ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. 1. Background of the Study

Humans are speaking to one another in a particular language made of words and letters. While we type words and letters in the computer, the computer does not understand the words and letters. Those words and letters are translated into numbers. It means that computers “talk” and understand in numbers. Although many students know the decimal system, and are very comfortable with performing operations using this system, it is too important for students to understand that the decimal system is not the only system. By studying other number systems such as binary, octal, hexadecimal and so forth, students will gain a better understanding of how number systems work in general (Faheem et al. 2011).

However, when we deal with digital technology i.e. computers and other digital devices, we necessitate to be familiar with other number systems as well. In the digital world, most commonly computer science and information technology, normally we require a working knowledge of various number systems, four basic and most common of these are binary, octal, decimal and hexadecimal. More specifically, the use of the microprocessor requires a working knowledge of binary, decimal and hexadecimal number system (Shahid et al., 2017).

Computers communicate and operate in binary digits 0 and 1; on the other hand, human beings generally use the decimal systems with ten digits 0-9. Other number systems used in digital systems are octal with eight digits i.e. 0 through 7 and hexadecimal system with digits from 0 through 15. All these number systems use unique and distinct symbols. Some of these numeral systems use only numeric digits (0, 1, 2... 9), while other use alphabets as well along the numeric digits. In case of hexadecimal system, digits 10-15 are designated as A through F to avoid confusion with the decimal numbers, 10 to 15 (Ramesh, 2013).

1.2     Statement of the Problem

It has been observed that modern civilization is so familiar with decimal number system that they do not experience a need to think about other number systems and this has posed in challenge in them solving number-based system arithmetic efficiently and in time. This being a challenge we have device a means by developing a command driven interface program using Visual Basic to resolve many and more of the problems stated above.

1.3     Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of this research work is to design a Command Driven interface program for number base conversion using visual basic that will be used to perform number-based conversion on a command line.

The objectives include the following;

i. To review related literatures pointing Command Driven interface program.

ii. Design a Command Driven interface program for number system conversion using Unified Model Language (UML) controls.

iii. Implement the system in (ii) using Visual Basic.

iv. Test the system implemented in (iii) for errors and bugs.

1.4     Significance of the Study

This study will serve as a platform to mitigate the challenges faced by students and researchers in dealing with number-based conversion issues and also save the time it takes to perform a number-based conversion arithmetic operation manually.

The software is relevant in the following ways:

1. The designed software will aid in carrying out number-based conversion.
2. The designed software will aid student to authenticate their manual number base conversion arithmetic results
3. The system will serve as a conduit for further research by scholars and academicians.

1.5     Scope of the Study

This research work covers the Design and Implementation of a Command Driven interface program for number base conversion using visual basic with special focus to the conversion of numbers in decimal to binary, hexadecimal and octal number-based system.

1.6     Limitation of the Study

The researcher faced some limitations during the course of this research. Some of this limitations/constraint includes;

i. Time constraint: Time factor was the major factors as the timeframe to submit the project was too short for a rigorous research.

ii. Financial constraint:  Lack of adequate finance to fund the researcher as to visit many places was another major setback.

1.7     Definition of Terms

1. Binary Number System: The base 2 number system is also known as the Binary Number System wherein, only two binary digits exist, i.e., 0 and 1.
2. Command line: is a text interface for your computer. It's a program that takes in commands, which it passes on to the computer's operating system to run. From the command line, you can navigate through files and folders on your computer, just as you would with windows explorer on windows or finder on Mac OS.
3. Command: is a directive to a computer program to perform a specific task. It may be issued via a command-line interface, such as a shell, or as input to a network service as part of a network protocol, or as an event in a graphical user interface triggered by the user selecting an option in a menu.
4. Command-Driven: (of a program or computer) operated by means of commands keyed in by the user or issued by another program or computer.
5. Computer programming: Computer programming is the process of designing and building an executable computer program to accomplish a specific computing result.
6. Decimal Number: Decimal number system has base 10 because it uses ten digits from 0 to 9. In the decimal number system, the positions successive to the left of the decimal point represent units, tens, hundreds, thousands and so on. This system is expressed in decimal number the base of the decimal is 10. 
7. Hexadecimal Number System: In the hexadecimal system, numbers are written or represented with base 16. In the hex system, the numbers are first represented just like in decimal system i.e. from 0 to 9. Then, the numbers are represented using the alphabets from A to F. 
8. Menu-Driven: of or relating to software that makes extensive use of menus to enable users to choose alternatives and guide program operations.
9. Number System Conversion: Numbers can be represented in any of the number system categories like binary, decimal, hex, etc. Also, any number which is represented in any of the number system types can be easily converted to other.
10. Numeral System: A numeral system is a writing system for expressing numbers; that is, a mathematical notation for representing numbers of a given set, using digits or other symbols in a consistent manner. The same sequence of symbols may represent different numbers in different numeral systems.
11. Octal Number System: In the Octal Number System, the base is 8 and it uses numbers from 0 to 7 to represent numbers. Octal numbers are commonly used in computer applications.
12. Visual Basic: is a third-generation event-driven programming language from Microsoft known for its Component Object Model programming model first released in 1991 and declared legacy during 2008. Microsoft intended Visual Basic to be relatively easy to learn and use