Course: Principles of Computers

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Course title Principles of Computers
Course code KAM/KPRPN
Organizational form of instruction Seminary
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 4
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Dušek František, doc. Ing. CSc.
Course content
1. Transmission and processing of information (knowledge, information, data, signals), the role of computer technology and its development. Concepts of coding, encryption and compression. 2. Parts of computer and their functions (processor, bus, RAM, peripherals), instruction set, program, address, address space and physical memory, computer architectures (Harward, von Neuman, CISC, RISC) 3. Processor (registers, controller, ALU, bus control), instructions (opcode, operands, addressing), program execution (sequence, branching, subroutine), necessary conditions for running the program, interrupts (synchronous, asynchronous), communication with peripheral devices (ports / address space, cycle / interrupt / DMA) 4. Bus - functions and properties (baud rate / error rate, parallel / serial, synchronous / asynchronous). Operational memory - functions and features (ROM / RAM, speed, capacity, implementation). 5. Peripheral devices - keyboard, mouse, display device, printers (line, matrix, laser, inkjet), external memory (HDD, CD / DVD), data network 6. Acceleration of program execution - hyperscalar architecture (VLIW), SIMD, pipelining, hierarchical memory structure (cache), DDRx, multichannel access (DRAM modules). Memory protection (user / kernel, logical / physical address, RW / R / E memory access), virtual memory. 7. Microprocessors / microcontrollers - special devices DI / DO, AD / DA, counter / timer, PWM, USART, SPI, I2C. 8. Program start - BIOS functions, RTC, boot devices, OS functions, OS types (single task / multitasking / user, real time), OS parts (kernel, drivers, shell), OS services and user program. 9. User interface (text / graphic), conventions of OS, OOP and OS Windows, event driven program - implementation in OS Windows. Windows utilities. 10. Programming languages (machine code, assembler, higher programming languages). Subroutine, procedure and function. Translated and interpreted program. Parts of the program in operational memory - code, data (static / dynamic / heap), stack. 11. Program creation - editor, compiler, connection program, librarian. Program debugging - debugger, profiler. Starting and ending the program. Combination of programming languages and system service calls. Static and dynamic libraries. Computer viruses. 12. Programming - structured program / event driven program. Data types and algorithm. Synchronous / asynchronous I / O operations, exceptions. 13. Basic data types and program constructions, local and global variables, visibility, function parameters, indicators The content of the seminars corresponds to the above lecture topics.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing), Dialogic (discussion, interview, brainstorming), Methods of individual activities
  • Contact teaching - 12 hours per semester
  • Home preparation for classes - 48 hours per semester
  • Term paper - 40 hours per semester
  • Preparation for an exam - 20 hours per semester
Learning outcomes
The course is focused on explaining the principles of the function of hardware and software and on gaining an idea of the meaning and interrelationships of some terms used in computer technology.
After completing the course, the student demonstrates basic knowledge of the principles of computer technology, both in the field of HW and SW. He is able to explain and describe the functions of the basic parts of the computer and system software. He can characterize the advantages and limitations of different solutions.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of computer science and physics from high school is assumed.

Assessment methods and criteria
Oral examination, Home assignment evaluation

The student will prepare a semester paper according to the assignment. The first part of the oral exam is a discussion of the seminar paper. In the second part of the exam, the student will be given one question related to one of the lecture topics.
Recommended literature
  • Dembowski, Klaus. Mistrovství v hardware. Brno: Computer Press, 2009. ISBN 978-80-251-2310-2.
  • Horák, Jaroslav. Hardware : učebnice pro pokročilé. Brno: Computer Press, 2007. ISBN 978-80-251-1741-5.
  • Minasi, Mark. Velký průvodce hardwarem. Praha: Grada, 2002. ISBN 80-247-0273-8.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester