Course Details

1. Outline the historic evolution of computing and relate the computer engineering discipline with other related disciplines such as computer science, information systems and electrical engineering.
2. Describe the function of the basic hardware elements (digital circuits, CPU, memory Input/Output and peripheral devices) and software elements (programming languages, compilers/interpreters, operating system, algorithms, and application software) of a computer system.
3. Give an overview of the directions of the computer engineering discipline: digital systems, computer architecture, data communications and networks, digital signal and image processing, and VLSI design, parallel processing, and artificial intelligence.
4. Trace a simple computer program and implement simple algorithms in pseudo code and a high-level language.
5. Use circuit theorems such as Ohms law, Kirchhoff’s law, Thevenis theorem and Norton’s theorem to analyse simple resistive, capacitive and inductive circuits.
6. Outline the main functions of an operating system and show expertise in working with the Unix/Linux operating system.
7. Work with laboratory equipment to build and test simple analogue and digital circuits on breadboard.

Overview of the computing discipline: Historic evolution of computing. Disciplines of computing, relation of the computer engineering discipline with related disciplines such as computer science, information systems and electrical engineering.    

A Layered description of the elements of a computer system: Hardware: digital logic level, CPU, memory Input/Output and peripheral devices. Software: programming languages, compilers/interpreters, operating system, application software.

Introduction to computer programming: fundamental programming constructs, implementation of simple algorithms in pseudo code, structural and object oriented programming.

The Computer Engineering Course: Overview of the directions of the computer engineering course: artificial intelligence, digital signal and image processing, digital systems and VLSI design, parallel processing, and networking.

Laboratory Work: Individual or small group experiments performed with the use of breadboards to build and test analogue and digital circuits.

• M. Mano, C. R. Kime, Logic and Computer Design Fundamentals, Prentice Hall, 2010

The taught part of course is delivered to the students by means of lectures, conducted with the help of computer presentations. Lecture notes and presentations are available through the web for students to use in combination with the textbooks.