Is Digital really Analog?
Digital this, digital that. Everything is “digital,” so we’re told. But is it?
Let’s get some definitions. Digital is from Latin for fingers/toes. In math, it meant any number counted with hands. This includes zero. So 0 – 9 meant digital. Those are distinct and precise numbers, not decimals. Digital later came to describe data in distinct quantities of 0 or 1. Off/on. Precision. Digital data does not degrade - you can copy the same file a billion times and it’s always the same.
Analog does not deal with the distinct. It deals with continuous and infinite signals. Real life is in analog signals. Analog computers calculate physical variables, using models. They are NOT based on precision in the way of digital computers.
An example of each, using sound, shows the difference. Let’s say you record your favorite song on tape – the sound is in its original, analog form. A digital song has been broken down into specific bits, not in its original sound wave form.
Today, we use digital to mean anything associated with a computer. Is this true?
To answer this, we need to know what digital means today. There are various definitions (not distinct!). They all seem to fall into a few categories. #1 - definitions that involve technology or its related processes, #2 - definitions that do not involve technology, and #3 - have both. For example #1, “digital” can mean using advanced technology around analytics, artificial intelligence, robotics, cloud, social media, IoT, etc. In relation to technology, it can also describe processes such agile, or cross-functional development teams. Example #2 can entail continuous and variable (analog) interaction with your consumers, as a strategy. Or, #3, it can entail the combination: using advanced analytics in order to continuously deliver products or services to your consumer. Digital, as we’re told, should provide constant sharing, constant changing and updating. As a whole, much of this sounds very analog to me, despite the underlying 0/1 technology.
What is my verdict? Well, there are examples of digital-analog hybrid computers, and I think that’s an interesting way of thinking about it. Should we change the term “digital” to “digital/analog”? I suppose it doesn’t roll off the tongue as nicely, so I doubt the world will change to accommodate me.
IT Infrastructure Architect at Tronox
6 年The concept of time is digital. Time is made up of an infinite number of discreet points. Those discreet points essentially translate into a sampling rate of virtually everything in the universe. Consequently, everything we experience is digital - analog doesn’t really exist.
I may disagree with what you say but I will defend with my life your right to say it.
6 年Digital systems using a phase-locked loop circuit (as in computer clocking) creates a sawtooth waveform not the square one shown above. A sinusoid like the one shown above as an analog signal can be used to transmit digital information by inserting or not inserting another signal between the primary signal wave cycles. Joseph?Fourier demonstrated in 1822 that any sinusoidal waveform can be used to describe and approximate any periodic waveform. He created the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm for this purpose.
Interesting approach ..nice job