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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
Hi folks,
I am trying to teach a young lad how to set up binary addressable fire alarm systems and no matter how I explain it, or how much I write it down or draw it for him, he just can't seem to grasp the concept. Now I know it is the way I'm trying teach him and not the way he learns (?) so I'm looking for any suggestions on ways to get this principle over to him. He's bright when it comes to learning everything else, so it must be the way I'm doing it that has him confused. What it the simplest way to describe this numbering system. I've even given him homework to do, using the binary system to count to one hundred, but he still gets it wrong time and time again. He needs to know how the DIP switches are configured in each detector to give them a unique number on the control panel. But I'm now tearing my hair out trying to get it through to him. HELP !!! --- www.basecuritysystems.no-ip.com Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.525 / Virus Database: 322 - Release Date: 09/10/03 |
#2
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
In uk.d-i-y, BigWallop wrote:
Hi folks, I am trying to teach a young lad how to set up binary addressable fire alarm systems and no matter how I explain it, or how much I write it down or draw it for him, he just can't seem to grasp the concept. Now I know it is the way I'm trying teach him and not the way he learns (?) so I'm looking for any suggestions on ways to get this principle over to him. He's bright when it comes to learning everything else, so it must be the way I'm doing it that has him confused. What it the simplest way to describe this numbering system. I've even given him homework to do, using the binary system to count to one hundred, but he still gets it wrong time and time again. He needs to know how the DIP switches are configured in each detector to give them a unique number on the control panel. But I'm now tearing my hair out trying to get it through to him. HELP !!! I don't know how many bits you're talking about, but consider supplying him with a simple look-up table rather than trying to teach him the system. -- Mike Barnes |
#3
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
Mike Barnes wrote:
I am trying to teach a young lad how to set up binary addressable fire alarm systems and no matter how I explain it, or how much I write it down or draw it for him, he just can't seem to grasp the concept. snip I don't know how many bits you're talking about, but consider supplying him with a simple look-up table rather than trying to teach him the system. I use a binary/hex/decimal calculator myself, whilst I know how to do the conversions I just can't be bothered with it Lee -- Never summon Anything you can't banish. - To reply use lee.blaver and ntlworld com |
#4
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
"Lee Blaver" wrote in message ... Mike Barnes wrote: I am trying to teach a young lad how to set up binary addressable fire alarm systems and no matter how I explain it, or how much I write it down or draw it for him, he just can't seem to grasp the concept. snip I don't know how many bits you're talking about, but consider supplying him with a simple look-up table rather than trying to teach him the system. I use a binary/hex/decimal calculator myself, whilst I know how to do the conversions I just can't be bothered with it Lee I've given him a calculator to use when he needs to, and he knows how to convert the decimal number into binary on it. But then he tells me it gets him even more confused because the number that comes up on the screen is just 1's and 0's and he doesn't know how to make the DIP switches look the same as them. I've even explained that when it shows a 1 it means it's ON, and similarly when O it is OFF, but then he'll either turn it upside down or make a balustrade of swapping it over to the switches themselves. I'm now down to only a couple of hairs in my head, so to stop me going bald, I think I'll leave him in the workshop. :-)) --- www.basecuritysystems.no-ip.com Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.525 / Virus Database: 322 - Release Date: 09/10/03 |
#5
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
"BigWallop" wrote
| I don't know how many bits you're talking about, but consider | supplying him with a simple look-up table rather than trying | to teach him the system. | I've given him a calculator to use when he needs to, and he knows how to | convert the decimal number into binary on it. But then he tells me it gets | him even more confused because the number that comes up on the screen is | just 1's and 0's and he doesn't know how to make the DIP switches look the | same as them. | I've even explained that when it shows a 1 it means it's ON, and similarly | when O it is OFF, but then he'll either turn it upside down or make a | balustrade of swapping it over to the switches themselves. Then you either give him a lookup table with ONs and OFFs in the same layout as the DIPs on the detectors like (assuming ON is UP): 1 ON OFF OFF ----------------------------- 2 ON OFF OFF ----------------------------- 3 ON ON ----------------------------- 4 ON OFF OFF ----------------------------- OR you spend half-an-hour one evening setting all the dip switches on the detectors to different, then writing in magic-marker the number in 'normal' inside the cover, so Laddo just has to copy the 'normal' number off the detector onto the plan or location list as he installs each one. OR you spend an hour one evening, setting all the dip switches in the detectors, writing the number in magic-marker inside the cover, making the list of locations or marked up plan, so all Laddo has to do is put detector 318 in location 318 on the plan. Owain |
