How Data and Programs Are Represented in the Computer
How Data and Programs Are Represented in the Computer
by:
Rob Shepherd
CS300
Professor: Fred Kellenberger
Contents:
1.Introduction
2.The Parity Bit
3.Machine Language
4.How Computer Capacity is Expressed
5.The Processor, Main Memory, and Registers a. The processor b. Specialized Processor Chips c. CISC, RISC, and MPP d. Main Memory
7.Registers
8.The Machine Cycle
9. References
Introduction:
This paper is going to take a look at what goes on inside our computers and explain what the components are and how they function. For most people, getting inside a computer is something they would not even think about. It's probably best that most people feel this way. However, for those of you with a thirst for knowledge and the desire to see how things work, this is what you are looking for. Before we study the inner workings of the processor, we need to expand on an earlier discussion of data representation in the computer—how the processor “understands” data. We started with a simple fact: electricity can be either on or off. Other kinds of technology also use this two-state on/off arrangement. An electrical circuit may be open or closed. The magnetic pulses on a disk or tape may be present or absent. Current may be high voltage or low voltage. A punched card or tape may have a hole or not have a hole. This two-state situation allows computers to use the binary system to represent data and programs. The decimal system that we are accustomed to has 10 digits (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9). By contrast, the binary system has only two digits: 0 and 1. (Bi- means “two.”) Thus, in the computer the 0 can be represented by the electrical current being off (or at low voltage) and the 1 by the current being on (or at high voltage). All data and programs that go into the computer are represented in terms of these numbers. For example, the letter H is a translation of the electronic signal 01001000,
by:
Rob Shepherd
CS300
Professor: Fred Kellenberger
Contents:
1.Introduction
2.The Parity Bit
3.Machine Language
4.How Computer Capacity is Expressed
5.The Processor, Main Memory, and Registers a. The processor b. Specialized Processor Chips c. CISC, RISC, and MPP d. Main Memory
7.Registers
8.The Machine Cycle
9. References
Introduction:
This paper is going to take a look at what goes on inside our computers and explain what the components are and how they function. For most people, getting inside a computer is something they would not even think about. It's probably best that most people feel this way. However, for those of you with a thirst for knowledge and the desire to see how things work, this is what you are looking for. Before we study the inner workings of the processor, we need to expand on an earlier discussion of data representation in the computer—how the processor “understands” data. We started with a simple fact: electricity can be either on or off. Other kinds of technology also use this two-state on/off arrangement. An electrical circuit may be open or closed. The magnetic pulses on a disk or tape may be present or absent. Current may be high voltage or low voltage. A punched card or tape may have a hole or not have a hole. This two-state situation allows computers to use the binary system to represent data and programs. The decimal system that we are accustomed to has 10 digits (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9). By contrast, the binary system has only two digits: 0 and 1. (Bi- means “two.”) Thus, in the computer the 0 can be represented by the electrical current being off (or at low voltage) and the 1 by the current being on (or at high voltage). All data and programs that go into the computer are represented in terms of these numbers. For example, the letter H is a translation of the electronic signal 01001000,