24-bit computing: Difference between revisions

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Several fixed-point [[digital signal processor]]s have a 24-bit data bus, selected as the basic word length because it gave the system a reasonable precision for the processing audio (sound).
In particular, the [[Motorola 56000]] series has three parallel 24-bit data [[computer bus|buses]], one connected to each [[Memory space (computational resource)|memory space]]: program memory, data memory X, and data memory Y.<ref>[http://cache.freescale.com/files/dsp/doc/inactive/DSP56000UM.pdf 24-BIT. DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSOR. FAMILY]</ref>
 
[[Engineering Research Associates]] (later merged into [[UNIVAC]]) designed a series of 24-bit [[drum memory]] machines including the Atlas, its commercial version the [[UNIVAC 1101]], the [[ATHENA computer]], the [[UNIVAC 1824]] guidance computer, etc. Those designers selected a 24-bit word length because the Earth is roughly 40 million feet in diameter, and an [[intercontinental ballistic missile]] guidance computer needs to do the [[Earth-centered inertial]] navigation calculations to an accuracy of a few feet.<ref>[http://vipclubmn.org/CP24bit.html "UNIVAC 24-bit computer genealogy"]</ref>