Converting Binary Numbers

To convert the binary number 110010101 use the following math:

(1 * 2^0) + (0 * 2^1) + (1 * 2^2) + (0 * 2^3) + (1 * 2^4) + (0 * 2^5) + (0 * 2^6) + (1*2^7) +(1 * 2^8) = 405

To convert the decimal number 529 to binary use the following math:

529 mod 2 = 1
529 / 2 = 264.5
264 mod 2 = 0
264 / 2 = 132
132 mod 2 = 0
132 / 2 = 66
66 mod 2 = 0
66 / 2 = 33
33 mod 2 = 1
33 / 2 = 16.5
16 mod 2 = 0
16 / 2 = 8
8 mod 2 = 0
8 / 2 = 4
4 mod 2 = 0
4 / 2 = 2
2 mod 2 = 0
2 / 2 = 1
1 mod 2 = 1
1 / 2 = .5
stop here because.5 rounds down to zero

thus, 529 = 1000010001

A positional number system is a numeral system in which each position is related to the next by a constant multiplier, a common ratio, called the base of that numeral system. A non-positional number system is number system that may be denoted positional systems, but that deviate in one way or another from standard positional systems.

Unix Commands and Chapter 6

I learned about many commands in Unix. The first command that I learned was the (chsh) which changes the shell. Typing in (chsh) brings up the list of shells in the server. To choose a shell I had to type chsh /bin/bash. The second command I learned was the (whoami) which displays the current user's name. This tool is useful in identifying who is using the computer at that time. The third command I learned was the (finger) which displays information about someone else on the computer. Looking up information about other people is essential by the mechanism of the (finger) command. The fourth command I learned was the (exit) which simply logs out of the remote system.

In Chapter 6, which dealt with "Global Swarming" there is a significant element of the chaper that seemed to encompass the entire reading. This element is the act of tracing. These "electronic trails" can be tracked, analyzed, and can be compared with those laid by others. There are certain patterns that can emerge from this constant rate of making trails. Each transaction exerted through the use from a consumer imprints a trace, and this is where the patterns emerge. The global swarming was made simplified by second-generation search engines i.e. Google, which are created to crack down on the structure of links between pages. Sets of links can all be related to each other and all have records of episodes of consumer action. Thus, there is a definite link present between one or more pages in the set. The set is then put on a broader scale to ultimately link the pages in the root set. To switch gears a little bit, people are sometimes overwhelmed by the fact that they really do not what they are searching for on the hazardous crazy labyrinth that we call the internet. Combined with a listing of relevant web sites, good search engines are generated to have immediate search results that are updated listings on the spot. This should help some of the confusing aspects of the global web. Valid information is understood this way and also links to text can be placed in many areas in hyperspace. The text can be found by anyone who cares to search for them. I agree with the fact that trail-laying provides a good array of information at hand. But, these highlighted passages could be a disadvantage as well because of the fact that the rest of the text could just be ignored. The narrowing of attention to these items only is a danger. The ultimate global information sharing is essential by means of software development and testing. The use of information in computers has been a very reliable way to get fast, ready facts on the spot. Using trails combined with newer and improved search engines will greatly in the future increase the amount of information that is dispersed to the population. More efficient reliable information can be processed by the use of trails and sharing activity-sensitive software. This will enable us to press new knowledge and deploy information that will be used more efficiently and fluently.

Modeling the World

For a piece of information to be related to it needs three essential components: the sign to portray the image, the thing that it is portraying, and agents or people to relate to the information. If one of these things is missing, then there will be a distortion in the information that is trying to be conveyed. The main thing that I took away from this is that information tries to make a relation in nature. This relation can link people to the thing that is being displayed to have information understood. Other ways that people relate information is by using models. Models are very useful tools in the scientific process.