7/30/2019 My Essay Machine Code
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Machine code
In most computers, information and instructions are stored as
machine code, each being given a
unique number. While it is possible to write computer programs
as long lists of numbers, it is extremely
tedious and potentially error-prone. Instead, each basic
instruction can be given a name that is indicative of its
function and easy to remember A mnemonic such as ADD, SUB, MULT
or JUMP, are examples. These type
of functions are used in computer assembly language. Converting
programs written in assembly language
into something the computer can actually understand, which is
machine language. The use of these
functions over just a list of binary numbers is where we start
to see the advantages of programmable control
over traditional control.
Likewise, in the role of programs in control systems, we begin
our system with a programming
language which provides ways of specifying programs for
computers to run. Unlike natural languages,
programming languages are designed to permit no ambiguity and to
be concise. They are purely written
languages translated into machine code by a compiler before
being run in the computer memory storage.
Once a program is executed,
A computer's memory can be viewed as a list of cells into which
numbers are stored. Each cell has an
address. The computer can be instructed to put the number 123
for example, into cell 135, or to add 123 in
cell 135 to the number that is in cell 246 and put the answer
into cell 159, and so on. This brings to mind theimportance of
programmable computers in solving engineering problems. The
engineering errors that we use
to have with human skills are now virtually non-existent, so
long as we know how to get data to be properly
processed through the use of the memory cells in our computer.
It is by far more productive and accurate to
use computer devises if we hope to illuminate engineering
mistakes, which in the past, due to poor design has
been very costly.
Stored memory cells may represent practically anything. Letters,
numbers, even computer
instructions can be placed into memory with equal ease. Since
the CPU does not differentiate between
different types of information, it is the software's
responsibility to give significance to what the memory sees
as nothing but a series of numbers. In almost all modern
computers, each memory cell is set up to store binarynumbers in
groups of eight bits (called a byte). Each byte is able to
represent 256 different numbers (2^8 =
256). A computer can store any kind of information in memory if
it can be represented numerically. Modern
computers have billions or even trillions of bytes of memory.
These bytes need to be able to flow through an
Input/output processing path so that the function of the
programs weve written work properly.
Input/output (I/O) is the means by which a computer exchanges
these bits of information. Devices that
provide input or output to the computer are often called
peripherals. On a typical personal computer,
peripherals include input devices like the keyboard and mouse,
and output devices such as the display and
printer. Hard drives, and optical disc drives, etc., serve as
both input and output devices. These computer
Input/output devices processes our critical information with
speed and ease. As a result, weve learned that
the best means for solutions to engineering problemsin todays
world of modern engineering, is with the use
of well written programs by which we can process all the
computers Input and outputs with perfect accuracy.