#6
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
"Owain" wrote in message ... "BigWallop" wrote | I don't know how many bits you're talking about, but consider | supplying him with a simple look-up table rather than trying | to teach him the system. | I've given him a calculator to use when he needs to, and he knows how to | convert the decimal number into binary on it. But then he tells me it gets | him even more confused because the number that comes up on the screen is | just 1's and 0's and he doesn't know how to make the DIP switches look the | same as them. | I've even explained that when it shows a 1 it means it's ON, and similarly | when O it is OFF, but then he'll either turn it upside down or make a | balustrade of swapping it over to the switches themselves. Then you either give him a lookup table with ONs and OFFs in the same layout as the DIPs on the detectors like (assuming ON is UP): 1 ON OFF OFF ----------------------------- 2 ON OFF OFF ----------------------------- 3 ON ON ----------------------------- 4 ON OFF OFF ----------------------------- OR you spend half-an-hour one evening setting all the dip switches on the detectors to different, then writing in magic-marker the number in 'normal' inside the cover, so Laddo just has to copy the 'normal' number off the detector onto the plan or location list as he installs each one. OR you spend an hour one evening, setting all the dip switches in the detectors, writing the number in magic-marker inside the cover, making the list of locations or marked up plan, so all Laddo has to do is put detector 318 in location 318 on the plan. Owain One engineer spent all day doing this for him on one job, but when he went back to commission it he still found detectors in the wrong place. With the materials mostly being delivered direct to site in a big box, it's not really practical to take all the heads out and set them up for him. I just wish I could make him understand that it can only be ON (1) or OFF (0) and that the base number is two. But this is where he gets confused. He says that "If the base number is 2, then why is there only zero's and one's". Aaaarrrrggghhhh !!!! --- www.basecuritysystems.no-ip.com Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.525 / Virus Database: 322 - Release Date: 09/10/03 |
#7
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
"Mike Barnes" wrote in message ... In uk.d-i-y, BigWallop wrote: Hi folks, I am trying to teach a young lad how to set up binary addressable fire alarm systems and no matter how I explain it, or how much I write it down or draw it for him, he just can't seem to grasp the concept. Now I know it is the way I'm trying teach him and not the way he learns (?) so I'm looking for any suggestions on ways to get this principle over to him. He's bright when it comes to learning everything else, so it must be the way I'm doing it that has him confused. What it the simplest way to describe this numbering system. I've even given him homework to do, using the binary system to count to one hundred, but he still gets it wrong time and time again. He needs to know how the DIP switches are configured in each detector to give them a unique number on the control panel. But I'm now tearing my hair out trying to get it through to him. HELP !!! I don't know how many bits you're talking about, but consider supplying him with a simple look-up table rather than trying to teach him the system. -- Mike Barnes As I say Mike, I've given him tables to take home and work out how to make the switch number 100 say, and he still gets it wrong most of the time. I'm getting tired following him around or sending another guy out. He's making the numbers up as he goes along I think. :-)) --- www.basecuritysystems.no-ip.com Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.525 / Virus Database: 322 - Release Date: 09/10/03 |
#8
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
"BigWallop" wrote in message ... "Mike Barnes" wrote in message ... .... I don't know how many bits you're talking about, but consider supplying him with a simple look-up table rather than trying to teach him the system. -- Mike Barnes As I say Mike, I've given him tables to take home and work out how to make the switch number 100 say, and he still gets it wrong most of the time. I think that what Mike is suggesting is a table with numbers 1 to 128 (assuming 8 switches) and a picture or diagram of the DIP switches in the correct places for each number. It might take a bit of work to create it, but, once done, you wouldn't need to teach anybody binary for them to be able to set the switches properly. Colin Bignell |
