RESOURCES:  The following are only basic resources. You may have to search for others for additional information.

Basic definitions: A. http://whatis.techtarget.com/
B. http://www.atis.org/tg2k/
C. Basics of how almost all technologies work (How DVDs work, how digital television works, and much more).  You might start with the tabs “computer stuff ” or “electronic stuff,” or maybe do a search:  http://www.howstuffworks.com/

Each of the above has advantages and disadvantages. For example, A provides a definition for “frequency ” but not “frequency response” whereas C provides a definition for “frequency response.” A,B and C are good for simple definitions, but D is good for explaining the applications of technical devices.

Goal: To understand more details of how technologies work, their standards and why those standards exist.

I. Read about digital and analog.  (Search for “digital” and “digital signal,” “analog” and “analog signal”)

II. Read about noise, digital noise and analog noise. 

III. Also, read about: wow and flutter, analog to digital conversion, analog to digital conversion (AD) sampling rate and error, AD quantizing error.

IV. Read about how CDs and DVDs work and their standards.

V. I. Read about transmission methods.  (Look up AM, FM, PCM, phase modulation)

1. Define digital.
2. Define analog.
3. How do they differ?  How are they the same?
4. What is noise?
5. What is the difference between analog noise and digital noise? What is the same?
5a. What causes digital noise?
6. Basically describe how CDs and DVDs work.
7. What is the frequency response of the human ear? ...the human eye?
8. Which has better sound reproduction CD or analog vinyl disc? Explain.
9. Describe the various ways a signal gets transmitted. Which is used for digital? ...for analog?
9a. How is a signal modulated? Advantages/disadvantages to each?
9b. What transmission media are used?