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1994-10-25
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Microprocessor
Many believe that to understand what a microprocessor is and does,
a person would need a PH.D. in computer science. But, even the laymen
can envision the workings of today's microprocessor if the facts are
properly presented. To properly understand what a microprocessor is, a
person must know how it's made, and how it works.
The microprocessor interprets all information coming and going
from the rest of the computer. This makes it much like the brain of a
human in contrast. For instance, imagine the computer being like the
human body. Like the brain a processor needs outside connections from
other parts of the body to be able to function. Without out a body a brain
is useless. The same holds true with a processor that has no computer.
But, unlike the brain, the microprocessor has only permanent memory to
help it perform the tasks that help it communicate with other parts of the
computer. This makes it more akin to the part of the brain that performs
involuntary or motor functions. In the brain the memory and motor
functions come in one package. While a microprocessor has only motor
functions and needs other parts like a disk-drive, or, Random access
memory to hold the instructions that are not used on a consistent basis.
The brain processes the impulses of nervous system by being able to tell
if the an electrical impulse is there or not. The brain categorizes these
impulses by where they came from and by what order it was received.
A microprocessor works much the same way. The microprocessor
recognizes two things. The presence of electrical impulse, represented by
the numeral one. Or the absence of a electrical impulse, represented by
the number zero. This basic form of information is called bits. Bits by
them selves represent little. But, when a series of eight bits are sorted into
what is called a byte, the processor translates the information into either a
numerical or alphabetical character. For instance, 00000000 stands for A,
while 00000002 stands for C, and 0000005 stands for E. When these
bytes are put together in line (000000000000000200000005) , Ace is
spelled. Ultimately, the key thing to remember is that both the brain and
microprocessor, take small bits and pieces of information and categorize
them into a form they can understand and translate for other parts of the
body or computer to understand.