#9
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
"nightjar .uk.com" nightjar@insert my surname here wrote in message . .. "BigWallop" wrote in message ... "Mike Barnes" wrote in message ... ... I don't know how many bits you're talking about, but consider supplying him with a simple look-up table rather than trying to teach him the system. -- Mike Barnes As I say Mike, I've given him tables to take home and work out how to make the switch number 100 say, and he still gets it wrong most of the time. I think that what Mike is suggesting is a table with numbers 1 to 128 (assuming 8 switches) and a picture or diagram of the DIP switches in the correct places for each number. It might take a bit of work to create it, but, once done, you wouldn't need to teach anybody binary for them to be able to set the switches properly. Colin Bignell Thanks Colin. I've already started this, but I'm running out of paper already. :-)) --- www.basecuritysystems.no-ip.com Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.525 / Virus Database: 322 - Release Date: 09/10/03 |
#10
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
In article ,
BigWallop wrote: Thanks Colin. I've already started this, but I'm running out of paper already. :-)) Ahem :-) 0 00000000 1 00000001 2 00000010 3 00000011 4 00000100 5 00000101 6 00000110 7 00000111 8 00001000 9 00001001 10 00001010 11 00001011 12 00001100 13 00001101 14 00001110 15 00001111 16 00010000 17 00010001 18 00010010 19 00010011 20 00010100 21 00010101 22 00010110 23 00010111 24 00011000 25 00011001 26 00011010 27 00011011 28 00011100 29 00011101 30 00011110 31 00011111 32 00100000 33 00100001 34 00100010 35 00100011 36 00100100 37 00100101 38 00100110 39 00100111 40 00101000 41 00101001 42 00101010 43 00101011 44 00101100 45 00101101 46 00101110 47 00101111 48 00110000 49 00110001 50 00110010 51 00110011 52 00110100 53 00110101 54 00110110 55 00110111 56 00111000 57 00111001 58 00111010 59 00111011 60 00111100 61 00111101 62 00111110 63 00111111 64 01000000 65 01000001 66 01000010 67 01000011 68 01000100 69 01000101 70 01000110 71 01000111 72 01001000 73 01001001 74 01001010 75 01001011 76 01001100 77 01001101 78 01001110 79 01001111 80 01010000 81 01010001 82 01010010 83 01010011 84 01010100 85 01010101 86 01010110 87 01010111 88 01011000 89 01011001 90 01011010 91 01011011 92 01011100 93 01011101 94 01011110 95 01011111 96 01100000 97 01100001 98 01100010 99 01100011 100 01100100 101 01100101 102 01100110 103 01100111 104 01101000 105 01101001 106 01101010 107 01101011 108 01101100 109 01101101 110 01101110 111 01101111 112 01110000 113 01110001 114 01110010 115 01110011 116 01110100 117 01110101 118 01110110 119 01110111 120 01111000 121 01111001 122 01111010 123 01111011 124 01111100 125 01111101 126 01111110 127 01111111 |
#11
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
"BigWallop" wrote in message ... .... Thanks Colin. I've already started this, but I'm running out of paper already. :-)) Index cards then. He could carry a stack of those with himin a box. Anyone should be capable of taking out a card with the right number on it and setting the switches up or down to match the picture. Colin Bignell |
#12
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
In article , BigWallop
writes Hi folks, I am trying to teach a young lad how to set up binary addressable fire alarm systems and no matter how I explain it, or how much I write it down or draw it for him, he just can't seem to grasp the concept. Now I know it is the way I'm trying teach him and not the way he learns (?) so I'm looking for any suggestions on ways to get this principle over to him. He's bright when it comes to learning everything else, so it must be the way I'm doing it that has him confused. What it the simplest way to describe this numbering system. I've even given him homework to do, using the binary system to count to one hundred, but he still gets it wrong time and time again. He needs to know how the DIP switches are configured in each detector to give them a unique number on the control panel. But I'm now tearing my hair out trying to get it through to him. HELP !!! I design DMX disco lighting which uses dip switches, and have to deal with DJ's, who are not well known for their mental agility. This is the way I explain it (your switch numbering might be different). Switch 1 counts for 1. Switch 2 counts for 2. Switch 3 counts for 4. Switch 4 counts for 8. Switch 5 counts for 16. Switch 6 counts for 32. (repeat for all your switches). Look at the number you need to set. What's the biggest switch number will fit into the number? example: 19, switch 6 is too big but switch 5 will fit. Then take off the value of that switch. Example, take off the value of switch 5, which is 16, leaving 3. What's the next biggest switch number which fits into the left over number? switch 2. Take off 2, leaving 1. Switch 1 fits, and there you are, switches 5 2 and 1 are on. Some people just can't do it. I eventually designed a website to work it out for those people. It may or may not work for you depending how the dip switches relate to the number. http://www.tega.co.uk/calc.asp -- Tim Mitchell |
