Course: Introduction to Computers

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Course title Introduction to Computers
Course code KID/PTVPP
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Tutorial
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study 1
Semester Summer
Number of ECTS credits 3
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)
  • Panuška Ivan, Mgr.
Course content
Analog vs. digital systems, digital representation of analog value, numbering systems, decimal-binary-hexadecimal-octal conversion. The virtual excursion to computer museum. Boolean logic, gates, implementation of complex function blocks, multiplexer, adder, ALU. Memory elements, flip-flop, register, counter. Cybernetic system, machine-based task solving, algorithm, program, process. Principle of operation and main parts of the digital computer, registers, ALU, memory, I/O. Program and data, data flow and processing, instruction set, instruction interpretation, microinstruction, controller. Computer architecture, Von Neumann and Harvard architectures, CISC, RISC, signal processors. Wired block and bus oriented architecture, bus taxonomy. Primary and secondary memory, hierarchic memory, virtual memory. RWM and ROM, random and sequential access, associative memory, non-volatile memory. Memory technologies, semiconductor memories, magnetic disc and tape memories, optical discs. Peripheral device, device controller, direct program control, interrupt-driven control, DMA. Function principles of peripheral devices. Digital processing of sound and image, A/D and D/A conversion, colour vector, RGB, CYMK, lossless and lossy compression, JPEG, MPEG. Speeding up computer - bus width, clock frequency, instruction prefetch, instruction pipelining, superscalar architecture. Parallel data processing, coprocessors. Synchronisation and communication of parallel processes, granularity, multiprocessing, MP systems taxonomy. Inside PC - case, power supply, mainboard, CPU, memory, expansion I/O cards, bus standards, PnP. FD, HD, CD and DVD disc drives, ATA and SCSI interfaces. Graphic card, video-RAM, RAMDAC, monitor interfaces. Sound cards. Graphic input, mouse, track-ball, touch-panel, tablet. Connecting peripherals, parallel and serial ports, SCSI, USB, FireWire. Connecting to the network, NIC, modem, ISDN, xDSL, CTV, WIFI. Role of operating system, virtual computer, drivers, system programs, applications. Single-user and multi-user OS, timesharing, multitasking, network OS, real-time OS. System reliability, data backup and recovery, power backup (UPS), ECC memory, RAID. Dependability, fault-tolerant systems. System security, requirements, threats, attacks, malware, hacking, protection. Other aspects - cooling, power management, EMC. Scalability, expandability, modularity, industry-wide compatibility. Mobile systems, real-rime systems, control systems, embedded systems

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing), Skills training, Laboratory work, Stimulating activities (simulation, games, drama)
Learning outcomes
The aim of the course is to present how computer systems work and how these are built. The course provides a comprehensive overview of computer fundamentals and an introduction to advanced concepts. Labs are based on the CNA e-learning course "IT Essentials I. - PC Hardware and Software" (for details, see http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/netacad/course_catalog/IT1.html). In combination with PXOSPE, (Network Operating Systems) this course will help students for careers in network administrator, network technician, systems analyst, technical support engineer, applications integrator, business continuity analyst, tester and systems administrator.

Prerequisites
unspecified

Assessment methods and criteria
Oral examination, Didactic test, Systematic monitoring

Given assignment confirms that a student has attended lessons to the extent required and fulfilled qualified requirements. Conditions for credit are: active work at labs, min. 80% presence, passing the CNA (Cisco Networking Academy) "IT Essentials I. - PC Hardware and Software" class. Form, contents and length of the exam are determined in accordance with Study and Examining Rules of University of Pardubice. The exam consists of two parts, a written test and a theoretical exam. Student passes successfully the written test as well as the theoretical part of exam if he/she obtains at minimum 50% of possible points in each part.
Recommended literature
  • Cisco Networking Academy Program: IT Essentials I, PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide. USA: Cisco Press, 2002. ISBN 1587130920.
  • Cisco Networking Academy Program: IT Essentials I, PC Hardware and Software Lab Companion. USA: Cisco Press, 2002. ISBN 1587130947.
  • HP IT Essentials I: PC Hardware and Software Lab Companion (2nd edition). Cisco Press, 2004. ISBN 1587131382.
  • IT Essentials I: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide (2nd edition).. Cisco Press, 2004. ISBN 1587131366.
  • Horák, J. Tiskárny - praktický průvodce uživatele. Brno: Computer Press, 1999. ISBN 8072262122.
  • Kolektiv autorů. Linux - dokumentační projekt, 3. aktualizované vydání. Brno: Computer Press, 1998. ISBN 8072267612.
  • Minasi, Mark. Velký průvodce hardwarem. Praha: Grada, 2002. ISBN 80-247-0273-8.
  • Rosch, W. L. Hardware Bible (5th Edition). Que, 1999. ISBN 978-0789717436.
  • Stallings, W. Computer Organization and Architecture: Designing for Performance (7th Edition). Prentice Hall, 2006. ISBN 0131856448.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Transport Engineering Study plan (Version): Applied Informatics in Transport (2016) Category: Informatics courses 1 Recommended year of study:1, Recommended semester: Summer