I have been so confused about how alphabetical letters and character can produce something mechanical. How does the little characters in programming languages mechanical deal with circuits. There has to be something truly mechanical under the surface. The computer cannot just look and understand the code and then open a certain switch because words do not produce mechanical change in this world. I am really trying to explain myself, I hope that I was clear, and I would appreciate it if someone has an answer or even a clue.
What opens the switches in a computer?
- Thread starter Slaye
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This guy understands what I mean.
Inside a computer there are a bunch of integrated circuits. Now the path of electricity in a computer is very important. In all the circuits that I have come across, there is an on off switch. Programming language is something abstract it is not physical. What is turning the switches on and off in a computer.
Inside a computer there are a bunch of integrated circuits. Now the path of electricity in a computer is very important. In all the circuits that I have come across, there is an on off switch. Programming language is something abstract it is not physical. What is turning the switches on and off in a computer.
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Troncoso
VIP Member
Code is data is not abstract. From the type you type a letter on the keyboard, that signal from the keyboard gets interpreted and the appropriate series of 1's and 0's needed to represent that character are stored in memory.
I still don't get what "switch" you are talking about.
I still don't get what "switch" you are talking about.
strollin
Well-Known Member
A computer is really just a bunch of switches that are turned on or off by applying a voltage, "on", or removing the voltage, "off". The computer sees everything as either a 1 or a 0, on or off. One way to control a physical switch from a computer would be to use a relay, apply a 1 (voltage) to the relay and it will energize and physically turn a switch on of off. I'm not sure what other switches the OP may be referring to.
Aastii
VIP Member
What op means is this...
Consider your car, it is full of electronics, most of which you control, you turn lights on and off with switches, turn the radio on and off, volume up and down, change the station, change the climate control temperature, the windscreen wipers, all of it is making a circuit and requires you to flick a switch or press a button to do it.
These make sense though, you turn the switch for your headlights and the circuit is complete, every time the battery is connected to the now bridged switch and onto the bulb which ks now powered, so on.
Your PC though, if i press the R key now, it types the letter R, if i press it in CoD, it reloads, if i press start and R, it opens run. The same mechanical action brings out a new action on screen, but how?
In short, do a bit of research into transistor gates and storage media. You pressing a key does bridge the gap to create the same circuit every time, however the outcome differs depending on different criteria.
Are any other keys pressed?
What software is currently has the attention of the keyboard?
How are the keys mapped for that software?
Are any other programs open that, with the right key combination, can take an input from the keyboard?
Depending on memory state and how the transistors interact with the flow of current changes the outcome.
The "switches" are the transistor gates which can swap or amplify current, depending on their current state and what is put in.
Consider your car, it is full of electronics, most of which you control, you turn lights on and off with switches, turn the radio on and off, volume up and down, change the station, change the climate control temperature, the windscreen wipers, all of it is making a circuit and requires you to flick a switch or press a button to do it.
These make sense though, you turn the switch for your headlights and the circuit is complete, every time the battery is connected to the now bridged switch and onto the bulb which ks now powered, so on.
Your PC though, if i press the R key now, it types the letter R, if i press it in CoD, it reloads, if i press start and R, it opens run. The same mechanical action brings out a new action on screen, but how?
In short, do a bit of research into transistor gates and storage media. You pressing a key does bridge the gap to create the same circuit every time, however the outcome differs depending on different criteria.
Are any other keys pressed?
What software is currently has the attention of the keyboard?
How are the keys mapped for that software?
Are any other programs open that, with the right key combination, can take an input from the keyboard?
Depending on memory state and how the transistors interact with the flow of current changes the outcome.
The "switches" are the transistor gates which can swap or amplify current, depending on their current state and what is put in.