Talk Nerdy to Me: Computers (Part 2, Binary)

Hi all, welcome back.

In the first article of "Talk Nerdy to Me" we went over the definition of digital and how it affects our lives every day. (Wow, I sound like a real teacher now)

In the second article, I introduced the concept of states. Inputs create a condition, which produces some output. This relates to computers in many ways, but for our purposes we refer to how transistors -- the basic building blocks of electronics-- have two states: 'on' and 'off'

Today, we will introduce binary, why computers use it.

BINARY

Binary is a base 2 number system. All this means is that each digit can count up to 2. The following is a counting example. Note how each digit has only 2 possible values, 0 or 1.

Decimal --> Binary
0                         0
1                         1
2                      1 0
3                      1 1
4                   1 0 0
5                   1 0 1

To explain this better, let's correlate this to the decimal system -- our day-to-day number system. Decimal is base 10, which means each digit can count up to 10 (values from 0 to 9). To go above 9, we start a new digit to the left (10). Binary does the same, but in groups of 2. The base of the system is just the size of the group of each digit. In binary, we start a new group every 2 counts of each digit (decimal 2 => binary 1 0). In decimal we start a new digit every 10 counts (decimal 9+1 = decimal 1 0).

Why do computers use binary? Just for practical reasons. Since transistors have only two states, the binary system allows us to make calculations using transistors. The number system is arbitrary as long as (a) all the involved "calculators" agree on which system to use and (b) the basic operation is performed correctly. Have you ever wondered why we use the decimal system? It's really only because we have 10 fingers. Decimal allows us to count with our fingers when we first learn to count. Afterwards, the system becomes second nature. So the system you use depends more on the tools than the math itself.

Talk Nerdy to Me: Computers (Part 1, States)

Hi all,

It's been a while since my last post. I've been trying to come up with more ideas for these posts, but I could not come up with any subject that could be covered in a single post. I feel like the last post was a bit too long, too.

So now I will cover a complex subject by breaking it up into smaller posts. The subject: how computers work. Some people are familiar with the components; to others, the computer is a magic box. Many people have covered the subject from a software point. So many have some idea about programs or apps, and how the OS (Windows, Mac, Linux) executes them.

Being a hardware focused electrical engineer, I'd like to cover this from another perspective. I will start from the most basic building blocks and build our way up, focusing on the processor (the computer's brain). Because when it comes right down to it, a computer is a complex coordination of simple switches. Yup. Thats. It. Again, keep in mind that the topics are extremely simplified. If you'd like more accurate details or want to suggest some corrections, please contact me.

PART 1: STATES

So for this first segment, I will cover a background subject: states. States, in this case, refers to "the condition of a person or thing, as with respect to circumstances or attributes: a state of health" (Dictionary.com). What does this mean? In plain terms, any object is in a particular state given certain inputs, and this state produces an output. For example, a light bulb is in an 'on' state when the switch is in one position. When the switch changes to the other position, the bulb is in an 'off' state. This is a simple state because there is only one input (the switch position), two possible states ('on'/'off') given the input, and one output (light).

How does this apply to computers? Computers do their work based on the state of the processor's elemental building block, the transistor. There are two states, like in the light bulb, with a voltage acting as the input. If the transistor is on, it conducts electricity and produces a current. If it is off, there is no current. The current is the transistor's output. From here, transistors are interconnected to perform certain functions. Some of the outputs act as the inputs of other transistors and so on.

So to recap, computers work through the state of transistors. A state is decided by inputs and produces an output. For transistors, the input is a voltage, the state is 'on' or 'off', and the output is a current.

Tune in soon for the next topic... binary!

Talk Nerdy to Me Pt. 1: Intro and Digital

Hi all,

It's been too long since I've blogged, but now my girlfriend is getting on my case (check out her blog at http://loveislife0lourdes0echagarruga.blogspot.com/).

I've had this idea for a set of posts but I never followed through. Basically, I would like to write about electrical engineering concepts, mostly related to what I do, but in terms that anyone can understand. The topics covered will be very high level and simplified. If anyone wants to learn more or have some discussion, let me know.

There are several reasons for this. First, hopefully it will help many of you understand electronics and the amazing technology that they hold. Secondly, it will help me develop my communications and teaching skills. This was all inspired by my girlfriend. She is extremely smart, with 2 BA degrees and an MA (and not the bullsh*t ones either). However, she has no understanding of what I do. Part of this is my fault since I am not a very good teacher. But electricity is difficult to grasp (Physics 2 anyone?). I also have no idea what she's talking about when she talks about her school work.


So... For the first post, I'd like to cover the concept of Digital...


DIGITAL


Digital is a specific form of electrical signal. The easiest and most common uses are in music (MP3's) and communications (cell phones). 


Regular signals are analog, the opposite of digital. Analog is a signal that has an infinite number of possible outcomes(CSZ). Think of speech. The human voice can produce a near infinite number of sounds. 


This creates a problem. With so many possible sounds, it will be difficult to understand all of them. Think of a game of telephone. Even though everyone speaks the same language, there are still many possible words in the message. Each person along the way may distort the message until the final message is totally different from the original. This is what happens to an analog signal in any channel, whether it's a wire carrying music or the air carrying a cell phone signal.


