits, we  

can count up to any number. Here’s how this works.  In the decimal number system we’re all used to,  

each position in a number has a different  value. There’s a one position, the ten position,  

the one hundred position, and so on. For example  a 9 in the one hundred position is a 900.  

In binary, each position also carries a value,  but instead of multiplying by 10 each time,  

we multiply by 2. So there’s the 1s position, the  2s position, the 4s position, the 8s position,  

and so on. For example, the number 9 in binary  is 1, 0, 0, 1. To calculate the value, we add (1  

x 8) + (0 x 4) + (0 x 2) + (1 x 1). Almost nobody  does this math because computers do it for us.  

What’s important is that any number can be  represented with only 1s and 0s, or by a  

bunch of wires that are on or off. The more wires  you use, the larger the numbers you can store.  

Limor: With eight wires, you can store numbers  between 0 and 255—that’s eight 1s. With just  

32 wires, you can store all the way from 0 to  over 4 billion. Using the binary number system  

you can represent any number you like, but what  about other types of information, like text,  

images, or sound? It turns out that all these  things can also be represented with numbers.  

[Music] [Title: TEXT IN BINARY] Limor:  

Think of all the letters in the alphabet.  You could assign a number to each letter;  

A could be 1, B could be 2, and so on. You  can then represent any word or paragraph As a  

sequence of numbers, and—as we saw—these numbers  can be stored as on or off electrical signals.  

Every word you see on every webpage or phone  is represented using a system like this.  

[Music] [Title: IMAGES IN BINARY] Limor:  

Now, let’s consider photos, videos, and all the  graphics you see on a screen. All of these images  

are made out of teeny dots called pixels, and  each pixel has a color. Each of the colors can be  

represented with numbers. When you consider that a  typical image has millions of these pixels, and a  

typical video shows thirty images per second—now  we’re talking about a lot of data here.  

[Music] [Title: SOUND IN BINARY] Federico:  

Every sound is basically a series of  vibrations in the air. Vibrations can be  

represented graphically as a waveform. Any point  on this waveform can be represented by a number,  

and this way any sound can be broken  down into a series of numbers.  

If you want higher quality sound, you will pick  32-bit audio over 8-bit audio; more bits means a  

higher range of numbers. [Music] Limor:  

When you use a computer to write code  or make your own app, you’re not dealing  

directly with these 1s and 0s, but you will  be dealing with images or sound or video.  

So if you want to understand how computers work  on the inside, it all comes down to these simple  

1s and 0s and the electrical  signals in the circuits behind them.  

They are the backbone of how all computers input,  store, process, and output information. [Music]