GCO9802 - Computer systems

Leader: A Driver

Offered

Gippsland First semester 2007 (Day)
Gippsland First semester 2007 (Off-campus)

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. In particular, this includes study of data representation, simple digital logic, computer organisation including CPU, memory and input/output devices, as well as machine-level and assembly language programming, and operating system concepts with examples of process management, file system structures and user interfaces.

Objectives

Explain the evolution and history, and the roles played by, both computers and software; Evaluate and explain the functions of basic hardware components making up a modern computer system and their interaction; Explain basic operating system concepts; Demonstrate the relationship between hardware and operating systems; Differentiate and explain the various technologies, components and uses of networked computer systems, data communications, the Internet and the Web; Explain the concept of binary, octal and hexadecimal number systems, their notation and relationship to computers; Demonstrate the manipulation of numbers in binary, octal and hexadecimal notations; Explain and demonstrate how integers, floating points, and character data are encoded for use with computers and data communications; Explain and demonstrate the uses of Boolean algebra and propositional logic in relation to computers; Apply a wide range of both Windows and UNIX / Linux software utilities in relation to hardware, operating systems and data communications; Explain the concepts and requirements for databases and their management; Demonstrate database concepts.

Assessment

Assignments: 40%
Examination: 60%