computer and technology help

afro-elf · 01-27-2002, 01:12 AM

A computer only understands 1/0 or off and on.

That I've got.

I'll try to ask the question in several ways to hopefully make it easier to understand.

How does the electricity "know" what to do.

I turn on my computer the electricity flows through transistors, but how do the transistors "convert" that electricity into all the cool stuff my computer does?

How does the CPU "think/ know what to do" just from off and on switches.

Is it a matter of something like this. Say I push the "K" button. This sends an electrical pulse to the "K" transistor so the "knows" that I pushed "K"

CardenIAntauraNauco · 01-27-2002, 01:45 AM

The computer would read something like

INPUT k=1

If you have a document open it will print the letter K if there is a menu with a key K word it will take you to it. It reads the Input and then applies it to practical output.

When you move the mouse -

LgitchInput

x- 16
y-14

move the mouse

x=15
y=14

it saves the coordinates and produces an image on your screen ( shaped like some type of cursor) inputting information causes mouse to move.

Thats about as Specific as I can get..

I guess we'll have to wait for someone far more knowledgable then myself to answer your question in better detail

mirrille · 01-27-2002, 03:57 AM

Quote:

I turn on my computer the electricity flows through transistors, but how do the transistors "convert" that electricity into all the cool stuff my computer does?

Oh my god! That is a really big question. You can take entire courses..no...entire series of courses that deal with this.
Umm...As I understand it (Eek! I'm just a biology major.), the computer understands a low voltage as 0 and a high voltage as 1. Those little circuits inside the computer take in these 0/1 signals and convert them to other 0/1 signals and send them around, depending on what the circuit/component is designed to do. Ummm...somehow that makes the computer do what you want it to do.

OK. that didn't make a whole lot of sense.

Don't we have any engineering types on this board?

afro-elf · 01-27-2002, 05:48 AM

CardenIAntauraNauco

thanks for the x/y coordinates

mirrille

thanks for the attempt.

i've been asking and searching on -line for days for someone to answer my question.

But being stuck in an anti-intellectual country ( I don't mean America

. I'm in KSA)
I can't get much info. Do you believe that they have blocked several of the on line ask an expert like sites. Utterly pathetic.

I've gotten gotten answers but not the underlying one I've been styriving for.

Put thanks for your replies.

afro-elf · 01-27-2002, 08:40 AM

The best I've got so far try here:

http://www.footefamily.org/train/howdo.htm

jerseydevil · 01-29-2002, 11:54 AM

Wow - I'm a computer person and I learned something with that article. I never really paid any attention to nor were we taught what the voltages were for 0 and 1. It's just not something that is required to program a computer.

I know binary and all that stuff - but they just never got into that low level of the computer.

Here's a good book you might like - How Computers Work

Also - I was putting together an online Java turtorial. It's geared toward people that have never programmed before. If you want you can chech it out at - http://users.hsonline.net/rrosetta

emplynx · 01-29-2002, 04:55 PM

You might try http://www.howstuffworks.com/category.htm?cat=Comp at How Stuff Works.

afro-elf · 01-29-2002, 11:26 PM

thanks for the further suggestions

Arathorn · 03-17-2002, 02:33 PM

<START OF PART 1>

I'll try with something as basic and as simple as I can explain without filling too much moot space.

Electricity, or rather electric current, is the term generally used to denote a flow of electrons from atom/molecule to atom/molecule. This is due mainly to forces that pull/push them from a place with higher potential to one with lower potential. In a battery, the positive side has an overabundance of atoms with one or more electrons missing. The negative side has an overabundance of atoms with one or more electrons too many. If you connect the two sides using conductive material, it closes a "circuit" and the electrons flow until the battery is said to lose power. They don't have to flow all the way. It is more of excess electrons moving out on (-) and electrons from the circuit moving to the (+) to fill the void. All electrons within the ciruit move in the general direction until there is roughly no over/underabundance of electrons.

For digital circuits, a power source does the same thing as in others. We will start with with the transistor as this is the most basic digital component.
Transistors are a very curious accidental invention by Shockley, Bardeen and Brattain which either allows a massive amplification of current through a ciruit or acts as switch.
In analog electronics, the amplifying aspects are generally used but for digital electronics, the switching function is more often used.

A transistor is composed of 3 slightly altered pieces of semconductor materials (usually silicon) fused or at least in contact with each other. One is coated with another material which makes it slightly positive (or negative) and it is placed between the other two which are coated with another material which makes them slightly more negative (or positive). The point is that they are connected either in an N-P-N or P-N-P manner. Electrodes are connected to them to allow them to be part of at least 2 circuits.

<END OF PART 1>

(I need to finish my program and will continue after 24 hrs.)

StrawberryIcecream · 03-17-2002, 03:10 PM

ARATHORN!!!

For the love of Frodo! How much do you know on the subject???!!!

Arathorn · 03-17-2002, 03:38 PM

I took at least 12 units in college but was forced to really learn how to explain in simpler terms (unless asked to be more thorough) when I was an Asst. Instructor 5 to 8 yrs ago. I'll continue with the free tutorial tomorrow since posting a big chunk down takes me from work.

StrawberryIcecream · 03-17-2002, 03:44 PM

whoa basically.
whoa.

afro-elf · 03-18-2002, 06:59 AM

Thanks for part one and pre thanks for the ones to come.

One question about the above. you said that transistors can be amps or switches.

what does the amplifying in a transistor

Whenever I'm rich or at least well off i'll buy you a new Middle-Earth book of your choice.

Dwarven Sen · 03-18-2002, 07:06 AM

this computer at school knows if its me or elf master xk that is on it and logs us on automatically as soon as we get here
it is a wise computer if just a little bit slow

afro-elf · 03-19-2002, 12:08 PM

You just means that it recalls your password, correct?

Arathorn · 03-19-2002, 01:06 PM

Oh yeah, A-E, I was just getting to the Amp part.

See attachment for PART 2.

afro-elf · 03-19-2002, 03:21 PM

You Da Man!!

rainbow · 03-19-2002, 03:23 PM

since u all seem 2 know a lot about comp. mayb u can hlp. me with my prob. i downloaded msn the other day but i can't get in b cos my comp.*blast it* won't let me have a net pasport i have tried simply getting one or trying 2 get a hot mail account but it won't work, can n e 1 help

Arathorn · 03-20-2002, 02:13 AM

I'm not sure how passport really works; except that it's MS's version of a universal ID system.

I think I've registered for one but I avoid using it until I really do need to upgrade to XP from my old 98.

Perhaps it is looking for some cookies on your browser or it can't recognize some of your hardware.

Dwarven Sen · 03-20-2002, 09:31 AM

No what i mean is that me elf master and elendili all go on the same computer and we are already logged on when we get there because the computer knows who is sitting in front of it

01-27-2002, 01:12 AM	#1
afro-elf Hoplite Nomad Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 3,931	computer and technology help A computer only understands 1/0 or off and on. That I've got. I'll try to ask the question in several ways to hopefully make it easier to understand. How does the electricity "know" what to do. I turn on my computer the electricity flows through transistors, but how do the transistors "convert" that electricity into all the cool stuff my computer does? How does the CPU "think/ know what to do" just from off and on switches. Is it a matter of something like this. Say I push the "K" button. This sends an electrical pulse to the "K" transistor so the "knows" that I pushed "K" __________________ About Eowyn, Does anyone know what her alias Dernhelm means? She was kown as dernhelm because of her exclaimation when she realized that the rider's headgear was heavy and obscured her sight. 'Dern Helm" Culled from Entmoot From Kirinski 57 and Wayfarer.

01-27-2002, 01:45 AM	#2
CardenIAntauraNauco Elven Warrior Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: rural oklahoma Posts: 324	The computer would read something like INPUT k=1 If you have a document open it will print the letter K if there is a menu with a key K word it will take you to it. It reads the Input and then applies it to practical output. When you move the mouse - LgitchInput x- 16 y-14 move the mouse x=15 y=14 it saves the coordinates and produces an image on your screen ( shaped like some type of cursor) inputting information causes mouse to move. Thats about as Specific as I can get.. I guess we'll have to wait for someone far more knowledgable then myself to answer your question in better detail __________________ "We will have peace","Yes we will have peace...we will have peace when you and all your works have perished - and the works of your dark lord to whom you would deliver us. You are a liar,Saruman,and a corrupter of men's hearts. You hold out your hand to me and I percieve only a finger of the claw of Mordor. Cruel and cold! Even if your war on me was just - as it was not,for were you ten times as wise you would have no right to rule me and mine, for your own profit you desired-even so, what will you say of your Torches in westfold and the children that lie dead there? And they hewed Hama's body before the gates of Hornburg, after he was dead. When you hang from a gibbet at your window for the sport of your own crows, I will have peace with you and Orthanc. So much for the House of Eorl. A lesser son of greater Sires am I, but I do not need to lick your fingers. Turn elsewither for I fear your voice has lost it's charm.

