For this week, I read chapters 1 through 6 of Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software, by Charles Petzold.

The first three chapters tell the history and implications of Morse Code and Braille and how a simple circuit can be used to communicate remotely using the code. I am not sure if the example of two children trying to talk to each other one house away is useful for me because there are plenty of circuits already built in the world to aid my communication. However, being able to communicate remotely and with people of different abilities is very useful, and I would like to think I can contribute to this field in some useful way.

There were many important terms and concepts found in these first six chapters. The first concept I took from the reading is understanding the term binary, which means literally two by two, and how different combinations of two can produce incredibly robust sets information. Another important concept is a common circuit, which helps to reduce the amount of wire needed to connect parts of the circuit. I hope to find this concept useful as I continue to learn how to build circuits, as it will reduce waste, energy, and time.

Before this reading, I had no idea that the earth can be used as a ground for a circuit. Of course, I should think of the earth/ground when I hear the term “ground”, but I never made that connection before. The use of the earth as a literal ground helps to understand how phone lines, the internet, electricity wires, and many more extremely far-reaching and important utilities work. The final concept I took away from the reading was a relay. A relay is the connection between two circuits that helps those two circuits to communicate with one another. With the help of a little current and electromagnetism, we can send information long distances without human interaction with the circuit. Incredible.