Data representation

Binary systems and

Hexadecimal
 Learning objectives
• use binary in computer registers for a given application such as
in robotics, digital instruments and counting systems
• represent numbers stored in registers and main memory as
hexadecimal
• identify current uses of hexadecimal numbers in computing,
such as defining colours in Hypertext Markup Language
(HTML), Media Access Control (MAC) addresses, assembly
languages and machine code, debugging
Registers
- in computer registers such as
robotics
A register is a small piece of memory built into the CPU of a computer
system where values and instructions are temporarily held. They are not
part of primary memory or secondary storage. Although they are small in
capacity, registers have an extremely fast read and write rate, meaning
data can be written to and read from a register much quicker than from
primary memory or secondary storage.
Therefore computer systems use registers to hold values and instructions
for processing, to increase the speed at which they can be processed. If
these values and instructions were processed straight from primary
memory, processing would be much slower.
Processor registers
- in computer registers such as
robotics
There are different types of register, such as processor registers and
hardware registers. Processor registers, for example the program counter
(PC), the accumulator and the memory address register (MAR), are used
to process data. These registers are part of the CPU and can be written to
and read from extremely quickly. The fast speed of access makes
registers very suitable for situations where small amounts of data need to
be accessed quickly, such as performing calculations.
Hardware registers
- in computer registers such as
robotics
Hardware registers are specific to different types of hardware and are
used to convey a signal. Consider a robot arm that has various motors to
perform different operations, for example, raise the arm, open the grip
and close the grip. Each motor works via a signal, 1 for on, 0 for off. A
register is used for each motor to convey the signal.
Use of binary task
- in computer registers such as
robotics
A computer register is group of bits. When computers or microprocessors
are used to control devices such as robots, registers are used as part of the
control system. The example describes how registers can be used in
controlling a simple device.
A robot vacuum cleaner has three wheels A,B and C. A rotates on a
spindle to allow for directional changes as well as forward and
backwards. B and C are fixed to provide only forward or backward
movement and have a electric motor attached.
Use of binary
- in computer
registers
An 8 bit register is used to control the movement of the robot vacuum
cleaner:

If the register contains 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 this means:

• motor B is ON
• motor C is ON
• and both motors are turning to produce FORWARDS motion
• Effectively the vacuum cleaner is moving forwards
Hexadecimal number
- identify current uses of hexadecimal
system
numbers
Hexadecimal is another number system that is used. Computers do not
actually process hexadecimal, they convert it into binary before
processing it. Programmers work with hexadecimal as it is easier for
humans to read than binary. This is because it is a much shorter way of
representing a byte of data, as reading and understanding lots of binary 1s
and 0s can be difficult. In the same way, programs that are written in
hexadecimal are easier to debug than those written in binary. Computers
convert hexadecimal data into binary before processing it.
Hexadecimal number
- identify current uses of hexadecimal
system
numbers
Identify current uses of hexadecimal numbers in computing by producing
a one page report on one of the topics below:
• Defining colours in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)
• Media Access Control (MAC) addresses
• Assembly languages and machine code
• Debugging

Write a report explaining the current uses of hexadecimal number

systems from the list above
HTML
- identify current uses of hexadecimal
numbers
HTML is used as a notation for colour in HTML. Hex colour notations
are normally six digits and each hex notation represents a different colour,
for example #FFAA33 is orange and #000000 is black.
In the hex code #FFAA33 the first two digits are the red component, the
second two the green component and the last two the blue component. All
three together create the colour orange.

When representing colours the values

change to represent different colours,
using the three primary colours:
Red, Green and Blue known as: RGB
MAC addresses
- identify current uses of hexadecimal
numbers
Media Access Control (MAC) addresses are 12-digit hexadecimal numbers
that uniquely identify each different device in a network. This address is
assigned by the device's manufacturer and can not be changed. MAC
addresses are 12-digit (48-bit) hexadecimal numbers. They are usually
written in one of the following formats:
MM:MM:MM:SS:SS:SS
MM-MM-MM-SS-SS-SS
where the 6 digits are the identity number of the manufacturer of the device
and the second half is the id number for the specific device.

Remember that each hexadecimal number is 4 bits

equivalent, so 4 x 12 = 48 bits.
Assembly and machine
- identify current uses of hexadecimal
code
numbers
Computer memory can be referred to directly using machine code or
assembly code. This can have many advantages to program developers or
when carrying out troubleshooting. Machine code and assembly are low-
level languages that directly access the memory chips in the computer.
Using hexadecimal makes it much easier, faster and less error prone to write
code compared to binary. Using true machine code (which uses binary) is
very cumbersome and it takes a long time to key in the values. It is also very
easy to mistype the digits in a ‘sea of 1s and 0s’. Here is a simple example:
• STO FFA4 (assembly code)
• A5E4 FFA4 (machine code using hexadecimal values)
• 1010 0101 1110 0100 1111 1111 1010 0100 (machine code using binary)
Memory dumps and
- identify current uses of hexadecimal
Debugging
numbers
Hexadecimal is often used when developing new software or when trying
to trace errors in programs. The contents of part of the computer memory
can hold the key to help solve many problems. When the memory
contents are output to a printer or monitor, this is known as a MEMORY
DUMP.
A program developer can look at each of the hexadecimal codes and
determine where the error lies. The value on the far left shows the
memory location so that it is possible to find out exactly where in
memory the fault occurs. This is more manageable using hexadecimal
rather than using binary.
 Review and revise
• use binary in computer registers for a given application such as
in robotics, digital instruments and counting systems
• represent numbers stored in registers and main memory as
hexadecimal
• identify current uses of hexadecimal numbers in computing,
such as defining colours in Hypertext Markup Language
(HTML), Media Access Control (MAC) addresses, assembly
languages and machine code, debugging