#13
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 10:12:54 GMT, "BigWallop"
wrote: He needs to know how the DIP switches are configured in each detector to give them a unique number on the control panel. But I'm now tearing my hair out trying to get it through to him. HELP !!! Some people have mental blocks about this and lots of other things. I'm the same when it comes to chemistry. I could never, ever, figure out all those chemical symbols and so on - and yet everyone around me had no problem at all. You may have entered into a battle which you will never win. PoP |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
"PoP" wrote in message ... On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 10:12:54 GMT, "BigWallop" wrote: He needs to know how the DIP switches are configured in each detector to give them a unique number on the control panel. But I'm now tearing my hair out trying to get it through to him. HELP !!! Some people have mental blocks about this and lots of other things. I'm the same when it comes to chemistry. I could never, ever, figure out all those chemical symbols and so on - and yet everyone around me had no problem at all. You may have entered into a battle which you will never win. PoP Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! It is getting to that stage PoP. I know he's bright and I don't want to lose him on site because of this silly problem. I'll persevere a bit longer with it I think and maybe just find a way of getting him to pick it up. Patience is a virtue and frustration is a real pain in proverbial. :-)) --- www.basecuritysystems.no-ip.com Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.525 / Virus Database: 322 - Release Date: 09/10/03 |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
"PoP" wrote
| Some people have mental blocks about this and lots of other things. | I'm the same when it comes to chemistry. I could never, ever, figure | out all those chemical symbols and so on - and yet everyone around me | had no problem at all. My chemistry teacher once assured my mother that I would pick up symbols and valencies just as easily as I'd learned multiplication tables. My mother looked at him and just said "but he never learnt them either" Owain |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
"Owain" wrote in message ... "PoP" wrote | Some people have mental blocks about this and lots of other things. | I'm the same when it comes to chemistry. I could never, ever, figure | out all those chemical symbols and so on - and yet everyone around me | had no problem at all. My chemistry teacher once assured my mother that I would pick up symbols and valencies just as easily as I'd learned multiplication tables. My mother looked at him and just said "but he never learnt them either" Owain ROFL !!! --- www.basecuritysystems.no-ip.com Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.525 / Virus Database: 322 - Release Date: 09/10/03 |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 11:51:17 +0100, PoP
wrote: I'm the same when it comes to chemistry. I could never, ever, figure out all those chemical symbols and so on - Yeah, but that's different, because Chemistry really IS all cobblers! ;O) Note it was the Chemist with the "Foam in the Canoe and everywhere else" problem! It's chemists and the like that wire plugs up gorilla stylee - That tells you just about all you need to know! Take Care, Gnube {too thick for linux} |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 10:12:54 UTC, "BigWallop"
wrote: I am trying to teach a young lad how to set up binary addressable fire alarm systems and no matter how I explain it, or how much I write it down or draw it for him, he just can't seem to grasp the concept. Now I know it is the way I'm trying teach him and not the way he learns (?) so I'm looking for any suggestions on ways to get this principle over to him. If there are N switches, make 2^N pictures of the actual switch block. Draw in the switches that are ON or OFF in each picture. Write a number beside each picture. -- Bob Eager rde at tavi.co.uk PC Server 325*4; PS/2s 9585, 8595, 9595*2, 8580*3, P70... |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
"Bob Eager" wrote in message ... On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 10:12:54 UTC, "BigWallop" wrote: I am trying to teach a young lad how to set up binary addressable fire alarm systems and no matter how I explain it, or how much I write it down or draw it for him, he just can't seem to grasp the concept. Now I know it is the way I'm trying teach him and not the way he learns (?) so I'm looking for any suggestions on ways to get this principle over to him. If there are N switches, make 2^N pictures of the actual switch block. Draw in the switches that are ON or OFF in each picture. Write a number beside each picture. -- Bob Eager rde at tavi.co.uk PC Server 325*4; PS/2s 9585, 8595, 9595*2, 8580*3, P70... Now that's a good point Bob. But I'm now wondering how many pages of drawings I'll have to make up if the system goes to the full ten switches. :-)) 9,999 detectors on one system is highly unlikely though, so I might give him a try on this. Thank you. --- www.basecuritysystems.no-ip.com Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.525 / Virus Database: 322 - Release Date: 09/10/03 |
