March 9, 2016

Welcome to Computer Systems

Instructor: Dr. Andr Deutz
Office: Room 116, Snellius
Office Phone: 071 - 527 7071
Email Address: cosytel@gmail.com
Assistant
Tijn Huiskens
Goals
Our goal is to gain more insight into natural and man-made/artificial information processes with a focus on
man-made/artificial information processing. This goal is, of course, too ambitious and encompasses more
than one (if not all) course(s) of our BSc in Computer Science program. A slightly more modest (and
perhaps more feasible) goal is to learn to understand information processing la von Neumann. Or more
down to earth: Understand how computers work (what is hardware? CPU? Operating Systems?
Networks?)
Useful Link
The URL of the Companion Website: http://bcs.wiley.com/he-bcs/Books?
action=index&itemId=0470400285&bcsId=5050
References
Englander, I, The he Architecture of Computer Hardware, Systems Software, & Networking: An
Information Technology Approach, fourth edition, 2009, Wiley (isbn: 978-0471715429)
Snyder, L., Fluency with Information Technology: Skills, Concepts, and Capabilities (4th Edition) (Pearson
Custom Computer Science), fourth edition, February 2010, Addison-Wesley (isbn 978-0136091820)
The site of Great Principles of Computing: http://cs.gmu.edu/cne/pjd/GP/

Tentative Course Outline

Lecture

Date

Topic

Mar 9

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

Mar 14; 9 11
Mar 16;
Mar 21; 9 11
Mar 23
Mar 30
Apr 4; 9 11
Apr 6
Apr 13
Apr 20
Apr 25; 9,11
May 4
May 11
May 18
May 25

Org; computer science; computer systems; number

systems;
computer science; computer systems number systems
number systems; data formats
Computer Architecture and Hardware Operation
Computer Architecture and Hardware Operation
Computer Architecture and Hardware Operation
Computer Architecture and Hardware Operation
Computer Architecture and Hardware Operation
Computer Architecture and Hardware Operation
Networks and Data Communications
Networks and Data Communications
Networks and Data Communications
Software Component operating systems
Software Component operating systems
Software Component operating systems

Reading
Assignments
Chapters 1, 2,3
Chapters 1, 2,3
Chapters 3, 4, 5
Chapters 6-11
Chapters 6-11
Chapters 6-11
Chapters 6-11
Chapters 6-11
Chapters 6-11
Chapters 12-14
Chapters 12-14
Chapters 12-14
Chapters 15-18
Chapters 15-18
Chapters 15-18

Exam (tentamen): Wednesday, June 8

Retake: Friday, July 8
Assignments
There are four kinds of assignments: 1) study/reading assignments, 2) pencil-and-paper assignments, and
3) lab assignments, and 4) reflection assignments
Collaboration
You will have weekly assignments. The first three assignments are to be done individually. From the fourth
week on you may work in teams of two. You may consult any source for design and implementation ideas,
as long as the synthesis and implementation of these ideas is your own work. It goes without saying that
you need to credit any source you are using in your work. If in doubt on how to proceed in this matter,
consult the instructor of the course.
Rules
Attendance (lectures and lab) is mandatory. You must check your e-mail daily.
Deadlines
Please submit the assignments by the stated deadlines. Deadlines are hard deadlines because the answers to
the assignments will be made available shortly after the deadline. It goes without saying that we will
deal appropriately with exceptionally harsh circumstances beyond your control.
Grade
The grade for the course will be determined by considering the grade for the exam (tentamen) and the grade
for the assignments. The weights for computing the course grade are as follows:
Exam:
50%
Assignments :
50%
Moreover the grade for the Exam as well as the grade for the Assignments should exceed 6.