Why Do Computers Use 1s and 0s? Binary and Transistors Explained.

Summary

This script explores the concept of binary, the foundation of computer processing, which predates modern computers. It explains binary as a counting system using only 0s and 1s, contrasting it with the decimal system. The script delves into how computers use transistors, which can be on or off, to represent binary digits (bits). It also touches on ASCII, which translates binary values into characters for human readability. The video aims to demystify binary's role in computing, highlighting the evolution from 8-bit to 16-bit systems and their implications for computer capabilities.

Takeaways

• 😀 Binary is a counting system that existed before computers and is based on two values: 0 and 1.
• 🔢 The binary system is positional, similar to decimal, but each digit represents an increasing power of two instead of ten.
• 💡 Computers use binary because it aligns with the physical limitations of micro transistors, which can be either on (1) or off (0).
• 🛠️ A single transistor represents a bit, and a byte consists of eight bits, allowing representation of numbers from 0 to 255.
• 🔠 ASCII is used to convert binary numbers into characters and symbols that humans can understand, with each byte corresponding to a character.
• 📝 For example, the uppercase letter 'A' is represented by the binary pattern '01000001', which corresponds to the decimal number 65 in ASCII.
• 📈 The transition from 8-bit to 16-bit systems allowed computers to represent a much larger range of numbers, from 255 to 65,535.
• 💻 The increase to 16-bit systems doesn't necessarily mean exponential power, but it provides more options for the numbers a program can utilize.
• 🖼️ Future videos will explain how computers use binary to determine pixel colors on a monitor and how hard drives store binary digits.
• 👍 The video encourages liking and subscribing for more instructional content on similar topics.
• 🎮 The creator hints at a potential move to a different channel for comedic gaming-related content, separate from instructional videos.

Q & A

What is the binary system?

The binary system is a method of counting that existed before computers, where each digit can only have two values: 0 or 1. It's a base-2 positional numeral system where each digit represents an increasing power of two.

Why do computers use the binary system?

Computers use the binary system because it aligns with the physical limitations of how they operate. Computers work with micro-transistors, which are tiny switches that can either be on (1) or off (0), making binary a natural fit for representing data.

How does the binary system compare to the tally mark system?

The binary system is exponentially more efficient than tally marks. While tally marks simply represent the number of items by marking down lines, binary uses a positional system where each digit represents an increasing power of two, allowing for a much larger range of values with fewer digits.

How does the decimal system differ from the binary system?

The decimal system, also known as base-10, uses digits from 0 to 9 and each digit represents an increasing power of ten. In contrast, the binary system uses only two digits (0 and 1) and each digit represents an increasing power of two.

What is a bit in the context of computers?

A bit, short for binary digit, is the smallest unit of data in computing. It represents a single binary value, either 0 or 1, and is typically stored by a single transistor.

What is a byte and how is it related to bits?

A byte is a group of eight bits. It is used to represent a larger range of values. In the context of ASCII, a byte can represent a character, with 255 possible values (including letters, symbols, and numbers).

What is ASCII and how does it relate to binary?

ASCII, the American Standard Code for Information Interchange, is a character encoding standard that assigns a unique binary value to each character, such as letters, digits, and punctuation marks. It allows computers to convert binary data into human-readable characters.

How does the script explain the concept of 8-bit and 16-bit systems?

The script explains that in an 8-bit system, each byte consists of 8 binary digits, allowing for 255 possible values. In a 16-bit system, two bytes are considered as one unit, which increases the possible values to 65535. This allows for a greater range of numbers and more complex computations.

What is the significance of the number 255 in the context of 8-bit systems?

In an 8-bit system, the highest value that can be represented is 255. This is because each of the 8 bits can be either 0 or 1, and with 8 bits, the highest binary number is 11111111, which is 255 in decimal.

How does the script suggest that binary is used to represent colors on a computer monitor?

The script hints that future videos will explain how computers use binary numbers to decide which pixel is what color on the monitor, implying that binary values are used to represent different colors through the manipulation of pixels.

What is the purpose of the video script and what additional topics will be covered in future videos?

The purpose of the video script is to explain the concept of binary and its use in computers. Future videos will cover topics such as how computers use binary to control pixel colors on a monitor and how hard drives store binary digits on a spinning disk.

Outlines

00:00

😲 Understanding Binary and Its Role in Computing

This paragraph introduces the concept of binary, a fundamental counting system used in modern computers. Binary is a base-2 system where each digit can only have two values: 0 or 1, and each additional digit represents an increasing power of two. The video aims to demystify binary by comparing it to the tally marks and the decimal positional system. It explains how binary is more efficient than tally marks and how it works in conjunction with micro-transistors in computers, which can be either on or off, aligning perfectly with binary's 0 and 1 states. The paragraph also touches on the concept of a bit (binary digit) and a byte (eight bits), and how ASCII is used to convert binary numbers into characters for human readability. The summary underscores the simplicity and importance of binary in the operation of computers.

05:02

🚀 Evolution of Computer Systems from 8-bit to 16-bit

The second paragraph delves into the evolution of computer systems, particularly the transition from 8-bit to 16-bit architectures. It highlights the limitations of 8-bit systems, which could only handle numbers up to 255 with a single byte. To overcome this, computers were redesigned to treat two bytes as one number, allowing for a significant increase in the range of representable numbers, from 255 to 65535. The paragraph clarifies the difference between 8-bit and 16-bit systems and hints at the potential of these systems without implying that a 16-bit system is always more powerful. It sets the stage for future discussions on how computers use these binary numbers to control pixel colors on monitors and how hard drives store binary digits differently than transistors. The video concludes with a teaser for upcoming content and a note about the creator's plans for the channel.

Keywords

💡Binary

Binary is a numeral system that represents numeric values using two symbols: 0 and 1. It is fundamental to the operation of computers and digital electronics, as it simplifies the physical representation of data. In the video, binary is explained as a simple yet fascinating concept that predates computers and is used to count in a way that is efficient for digital systems. The script illustrates binary counting with sequences like '0 1 1011 100', demonstrating how each digit represents an increasing power of two.

💡Tally Marks

Tally marks are a simple counting system where each mark represents one unit. They are easy to understand but not very efficient for larger numbers. The video uses tally marks as a contrast to binary, showing how binary is a more advanced system that can represent larger quantities more efficiently.

💡Decimal (Base-10) System

The decimal system, also known as base-10, is the number system most commonly used by humans. It uses ten symbols (0-9) to represent values, and each digit can represent a different power of ten. The video explains that while decimal is efficient, binary is even more so for computers because it aligns with the binary nature of transistors.

💡Transistors

Transistors are tiny electronic switches that can be either on or off, which is analogous to the binary digits of 1 and 0. They are the building blocks of modern computers and are used to represent binary digits. The video explains how transistors are used in binary counting and how they can be combined to represent larger numbers.

💡Microprocessors

Although not explicitly mentioned in the script, microprocessors are the 'brains' of a computer, and they rely heavily on transistors to function. They process information using binary data, which is why understanding binary is crucial to understanding how computers work.

💡ASCII

ASCII, the American Standard Code for Information Interchange, is a character encoding standard used to represent text in computers. It assigns a binary value to each character, allowing computers to convert binary data into human-readable letters and symbols. The video uses ASCII as an example to explain how binary is used to represent characters, with 'uppercase A' being represented as '65' in decimal, which is '10000001' in binary.

💡Bits and Bytes

A bit is a single binary digit, which can be either a 0 or a 1. A byte is a group of eight bits, which can represent values from 0 to 255. The video explains that bytes are used to represent ASCII characters and that the number of bits in a byte determines the range of values it can represent.

💡8-bit and 16-bit Systems

The terms '8-bit' and '16-bit' refer to the size of the data that a computer system can process at one time. An 8-bit system uses one byte (8 bits), while a 16-bit system uses two bytes (16 bits). The video explains that moving from 8-bit to 16-bit systems increased the range of representable numbers from 255 to 65535, which allowed for more complex computing tasks.

💡Efficiency

Efficiency in the context of the video refers to the ability of a counting system to represent large numbers with a small amount of symbols or digits. Binary is more efficient than tally marks and, to a lesser extent, than the decimal system for computers because it aligns with the physical limitations and capabilities of transistors.

💡Pixels and Colors

Although not detailed in the script, pixels and colors are mentioned as an example of how computers use binary numbers to control the display. Each pixel on a computer monitor is controlled by binary data that determines its color and intensity, illustrating how binary is used to create visual output.

💡Hard Drives

Hard drives are mentioned in the video as a way computers store binary digits, but not in transistors, implying a different physical medium is used. This suggests that while the concept of binary remains the same, the physical representation of binary data can vary between different storage technologies.

Highlights

Binary is a simple counting system that existed before computers, consisting of only ones and zeros.

Binary is a base-2 positional system where each digit represents an increasing power of two.

Tally marks are a simple counting system but inefficient compared to base-10 and binary systems.

Base-10 uses different symbols (0-9) to represent different amounts, with each digit representing an increasing power of ten.

Computers use micro-transistors as tiny switches that can be on or off, representing binary digits.

A single transistor, or bit, represents a binary digit, and a byte consists of eight bits.

Binary is more efficient than tally marks but less efficient than base-10 for representing numbers.

ASCII is used to convert binary data into characters, making it easier for humans to work with computer data.

Each ASCII character corresponds to a byte of binary, allowing representation of 255 different values.

The ASCII number for an uppercase 'A' is 65, which in binary is represented as 1000000.

Computers require a staggering amount of transistors to perform simple tasks like writing a Facebook status.

8-bit systems can represent numbers up to 255, while 16-bit systems can represent numbers up to 65535.

16-bit systems are more powerful than 8-bit systems, offering more options for representing numbers.

The video will cover in future episodes how computers use binary to control monitor pixels and how hard drives store binary digits.

The presenter may move to a different channel for comedic gaming content to avoid confusing YouTube's search algorithm.

