h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

For the non-Shockwave, non-Java and best of all non-confusing version of all of the above, see the book "Digits and Dastards" by Frederik Pohl which includes the essay "How to Count on your Fingers" and goes on to suggest many further interesting extensions to the central idea.

Some readers may be unfamiliar with the ancient concept of a "book", but don't panic - think of it as a power-source-independent cross-platform random-access portable data retrieval system and you can't go far wrong.

Binary isn't so difficult. Just takes patience and the desire to learn like anything else (plus a decent tutorial never hurts, eh?)

My tutorial has worked for many computer science students around the world as well as some professors according to the emails and guestbook signings I get! I guess some people (me included) learn best using technology. Books have their place, though (after all, that's where I learned binary to begin with (Andromeda Strain)).

From my guestbook(s):
Comments....Good work on the binary primer, best place I have found for a decent explanation.

Comments....hey thanks for the help with the binary , I had to do this in my class but your web site is pretty cool. ( how to kill an immortal... he he he! )

Comments....very cool page..i came here first when i was in school, to learn the binary finger thing, however the pic in the gallery fascinated me and i have come back here to gather them alll up and put them in a folder on my desktop; then i can change my desktop nearly every day to a beautiful picture that draws comments from everyone who sees them. most of all though..i just love to look at pictures in bryces gallery, they are so pretty and soothing to the eye. thank you for the chance to enjoy.

Comments....thanks for the binary primer and the BFC!!!!!

Comments....wanna thanks for teach (mmm....teach is not right word...but have no idea about other word..)me how to count binary number by hand. =)

Comments....I just wanted to say that I love your site. The content is very original and extremely creative. My favorite sections would have to be the tour of hell and the amazing explanation of the binary numbering system which I have been trying to learn for months now. I picked it up from your site in 10 minutes. Keep up the good work!

Comments....The site looks great! What a cool way to explain binary to the art crowd. The act of counting to 31 gave me carpal tunnel, so you'll be hearing from my lawyer, but other than that, rock on, Professor!

Comments....I liked very much your binary finger counting, congratulations, for your work please reply my e-mail abording the binary finger counting.

Comments....I think the binary counting by hands is totally awesome..thanks..

Comments....You have just taught me binary numbers after I made my lecturer rip his hair out, when he was trying to teach me.

Comments....I hated maths and only ever scraped thru at school, now I'm doing I.T. and I had to learn binary numbers. I pretty much thought I would fail, but you have showed me how easy it is.

Comments....Hey thanks for the info on binary numbering! I just started studying for my A+ certification and was quite confused on the binary numbering thing! I've checked a bunch of sites, and managed to find yours. Yours is the first one that actually made sense! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now on to hexadecimal!

Comments....Thanx for the binary primer

Comments....the binary finger exercise was fun, but it hurts my hand a bit. Now I really understand the value of computers: They are easier on the fingers.

Comments....Thanks for the info on binary coding. I enjoyed it. I am intereted in knowing if you do things like "screen-savers".

Comments....Liked your binary finger counting

Comments....Thanks for the outstanding binary tutorial. I had to learn it torunht!!

Comments....Found a reference to your binary primer

Comments....Way cool site, visited from work where I was searching for subnetmasking stuff (logical AND conversions) and found your finger binary stuff. Had a lot of fun here, your art work and computing abilities are top rank. Thanks!

Comments....Thanks for the "counting binary on your fingers" Believe it or not, I count on my fingers anyway. This finger binary counting dillybobber really helped me get my grasp on binary. It really did!

Comment....Now I am a suedoexpert in binary math! And I owe it all to you! Thanks!

Comments....Thanks for the binary number explanation. It was "in your face" at it's best. Thank you!

Comments....hi , nice to sign your book, i stumble into your space by searching out some info on binary numbers.......great stuff. I'm currently looking into the MCSE exams.......well gotta run again thanx's and don't forget to sign my guestbook

Comments....Hello and thanks for the lesson in counting binary on one hand.

Comments....Thanks for the info on binary numbers. I think I'm almost clued in now.

Johnster
GALLERY: http://homepage.mac.com/johnselvia/
THOUGHTS: http://www.dnaco.net/~ivanjs/