Assignment

1. Investigate the underlying elements of computer system architecture:

• Analyze the development of automated computing.
• Evaluate the general capabilities of a computer.
• Review computer system components and their functions.
• Prioritize computer system classes and their distinguishing characteristics.
• Validate the role and function of application and system software.
• Examine the economic role of system and application development software.
• Study the components and functions of computer networks

2. Investigate the various ways in which data is represented in a modern computer system:

• Explain numbering systems and their use in data representation.
• Compare and contrast various data representation methods.
• Analyze how non-numeric data is represented.
• Evaluate common data structures and their uses.

3. Explore the inner workings of computer processors:

• Describe CPU instruction and execution cycles.
• Explain how primitive CPU instructions are combined to form complex processing operations.
• Evaluate the key CPU design features, including instruction format, word size and clock rate.
• Justify the function of general-purpose and special-purpose registers.
• Compare and contrast CISC and RISC CPUs.
• Assess the principles and limitations of semiconductor-based microprocessors.

4. Learn the various types of computer storage:

• Evaluate the distinguishing characteristics of primary and secondary storage.
• Describe the devices used to implement primary storage.
• Assess memory allocation schemes.
• Compare and contrast secondary storage technology alternatives.
• Appraise factors that determine storage device performance.
• Recommend appropriate secondary storage technologies and devices.

5. Understand how data are transmitted among all computer system hardware devices:

• Evaluate the system bus and bus protocol.
• Analyze how the CPU and bus interact with peripheral devices.
• Justify the purpose and function of device controllers.
• Assess how interrupt processing coordinates the CPU with secondary storage and I/O devices.
• Validate how buffers, caches, and data compression improve computer system performance.

6. Explore how I/O technology supports human/computer interaction:

• Evaluate common concepts of text and image representation and display including digital representation of grayscale and color, bitmaps, and image compression techniques.

• Synthesize the characteristics and implementation technology of video display devices.

• Rank three predominant manual input technologies.

• Review printer characteristics and technology.

• Compare and contrast various types of optical input devices including mark sensors, bar code readers, scanners, and digital cameras.

• Evaluate the characteristics of audio I/O devices, and explain how they operate.