You're Just as Smart as Your Computer
by Michael McGrath
My good friend Lenny Berner and I always joke "everything's math." No matter the issue or its complexity, everything was reducible to mathematical equations. For those who are intimidated by computers, you may say "it's too technical" but you'd be wrong. Lenny and I would tell you it's all math. Let me explain.
Everything a computer does can be explained simply as math . . . in fact, addition, to be precise. Every function a computer performs is driven by simple addition. Computers aren't very smart, however, so developers originally gave them a number system that had only two digits: 0 and 1. That's it. Computers do simple addition with zeros and ones. Pretty easy, huh? So, how do they do this addition, you may ask?
Well, as you know, computers run on electricity . . . plug it in, turn it on, things happen. Electricity exists in only two states: off, and on. Again, pretty easy so far. Two digits used in computer addition, zero and one: two states of electricity, off and on. Seeing a pattern develop? Zero= off, one = on? Those numbers in various combinations equal bits (binary digits) and bytes, each the equivalent of a letter of the alphabet or a decimal digit or a punctuation mark or a color.
The circuitry of a computer sends pulses of electricity (off, on) to the central processing unit (the "brains", from Intel, AMD, Motorola, etc.) which reads the pulses as 0's and 1's, does the math, gets the answer and follows the instruction. These pulses are sent at megahertz speed, of course, so it does the math a lot faster than we can with our fingers or in our head. But, it's still all math.
So, just think how much better at math you are . . . your number system (decimal) has 10 digits (0-9), while the computer's number system (binary) has only 2 (0,1), the most it can handle . . . you've got fingers and toes to count on, computers don't. Kids, you've got Mom and Dad to help you with your math homework; Mom and Dad, you've got the kids to help you with yours. The poor computer is left to do its math all by itself.
If you can add zeros and ones, you're just as smart as your computer, even if you use your fingers. And if you're just as smart as that darn machine, why be intimidated by it? Next time you're sitting in front of that screen and feeling overwhelmed, just remember: It's all math, and you're just as smart as your computer.
KISS News
Jared Daubert Promoted to Vice President of Production
KISS is proud to announce the promotion of Mr. Daubert to VP of Production . Jared will be spending significantly more time working on graphic design and site planning, in addition to his existing duties in production. We are thrilled to have him aboard for the long haul in this capacity.
Congrats Jared!
Jared's Page on kisscomputing.com
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 Tech Tip |
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by Jared
Daubert
Running low on hard drive space? Before you run out
to buy a new hard drive, or worse, buy a new computer, here
are some easy steps to help you tame your web browser and
get back those lost megabytes.
Delete your temporary internet files - open up Internet Explorer,
click on the "Tools" drop down menu and then click
"Internet Options." A window will pop up entitled
"Internet Options", and in this window you will
see a section called "Temporary Internet Files."
Click the "Settings" button and a new dialog box
will appear showing how much space your computer currently
has dedicated to temporary internet files. On most newer computers
with large hard drives this space can add up to around 500MB
or more! I recommend moving the slider down to 1mb (if you
have cable internet/dsl) or 10mb (if you have dialup), and
when you're done, click "OK." Now, in the Internet
Options window, click the "Delete Files" button;
a new dialog window will pop up and you should click the "delete
offline content" box and hit ok.
It may take a moment to delete the files if they had accumulated
heavily, but when this process is completed, you will find
your hard drive a little richer in space.
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