FIT1001 - Computer systems

Offered

Berwick First semester 2007 (Day)
Caulfield First semester 2007 (Day)
Clayton First semester 2007 (Day)
Clayton Second semester 2007 (Day)
Gippsland First semester 2007 (Day)
Gippsland First semester 2007 (Off-campus)
Hong Kong First semester 2007 (Off-campus)
Malaysia First semester 2007 (Day)
Malaysia Second semester 2007 (Day)
Singapore First semester 2007 (Off-campus)
South Africa First semester 2007 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit will introduce students to basic computer hardware and operating systems software with emphasis on the concepts required to understand the low-level and internal operations of computer systems.

Objectives

1. Understand basic computer structure and operation and demonstrate use of the associated vocabulary.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of data representation, computer arithmetic and Boolean algebra using appropriate methods of implementation.
3. Demonstrate detailed knowledge of internal bus, memory, I/O organisations and interfacing standards.
4. Describe the internal operation of the CPU and explain how it is used to execute instructions.
5. Differentiate between machine language and assembly language and write assembly language programs to solve simple problems.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the basics fo operating systems software using examples from file systems, user interfaces and software development tools.
7. Identify factors that affect computer performance.
8. Use various simulators to demonstrate the operation of simple computer architectures.

Assessment

Examination (3 hours): 60%
Assignments and tests: 40%

Contact hours

6 hours per week