reads strings from stdin, converts them to bytes, converts that to bits, converts that to ascii, and prints out the result.

Bits.scala

import scala.io.StdIn

object Bits{
  def main(args: Array[String]): Unit = {
    while(true) {
      println(
        prettyBits(
          Option[String](StdIn.readLine) match {
            case Some(str) => for {
              by <- str.map(_.toByte)
              bi <- toBits(by).reverse
            } yield bi

            case None => IndexedSeq[Boolean]()
          }
        )
      )
    }
  }

  /* returns bits of byte, from MSB to LSB */
  def toBits(by: Byte): List[Boolean] = {
    if(by == 0) {
      List()
    } else {
      (by % 2 == 1) :: toBits((by / 2).toByte)
    }
  }

  def prettyBits(xs: IndexedSeq[Boolean]): String = {
    val combine = (s: String, b: Boolean) => (s + (if(b) "0" else "1"))
    xs.foldLeft("")(combine)
  }
}