Information Communication Technology ICT – 1 Types and components of computer systems | e-Consult

Analogue signals are continuous, varying signals (like sound waves or light intensity) that can take on any value within a range. Digital signals, on the other hand, are discrete, representing information as a series of 0s and 1s (bits). Computers operate using digital logic, meaning they can only process information in this discrete format.

Therefore, analogue signals must be converted to digital data through a process called analogue-to-digital conversion (ADC). This conversion involves sampling the analogue signal at regular intervals and then assigning a digital value to each sample. This allows the computer to accurately represent and manipulate the information contained within the original analogue signal. Without this conversion, the computer would not be able to interpret the signal.

In summary: Computers require digital data for processing. Analogue signals are continuous; digital signals are discrete. ADC bridges this gap, enabling computers to handle real-world information.