Is this the gist of it?

Colbaker

Colbaker

Colbaker

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Hi all,

I am trying to explain to someone who know nothing about computers how a computer actually works, the issue is it has been a long time since I have studied this so would like you to check that my facts are correct..

I believe that data is stored on the computer or comes from an external device including the Internet/network is broken down into bits, bits stands for binary digits and can only have 2 states 0 or 1' these 0 and 1s are processed inside the cpu by using the transistors and electricity, so for instance if a transistor is on then that is read as a 1 and if it is off then that is read as a 0, 8 bits is a byte and data is stored in mega and gigabytes on these storage devices.

Is that the gist of it?
 
I guess if you had to explain it in 80 words or so then that would probably be it... have a search around for the OSI Model which can be broken down into 7 layers

This is from memory so please excuse me if its wrong... been 18 years since I learnt this

Physcial
Data
Network
Transport
Session
Presentation
Application

This model is used for network traffic but it does give a good representation of how bits of electricity become images on your screen
 
bearing in mind you can do entire postgrad degrees on this stuff, youve pretty much got the gist of it. you might want to say to them that different combinations of bits and bytes stand for different things, and then show them something like an ascii table.

also, this is quite a nice guide on how video games go from hard drive to screen: http://www.tweakguides.com/Graphics_2.html
(pages 2, 3 and 4 are the guide, the rest is explaining what each setting in game does)
 
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youtube video explaining the OSI model... this helps people understand how information from a telephone line becomes a webpage

This of course has nothing to do with storage or how a processor works but I always find this OSI model interesting
 
Reaper 392 said:
bearing in mind you can do entire postgrad degrees on this stuff, youve pretty much got the gist of it. you might want to say to them that different combinations of bits and bytes stand for different things, and then show them something like an ascii table.

also, this is quite a nice guide on how video games go from hard drive to screen: http://www.tweakguides.com/Graphics_2.html
Click to expand...

yeah a good example of this is translating binary to decimal.. computers dont actually do this but as people we understand decimal digits so if you show someone that a string of 0's and 1's are actual tangible numbers then it makes a bit more sense
 
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