Essential Guide to Computing: The Story of Information Technology, The

Part 3: Networks and the Internet (Chapters 10 through 14)

The words "analog" and "digital" are tossed around a lot these days, but few people really understand the difference between the two, especially in the context of communications. Although there have been digital computer links since the time of the first computers, engineers did not believe that digital networks could be used to carry inherently analog information like sound and video because digital information used too much capacity. Today, we know that digital communications are not only superior in accuracy, but also vastly more efficient than the analog approach. You'll find out why in:

• Chapter 10: Digital vs. Analog: Communications Basics

  Once you understand the principles of digital ...