How Binary Works, and the Power of Abstraction

In which we learn how and why computers store everything using only zeros and ones.

Sound #67802 by SunnySideSound
Sound #178657 by jorickhoofd
Sound #162731 by synthetic-oz

00:00 Intro
00:45 Bits
02:22 Numbers
05:33 Abstraction
06:24 Text
06:45 Colors
07:36 Limits Of Computer Color
08:12 Pictures
08:33 Videos
09:51 Telling The Difference
10:44 Instructions With Assumptions
12:13 Some Other Kinds Of Data
12:45 Why Do It This Way?
14:26 Review

[mikip]

When you understand this, you start to understand why computers can be made out of hydraulic pipes, domino chains, interconected brain cells, marbles rolling on slides or wooden gears. The idea of the bit is independent of the physical substrate which encodes it. You don't need to have electric circuits to build a computer (but electrcity is fast, reliable and highly controlable).

[matthewzaczeniuk]

I can't believe that we live in a time where this content is free to watch. You sir are amazing.

[skateerdud]

This is one of the highest production quality videos I have ever seen on youtube and it answers so many questions I have had for so long, I just wish this video came out like 7 years ago haha

[felipedidio]

The "kicking 3 out" explanation is insanely good!

I've had to explain binary numbers to people in the past and I wasn't able to explain exactly why we use powers of 2 without sounding "mathematical".

[NickWrightDataYT]

The reason why this video is SO GOOD is because it starts out at a level that just about anyone can understand, and quickly builds on top of it with logical steps, each of which anyone can understand, and suddenly you understand video encoding 101.

If you understand the logic of something, "getting" the practicality of it is a non-issue because it only requires memorizing things. Which itself is easier because you get WHY you're memorizing each thing.

[db]

I have a decade of experience as a software engineer. I have to say this is an exceptional explanation! So many videos about this topic assume the viewer knows more than they do. You could show this to a total novice and they would come out with a very strong beginners understanding of how computers work at a pretty deep level. Excellent, excellent work! Please keep making more “explainers” like this! You have a gift!

[cineblazer]

If you started a Patreon, I'd join in a heartbeat. Don't even care if there's exclusive content or not, it would just make me happy to be able to help fund your continued educational-video-making. You are exceptionally good at this.

[thomasrgparker]

Some very good taste on the fake ending

[globglobd]

Imagine a 20k subs channel explaining this topic better than any other... Bravo

[ExistentialDodo]

Great video. Really caught me off gaurd with that "1024, since I last uploaded" joke🤣
Good stuff

[ray]

I can definitely see this video being used for high school CS classes. You have the great ability to break down a complex topic for non-CS people into very understandable chunks plus the video itself is pleasing to look at/listen to. Your quantum computing and raytracing videos are still my favorite though! Seriously, keep up the great work! Its rare to find someone who puts as much effort in the visuals and the explanations as you do. I strive to be as knowledgeable as you are in computer science.

[SoDamnMetal]

This is the kind of explanation I needed when I first started learning computer science

[yhwhlungs]

Bros showing computer science basics in such a simple manner it's soothing

[ifraanco]

I had seen these topics explained separately, but I had never seen them explained all together. Now it makes much more sense.
great video! :D

[codewithlenny]

The bit about using file extensions to tell the difference between what the bits represent was mind-blowing! I've learned a ton from this video but that segment was phenomenal.

[McWickyyyy]

I’m a software engineer. About mid level. I rarely have to deal with this type of stuff cuz of course it’s all abstracted away by the time it gets to the high level programming languages…but man I love watching your videos. It brings me back to my college days when we briefly had to learn about this stuff. There’s something truly magical about binary and hexadecimal representation of data. Thanks for all your hard work. Your videos always have great explanations as well as great animations to back them up. I hope you keep at this and keep enjoying the process of making these videos.

[ryderklein]

wake up babe new Josh's Channel video just dropped

[pog]

This is probably the simplest yet best way I've seen someone explain binary. Good job!

[cazosky]

I’m so enchanted by this!! Please keep making more. I am currently in a Computer Organization and Machine Language course and so I was happy to see this video pop up and describe what I’m learning in a fun color and artistic way!

The sound effects and visuals made me engrossed the entire time. I look forward to future videos :D

[jemm]

You just gave me half my computer architecture class in a single video! Thankfully for me I knew about all this stuff beforehand, but the way you so succinctly present it was well worth the refresher!