Graham want to see binary system

From what I understand, its used because a switch (transistor) only has two states - on and off. This is why binary is base 2. The other number systems i.e hexidecimal, octal are used to simplify the binary to make it easier to program the computer.

If quantum computing ever takes off, we might see some base 7/9 computing - depending on which quantum theory is true (quantum particles have many states - and can simultaneously have more than 1 state)

Yes, that is correct computer hardware has components that only support two states, on or off (hince the word binary). On means it has power and off means it doesnt. Just like a lamp. Its either on or off. You cant have a lamp thats both on and off at the same time. But at the same time the lamp has to either be on or off it can't be neither. (unless its broken, :D)

The CPU, the brain of the computer has many of these switches and when they are turned on and off in a special order they "create" calculations.

Its a little more complicated then that, CPUs have registers, etc... but that is basically an easy description.

http://www.cs.caltech.edu/~westside/dilbert.gif

Please have more. :lol: