This document discusses the transition from analog to digital signals, specifically for audio recording and transmission. It describes how early analog technologies like the phonautograph and phonograph led to technologies like vinyl records and magnetic tapes for storing and playing back sound. However, these analog formats had limitations in terms of quality degradation and copies. The document then outlines the development of digital audio technologies like digital audio recorders and compact discs, which took samples of sound thousands of times per second and stored information using binary digits for perfect reproduction. Current audio is typically stored and transmitted in digital MP3 format. Overall, the document argues that digital signals provide more reliable encoding and transmission of information compared to analog signals due to their resistance to degradation, perfect reproducibility, and

1. PHYSICAL SCIENCE
FORCES and INTERACTIONS

2. Bell Ringer
Why are MP3’s better than cassette tapes? List as
many reasons as you can for class discussion (at
least 2)

3. Objectives ForToday:
•By the end of the day you should:
Be able to… Make an argument that digitized signals are a
more reliable way to encode and transmit information than
analog signals

4. Agenda/Announcements!
Bell Ringer
DigitalVs. Analog Notes
DigitalVs. Analog reading/writing
Homework: If not finished, statement defense needs to
be finished before tomorrow in order to obtain ipad for
Friday time.

5. DigitalVs. Analog – Defining terms
Digital signals - A direct pulse, either on or off, that conveys information in
a binary form (1's and 0's)
Analog signals - are continuous waves that vary in strength and quality
Helpful visual:

6. The Journey from Analog to Digital (Audio)
In 1857, a French inventor created the
phonautograph, a device that could record sound
waves as it passed through the air. It consisted of a
soot covered paper wrapped around a cylinder that
had a rod that would scratch out a waveform.
In 1877,Thomas Edison (creator of the lightbulb
and many other inventions) created the first
machine that could record and replay sounds. His
machine was called the phonograph. Edison used a
rotating cylinder coated in wax that would etch
grooves and when a needle hit the vibrations, it
would re-play the recorded sound

7. The Journey from Analog to Digital (Audio)
The phonograph eventually led to the vinyl record
player, which was a more reliable and easily
manufactured way to reproduce sound.
The record player had limitations in that to make
copies, only a limited number could be made, and
the original recording was destroyed in the process.
Magnetic tapes were developed by the Germans in
WWII and perfected by an American audio engineer
JohnT. Mullin in 1947.This allowed for unlimited
copies and higher audio quality

8. The Journey from Analog to Digital (Audio)
Throughout the 1970’s digital audio recorders were
created and developed. Digital audio took samples
of a sound at 44.1 kHz, or 44,100 times per second
Magnetic tapes had serious drawbacks.They were
susceptible to magnetic interference and had to be
rewound.
The fully digital Compact Disc (CD) was created in
1982. Sales peaked in the year 2000.
Currently, audio tracks are stored in .mp3 format
which is a completely digital medium.

9. SoWhat IS Digital?
The main difference between digital and analog is HOW the information is
stored.
In an analog device, information is continuously recorded. In a digital
device, sound is sampled at thousands of times per second.
The difference is largely unnoticeable.

10. How much does the internet weigh?

11. Reading andWriting Prompt
Passing out of Reading – Read and Discuss

12. Other Examples of Digital Development:
Cameras (Visual):
Pinhole cameras invented by ancient
chinese and greeks to project an upside
down image onto a viewing surface
1839 First conventional camera invented
called the Daguerrotype
1889 First film cameras
1988 First fully digital camera

13. Pros and Cons of Digital Signals
Pros
•Storage – lots of
information in a small space
•Reproducibility – can be
copied indefinitely with zero
loss of quality
•Capability –You can layer
more information together
with digital signals (DTV,
Mantis Shrimp eye)
•***Easily created and
edited***
Cons
•Lacks fidelity – isn’t the
“true” record
•***Easily created and
edited*** (Internet hot-
heads, mistakes last
forever…think before you
post)
•Easily forgotten –Think
about letters, newspapers,
Rosetta stone etc

14. Pros and Cons of Analog Signals
Pros
•Fidelity –The first copy
is the closest to the
original performance
•Accessibility – Easily
created with low-tech,
lost cost means.
Cons
•Storage – requires large
amounts of space
•Reproducibility –
reproducing difficult,
often loses quality
•Fragility – Analog
recordings are subject to
data loss

15. Other Examples of Digital Development:
Movies:
The first motion picture was the famous
“Horse in motion” it was literally a series of
pictures that moved.
1890’sThe first film movies. Movies
recorded on a film medium, but were silent.
1976 FirstVHS film
1995 First DVD
1998 Fully digital online HD movie file types
2007 Netflix streaming internet video

16. Reading andWriting Prompt
In your notebook, write three short paragraphs
summarizing why you think digitized signals are a
more reliable way to encode and transmit
information.
Use your notes, feel free to use examples from your
personal life and interaction with technology
This will be checked tomorrow before you check out
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