// Accepts 8 bits of data and outputs each bit to it's corresponding pin (pins array)
void writeByte(byte data, byte[] pins){
    // Loop through each of the 8 bits (start at zero, end at 7)
    for(byte a = 0; a < 8; a++){
        // shift the data to the right by 'a' bits and check to see if the first bit is set
        // consider if data = 0x75 (01110101 in binary)
        // the first iteration of the for loop will shift 01110101 by 0 (since a is 0 to start with)
        //   since the first bit is a 1, pins[0] will output a HIGH
        // the second iteration of the for loop will shift 01110101 by 1 (since a is now 1)
        //   after the shift, the data will be 0111010 (notice there are now only 7 bits!)
        //   since the first bit is now a 0, pins[1] will output a LOW
        if((data >> a) & 0x01){
            digitalWrite(pins[a], HIGH);
        }else{
            digitalWrite(pins[a], LOW);
        }
    }
}