Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives Upon successful completion of this subject, students should understand the concept of a stored program; understand a conceptual model of a processor; understand the role of machine language and assembler language programming; understand the system lifecycle; have developed basic skills in low-level language programming.
Synopsis The subject first examines the workings of the processor and then considers the significant features of an information system's life cycle. The stored program concept. The processor: instructions, data, registers, processing cycle, data flow. Machine language programming, direct addressing, indirect addressing. The hypothetical computer. Assembler language programming. Organisational structures for computing: life cycles of information systems; development life cycle; role of the system analyst; a case study.
Assessment Practical exercises (3500 words): 35% + Examination: 65%