Modern Era of Signal Processing

Signal processing is essentially the field of engineering that deals with how signals are received, most commonly in regards to mechanical devices. These signals can come from a number of different sources, such as light, sound, and heartbeats in a medical situation. The application of the data gleaned from studying signal processing can be used in many different ways. One of the most common applications of signal processing in the modern world is when a person wishes to perform an analog to digital conversion of music files. This happens when going from a format like LP albums to a newer format, such as MP3s. Understanding the difference between digital and analog signal processing is imperative to get a usable conversion.

Analog signal processing deals with the signals that do not have a digital version. Some examples of these types of signals include older television signals, FM and AM radio, telephones, and radar systems. The signal processing of an analog signal must take into account the use of both linear and non-linear electronic circuits. On the other hand, digital signal processing is a more modern invention. Some filters that can be used in the analog system are voltage control and frequency mixers.

The arrival of digital signal processing marked a new era in data and signal transmission. Instead of using electronic circuits, the digital form of signal processing is built from digital circuits that are capable of performing many different types of algorithms. The signal processing from a digital signal is almost a decoding process, with computers most often being the recipients of these signals. Instead of just receive commands, there are many other possible operations, leading the system to be much more interactive than standard analog signal processing. Some algorithms that can be used in digital signal processing are Infinite impulse response, Wiener adaptive filters, and the Fast Fourier transform.