#20
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
BigWallop wrote: Now that's a good point Bob. But I'm now wondering how many pages of drawings I'll have to make up if the system goes to the full ten switches. :-)) 9,999 detectors on one system is highly unlikely though, so I might give him a try on this. What is the likely highest number? I agree that he clearly has a mental block, and the anxiety induced by constantly getting it wrong (and knowning that you know) will be making it worse. You definately need to make a fresh start, beginning with what he can do and feels confident with, and building on that. I'd prepare sheets with drawings of actual switch settings and the associated numbers. On A4 sheets in landscape you ought to be able to to get 8 diagrams across the page in a line. So the first line will have 0-7, the second 8-15 etc. You might get 16 lines to a sheet so that would allow 0-255 on a double side which could be laminated. With luck, he may work out the pattern for himself, but don't push it. Otherwise limit his responsibilities to jobs which are within his capabilities using the crib sheet. Nick |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
"Nick Nelson" wrote in message ... BigWallop wrote: Now that's a good point Bob. But I'm now wondering how many pages of drawings I'll have to make up if the system goes to the full ten switches. :-)) 9,999 detectors on one system is highly unlikely though, so I might give him a try on this. What is the likely highest number? I agree that he clearly has a mental block, and the anxiety induced by constantly getting it wrong (and knowning that you know) will be making it worse. You definately need to make a fresh start, beginning with what he can do and feels confident with, and building on that. I'd prepare sheets with drawings of actual switch settings and the associated numbers. On A4 sheets in landscape you ought to be able to to get 8 diagrams across the page in a line. So the first line will have 0-7, the second 8-15 etc. You might get 16 lines to a sheet so that would allow 0-255 on a double side which could be laminated. With luck, he may work out the pattern for himself, but don't push it. Otherwise limit his responsibilities to jobs which are within his capabilities using the crib sheet. Nick Thanks for this reply Nick. Maybe I've just pushed it to far this passed couple of weeks and he needs a rest from it. I'll see what I can do about the drawings for him, and maybe make a point of personally being with him on more of sites to see if I can spot where the failing is coming from. Thank you sir. You've made me sit back and relax a bit more on this. I knew it was me that was at fault somewhere here. I'm being to pushy. :-)) --- www.basecuritysystems.no-ip.com Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.525 / Virus Database: 322 - Release Date: 09/10/03 |
#22
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
BigWallop wrote: Thanks for this reply Nick. Maybe I've just pushed it to far this passed couple of weeks and he needs a rest from it. I'll see what I can do about the drawings for him, and maybe make a point of personally being with him on more of sites to see if I can spot where the failing is coming from. Glad it helped, one thing I learnt from being a primary school teacher was that for some people in some circumstances, being calm and patient (even though you really felt like beating the hell out of something) often produced better results than anything else. Thank you sir. You've made me sit back and relax a bit more on this. I knew it was me that was at fault somewhere here. I'm being to pushy. :-)) Don't regard it as anyones fault, just a problem to work out together. Nick |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 13:04:00 GMT, "BigWallop"
wrote: Now that's a good point Bob. But I'm now wondering how many pages of drawings I'll have to make up if the system goes to the full ten switches. :-)) 9,999 detectors on one system is highly unlikely though, so I might give him a try on this. How about treating them as "flags" in "positions" or "slots", and saying that the number simply describes the state of the flag in each slot or position? Maybe it's the numbers and the rest of the concept together which is flooring him? Often explaining why things are called what they are can help too - does he know why a dip switch is so called? That sort of thing - some background like that would get him "an understanding" rather than learning by wrote, which is always slower even if perhaps better in some folks view. Once you got an understanding, I would venture to suggest it opens to door to having real intuition about a given subject. That would have to help. Take Care, Gnube {too thick for linux} |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
On 14 Oct 2003 12:57:32 GMT, "Bob Eager" wrote:
