Topic X – Topic Title Module Title

Computer Systems
Topic 1: Module Introduction

© NCC Education Limited

Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.2

Scope and Coverage

This topic will cover:
• What this unit is about.
• Why study computer systems.
• Learning outcomes.
• List of topics covered by the unit.
• Module delivery.
• A historical perspective of computers
• Introduction to computer systems.

Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.3

What this unit is about

What is a system? – A dictionary description
"A set of things working together as parts of a
mechanism or an interconnecting network; a
complex whole"
(Re: Google’s English dictionary provided by Oxford Languages)

This unit is about modern Computer Systems, a set

of digital components and mechanisms that are
designed to work together across well-defined and
complex interfaces with high efficiency and
performance.

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Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.4

What this unit is about

In a computer system, efficiency, simply put, equates to the time
in which it completes running given tasks. That is the number of
operations, usually instructions, it executes per unit time, usually
per second.
The time it takes to complete tasks is dependent on the speed of
processing instructions, i.e. higher speed, shorter time, the
number of instructions it is effectively capable of executing per
second, i.e. more instructions per second, shorter time, and the
size and speed of memory accesses.
So, the designers’ goal is therefore to come up with some clever
and advanced technologies to achieve high efficiency in their
designs. We will look at these in more detail in later lectures.

Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.5

Why study computer systems

There are many reasons why students of computers should
study computer systems, some of which are listed below:
• Learn the secrets that companies are spending big dollars to
develop
• Learn what to look for when buying computers
• To understand the buzzwords banded about with new
computers
• You have pride of understanding what others do not
• You will be a more knowledgeable IT professional

Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.6

Why study computer systems

• To better understand the structure and functions of
computers and how these impact on performance and
program design
• To understand the trade-offs among various digital
components
• To better appreciate the impact of technology trends and
market forces upon computer system design
• To make more informed computer system design,
infrastructure development, and purchasing decisions

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Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.7

Why study computer systems

• To understand hardware for software tuning and vice, versa
• Get a well-paid and satisfying job!
• Gain a better and deeper understanding of software; e.g.,
how high-level language programs are translated and
executed, performance issues, etc
• Aspects of computer organization are crucial to the
understanding of other areas of computer science, such as
operating systems, compilers, and networks

Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.8

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit students will be able to:
• Understand and identify the main types and components of
computer systems.
• Describe the structure and role of modern operating systems.
• Understand and work with binary numbers and computer
logic.
• Understand the essential structure of computer programs.
• Explain the hierarchy of computer software.
• Identify alternative computer systems.

Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.9

The Unit Roadmap

List of topics covered in this unit:
• Computer systems hardware.
• Operating systems.
• Numbers and logic.
• Computer programs.
• Computer systems software.
• Digital logic.
• Embedded systems.
• Computer networks.
• Advanced topics.

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Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.10

Module delivery - Lectures

The lecturer will present information with the aid of

PowerPoint slides - just like this one.
The information on the slides will cover only the main points
but your lecturer will elaborate and expand on these points
whenever appropriate.
You will need to take notes during the lectures, so, make
sure you bring a pen and paper for your notes.
This unit will be assessed partly in the examination and
partly in the coursework.

Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.11

Module delivery – Practical work &

private study
• Practical work:
During practical sessions you will work with relevant
computer equipment and software.
May also involve some demonstrations by lecturers and/or
presentations by students.
The work covered in lab sessions will be assessed in your
coursework assignment.
• Private study:
There will be additional work that you do on your own
Completing and writing up work started in labs
Researching topics covered in previous lectures
Preparing for future classes

Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.12

Module delivery - Assignments

Exam: 40% of your final grade
Coursework: 60% of your final grade
Practical work to be completed in laboratory sessions
Written-up as lab reports
Details of the tasks and what to put in the reports are
covered on each lab sheet
There are deadlines that you will be required to conform to

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Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.13

A historical perspective
Let’s have a brief look at the (brief) history of computers:
• If we rule out ‘calculating machines’, the first true computers
appeared during World War 2.
• Driven by urgent need for military calculations and decoding
secret messages:
• Bletchley Park (UK) – ‘Colossus’
[Link]

• University of Pennsylvania (America) – ‘ENIAC’

[Link]

Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.14

A historical perspective
• Even then, they were not ‘stored program’ computers – they
were fed data and instructions in by punched card or paper
tape that often snapped while being fed in!
• World’s first ‘stored program’ computer was the ‘Manchester
Baby’ in 1948. By this time large hard drives and fast
magnetic tapes were becoming available where programs
were stored. Also, magnetic core memories were being
invented as random-access memories. Here, the polarity of
magnets acting as binary numbers.
[Link]
first-stored-program-computer-ran-its-first-program

Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.15

A historical perspective
• Since the late 1940s up to 1970s computers gradually got
more powerful, had more memory and storage and were
more common. This meant that they could run programs
faster and could store more programs. They were still too
expensive to own.
• Started out for secret intelligence and military work, then
used by large corporations and universities, then finally
smaller organizations. By this time, they started to shrink into
smaller sizes.
• Still not meant for private or home use yet; they were simply
physically too big and too expensive and often needed large
specialised clean-rooms!

