FACTFILE:
GCE DIGITAL
TECHNOLOGY
AS2: FUNDAMENTALS OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE - DATA COMPRESSION
Learning Outcomes Content in Data Compression
Students should be able to: aIntroduction – Why is data compression
• explain the need for data compression; necessary?
• describe how zipping is used to compress data; aHow zipping is used to compress data
• evaluate common data file formats: txt, wav, aEvaluating data file formats
bitmap, JPEG, MPEG and GIF; • txt
• describe how text, sound and video can be • wav
input using a range of devices, such as personal • bitmap
computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones. • JPEG
• MPEG
• GIF
aInputting text, sound and video using digital
devices
aQuestions
DATA COMPRESSION: INTRODUCTION
Why is data compression necessary? then replace these repeating patterns with a single
Data compression is the process associated with character.
reducing the memory or storage required by For example in the first two sets of paragraphs and
large files. This is often important when it comes titles in this fact file there are 10 instances of the
to data transmission and storage on backing ‘ss’, if these were all replaced by * this would save
storage devices. Data compression uses a series 10 characters.
of algorithms to reduce the amount of real space
taken up by data on a storage medium. Can you see any other repetitions where
patterns /pairs of characters could be replaced
How zipping is used to compress data by a single character, thus reducing the text file
Zipping is the process of compressing data files. size even further?
It uses an algorithm called the LZW algorithm
to reduce the memory or storage required by Evaluating Data File Formats
large files. The LZW algorithm looks for repeating All files written to a storage medium must have
patterns in the data being compressed and will a unique file name. The first part of the file name
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FACTFILE:GCE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY / AS2: FUNDAMENTALS OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
will be determined by the user and will help them Generally a WAV file is uncompressed, although
identify the file at a later date; the second part (the wav files can sometimes also be used to store
file extension) will help identify that file as being compressed formats. A header in the file
a certain file type. Some of the more common file will indicate if the file is in compressed or
extensions are referenced below. uncompressed format.
txt – files which are presented as lines of electronic bmp – a method of creating images where details
text. These files are readable to the human eye but of each pixel forming part of the overall image are
contain no formatting information and may often held as a bit map in memory. A bit map is where a
be used to store information which requires further pattern of bits is used to hold data relating to the
processing by another application. Some operating state of an individual pixel in the image; including
systems will place an EOF (End of file character) text. Since a bitmap image is produced from tiny
after the last line in the text file to denote the end squares of colour, which are arranged to produce
of the txt file. the effect of an image; this is a good method of
reproducing ‘continuous tone’ images, such as
wav – a file format widely used for professional photographs and for free hand drawings.
recording and editing. These files use a process
known as sampling to store a digital representation jpeg – jpegs identify arrangements of pixels which
of a recorded analogue sound signal. During the are repeated elsewhere in the image so this data
sampling process the amplitude of the waveform needs only be saved once, rather than having
being received are analysed very quickly and to repeat the data and take up storage space
recorded (see diagram below). It is the angular unnecessarily.
waveform shown below that is played back to the
listener. The quality of the sound is dependent upon mpeg – mpegs use a method called delta
the frequency of the sampling (sampling rate) and compression to record and transmit the data
the number of bits used to store the digital value for representing audio and video files. It works by
each sample (sample resolution). only sending what has changed since the last
recording / transmission of data. For example in
the transmission of TV signals where 25 frames
are transmitted per second, a full frame / picture
is only sent occasionally and in between those
transmissions data is sent relating only to changes
in the full frame / picture.
gif – a method developed to support the
compression and storage of images using bit
mapped data, a simple animated version is also
available. Eight bits are used to represent data
relating to each pixel so only 256 distinct colours
can be represented; helping to minimize file size.
Wave Form Audio File Format (WAVE) but commonly
known as WAV due to its filname extension.
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FACTFILE:GCE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY / AS2: FUNDAMENTALS OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
Data File Format File Type Advantages Disadvantages
txt .txt Can be opened in any word Files of this type have no
A text file based processor or text editor formatting information.
commonly on the without the need for additional These file types can often
ASCII character processing. take up more storage than is
set. Is much smaller than a word necessary as no compression
processing file. occurs.
Simple txt files do not require
metadata so therefore if no
data is stored the file will take
up zero bytes.
When data corruption occurs
on a txt file, the remaining
contents can be more easily
recovered
wav .wav A ‘lossless’ method of recoding Sound quality is dependent
Waveform audio sound files, i.e. all of the upon sample rates and sample
file format. information collected in the resolution.
A sound file. original sampling process will
be retained.
Bitmap .bmp Used to store characters or ‘Blank’ portions of the image
graphics as individual pixels; still require representation
the higher the resolution of the within the bit map so this can
image the better the quality of contribute to the file size of the
the image. stored image.
High resolution bit mapped Bit mapped images may appear
images are ideal for storing jagged (pixelated) when scaled
freehand drawings up or down.
JPEG .jpeg, .jpg, .jpe Standard compression A ‘lossy’ compression method,
(defined by A graphics file format for photographic i.e. some detail relating to the
the Joint format, used to images devised by the Joint image content is lost in the
Photographic store still images Photographic Experts Group. compression process.
Experts Group) Can reduce file size to 5% of its
original size.
MPEG MPEG – 1 (mpg) Varying resolutions can be ‘Lossy’ compression techniques
(defined by the MPEG-2 applied to the file at the time of are applied i.e. some data is
Motion Picture (m2v, mpg, mp2) storage for example:– removed. But the degeneration
Experts Group) Various audio and MPEG-1 file formats produce of the image cannot always be
video formats. low-resolution file formats perceived by the human eye.
suitable for CD storage.
MPEG-2 file formats record
high-resolutions sequences
suitable for DVD recording.
Other variations / resolutions
are available.
GIF .gif Provides a format for image Colour palette is limited to 256
(Graphics files that supports both colour’s so they are not ideal
Interchange animated and static images. for storing digital photos, such
Format) Gif’s are compressed to save as those captured with a digital
transmission time. camera.
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FACTFILE:GCE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY / AS2: FUNDAMENTALS OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
Inputting text, sound and video Video input – it is common place now for
digital devices to have a camera incorporated
using digital devices for the recording of digital still and digital video
In this section we will look at how text, sound and images. Digital video cameras have two main
video can be input a collection of digital devices components; the camera, which is the image
including personal computers, laptops, tablets and capturing component, and the recorder which is
smartphones. the component of the video camera that stores
the captured video images. The image is recorded
Text input – text may be input to digital devices using the digital camera. The captured image is
using a variety of methods; the most common then transmitted into computer pixels which is then
being via a keyboard. The QWERTY keyboard is the stored in whatever media storage is available to the
most common keyboard format available on digital digital video camera.
devices; it will incorporate letters, digits and a range
of special characters. Some devices may however
have a separate numeric keypad.
The set of characters represented on a digital device
at any one time is known as the character set of
that device. ASCII (American Standard Code for
Information Interchange) is a common character
set on digital devices. The ASCII code uses 7 bits
which gives 32 control codes and 96 displayable
characters or symbols. The eighth bit can be used
for error checking.
The depression / selection of a key on any device
will generate a digital signal representing the
character code. When a symbol representing a
particular character is to be printed or displayed on
the screen of a particular device the character code
is converted into the appropriate symbol
Sound input – most digital devices are now
supplied with simple microphones for recording
sound. Since sound is produced by the vibration of
air it can be said to be analogue in format (i.e. it is
a continually varying signal). The electrical output
from a microphone also consists of a continually
varying signal in the form of voltage. Devices
such as personal computers, laptops, tablets or
smartphones all store data in digital format so
conversion of the analogue signal and the digital
data is needed. This is achieved through the
process of sound sampling where special hardware
measures the level of the sound many times and
then records this as a numerical value (see the
previous section on wav file formats for additional
detail on sampling).
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FACTFILE:GCE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY / AS2: FUNDAMENTALS OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
Questions
1 An image can be stored on a PC using bit-mapped and jpeg file format.
a. Identify two characteristics of bit-mapped images. [2]
b. i. Describe how file size of the same image stored in jpeg format might differ from its
bit-mapped version. [1]
ii. Give one reason for this difference in file size [2]
2 Sound sampling is used when sound is being recorded on a digital device.
a. Explain how the process of sampling is used to convert an analogue sound wave
into digital format for storage on a PC. [3]
b. Describe two factors which may impact upon the quality of a digital sound file as
it is being recorded. [4]
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FACTFILE:GCE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY / AS2: FUNDAMENTALS OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
3 A professional photographer is importing digital images to a PC for detailed editing.
a. Which image file type would be most appropriate for this task? [1]
b. Give an explanation for your choice of file type in this instance. [2]
4 A student uses a microphone to record a voice over for a multimedia presentation. Describe how
analogue sound input is converted into digital format.
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FACTFILE:GCE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY / AS2: FUNDAMENTALS OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
5 Keyboards are commonly used to enter text into digital devices. Describe how a keyboard can
be used to generate text, numbers and special characters which can be stored in digital format. [2]
Bibliography
BCS Academy Glossary Working Party, 2013, BCS Glossary of Computing and ICT, 13th Edition,
Swindon, BCS Learning and Development Ltd
© CCEA 2017 7
