They are the same thing. Really what you call digital is the idealization of analog signals by abstracting certain things away so you can use an easier framework to solve a problem.
It's also true that in this day and age we're getting to the point where many functions like comparators and filters that can easily be implemented as analog circuits are limited by component accuracy to the point that it's easier to just digitize a signal and execute the function digitally. Basically this guy gave you a demo that in my mind meant nothing in my opinion. You don't have to understand your engine to use 2-3 pedals, the steering wheel, and maybe the clutch on your car right? Sometimes we still get screwed by mechanics though :) -Tom On Jan 23, 2008 10:54 AM, Ralph Shumaker <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Gus Wirth wrote: > > SJS wrote: > > [snip] > >> Of course, you could solve mathematical equations directly with an > >> analog > >> computer. . . look, ma, no registers! > > > > Which I have done. It is particularly useful for solving things like > > partial differential equations. The other nice thing about analog > > computers is how easy they are to program. Just a few dials and patch > > cords, set a few initial conditions, then let it run. Of course, it > > helps to know advanced calculus and things like Laplace transforms. On > > my bookshelf I have "Introduction to Analog Computation" by Joseph J. > > Blum, Harcort, Brace & World, Inc. Maybe I should post some problems > > and see how people would solve them in the digital realm. > > > > Gus > > Are there general purpose analog computers? Can they run programs in > the sense that digital computers can? > > From what I understand, analog circuits are not as susceptible to EMP > or short circuits. I once saw a show where a guy had built two > mechanical spider like robots, one with digital circuits, the other > analog. They were both crawling along when he took his soldering iron > and ran it along the exposed circuit board of the one with digital > circuits and it instantly stopped cold. It was toast. Then he did the > same with the other one, raking the soldering iron back and forth > repeatedly. Aside from the sparks, it was almost like he was merely > petting a crawling spider. It was undaunted and kept on going, like it > didn't even notice, or just didn't care. But analog circuits don't > necessarily mean that it's an analog computer, or does it? > > I think I may have asked this before, but it's been a while and I don't > recall the answers. > > > > -- > Ralph > > -------------------- > I hope I never meet a man so narrow minded as to spell a word in only one > way. > --Thomas Jefferson > > -- > [email protected] > http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-lpsg > -- -Thomas Gal -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-lpsg
