Friday, July 17, 2009

Introduction to Digital Signal Processing

DSP, or Digital Signal Processing, as the term suggests, is the processing of signals by digital means. A signal in this context can mean a number of different things. Historically the origins of signal processing are in electrical engineering, and a signal here means an electrical signal carried by a wire or telephone line, or perhaps by a radio wave. More generally, however, a signal is a stream of information representing anything from stock prices to data from a remote-sensing satellite. The term "digital" comes from "digit", meaning a number (you count with your fingers - your digits), so "digital" literally means numerical; the French word for digital is numerique. A digital signal consists of a stream of numbers, usually (but not necessarily) in binary form. The processing of a digital signal is done by performing numerical calculations.

Digital Signal Processing (DSP) is the processing of real world (analog) signals with microprocessors. It is essentially the real-time execution of mathematical algorithms and is one of the fastest growing fields of technology and computer science in the world, with typically a growth rate in excess of 30%. The growth of the computer industry has affected every corner of daily life and everyone is aware of this effect. In today's western world almost everyone uses DSPs in their everyday life, but unlike users of PCs almost no one knows that they are using DSPs. Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) are special purpose microprocessors and they are used in every form of electronic product, from mobile phones, modems and CD players to the automotive industry; medical imaging systems to the electronic battlefield and from dishwashers to satellites.

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