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Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.16

A historical perspective
[Link]

• During 1970s, many huge developments in miniaturising

components & getting costs down. This was the result of
smaller electronic components as logic chips. Integrated
circuits were on their way.
• Start of the ‘personal computing’ revolution arrived where
computers were small enough to place on or under work
desks. However, they were not nearly as powerful as their
larger cousins.
• Commodore, Apple, Acorn Computers are examples of such
computers.

Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.17

A historical perspective
• A massive step was IBM ‘PC’ in 1981. It had its own
operating system called DOS (Disk Operating System or may
be Dirty Operating System?) DOS could not multi-task.
• This spawned a new generation of ‘PC clones’ such as Dell,
Compaq, etc.
[Link]
• From the mid-1980s onwards, the ‘desktop’ PC starts to
appear everywhere as IBM PC or IBM PC clone.
• Now used professionally in the office for word processing,
spreadsheets, databases & email, etc, and used at home for
playing games, budgets etc.

Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.18

A historical perspective
• By the 1990s, the ‘laptop’ computer arrives – offering
portability and decreased size and weight but at a substantial
price-hike over the desktop.
• Once the computer was freed from the desktop, mobility was
further enhanced by the ‘netbook’ and ‘PDA’.
• This trend continues today with ‘smart’ phones and tablets
which offer high-performance, low-cost computing and
communications on-the-go.
• Computing also makes huge in-roads on the gaming scene
with specialized games consoles that fast became very
popular amongst the young generation.

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Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.19

A historical perspective
• The computer power has been relying on the processing
speed of CPU. For the past several decades, the speed has
been doubling every two years (re: Moore’s Law,
[Link] )
• The increase in speed was achieved as integrated circuits
become more and more dense. However, this has reached its
limitation after reaching several GHz.
• As a result, today’s computing power relies not only on speed
but on multi-core CPUs (more than one CPUs in a single chip)
and performance enhancing new technologies. We will touch
upon these in future topics. So, that’s where we are today 
• …and the future? We will look at this near the end of the unit

Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.20

Introduction – the three views of

computer systems
By way of a gentle introduction, we start with the
ways a computer system can be viewed from different
points of view of the technology. So, this brief
introduction will give a taste of what’s coming:
Hardware Engineer’s view

Software Engineer’s view

User’s view

Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.21

Hardware engineer’s view

Is concerned with logic gates, counters, adders, shift registers,
bus widths, instruction sets, clock cycles, logic levels as voltage
levels, timings, state transitions, etc.

ROM Comms RAM

16 bits

24 bits BUS 8 bits

CPU I/O

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Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.22

Hardware engineer’s view

For example: timing sequences
Consider the handling of data input/output by a digital latch.
CS
Data in
WE
t0 t1 t2

WE t0: Make the latch active

t1: Present data at input
Data in Latch Data out t2: Write data to output,
data latched

WE: Write Enable, CS: Chip Select

CS

Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.23

Hardware engineer’s view

For example: state transition diagrams
State transition analysis is a tool that hardware engineers use in
order to define a system's states and the conditions under which
the state transitions occur.
Circles are the
send data states, and the
ready
switch on arrows are the
actions for
transitions from
switch busy
off one state to
off data sent
another state.

Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.24

Software engineer’s view

Is concerned with programming programmable input, output,
register files, memory mapped registers, interrupts, addressing
modes, etc. Software usually written in assembler and high-level
languages.

Interrupt Control Logic Bus

UART Control Register

RS232 serial IO Status Register

controller
Data Register

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Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.25

Software engineer’s view

For example: programming device controllers
To transmit serial data (e.g. to a serial printer) or receive serial
data (e.g. from a modem), the software needs to access the
serial controller's registers as shown below. The registers are
'memory mapped', so the software simply writes to or reads
from defined memory areas.
write <control register> write <control register>
(op: xmit, speed: 9600 bps) (op: rcv, speed: 9600 bps)
read <status register> read <status register>
check <data buffer full status> check <data buffer empty status>
while <data buffer full> do wait while <data buffer empty> do wait
write <data to data register> read <data register>

Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.26

User’s view
Is concerned with peripheral devices, cables, user interfaces,
applications, configuration of operating systems, installation of
software or new hardware, networking, ease-of-use, etc.

Input User Interface

Devices
App App App Backing
Storage
Output Operating System
Devices
CPU Memory
Computer

Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.27

Discussion Session
Now that we have introduced the unit, at this stage let’s
see what your thoughts are about studying computer
systems and about this unit in particular:

What are your expectations from this unit?

What computing job would you like to do as a career?

Although early to tell, nevertheless, do you feel

studying this unit will help you in your future job?

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Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.28

Topic summary
The structure of this unit and the assessment methods
are presented. This is followed by a list of reasons given
as justification for wanting to study computer systems.
Next, a historical perspective of the emergence of
computer systems from first programmable computer to
today’s powerful multi-tasking computers is presented.
The three different views of looking at and working with
computer systems are introduced, and some real-life
examples are given to clarify.

Module Introduction Topic 1 - 1.29

References
• Computer engineering - Wikipedia: A good
reference describing different aspects of computer
systems engineering including software
engineering and other related branches. It also
provides links to related sites.
• [Link]
[Link]: A timeline of ‘computing’ going back
several centuries which provides interesting read. It
includes information on personalities connected to
computers and key dates in their lives.

Topic 1 – Module Introduction

Any Questions?

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