Data Representation
Computers are Electronic Machines
- The electric current in any given location is
high or
low.
- We can simplify that to
on or
off.
- So, all data in a computer
— numbers, letters, pictures, programs: it's all
just
high and
low current.
-
- Given that, how do we represent numbers?
- Use the binary number system, which is just
1's and
0's.
- How
do we represent letters, punctuation, and other characters?
Alyce Brady, Kalamazoo College