Analog v. Digital

Analog v. Digital

A sound wave is an example of an analog signal. Analog signals carry information but vary continuously in both amplitude and frequency. Alternatively, digital signals send information as wave pulses, and communicate only through 0s and 1s, so the form that the information takes is much simpler. When you speak into a cell phone, the analog sound waves of your voice are converted into a digital signal by your phone. The digital signal of your voice is then sent through a cell tower, bounced off a satellite, sent through another cell tower, and then finally to your friend’s phone. When the sound comes out of your friend’s phone, the wave become an analog signal again.

In the picture below, the analog signal is red and the digital signal is blue.