Software is a set of computer programs and associated documentation and data. This is in contrast to hardware, from which the system is built and which actually performs the work. At the lowest programming level, executable code consists of machine language instructions supported by an individual processor-typically a central processing unit (CPU) or a graphics processing unit (GPU). Machine language consists of groups of binary values signifying processor instructions that change the state of the computer from its preceding state. For example, an instruction may change the value stored in a particular storage location in the computer-an effect that is not directly observable to the user. An instruction may also invoke one of many input or output operations, for example displaying some text on a computer screen; causing state changes which should be visible to the user. The processor executes the instructions in the order they are provided, unless it is instructed to "jump" to a different instruction, or is interrupted by the operating system.
In the early 1980s, metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) very-large-scale integration (VLSI) technology led to the availability of 16-bit central processing unit (CPU) microprocessors and the first graphics processing unit (GPU) chips, which began to revolutionize computer graphics, enabling high-resolution graphics for computer graphics terminals as well as personal computer (PC) systems. NEC's µPD7220 was the first GPU, fabricated on a fully integrated NMOS VLSI chip. It supported up to 1024x1024 resolution, and laid the foundations for the emerging PC graphics market. It was used in a number of graphics cards, and was licensed for clones such as the Intel 82720, the first of Intel's graphics processing units. RAM (VRAM) introduced by Texas Instruments (TI) in the mid-1980s. In 1984, Hitachi released the ARTC HD63484, the first complementary MOS (CMOS) GPU. In 1986, TI introduced the TMS34010, the first fully programmable MOS graphics processor. Computer graphics terminals during this decade became increasingly intelligent, semi-standalone and standalone workstations.
Computer graphics are created by mathematically defining the shape and behavior of an object using a process called rendering. The final rendered image can be stored in memory for future use, or displayed directly to viewers on your screen (or other displays). Image - A type of file that lets you see a still image inside the computer’s memory instead of on your screen. The most common types are JPEG and PNG , though you can use many other programs as well such as your operating system’s built-in editor or graphics software like GIMP or Photoshop . Graphics Card - A separate processor that is designed to help with the processing demands of computer graphics. They usually come with their own on-board memory, and some even have their own dedicated power source so they don’t drain away from your computer’s main resources. They’re particularly useful if you work with 3D objects or animations because those require a whole lot more graphical processing power than 2D shapes do.
That same data port also comes in handy if a manufacturer uncovers a computer glitch or wants to modify how the car operates. For example, a carmaker may develop an algorithm for smoother transmission shifts. Installing it in any customer car is as simple as a dealer technician plugging his computer into the data port and uploading the new software. Before CAN, this would've meant physically replacing an ECU. The heavy tinkerers out there know all about the ability to reprogram, or hack, a car. Manufacturers frown on the practice, of course-it will void your warranty-but not everyone can resist the urge to reverse-engineer code and make a few changes. Unless you're sporting a computer-engineering degree, hacking into the system directly is inadvisable (if you accidentally grenade your engine, you'll be left with a car-shaped driveway ornament), although some aftermarket products make interacting with your car's network quite rewarding, especially if you're a speed freak. Mechanics in hot-rod shops, who modify engines for more horsepower, have been successfully reprogramming cars for at least a decade. But, remember, they're professionals. Your car's electronics network may be sophisticated, but as the amount of data it handles increases over time, it will have to be upgraded. Most likely, cars will adopt an Ethernet-based system such as VEEDIMS, the one in the high-tech Iconic AC Roadster. VEEDIMS assigns each vehicle component an IP address so that centralized and remote computers can pass around huge amounts of information. Attach a cellular connection and data can be beamed to the cloud for analysis. Dealer visits for software upgrades could be replaced by a download. What's holding all this back? Legacy costs. It would take billions to re-create the software. But car Ethernet is coming-someday.
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