Abstraction is a humorous factor. It helps us work together with our computer systems in a extra intuitive and pure manner, however it additionally lets us stay blind to these computer systems’ internal workings. The typical person most likely is aware of that computer systems perceive 1s and 0s, however not what that truly means. If you wish to get an excellent really feel for that — no less than because it pertains to knowledge storage and transmission—then look no additional than Backwood’s video uploaded by means of a fishing line.
Backwood’s video was, because the headline states, uploaded by means of a fishing line. Extra precisely, the complete video was transmitted by means of a fishing line earlier than then being uploaded to YouTube. That labored utilizing precisely the identical setup that you simply’ve seen in cartoons your complete life and that you’ll have even tried your self sooner or later: the great ol’ tin can phone.
Soundwaves are vibrations and might transfer by means of any bodily medium. Within the case of the tin can phone, one can collects the soundwaves. They then transfer by means of the taught string and are compelled into the air by the second can. In the usual elementary college science experiment, the tin can phone is simply transmitting the sound of an individual’s voice. However sound may also carry knowledge and that’s how Backwood achieved this feat.
If you happen to ever put a telephone to your ear within the ‘90s whereas somebody was utilizing dial-up web within the residence, you realize that knowledge may be transmitted by means of sound. On the most elementary degree, quiet would possibly signify a zero and a loud sound would possibly signify a one. These bits can be assigned to particular pitches and different encoding schemes are doable, too. On this case, Backwood used a easy scheme able to transmitting a whopping 5 bytes per second.
That transmission is between two computer systems. One accommodates the unique video file, however doesn’t have web entry. The second does have web entry, however can’t add to YouTube till it receives the entire video file. The primary laptop talks to the second by means of a speaker pointed at a tin can microphone with a microphone on the different finish linked to the second laptop. As a substitute of literal tin cans and string, Backwood used paper cups and fishing line (the outcomes have been higher with these).
As many individuals identified within the video’s feedback, Backwood basically reinvented an acoustic coupler — {hardware} that was widespread within the days earlier than devoted modems turned widespread. However as a substitute of going by means of an electrical telephone line, this acoustic coupler goes by means of a fishing line.
Ultimately, it took Backwood 5 months to transmit the complete video file from the primary laptop to the second. If that doesn’t offer you an appreciation for our fashionable expertise with all of its abstraction, nothing will.