The material will be presented through a combination of lectures (1 per week), tutorials/practical exercises (2 per week) and directed self-study as appropriate for each topic.
(1:n) (1:25)2

The module covers the basic knowledge of computer systems (individual and networked) regarded as a structured collections of
hardware and software components which are engineered to provide the execution platform and environment for application programs.
In particular it will cover:
- representation and storage of data
- computer hardware and organisation, from logic gates to board level
- structure and function of fundamental systems software, e.g. operating systems and language processors, illustrated by reference to systems accessible to the student (e.g. UNIX/Linux, Windows, Java Virtual Machine).
- introduction to computer networks: data transmission, protocols (e.g. Ethernet, TCP/IP stack and Internet protocols), the Internet,
local area networks, wide area networks
- network and software standards as appropriate
Illustrative material throughout the course will be drawn from machines and systems currently in use by students, e.g. appropriate
systems programming languages, typical operating systems.

PCs running a modern operating system, with a suitable language platform for system programming and network access.

None

Preliminary reading:-
How Computers Work, 9th Edition, Ron White and Timothy Edward Downs, Que, 2007, ISBN: 9780789736130

Main Texts:-
1) Structured Computer Organisation, 5th Edition, Andrew S Tanenbaum, Prentice Hall, 2006, ISBN: 0-13-148521-0
2) Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet, 4th Edition, James F Kurose and Keith W Ross, Addison Wesley, 2008, ISBN: 9780321497703
3) Operating System Concepts with Java, 7th Edition,

Exam - 50% 2 hours (learning outcomes 1, 3, 4)
Assignment - 50% (learning outcomes 2, 3, 4)