Transcripts

it's a common theme throughout the

modern world that everything in a

computer's brain comes down to ones and

zeros you've most likely heard that this

code of ones and zeros is what's

referred to as binary and while almost

everybody knows that this is somehow

related to what computers do very few of

us seem to understand what binary is or

why computers use it if you want to know

then this video is for you because it's

actually a very simple concept and still

quite fascinating before we get to

computers let's talk about what binary

itself is as it existed long before

computers did binary is nothing more

than a system of counting to understand

how it works let's look at two other

systems of counting cally marks and the

glourious based and positional that we

all know and love today tally marks are

the simplest counting system imaginable

however many things you have you put

down that mini marks easy as pie but not

very efficient meanwhile based in

positional which is what we use today

uses a different symbol to represent

different amounts of things with the

numbers 0 through 9 we can recognize

that each symbol indicates a different

amount of things if we need to represent

something higher than nine we add a

digit to the left world its first digit

back to zero and start over the system

is very efficient compared to tally

marks because each digit we add

exponentially increases the amount of

things we can represent because in this

system we add a new digit every ten

things each digit represents an

increasing power of ten this is a number

of ones we have the number of tens the

number of hundreds the number of

thousands and so on now this is probably

something you already know but it's very

important to keep it in mind when we

talk about binary now binary works the

exact same way is based in positional

but instead of each digit going from 0

to 9 it goes from 0 to 1 counting

upwards and binary sounds like this 0 1

1011 100 101 110 111 and 1000 because

each digit of binary has only two values

and not

and each additional digit represents an

increasing power of two rather than an

increasing power of 10 so this is the

number of ones we have the number of

twos fours 8 16 32 64 128 and so on not

nearly as efficient is based in but

exponentially more efficient than tally

marks literally so now that we know how

binary works let's talk about computers

why did the first computer creators as

wise and intelligent as they are waste

their time with such an ineffective

system of counting well it's because of

a physical limitation on how computers

work everything a computer does comes

down to what's known as micro

transistors simple tiny ain't CBSE

little switches that can either be on or

off and can be flipped on or off with a

very weak electrical charge the first

goal is to get computers to count and to

get them to count by using these

switches we could use the tally system

meaning the number of on switches equals

the number of things we have or we could

use the much more efficient system of

binary where each switch represents a

digit of binary a transistors using the

tally system could represent a number as

large as eight by turning all of them on

with binary we can represent a number as

high as 255 a nonce which means a 1 and

an off switch means a zero now is a good

time to mention that a single transistor

is what's known as a bit which stands

for binary digit a byte is eight of

these bits in a row which means any

number between 0 and 255

so if binary is just a system of

counting what do people mean when they

explain how to spell things in binary

well what they really mean is how to

spell things with ASCII the American

Standard Code for information

interchange is a way to convert a

computer's data which can only be in

numbers and turn it into letters for

humans to have an easier time to work

with ASCII simply assigns a character to

each value represented by a byte of

binary because a byte has eight digits

of binary to work with and eight digits

of binary can represent up to 255 values

ASCII had 255 letters

symbols to choose from more than enough

for the entire alphabet punctuation

marks and other senses for example the

corresponding ASCII number for an

uppercase a is 65 a 65 in base 10 is

equal to 1 million in 1 in binary so

whenever you type in an uppercase a in a

word program a coding program or a

scripting program or whatever somewhere

there's a little tiny row of eight

transistors arranged in the pattern of

off on off off off off off on which

represents zero one zero zero zero zero

zero one and binary which is interpreted

as 65 and base 10 which is converted by

ASCII into an uppercase a you're likely

starting to get a feel for the

staggering amount of transistors

required to write something as simple as

a facebook status let alone all the

different coding that your computer has

to do to make the screen light up play

games calculate massive values and so on

well long before we got to the point

where your phone can play

three-dimensional games it became clear

that numbers as high as 255 just weren't

going to cut it regardless of how many

bytes we had and it was a lot even

adding four fully active bytes together

could only get a number as high as 1020

to solve this problem new computers were

designed to recognize two bytes as one

single number so now instead of

referencing one line of eight

transistors computers could reference

two lines giving 16 digits worth of

binary this was a huge help because it

increased the amount of representable

numbers exponentially from 255 up to

65535 when you hear people talking about

the difference between 8-bit and 16-bit

this is more or less it but that doesn't

mean that a 16-bit system is

exponentially that much more powerful

because your program isn't always gonna

be utilizing all of these numbers in

each byte that it represents it just has

the option to which opens up lots of

doors well this could go on for ages and

ages but I want to end this particular

video

right here so it's not to be

overwhelming in future videos I will

explain how computers use these numbers

to decide which pixel is what color on

your monitor with the different

components of your computer r4 and how

hard drives store binary digits on a

spinning disk rather than in transistors

thank you for watching and if you

enjoyed this video liking and

subscribing is always a huge help well

I've been enjoying making these

instructional videos I might move into a

different channel soon and continue

doing comedic gaming related things on

this channel so as not to confuse

YouTube's search algorithm which I think

I am