Computer Fundamentals

The subject offers a general introduction to the world of computing with particular emphasis on the Personal Computer (PC) and its place in the wider world of networks and corporate information systems.

Aims

1. Introduce students to the basic components of a PC, so they have a clear basic understanding of the main hardware units at a macro level.

2. Introduce the relationship between information and data and the way computers use binary codes to represent data and instructions.

3. Stimulate analysis and to develop a critical approach to the observation of IT systems and networks in everyday use in typical retail and banking sectors.

4. Examine a wide variety of different types of software, from operating systems to development and applications packages, including an introduction to the Internet as a source of information.

Programme Content and Learning Objectives

After completing the programme, the student should be able to:

1. Describe the parts of a PC and how they are configured, using and explaining common terms and abbreviations.
2. Demonstrate awareness of the development of the Intel family of microprocessors and describe the architecture of a simple 8 bit microprocessor.
3. Describe a range of input/output devices and secondary data storage systems and be able to specify appropriate applications for them in the commercial world.
4. Understand the need for good file and disk management and describe how to list, move, copy,delete and recover files using Windows and DOS commands.
5. Describe a typical PC LAN and its component parts; demonstrate basic understanding of client-server and distributed processing systems.
6. Contrast and describe different processing methods and their relationship to the various categories of software, e.g system and development software as well as applications software.

Syllabus Content

1. Introduction to Computers

• Essential PC hardware, peripherals and software. How data is stored and manipulated in the computer.

• Computer configurations including PCs, terminals & workstations and how they can be connected to form networks to serve large and small businesses. Broad introduction to the main types of software.

• More about number systems: Denary, binary, hexadecimal; simple arithmetic and logical operations on 8 bit binary numbers.
• 8 bit microprocessor architecture, including registers, memory addressing and the fetch/execute cycle.
• Memory devices, simple gates, review of current memory types at an appreciation level.

3. Information Processing

• Data capture devices, (including manual) techniques and their application to real world problems.
• Secondary storage devices; disks, tapes and CD-ROMs. VDUs, printers and other output devices.
• Comparing the use of DOS and WINDOWS 95/8 to control the PC and to manage the filestore effectively. Fundamentals of file organisation: filenames and conventions; serial and direct access.
• File backup and recovery.

• Open and Proprietary systems and compatibility: MACs and PCs.
• Multi-user systems: e.g. AS400 and UNIX platforms.
• Software Development: traditional programming languages ( 3GLs) versus 4GLs and RAD.
• Information system security, risk assessment, contingency planning and fallback.

5. Data Communications

• Introduction to Networks
• Star and Bus LAN topologies;
• Central and distributed computing;
• Wide area and global networks;
• The World Wide Web; Using the Internet and email effectively.