Bits and Bytes

A bit is a binary digit, either 0 or 1. Computers use something called machine code which is the language of hardware and made up of only 0's and 1's. A byte (pronounced "bite") is basically 8 bits (with 2 options for every bit there are 256 ways to create a single byte).

Since everything is converted into bits and bytes on a computer there are endless uses. For example, the website that's needed to market this idea will basically be created using bits and bytes. Although, luckily for users, graphical interfaces have been created by programmers to minimize the technical knowledge and programming language needed. Even though users don't directly deal with 0's and 1's everything they do is converted by the hardware inside their computers.

It's amazing how even the simplest task requires massive amounts of 0's and 1's. For example, typing a simple 1 paragraph email to a friend. The user only has to hit the keys (for each letter/symbol) but all of those letters are made up of bits. Imagine, having to use only 0's and 1's to create an email... it would take much longer than just using letters. To put this in perspective... to make the word, "Simple" with only binary digits one would have to input this: (S)01010011 (i)01101001 (m)01101101 (p)01110000 (l)01101100 (e)01100101 ending up with 010100110110100101101101011100000110110001100101. This is much longer, complicated, and more time consuming than simply typing the word. Thanks to http://www.pcguide.com/res/tablesASCII-c.html for the ASCII Character Chart.

-Julian