Advent of Computing Episode 117 - What's in a Byte?
Sep 24, 2023
Explore the origin of the byte and why it's 8 bits. Discover the significance of the number 8 in computer science. Learn about the term 'bit' and its connection to binary representation. Dive into the complexity of building memory and the use of punch cards in early computers. Uncover the evolution of byte sizes and the development of eight-bit character encoding.
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Introduction
00:00 • 3min
Exploring the Design and Functionality of Processors in the 21st Century
02:36 • 3min
The Importance of 8 in Computer Science
05:15 • 12min
The Origin of the Term 'Bit'
16:52 • 23min
Memory and Registers in Early Computers
39:44 • 6min
Encoding Schemes and Data Storage on Punch Cards
45:19 • 2min
The Evolution of Byte Sizes
47:28 • 16min