Abstract

Modern computation depends on the representation of information in digital form. “Digital” means that there are a discrete set of signal values. All contemporary electronic logic uses just two digits, binary representation of information. There are two recognizable signal values. A binary unit of information is known as a bit. It can be represented by the position of a switch of the familiar ON-OFF type. The state of the switch or the signal is also conveniently represented by a 0 or a 1.

© 1987 Optical Society of America