Die Computer Uhr

by Jack Korten (Australia)

On 5 April 2015 – Daylight Saving Time ends (Also known as Summer Time)

At 3:00 AM, the clock is retarded by 1 hour to 2:00 AM
The new time is called Local Standard Time or Winter Time.



Which clock should one consult to ensure that the time is correct?
The clock on our PC is the most accurate, as it automatically synchronizes with an Internet time server. Windows has a built-in "service" which automatically connects with an atomic clock server, operated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the United States. The clock is updated on a regular basis.  One needs to be connected to the Internet for the synchronization to occur. 

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Bits and Bytes and the Order of Magnitude – going beyond Yottabytes

by Jack Korten (Australia)

Digital information storage is measured in bits.

A group of 8 bits constitutes one byte. The byte is the most common unit of measurement of information (a byte is equal to a single letter or character)

In data communications only the Metric definition of a kilobyte (1000 bytes per kilobyte) is correct. The binary definition of a kilobyte (1024 bytes per kilobyte) is used in areas such as data storage (hard disk, memory), but not for expressing bandwidth and throughput.

We transfer data at kbps (kilobits per second) or mbps (megabits per second.

While a megabyte is precisely 1,048,576 bytes, in the metric system it is defined as one million bytes.

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THE USB CONNECTION

by Jack Korten (Australia)

The basic USB trident logo.


This USB sign is on the head of a USB Cable.

Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the connection, communication and power supply between computers and electronic devices. A group of seven companies began the development of USB in 1994: Compaq, DEC, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, NEC and Nortel. The goal was to make it fundamentally easier to connect external devices to PCs by replacing the multitude of connectors at the back of PCs. The first integrated circuits supporting USB were produced by Intel in 1995.

USB has effectively replaced a variety of earlier interfaces such as, serial and parallel ports as well as separate power chargers for portable devices.

Unlike other data cables (e.g. HDMI), each end of a USB cable uses a different kind of connector; an A-type or a B-type.

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Stromadapter in Zeiten der Globalisierung

MY POWER STRUGGLE (by Jack Korten)

Most desktop computers use the C14 inlet to attach the power cord to the power supply, as do monitors, printers and other accessories.

A power cord with a power plug on one end and this C13 connector on the other end is commonly called an IEC cord. (International Electrotechnical Commission).

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