01-27-2002, 05:48 AM	#4
afro-elf Hoplite Nomad Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 3,931	CardenIAntauraNauco thanks for the x/y coordinates mirrille thanks for the attempt. i've been asking and searching on -line for days for someone to answer my question. But being stuck in an anti-intellectual country ( I don't mean America . I'm in KSA) I can't get much info. Do you believe that they have blocked several of the on line ask an expert like sites. Utterly pathetic. I've gotten gotten answers but not the underlying one I've been styriving for. Put thanks for your replies. __________________ About Eowyn, Does anyone know what her alias Dernhelm means? She was kown as dernhelm because of her exclaimation when she realized that the rider's headgear was heavy and obscured her sight. 'Dern Helm" Culled from Entmoot From Kirinski 57 and Wayfarer.

01-27-2002, 08:40 AM	#5
afro-elf Hoplite Nomad Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 3,931	The best I've got so far try here: http://www.footefamily.org/train/howdo.htm __________________ About Eowyn, Does anyone know what her alias Dernhelm means? She was kown as dernhelm because of her exclaimation when she realized that the rider's headgear was heavy and obscured her sight. 'Dern Helm" Culled from Entmoot From Kirinski 57 and Wayfarer.

01-29-2002, 11:54 AM	#6
jerseydevil I am Freddie/UNDERCOVER/ Founder of The Great Continent of Entmoot Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Plainsboro, NJ Posts: 9,431	Wow - I'm a computer person and I learned something with that article. I never really paid any attention to nor were we taught what the voltages were for 0 and 1. It's just not something that is required to program a computer. I know binary and all that stuff - but they just never got into that low level of the computer. Here's a good book you might like - How Computers Work Also - I was putting together an online Java turtorial. It's geared toward people that have never programmed before. If you want you can chech it out at - http://users.hsonline.net/rrosetta __________________ Come back! Come back! To Mordor we will take you! "The only thing better than a great plan is implementing a great plan" - JerseyDevil "If everyone agreed with me all the time, everything would be just fine"- JerseyDevil AboutNewJersey.com New Jersey MessageBoard Another Tolkien Forum Memorial to the Twin Towers New Jersey Map Fellowship of the Messageboard Legend of the Jersey Devil Support New Jersey's Liberty Tower Peacefire.org AboutNewJersey.com - New Jersey Travel and Tourism Guide

01-29-2002, 04:55 PM	#7
emplynx Self-Appointed Lord of the Free Peoples of the General Messages Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,214	You might try http://www.howstuffworks.com/category.htm?cat=Comp at How Stuff Works.

01-29-2002, 11:26 PM	#8
afro-elf Hoplite Nomad Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 3,931	thanks for the further suggestions __________________ About Eowyn, Does anyone know what her alias Dernhelm means? She was kown as dernhelm because of her exclaimation when she realized that the rider's headgear was heavy and obscured her sight. 'Dern Helm" Culled from Entmoot From Kirinski 57 and Wayfarer.

03-17-2002, 02:33 PM	#9
Arathorn Bard of Mangled Songs Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: West of Middle Earth...oh alright...Manila Posts: 2,679	Digital Electronics Part 1 <START OF PART 1> I'll try with something as basic and as simple as I can explain without filling too much moot space. Electricity, or rather electric current, is the term generally used to denote a flow of electrons from atom/molecule to atom/molecule. This is due mainly to forces that pull/push them from a place with higher potential to one with lower potential. In a battery, the positive side has an overabundance of atoms with one or more electrons missing. The negative side has an overabundance of atoms with one or more electrons too many. If you connect the two sides using conductive material, it closes a "circuit" and the electrons flow until the battery is said to lose power. They don't have to flow all the way. It is more of excess electrons moving out on (-) and electrons from the circuit moving to the (+) to fill the void. All electrons within the ciruit move in the general direction until there is roughly no over/underabundance of electrons. For digital circuits, a power source does the same thing as in others. We will start with with the transistor as this is the most basic digital component. Transistors are a very curious accidental invention by Shockley, Bardeen and Brattain which either allows a massive amplification of current through a ciruit or acts as switch. In analog electronics, the amplifying aspects are generally used but for digital electronics, the switching function is more often used. A transistor is composed of 3 slightly altered pieces of semconductor materials (usually silicon) fused or at least in contact with each other. One is coated with another material which makes it slightly positive (or negative) and it is placed between the other two which are coated with another material which makes them slightly more negative (or positive). The point is that they are connected either in an N-P-N or P-N-P manner. Electrodes are connected to them to allow them to be part of at least 2 circuits. <END OF PART 1> (I need to finish my program and will continue after 24 hrs.) __________________ Power attracts the corruptible. Absolute power attracts the absolutely corruptible. -Missionaria Protectiva, Frank Herbert *Accio, Ash Nazg!* Elennuru s?la lúmenn' omentielvo* (The Death Star shines on the hour of our meeting) - Darth Arathorn Put aside the ranger... Start looking for Mumakil action figures... Last edited by Arathorn : 03-17-2002 at 03:31 PM.

