Final answer:
Signal processing involves the analysis and handling of signals, such as electrical, mechanical, or biological. Electrical signals, which are most common in this context, can be analog or digital, with digital systems using transistors to manipulate binary data represented by two distinct voltage levels. Sensory transduction in biology also involves converting stimuli to electrical signals played an essential role in the nervous system.
Step-by-step explanation:
Signal processing is an area that deals with the analysis, manipulation, and interpretation of signals. Signals can be electrical, mechanical, or biological in nature, with electrical signals being most commonly associated with signal processing. These electrical signals are processed in two forms: they can be analog or digital. Analog signals vary continuously over a range of values, resembling real-world data like intensity values of sound or visual images. In contrast, digital signals represent data in discrete values—typically two distinct voltage levels—due to the binary nature of digital systems. This binary representation consists of ones and zeroes. Devices such as analog-to-digital converters transform analog signals into digital signals, which can then be processed electronically in computers and other digital recording devices. Another key aspect of signal processing involves the use of integrated circuits comprised of transistors that act like on-off switches, handling digital signals efficiently and enabling modern computing systems.
In regard to physiology, sensory transduction is the process by which all types of senses convert stimuli into electrical signals as they travel through the nervous system.