Electronics Electronic technology is all around us in devices such as televisions, mobile phones, tablets and laptops. Nearly all modern electronic devices use some sort of programming software. Programming is used for something as simple as a musical birthday card, as well as for the super computers that run internet search engines.
Fig. 12 A smartphone
Fig. 13 Binary code, which uses the numbers 1 and 0, contains the instructions for computer processors.
1.5 Earth and space
Since earliest times humans have studied the stars and other planets. The study of space and space objects is called astronomy. In today’s world we rely on man-made satellites to send mobile phone and television signals and to provide data for navigation systems such as sat-nav (satellite navigation). The International Space Station (ISS) is used for carrying out experiments in space and to research the possibilities for space travel.
Fig. 14 A sat-nav (satellite navigation) device.
Space travel For several decades space flight was experienced by very few people. However, it may soon be possible for anyone who can afford it to travel to space, because several companies are now building ‘spaceships’. This is only possible because of all the research that has gone into space travel over the last 50 years.
