All electronic devices you can think of work by sending signals to each other. The reason for sending these signals is data transfer. When we think of data transfer, we all think of digital data created with codes, but the physical data we call analog is still with us. Analog data is in physical form and is continuous. When we look at it from this perspective, we see that the analog system is actually a reflection of real life.
Of course, having analog data in physical form does not necessarily mean that they are tangible and visible. The important thing is that the signals that the devices send to each other are readable. Even in today’s world, where everything seems to have evolved into digital, analog still appears everywhere, albeit in collaboration with us and digital. Let’s take a closer look at what analog means and what are the differences between them and digital.
What does analog mean, how does it work, what’s the difference with digital?
Let’s start with the basics, what does analog mean?
Although it is possible to make many different definitions, analog in its most basic form is a data sharing system. The data shared within this system is physical and transmitted as a signal. It doesn’t necessarily have to be tangible. The system in which the data transmitted by the signal shared by the device or with another device is in physical form is analog.
In the analog system, physical data shared over signals is continuous. Digital sharing is limited. From this point of view, it is possible to say that the analog system is a reflection of real life. If we think of an analog watch, we see that the hour, minute and hour hands are constantly rotating. The digital clock, on the other hand, shows only certain numbers in sequence, as assigned.
How do analog devices work?
Let’s see how analog devices work through two similar devices, a CD player and a record player. Even if the CD player looks like an analog system, it actually reads the binary data on the CD, that is, it transfers a digital signal. It is clear that the record player is analog in every way because the needle reads the reliefs on the record and turns it into sound.
As it can be understood from the record player example, the analog system is actually the physical form of the data sharing system made over the signals we are accustomed to today. Analogue system should not be considered only as a device. Man-made processes are also considered analogues. For example, filling out a petition manually and delivering that paper to the officer is an analog system.
Some examples of devices working in analogue:
- Speaker
- Tube television
- Landline phones
- Sound tapes
- Old style copiers
- Old style cameras
- Old style voltmeter
- Old style ammeter
- Vintage wattmeters
- Ambulance, fire truck-like sirens
- Old clocks
- Ceiling fan
- Old computers
- Sound amplifier
- Thermostat
- Strain gauge
- Antenna
Some of the most well-known analog device examples that everyone knows and still uses today are like this. If you have seen and used at least one of the devices in this list, you know more or less what an analog operating system is.
All analog devices transfer and read the data they share over signals in analog form. As a result, they transmit a signal similar to all the devices we know, but of course, analog devices have a very high potential to cause problems, since there is no sharing as fluent as digital. Still, it has to be admitted that sometimes they work much more robustly than digital systems.
Differences between analog and digital:
The most striking difference between analog and digital systems is the way data is recorded and transmitted. In the analog system, the data is recorded as they are and transmitted in the same way. However, records in the digital system are in binary format. It is much easier to operate on this data due to the binary recording form of the digital system.
As we all know, transferring in a digital system is extremely easy. However, in the analog system, this transmission is very, very limited. This is normal due to the nature of systems. It should be noted that one of the recording system is physical and the other is digital.
Even a separate topic can be opened on audio and video because, as we know, audio and video can be recorded both analog and digital. But at some point it comes down to the method of transmission. Again, due to its nature, even if transmission is possible in the analog system, it causes delays because it will be quite slow. In digital, on the other hand, the latency can be so small that it is not noticeable. For this reason, even in the most primitive times of digital, data transmission was made over the digital system during live broadcasts.
Contrary to popular belief, analog has not left its place to digital system. Yes, digital is much more common, but there are still countless areas where analog system is preferred because of its many features. First of all, the analog system is cheaper, easy to assemble and works smoothly when necessary connections are provided with many different technology products. For this reason, it is thought that even in the distant future, analog systems will still be with us.
And analog or digital? Which is better?
Of course, it would be more accurate to consider the question of whether analog or digital is better from a technical point of view rather than personal tastes. Because if you like the sound of the record player more, you cannot say that digital music is bad, or if you like to use an analog watch, it is not possible to say that digital smartwatch is bad.
In analog system, data is recorded in full physical form continuously. If we consider an audio or video piece, the analog recording we have contains the full version of the data in question. In the digital system, this situation is a little more flexible.
In a digital system, data is stored digitally in binary and is therefore very flexible. Recorded digital data can be viewed in many different ways and is much easier to manipulate. Analog data can be converted to digital and digital data can be converted to analog data. In other words, the answer to the question of which one is better is hidden in the answer to the question of what do you need.
We have explained the working principle of this system through examples by answering the question of what does analog mean, which is still in our lives even if it is gradually replaced by digital. Analogue or digital? You can share your thoughts on the subject and your experiences about the devices you use in the comments.
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