If there are N switches, make 2^N pictures of the actual switch block. Draw in the switches that are ON or OFF in each picture. Write a number beside each picture. And that's where an old fashioned maths exercise book scores, since the little squares are already ruled in for you! Just block in the ones you want with a felt pen - Using that I've taught 5 women of assorted ages and abilities binary and how to make 8X8 characters sets for computer use, and convert them to comma delimited data lists, and how to debug them where the shapes were not what they wanted. Never lost a patient yet, and they all "got it". This just can not be a hopeless case once you got that info on board! Take Care, Gnube {too thick for linux} |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
"Gnube" wrote
| And that's where an old fashioned maths exercise book scores, since | the little squares are already ruled in for you! Just block in the | ones you want with a felt pen - Using that I've taught 5 women of But women are different! They can understand knitting patterns. Owain |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
On Wed, 15 Oct 2003 11:03:36 +0100, "Owain"
wrote: But women are different! They can understand knitting patterns. We've only got their word for it that they came out right haven't we? ;O) Take Care, Gnube {too thick for linux} |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
"Gnube" wrote
| "Owain" wrote: | But women are different! They can understand knitting patterns. | We've only got their word for it that they came out right haven't we? | ;O) You mean you have a suspicion that the hand-knitted tank-top Mrs Gnube presented you with last birthday started out as a tea-cosy but she got the tension wrong? Owain |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
"Gnube" wrote in message ... On 14 Oct 2003 12:57:32 GMT, "Bob Eager" wrote: If there are N switches, make 2^N pictures of the actual switch block. Draw in the switches that are ON or OFF in each picture. Write a number beside each picture. And that's where an old fashioned maths exercise book scores, since the little squares are already ruled in for you! Just block in the ones you want with a felt pen - Using that I've taught 5 women of assorted ages and abilities binary and how to make 8X8 characters sets for computer use, and convert them to comma delimited data lists, and how to debug them where the shapes were not what they wanted. Never lost a patient yet, and they all "got it". This just can not be a hopeless case once you got that info on board! Take Care, Gnube {too thick for linux} I've tried drawing it on the back of his hand this morning. :-)) He's got 5 heads to set up, so I'm waiting to see if it helping before I go ahead with style sheets that Witchy done for me. I just hope it is really helping him and so far no phone calls. :-)) |
#29
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
On Wed, 15 Oct 2003 11:45:38 GMT, "BigWallop"
wrote: "Gnube" wrote in message .. . On 14 Oct 2003 12:57:32 GMT, "Bob Eager" wrote: If there are N switches, make 2^N pictures of the actual switch block. Draw in the switches that are ON or OFF in each picture. Write a number beside each picture. And that's where an old fashioned maths exercise book scores, since the little squares are already ruled in for you! Just block in the ones you want with a felt pen - Using that I've taught 5 women of assorted ages and abilities binary and how to make 8X8 characters sets for computer use, and convert them to comma delimited data lists, and how to debug them where the shapes were not what they wanted. Never lost a patient yet, and they all "got it". This just can not be a hopeless case once you got that info on board! Take Care, Gnube {too thick for linux} I've tried drawing it on the back of his hand this morning. :-)) He's got 5 heads to set up, so I'm waiting to see if it helping before I go ahead with style sheets that Witchy done for me. I just hope it is really helping him and so far no phone calls. :-)) I hope he hasn't got a runny nose 'cos one careless wipe with the hand and that's his crib sheet gone cheers witchy/binarydinosaurs |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
BigWallop wrote:
He needs to know how the DIP switches are configured in each detector to give them a unique number on the control panel. But I'm now tearing my hair out trying to get it through to him. HELP !!! I would go for either printing up a little booklet of numbers 0 to 1023 and the associated switch positions, or finding something programmable (like an old Psion series 3, or even one of those nice new Java compatible mobile phones) and knocking up a little program to do the conversion for him on the fly with a pictorial output. -- Cheers, John. /================================================== ===============\ | Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------| | John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \================================================= ================/ |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
