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The document discusses data representation in computers, explaining how various types of information such as text, graphics, and sound are stored as sequences of 0's and 1's, known as binary language. It describes the conversion of user input into machine-readable form and the role of digital and analogue signals, including the use of modems for communication. Additionally, it covers concepts like bits, bytes, and the reasons for using the binary system in computing.

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3 views

data-presentation-in-a-computer

The document discusses data representation in computers, explaining how various types of information such as text, graphics, and sound are stored as sequences of 0's and 1's, known as binary language. It describes the conversion of user input into machine-readable form and the role of digital and analogue signals, including the use of modems for communication. Additionally, it covers concepts like bits, bytes, and the reasons for using the binary system in computing.

Uploaded by

clintonomondi890
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MANYAM FRANCHISED
NOTES
COMPUTER STUDIES FORM THREE

DATA REPRESENTATION IN A COMPUTER


Data Representation refers to the methods used internally to represent information stored in a computer.
Computers store lots of different types of information:

Text (this refers to letters, numbers and symbols)

Graphics (such as pictures, drawings and clipart)

Sound (voice data)

Instructions (computer commands)

At least, these all seem different to us. However, ALL types of information stored in a computer are stored
internally in the same simple format: a sequence of 0's and 1's. How can a sequence of 0's and 1's
represent things as diverse as your photograph, your favorite song, a recent movie, and your term paper?

It sounds complicated. However you should understand that computers don’t understand our natural
languages like Kiswahili, English or Kalenjin. They have their own language called machine language. That
means, what you type or speak into the computer is converted into a language that computers are able to
understand.

In digital computers, the user input is first converted and transmitted as electrical pulses that can be
represented by two distinct states ON and OFF or ‘1’ and ‘0’ respectively. The sequence of ‘1’ and ‘0’
forms electrical signals that the computer can understand; the figure below shows the difference
between a discrete signal (digital) and a continuous (analogue) signal

Digital Analogue

A digital signal refers to an electrical signal that is converted into a pattern of bits. Unlike an
analogue signal, which is a continuous signal that contains time-varying quantities, a digital signal has
a discrete value at each sampling point. The precision of the signal is determined by how many
samples are recorded per unit of time.
Parameters used with signals
A M P L I T U D E ( A ) this is the maximum displacement that the waveform of an electrical signal can attain
F R E Q U E N C Y ( F ) this is the number of cycles made by the electrical signal in one second. Its measured
in hertz (Hz) 1 cycle per second
1
Periodic time (T) periodic time is the reciprical of frequency i.e T= f

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When a digital signal is to be sent over analogue telephone lines e.g email, it has to be converted to
analogue signal . this is possible with the use of a device called the Modem derived from the words
Modulation and Demodulation. Modulation stands for converting a digital signal to analogue and
demodulation refers to converting an analogue signal to digital

CONCEPTS OF DATA REPRESENTATION IN DIGITAL COMPUTERS

Data and instructions cannot be entered and


processed directly into computers using human Natural language like English
language. Any type of data, be it numbers, letters,
special symbols, sounds or pictures must first be
converted into machine readable form. Due to this
Application Software
reason, it is important to understand how a High level language
computer together with its peripheral devices
handle data in its electronic circuits. On magnetic
media and in optical devices. System Software

DATA EPRESENTATION IN DIGITAL CIRCUITS


Assembly Language Low level language
In digital circuits, when the circuit is ‘on’, its
interpreted as a ‘1’ and when ‘off’ its interpreted
as a ‘0’. These ‘1s’ and ‘0s’ is what computers
understand and its refered to as binary language. Binary Language

DATA REPRESENTATION IN MAGNETIC MEDIA


Computer
The presence of a magnetic field in one Hardware
directionon magnet media is interpreted as ‘1’,
while the field in the opposite direction is
interpreted as ‘0’. Magnetic technology is mostly used on storage devices which are coated with
special magnetic materials such as iron oxide. Data is written on the media by arranging the magnetic
dipoles of some iron oxide particles to face in the same directionand some others in the opposite
direction.

DATA REPRESENTATION ON OPTICAL MEDIA

In optical devices, the presence of light is interpreted as ‘1’ while its absence is integrated as ‘0’. Optical
devices use this technology to read or store data. Take an example of a CD-ROM. If the shiny surface is
placed under a powerful microscope, the surface can be observed to have very tiny holes called pits. The
areas that do not have pits are called land. Land reflects laser light that hits on the surface but bits don’t
reflect. The reflected pattern of light from the rotating disk falls on a receiving photoelectric detector that
transforms the patterns into digital form.

REASONS FOR USE OF BINARY SYSTEM IN COMPUTERS

Binary systems are:

1. Reliable
2. Occupy less space
3. Use less energy

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BITS, BYTES, NIBBLE AND WORD

Bits: a bit can be defined as a binary digit which can either be 0 or 1. It is the basic unit of data or
information in digital computers.

Byte: a group of bits (often 8) used to represent a character is called a byte. A byte is used to measure the
memory of a computer

A nibble: half a byte, which is usually a grouping of 4 bits

Word: two or more bytes make a word

Word length: measure of the number of bits in each word

Example: let 11110000 represent a binary figure

There are 8 bits in the figure. Count


These 8 figures make up a byte
1111 or 0000 is a nibble this is because they are 4 of the 8 figures thus half
11110000 and 11110000 are two figures thus a word
11110000 and 11110000 make a word that has 16 bits thus word length

QUESTIONS

1. Why is the binary number system used in data representation?


2. Explain the following terminologies as used with data representation:
a) Word
b) Nibble
c) Byte
d) Bit
e) Word length
3. Define the following words
a) Amplitude
b) Frequency
c) Periodic time
4. Explain the role of a modem in communication
5. Using illustration, explain how data is represented:
a) In electronic circuits
b) On magnetic media
c) On CD-ROM

Prepared by Maurice Nyamoti.

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