03-17-2002, 03:10 PM	#10
StrawberryIcecream Elf Lord Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: In my jeans Posts: 915	ARATHORN!!! For the love of Frodo! How much do you know on the subject???!!! __________________ www.foolofatook.com for all you pippin's out there.

03-17-2002, 03:38 PM	#11
Arathorn Bard of Mangled Songs Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: West of Middle Earth...oh alright...Manila Posts: 2,679	I took at least 12 units in college but was forced to really learn how to explain in simpler terms (unless asked to be more thorough) when I was an Asst. Instructor 5 to 8 yrs ago. I'll continue with the free tutorial tomorrow since posting a big chunk down takes me from work. __________________ Power attracts the corruptible. Absolute power attracts the absolutely corruptible. -Missionaria Protectiva, Frank Herbert *Accio, Ash Nazg!* Elennuru s?la lúmenn' omentielvo* (The Death Star shines on the hour of our meeting) - Darth Arathorn Put aside the ranger... Start looking for Mumakil action figures...

03-17-2002, 03:44 PM	#12
StrawberryIcecream Elf Lord Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: In my jeans Posts: 915	whoa basically. whoa. __________________ www.foolofatook.com for all you pippin's out there.

03-18-2002, 06:59 AM	#13
afro-elf Hoplite Nomad Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 3,931	Thanks for part one and pre thanks for the ones to come. One question about the above. you said that transistors can be amps or switches. what does the amplifying in a transistor Whenever I'm rich or at least well off i'll buy you a new Middle-Earth book of your choice. __________________ About Eowyn, Does anyone know what her alias Dernhelm means? She was kown as dernhelm because of her exclaimation when she realized that the rider's headgear was heavy and obscured her sight. 'Dern Helm" Culled from Entmoot From Kirinski 57 and Wayfarer.

03-18-2002, 07:06 AM	#14
Dwarven Sen Elven Warrior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Edinburgh University Library Posts: 410	this computer at school knows if its me or elf master xk that is on it and logs us on automatically as soon as we get here it is a wise computer if just a little bit slow __________________ Destroy the dementors not the demented. Dont heckle the supervillain Note to Self: Remember that sarcasm is hard to detect from text. What ever you do, don't click this link! my LJ

03-19-2002, 12:08 PM	#15
afro-elf Hoplite Nomad Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 3,931	You just means that it recalls your password, correct? __________________ About Eowyn, Does anyone know what her alias Dernhelm means? She was kown as dernhelm because of her exclaimation when she realized that the rider's headgear was heavy and obscured her sight. 'Dern Helm" Culled from Entmoot From Kirinski 57 and Wayfarer. Last edited by afro-elf : 03-19-2002 at 12:09 PM.

03-19-2002, 03:21 PM	#17
afro-elf Hoplite Nomad Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 3,931	You Da Man!! __________________ About Eowyn, Does anyone know what her alias Dernhelm means? She was kown as dernhelm because of her exclaimation when she realized that the rider's headgear was heavy and obscured her sight. 'Dern Helm" Culled from Entmoot From Kirinski 57 and Wayfarer.

03-19-2002, 03:23 PM	#18
rainbow Enting Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: in my head Posts: 61	since u all seem 2 know a lot about comp. mayb u can hlp. me with my prob. i downloaded msn the other day but i can't get in b cos my comp.blast it won't let me have a net pasport i have tried simply getting one or trying 2 get a hot mail account but it won't work, can n e 1 help __________________ smile & be happy (frodo lives) BANANERISM RULES!!!!! the spotty dog chases its tail till all its spots fall off!

03-20-2002, 02:13 AM	#19
Arathorn Bard of Mangled Songs Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: West of Middle Earth...oh alright...Manila Posts: 2,679	I'm not sure how passport really works; except that it's MS's version of a universal ID system. I think I've registered for one but I avoid using it until I really do need to upgrade to XP from my old 98. Perhaps it is looking for some cookies on your browser or it can't recognize some of your hardware. __________________ Power attracts the corruptible. Absolute power attracts the absolutely corruptible. -Missionaria Protectiva, Frank Herbert *Accio, Ash Nazg!* Elennuru s?la lúmenn' omentielvo* (The Death Star shines on the hour of our meeting) - Darth Arathorn Put aside the ranger... Start looking for Mumakil action figures...

03-20-2002, 09:31 AM	#20
Dwarven Sen Elven Warrior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Edinburgh University Library Posts: 410	No what i mean is that me elf master and elendili all go on the same computer and we are already logged on when we get there because the computer knows who is sitting in front of it __________________ Destroy the dementors not the demented. Dont heckle the supervillain Note to Self: Remember that sarcasm is hard to detect from text. What ever you do, don't click this link! my LJ

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