"John Rumm" wrote in message ... BigWallop wrote: He needs to know how the DIP switches are configured in each detector to give them a unique number on the control panel. But I'm now tearing my hair out trying to get it through to him. HELP !!! I would go for either printing up a little booklet of numbers 0 to 1023 and the associated switch positions, or finding something programmable (like an old Psion series 3, or even one of those nice new Java compatible mobile phones) and knocking up a little program to do the conversion for him on the fly with a pictorial output. -- Cheers, John. But that's the rub John. He has a calculator that converts decimal to binary for him, and he knows how to work it, but he can't grasp that the number showing on the screen is the positions the switches should be in. It's is something that is getting to him, that doesn't want, or can't, see the translation. Weird ! :-)) --- www.basecuritysystems.no-ip.com Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.525 / Virus Database: 322 - Release Date: 09/10/03 |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 14:15:16 GMT, "BigWallop"
wrote: "John Rumm" wrote in message ... BigWallop wrote: He needs to know how the DIP switches are configured in each detector to give them a unique number on the control panel. But I'm now tearing my hair out trying to get it through to him. HELP !!! I would go for either printing up a little booklet of numbers 0 to 1023 and the associated switch positions, or finding something programmable (like an old Psion series 3, or even one of those nice new Java compatible mobile phones) and knocking up a little program to do the conversion for him on the fly with a pictorial output. -- Cheers, John. But that's the rub John. He has a calculator that converts decimal to binary for him, and he knows how to work it, but he can't grasp that the number showing on the screen is the positions the switches should be in. It's is something that is getting to him, that doesn't want, or can't, see the translation. Weird ! :-)) He's obviously being confused by you saying he's working in base 2. I'd knock up a quick PHP script that does numbers from 1 to summat like 1023 and creates DIP switch images based on the binary equivalent - the web counter on my museum site works in the same way. In fact I might do that later on just for the hell of it. Show him this: "there are 10 types of people in the world that understand binary. Those who do and those who don't" If his brain melts he's never going to get it cheers witchy/binarydinosaurs |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
"Witchy" wrote in message ... On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 14:15:16 GMT, "BigWallop" wrote: "John Rumm" wrote in message ... BigWallop wrote: He needs to know how the DIP switches are configured in each detector to give them a unique number on the control panel. But I'm now tearing my hair out trying to get it through to him. HELP !!! I would go for either printing up a little booklet of numbers 0 to 1023 and the associated switch positions, or finding something programmable (like an old Psion series 3, or even one of those nice new Java compatible mobile phones) and knocking up a little program to do the conversion for him on the fly with a pictorial output. -- Cheers, John. But that's the rub John. He has a calculator that converts decimal to binary for him, and he knows how to work it, but he can't grasp that the number showing on the screen is the positions the switches should be in. It's is something that is getting to him, that doesn't want, or can't, see the translation. Weird ! :-)) He's obviously being confused by you saying he's working in base 2. I'd knock up a quick PHP script that does numbers from 1 to summat like 1023 and creates DIP switch images based on the binary equivalent - the web counter on my museum site works in the same way. In fact I might do that later on just for the hell of it. Show him this: "there are 10 types of people in the world that understand binary. Those who do and those who don't" If his brain melts he's never going to get it cheers witchy/binarydinosaurs ROFL !!! Now you've got me confused !! :-)) My brain hurts. LOL --- www.basecuritysystems.no-ip.com Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.525 / Virus Database: 322 - Release Date: 09/10/03 |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
snip
"there are 10 types of people in the world that understand binary. Those who do and those who don't" snip Thanks for this line Big Wallop, I've been trying to remember it as I've followed this thread! I recall some years ago watching schools TV (broken leg in plaster etc) when they covered the binary method. The approach was by using a (cartoon) octupus and illustrating counting to a base of 8 (number of legs on Octupus, geddit?). 8 was called 'Octo'; 9 was 'Octo-one'; 17 was 'twocto-one' etc. It was fun to my daughter and she quickly caught on. They then moved progressively down to a base of 2 and it all made sense (to her anyway). HTH BAH |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
In message ,
