LIS-3353
Hardware
But first, a quick personal note
But first, a quick personal note
THERE IS NO FUTURE
Just realized why this seems so cool to me...
What is a computer?
Simplest computer I can think of...
BINARY system. TWO possible choices
Binary System
0 and 1
More later...
HUGE CONCEPT #1
All computers do is “numbers”
- you put numbers into them
- it messes with the numbers
- it gives you some numbers back
Charles Babbage
“The whole of arithmetic now appeared within the grasp of mechanism.”
The Difference Engine
..which is this
HUGE CONCEPT #1
All computers do is “numbers”
- you put numbers into them
- it messes with the numbers
- it gives you some numbers back
HUGE CONCEPT #1
All computers do is “numbers”
- you put numbers into them
- it messes with the numbers
- it gives you some numbers back
The first “program?”
Ada Lovelace
From “Difference Engine” to “Analytical Engine”
which
'might act upon other things besides number... the
Engine might compose elaborate and scientific
pieces of music of any degree of complexity or
extent'.
"Are you crazy, lady?"
Ada wins this one, for sure
HUGE CONCEPT #1
ANYTHING IN NUMBERS
yields
HUGE(R) CONCEPT #2
HUGE(R) CONCEPT #2
All computers do is follow a very
precise list of instructions that one or
more people wrote.
(much more on this later, but .. Kaleidoscope)
The software has to run on something...
(remember big rules)
- Math/Numbers
- Instructions
The software has to run on something...
Let’s tighten up our definition of computer a bit:
It needs the ability to have changeable instructions
- 1) Someone (the creator) applied instructions at the beginning.
- 2) Someone can CHANGE the instructions on it, NOW, after you acquired it.
Broad definition: Computer, by parts
Input
Processor
Output
Slightly Less Basic
INPUT
PROCESSOR
STORAGE
OUTPUT
(power)
(“gluing it all together”)
PROCESSOR (CPU)
Brains of the operation.
“Does” the things.
(which is really, does the math)
PROCESSOR (GPU)
VERY similar to a CPU.
These days
- Gaming, mostly
- Crypto?
- AI/ML
Power / Electricity
Lately, not a lot. At all.
Even old computers - generally less than a lamp.
..touch it. ☺
Except, of course:
Bitcoin Farm? Wasting electricity to show value. What?
STORAGE
- Permanent (REALLY BASIC, the "chips)
- Semi-Permanent (Firmware/ROM/Bios)
- Changeable
- Short-Term (RAM)
- Long-Term (All them “drives”)
PERMANENT
The “Board.” That's about it.
Reliance on this layer is increasingly rare, for obvious reasons.
(ROM used to mean this precisely: Read Only Memory...now it usually means the next thing...)
Semi-Permanent Storage
(Firmware)
Much of what you think of as “permanent” is more likely “firmware”
That is, technically changeable, but you don't do it a whole lot, only when you want to make deep, fundamental changes/updates to how the hardware operates.
- BIOS
- UEFI
- ROMS
- Devices (routers, cameras, dj equipment, etc)
“Changeable” storage
( YET another badly named thing in computing)
So, imagine you're in the library using books to work on a paper like it's ancient history or something...
RAM
RAM
(when people say “memory”)
- what you're working on now
(short term memory)
DRIVES (hard, solid-state, CD, etc.)
All (usually local) information that you can get to
(long term memory)
“Drives”
Old school
- Floppies
- CD-ROM, DVD-ROM (blu-ray ROM?)
Today
- Hard Drives – IDE v. SATA (or external USB)
- USB thumb
- SD/microSD
- SSD's (the future! Possibly identical to RAM, soon)
“Spinny circle thing and a pointy thing”
Vinyl Records, Floppies, Laserdiscs.
- CD-ROM, DVD-ROM (blu-ray ROM?)
