This document discusses analog versus digital systems and the digital revolution. It notes that analog values are continuous while digital values are discrete. It gives examples of analog clocks and temperature measurements versus digital clocks. The document then discusses how many devices have been converted from analog to digital, including record albums to CDs, VHS tapes to DVDs, and analog TV to digital TV. Finally, it explains how systems like CD players use both analog and digital components, taking digital data from the CD and converting it to an analog audio signal for playback.
3. Analog versus Digital
Analog = continuous
Digital = discrete
Example:
• An analog clock, whose hands move smoothly and
continuously.
• A digital clock, whose digits jump from one value to the
next.
4. 1
100
A . M .
95
90
85
80
75
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
P. M .
Temperature
(°F)
70
Time of day
 Most natural quantities (such as temperature, pressure, light
intensity, …) are analog quantities that vary continuously.
 Digital systems can process, store, and transmit data more
efficiently but can only assign discrete values to each point
5. The Digital Revolution
Recently, many types of devices have been converted from
analog to digital.
Example:
In all of these digital devices, info is stored and transmitted
as long strings of 1s and 0s.
Analog Digital
Record album CD
VHS tape DVD
Analog television Digital TV
6. Digital data
CD drive
10110011101
Analog
reproduction
of music audio
signal
Speaker
Sound
waves
Digital-to-analog
converter
Linear amplifier
Many systems use a mix of analog and digital electronics to
take advantage of each technology. A typical CD player
accepts digital data from the CD drive and converts it to an
analog signal for amplification