Witchy wrote: Show him this: "there are 10 types of people in the world that understand binary. Those who do and those who don't" If his brain melts he's never going to get it The last time I saw this, it was in a tagline from someone who frequents this group (I think), and it read: There are 11 types of people in the world. Those who don't understand binary, those who do but don't get the joke, and those who get the joke. Hwyl! M. -- Martin Angove: http://www.tridwr.demon.co.uk/ Don't fight technology, live with it: http://www.livtech.co.uk/ .... Profanity, the language computerists know. |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
Martin Angove wrote in
: There are 11 types of people in the world. Those who don't understand binary, those who do but don't get the joke, and those who get the joke. You've left out the ones who don't understand binary, so that's 20 kinds. What's the joke? mike r |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
In article ,
Martin Angove wrote: There are 11 types of people in the world. Those who don't understand binary, those who do but don't get the joke, and those who get the joke. Yep. Bob Eager has that as a sig at the mo. Oddly I am wearing this tshirt today : http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/frustrations/5aa9/ Working in a computing department it is scary how many people don't understand it. I guess binary is so hidden from todays computer scientists that they just don't need it Maybe the OP ought to get one of these for his "student": http://www.thinkgeek.com/cubegoodies/lights/59e0/ Tell him he can't go home till he has worked out what the time is Cheers, Darren |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
ok, lets do it the laddish way ;o)
the object of the game is to score points for bedding girls. he has 7 days of the week to do this in, starting on sunday which is the easiest day to get laid. and as he goes back each day from sunday, it gets doubling difficult to get laid so he gets double points for each day he goes back, thus .... (this is where the formatting gets knackered) mon tue wed thu fri sat sun 64 32 16 8 4 2 1 an oat sewing profile of 0100001 means 1 point for sunday, and going backwards, nothing until tuesday, which gets him 32 points total=33 points! QED pip p.s. if he has any problems with 1's and 0's - remember his willy is a 1 and is like the DIP switch needs to be UP to fulfil the deed, and well the 0 for the female anatomy is self-explanatory ;o) "BigWallop" wrote in message ... "John Rumm" wrote in message ... BigWallop wrote: He needs to know how the DIP switches are configured in each detector to give them a unique number on the control panel. But I'm now tearing my hair out trying to get it through to him. HELP !!! I would go for either printing up a little booklet of numbers 0 to 1023 and the associated switch positions, or finding something programmable (like an old Psion series 3, or even one of those nice new Java compatible mobile phones) and knocking up a little program to do the conversion for him on the fly with a pictorial output. -- Cheers, John. But that's the rub John. He has a calculator that converts decimal to binary for him, and he knows how to work it, but he can't grasp that the number showing on the screen is the positions the switches should be in. It's is something that is getting to him, that doesn't want, or can't, see the translation. Weird ! :-)) --- www.basecuritysystems.no-ip.com Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.525 / Virus Database: 322 - Release Date: 09/10/03 |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
"pip" wrote in message ... ok, lets do it the laddish way ;o) the object of the game is to score points for bedding girls. he has 7 days of the week to do this in, starting on sunday which is the easiest day to get laid. and as he goes back each day from sunday, it gets doubling difficult to get laid so he gets double points for each day he goes back, thus .... (this is where the formatting gets knackered) mon tue wed thu fri sat sun 64 32 16 8 4 2 1 an oat sewing profile of 0100001 means 1 point for sunday, and going backwards, nothing until tuesday, which gets him 32 points total=33 points! QED pip p.s. if he has any problems with 1's and 0's - remember his willy is a 1 and is like the DIP switch needs to be UP to fulfil the deed, and well the 0 for the female anatomy is self-explanatory ;o) LOL !!! I could just use him as the 1, because he seems to be becoming a bit of an upright prick. :-)) --- www.basecuritysystems.no-ip.com Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.525 / Virus Database: 322 - Release Date: 09/10/03 |
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Binary numbering and how to teach a moron
On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 15:24:17 +0000 (UTC), "pip"
wrote: the object of the game is to score points for bedding girls. he has 7 days of the week to do this in, starting on sunday which is the easiest day to get laid. and as he goes back each day from sunday, it gets doubling difficult to get laid so he gets double points for each day he goes back, thus .... Well I have to admit that I've never had the binary system explained quite like that! Might be a good idea not to introduce the concept of tri-state, where you can have 1, 0 and indeterminate..... PoP |