Teaching Signals to Students: a Tool for Visualizing Concepts in Digital Signal Processing (DSP)

Abstract: Few Engineering students at Uppsala University choose to pursue their studies in signal processing, due to the level of difficulty within the subject. The main underlying problem is the students' trouble with understanding the behaviour of analog and digital filters, as well as the concept of stability. In this project, a system that allows the teacher to visualize multiple concepts in signal processing was developed. The system consists of analog filters, digital filters implemented in a digital signal processor, and software for simulating unstable filters. The goal with this project is to give teachers the possibility to make students intuitively understand the subject, and improve the overall learning experience for the students.