Page 30 - Engineering Digital Design

CHAPTER ?

Introductory Remarks

and Glossary

1.1 WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT DIGITAL SYSTEMS?
No area of technology has had or is likely to continue to have more of a profound impact on
our lives than digital system development. That's quite a statement, but its truth is obvious
when one considers the many ways we have become dependent on "digitized" technology.
To put this in perspective, let us review the various areas in which digital systems play
an important role in our lives. As this is done, keep in mind that there is significant, if
not necessary, overlap in the digital system technologies that make possible those areas we
have come to take for granted: computing, information retrieval, communication, automatic
control systems, entertainment, and instrumentation.

Computing: A computer, like the telephone and television, has become almost an es-
sential part of every household. Word processing, information retrieval, communication,
finance and business management, entertainment, art and graphics — these are but a few
of the functions performed by our beloved computers. In the span of a little more than
10 years, computers in the home and in small businesses have advanced from what was
termed microcomputers to the present computers with nearly mainframe capability. Home
computers can now perform relatively sophisticated operations in the areas just mentioned.
Of course, vastly improved computer speed and memory, together with powerful software
development, are primarily responsible for the rapid rise in personal computer capabilities.
In addition to the digital computer itself, there are other digital devices or peripherals that are
normally part of a computer system. These include disk drives, CD-ROM drives, modems,
CRT and LCD monitors, sound cards, scanners, and printers. Then there are the hand-held
calculators that now have nearly microcomputer capability and are quite inexpensive. All of
these things have been made possible because of the advances in digital system technology.
But this is just the beginning.

Information Retrieval: The ability to consult one's favorite encyclopedia via CD-ROM or
surf (browse) the World Wide Web (WWW) has become a very important part of computer
use in the home, at school, and in business. The use of CD-ROMs also permits access to
information in the specialized areas of literature, music, religion, health, geography, math,
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