Understanding Systems

Understanding Binary

Binary is an example of a “counting system”. Counting systems are among the most simple, and they have many uses in computing, software, and design. So: Its important for designers to understand counting systems. We started with binary (base 2), but we also looked at base 3, base 4, and base 16 (hexadecimal or “hex”).

One reason counting systems are important in design is that they provide a way for generating variations. That is, designers can create a “theme” and then use a counting system to “systematically” generate (and explore) all the variations on the theme.

Making the “Hardware”

The point of making a telegraph was to understand just hoe simple it is. Wrap a coil of wire around a nail- create an electro-magnet (a switch ). With that you can make action occur at a distance. And that means you can send messages. This is the foundation of computing.

Inventing the “Software”

After we made our own “hardware”. A telegraph is a “platform”. It “runs” code (“software”)– typically Morse Code. But a telegraph can run many other types of code.

We make a code table, and the goal of the “software” is to communicate in long distance.

Don’t be afraid of code; It’s something you can invent..

-Hugh Dubberly

Network Systems

We explore different ways of linking 16 telegraphs (different network configurations to topologies). The alternatives have tradeoffs— e.g. efficiency or cost v.s. redundancy and reliability.

By using the “hardware” and the “software” we made, Hugh asked us to think out three network systems. Each black dot stands for a student with a telegraph. What is the best way to connect these telegraphs?

Rational reasoning is very important in the design process.

-Hugh Dubberly