- Hard Drives – IDE v. SATA (or external USB)
To further confuse the issue:
This is "Memory/RAM"
To further confuse the issue:
And this is an SSD
Not a coincidence
SSDs and RAM are very similar..
..so similar that you can expect them to converge.
INPUT - OUTPUT
Human Input
Human Output
Digital Input
Digital Output
Analog v Digital
Analog
- "Direct" representation
- Immediately percieved by senses
- Almost always "lossy"
For us humans, literally *everything* is eventually Analog.
Digital
- Indirect representation
- Converted to "1's and 0's"
- Once recorded and converted, perfectly reproducible
Watch for "where the conversion happens"
The good: Digital usually means "better quality" and definitely means "doesn't degrade"
Watch for "where the conversion happens"
The good and bad:
Digital means can be converted/encrypted.
Good when we can keep secrets from "enemies;"
Bad when "enemies" can keep things from you...more in a bit
Human Input (classic analog)
Keyboard
Touchscreen
Webcam
Microphone
Motion-Sensor
Mouses/Buttons/Sticks...and
Human Input (modern analog)
Thermometers?
Smoke detectors?
Motion detection?
Heart Monitors? etc etc
(and other “Internet of things” stuff”)
Human Output (classic analog)
Screen*
Speakers*/Headphones*
Paper
Human Output (classic analog)
“Internet of things” stuff here too?
Oculus Rift, Drones, lights/temp in your house, etc.
*but what are the “wires” lately? More to come
Digital Input/Output
"New" hotness: Universal Serial Bus! (USB)
Input, output, charging, various sizes
(oh, and also whatever Apple's things are that should probably just be USB )
AND BY LAW IN MANY PLACES NOW ARE
Digital Input/Output
Internet Data Oriented:
- Phone line
- Ethernet (wire)
- Wireless/AIR (802.11 and bluetooth and more)
- Fiber (which actually is just better phone lines..)
Diversity of layers (OSI)
(preview of later..)
Application (HTTP, telnet, etc)
Presentation (framework MIME)
Session (pipe,SOCKS)
Transport (reliable packet delivery, TCP)
Network (nodes and address, IP)
Data (PPP)
Physical (wires, radio, USB)
Diversity of transmission media:
- telephone lines (modem/DSL)
- tv cable
- wireless (802.11)
- satellites
- radio
- lasers (pointless, but true)
- fiber
Audio
Analog: “RCA” – usually the “1/8” in jack, sometimes 1/4
*fine, this is just my opinion but its totally true)
Digital: Bluetooth, USB, occasionally Ethernet and others
Video - Analog
TV Video:
- Cable cord
- RCA A/V (Red / White / Yellow)
- (also, occasionally “composite,” RGB)
Computer Video
- VGA
(yeah, these are almost gone. ALMOST)
Video - Digital
DVI
HDMI
Digital Input/Output
Internet Data Oriented:
- Phone line
- Ethernet (wire)
- Wireless/AIR (802.11 and bluetooth and more)
- Fiber (which actually is just better phone lines..)
“glue”
Motherboards. Where it all comes together.
Today, yeah it can all be on one tiny thing
Ridiculous computing factoids
- The Apollo Computer = Original NES
- Your cell phone > All of NASA, 1969
- A singing birthday card > computing power than all the combined Allied forces in 1945
So what?
Raw computing power got extremely CHEAP and PLENTIFUL for most real-world applications:
THE DEVICES
OLPC
A failure, but a big deal anyway
PDAs (but this AND a phone?)
MP3 Players
Ipod
Blackberry
AKA THE LAST CELL PHONE MAKER EVER ☺
Nokia N900
iPhone
Hard to underestimate this guy
Perhaps our greatest artist (but the devils bargain...)
The dangers of success..
Wait, why is everything a screen rectangle?
with no keys?
Wait, why is everything a screen rectangle?
Not just preferences, there are some places it REALLY shouldn't be:
Cargo Cult
Easy to make fun of this, but our screen rectangle thing? same thing.
Moore's Law?
