PRO: Lesson - Binary System Part 1

Image: binary code streams down in a series of 1s and 0sBinary System Part 1

Have you ever noticed how media uses a background of green 0s and 1s when displaying information about computer science and/or technology? Have you ever wondered why or how those 0s and 1s related to the topic on the screen? That’s what this module is all about! Everything that we see, hear, and do on our tech devices breaks down into two simple choices…0 OR 1.

It's really pretty incredible, when you stop to think about it. That song you are listening to right now: zeros and ones. The video you watched on a streaming service: zeros and ones. The multiplayer video game you played with friends - all zeros and ones, including the voice chat (even your friends' voices were all zeros and ones!). How is this all possible?

Video Lesson

Let’s review binary systems with the video below. Please watch and take notes on the content.

Binary Systems in Practice

It is amazing that the output of music we hear through our devices, the pictures we take, the videos we watch, and the words we may speak are recognized, coded, and programmed to ensure usability at its most basic level… is the result of 0s and 1s. When watching the video, were you surprised by how computers represent data and media (sounds, images, video, etc.)?

To think, those 0s and 1s simply display on vs. off, true vs. false, yes vs. no, or anything else with only two options. There are so many fun unplugged activities that reinforce what we’ve learned about the binary system. You can spell your name using the binary system, code a secret message, or make a binary bracelet.

Understanding the binary system is fundamental to any computer science course.

RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.