In order to solve this, digital limits the number of possible outcomes of the electrical signal, usually to two possibilities, "on" or "off". This way, there is less of a chance for the signal to be misinterpreted. Now imagine if you could play telephone and instead of the message being a whole sentence, it can only be the number "1" or "0". There is a much smaller chance that the message will be distorted.. This is why digital is gives us clearer sound in music and phone calls, and higher quality video (DVD).

Grad School Slave Labor

Hi all,

School has been extremely busy lately, which has kept me from blogging. Now thanks to my nagging lovely girlfriend, I have some catching up to do.

These last two weeks for school have been crazy. Last week was recruiting week on campus, a very stressful time to look for an internship or job. I guess one of the perks of being in school for a very, very long time is that I know some of the recruiters, which helps save a lot of time and effort. Still, updating resumes, dressing up, brushing up on technical material and more preparation can really add up, especially when school still needs your attention.

And that's where most of the stress came from this last week. I've had homework due in all my classes this last week, and the class I TA has had two assignments and a test. I like being a TA; I really enjoy helping the younger students. However, it takes a lot of effort because it is basically another class you're taking. I write solutions for homework, so I have to do their homework. I grade the tests, so I have to do the tests as well. Also, since the class is at 8:30 am, the professor decided to have me proctor the test while he gets a few extra hours of sleep.

Anyways, I don't like to complain too much, but getting to vent like this really helps. Yes, grad school is a lot of work, but I know it will be worth it in the end. And unlike undergrad, the material in the courses I'm taking is very interesting.

Thank you all. Read my girlfriend's blog. I promise it's better than mine. --> http://loveislife0lourdes0echagarruga.blogspot.com/

Why I Love Fighting Games: Part 1

I never really liked fighting games before. I was very bad at them and just did not understand them. All I saw was button mashing, and all I wanted to do is pull off some cool special moves.

Then Street Fighter 4 [SF4] came out in 2009. During one of my internships, a few of us interns would get together during lunch at work and play games. Mario Kart, Wii sports... whatever it was, we made it competitive. But soon, we started looking for something more competitive. We started playing Super SF4. It was fun, but I always lost. Badly. I got tired of losing and started looking for help online. I came across this video:

Exciting, right? For those who don't know what is going on, this was the last round of the semifinals at EVO, the largest fighting game tournament held in America. Check it out at http://evo2k.com/. The game was Street Fighter 3: Third Strike [SF3]. In all Street Fighter games, special moves inflict a small portion of damage when blocked. However, SF3 had a mechanic where you can negate that damage by pressing a direction a few fractions of a second of the attack (See Parry). The timing is very tight and the direction depends on the attack so it is very difficult. Anyways, Ken (male character) player had only a bit of life; he would die even if he blocked a special attack. So the Chun-Li player did a Super move that hits 18 times. The other player was able to parry every single hit, and THEN pull off a difficult combo for the kill. CRAZY STUFF!

Then I dove deeper. I learned that fighting games were like a game of chess. They are calculating battles for territory, complex clashes for resources, multi-layered mind games, and rigorous tests of hand-eye coordination. For example, while many people only notice the amazing action in the previous video, those familiar with fighting game strategies focus on the part just before that, where both players shuffle back and forth. The Ken player knows the other player is going to throw out a Super move. He must press forward just as the Chun-li player activates it to successfully parry. The Chun-li player knows his opponent knows this, so he is shuffling back and forth, pretending to do the Super in order to throw off his opponent's timing. So you see, these games are deep and thoughtful.

That is it for now. I'll be back soon for part 2, where I will talk about the fighting game community.

Living in America: Intro

I was born in Ecuador, but now I have lived most of my life in the US. This provides me with a unique perspective on American culture. The articles in this section will be about my experiences as an immigrant, US citizen, and other musings on American culture.

I love this country. It has provided me with opportunities I could never even dream of back in Ecuador. That's the point of the American Dream: more opportunities are available to you than anywhere else. All it takes is hard work.

Now, as a DISCLAIMER, I may write some negative things, but I don't do it to slander this country. I would just like to bring certain issues to light. And I'm sure many of you will agree with some of the things I say. After all, this is a great country, but it's not perfect.

Intro

Hi all,

My girlfriend has been BEGGING me to blog for a while now. So I finally got around to it. By the way, check out her blog. it's pretty great, and not just because she says great things about me: http://loveislife0lourdes0echagarruga.blogspot.com/.

So I plan on writing different sections about different things. Hopefully I can find a way to separate it much more efficiently. These will include school, video games, technology, and life as an immigrant.

A little about myself: My name is Colón (pronounced "cologne") Zamora. I am 24 years old. Currently, I am at the University of Florida working on my MS in Electrical Engineering (but not your typical nerdy engineer...). My funny looking name is Spanish; I was born in Ecuador (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecuador) and moved to Miami, FL when I was about 8 years old. I have 3 younger brothers and a beautiful niece that was just born in Aug 2011.

As long as I can remember, I have been interested in electronics. TVs, computers, video games, cell phones. If it has silicon, I know about it. So there will probably be a lot of posts about this stuff. Hopefully I can help educate people who are not as familiar with all that (like my girlfriend).

I like sports; I love FUTBOL (aka: soccer). I'm not great at any of them, but I'm decently athletic. My favorite teams are Manchester United, Barcelona (Ecuador and Spain). As a UF student, I cannot live without football. GO GATORS!

I know this wasn't the most exciting read, but I just wanted to get all this information out of the way. More coming soon...