Roughly:
"Computer devices double in power and halve in price..
..every 18 months."
(have we hit the limit?)
The software has to run on something...
Let’s tighten up our definition of computer a bit:
It needs the ability to have changeable instructions
- 1) Someone (the creator) applied instructions at the beginning.
- 2) Someone can CHANGE the instructions on it, NOW, after you acquired it.
The software follows orders; but WHOSE?
Hopefully, yours?
Or someone that ACTUALLY CARES about you?
Or someone who can be relied on to do the right thing for you, maybe because you pay them, or they are required to by law?
(please feel free to freak out at the fact that it’s increasingly none of the above)
What is a computer?
What if it’s made of “general purpose computer” parts...
...but then, someone thinks that NOT you
(or NOT someone you trust)
(or NOT someone you pay)
(or NOT even some paid public servant or figure)
should be able to write your own instructions for it?
So what?
Companies pretend that “hardware” and “software” can’t be separated to jack up prices
(i.e. non-changeable instructions)
iPhone
That being said: The Devils Bargain
To provide you with this AMAZING INTERFACE
We have to LOCK EVERYTHING DOWN AND DENY YOU ACCESS
We know about these:
e.g.
Macs
Dells
etc.
What about these?
Nintendo
Xbox
Router
mp3 player
ipad
...
Oven...
That being said: The Devils Bargain
To provide you with this AMAZING INTERFACE
We have to LOCK EVERYTHING DOWN AND DENY YOU ACCESS
Imagine:
“I’m sorry, this is a ‘chair’ hammer. You cannot build tables with it. This violates the warranty. Also, it is strongly suggested that you don’t tell other people how to build tables with it; and we will delete that discussion from the internet. Also, you talk to much about it, we may try to have you arrested.
Except, Hypercard, by Apple
Hypercard 2
Rant Continued
If you have to manually root, jailbreak, unlock, or letterbomb it to make it do exactly what you want (or even worse, if you can't) maybe it shouldn't be considered a computer.
Perhaps, an appliance.
Don't get me started on the idea that a private company (as opposed to public law) can dictate what I do with legally obtained data or software...
...also, environmental impact
(if you agree, check out the "Right to Repair" movements.)
FINALLY I HAVE PROOF
the devils bargain is a lie ☺ BEHOLD THE STEAM DECK!!
Here comes a rant....
Moore’s Law got weird:
OLD SCHOOL – computers are expensive, so only build in functionality you need.
TODAY – computers are basically free, so f*** it. Throw the cheapest one in right NOW!!! Also
So what?
The Internet of Things
The S in IoT stands for security :)
Internet of ****
IoT security is garbage, because you throw an
ultracheap, untested computer in your toaster
to rush to market, and now your toaster is attacking your family.
Also — "THE CLOUD"
There is no cloud, it's just somebody elses computer
A computer (possibly virtual), probably running Linux
Yep. Usually.
Funny, it's not talked about that much. Or enough.
Again, not the part that makes people Rich, or even popular
Why do we even use "cloud?"
After all, email is "cloud" and yet we never used that word.
Probably a B2B thing — this was the first time the SERVERS were freed from the bare metal
So what?
The good news:
This means we can all buy cheap computers to play and learn with.
In the coming weeks.
Think about "how you will do Linux Exercises"
Possibilities include:
I can already do this...i.e.
If this makes no sense to you, don't worry..
"I already am running Linux on one of my machines, and I have root (i.e. I can do sudo)"
( This includes "virtual")
I have an old computer I can completely wipe
Really? Cool.
I'm going to buy a Raspberry Pi
Cool, go for it., if you can get one?
ANY model works
either the 4 or the 400 (same thing, but with a keyboard included) is best
I want to install a virtual machine on my computer
This is free and also cool. I will demo
I need something else.
Looking into it. Not sure about this here "WSL..."
Backlinks: FSU Courses:LIS3353:Raw LIS3353 Slides