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Fundamentals of Computing

Code: 106555 ECTS Credits: 3
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
2504392 Artificial Intelligence OB 1

Contact

Name:
Montserrat Serra Vizern
Email:
montserrat.serra.vizern@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

Subject has no prerequisits


Objectives and Contextualisation

The course is introductory. It covers basic concepts of computer organization and design, and basic concepts of operating systems. The main objectives are:

  • Understand basic concepts such as: computer hardware, software, operating systems, computer organization, algorithm, program, programing language, compiler, etc.
  • Understand the computer functional units.
  • Understand the way computers work (low level vision).
  • Understand machine langauge and assembly language.
  • Get familiar with the Linux Operating system and common system tools.
  • Understand the main components of a modern operating system.

Competences

  • Design, implement, analyse and validate efficient and robust algorithmic solutions to computational problems derived from the design of intelligent systems.
  • Work cooperatively to achieve common objectives, assuming own responsibility and respecting the role of the different members of the team.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Understand and be able to use operating systems from a user perspective.
  2. Understand the basic principles of computer structure and computers.
  3. Work cooperatively to achieve common objectives, assuming own responsibility and respecting the role of the different members of the team.

Content

Main subject content:

1-Introduction

Functional structure of a computer, conceptual levels of a computer, basic elements of a program

2-Information representation

Introduction to data representation: numeric, real numbers, text

3-Introduction to computer architecture

Processor, functional units, execution flow, memory, I/O subsystem, execution flow

4-Intro to Operating Systems

Main components of a modern operating system. User view of the system. Linux system tools

5-Programmer's view of Operating System: processes, memory, I/O


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Theoretical sessions 15 0.6 1, 2
Type: Supervised      
Practical sessions 10 0.4 1, 2, 3
Type: Autonomous      
Autonomous work 45 1.8 1, 2

Methodology

There are 2 hours of class scheduled for each week. Timetable is available at the web site of the engineering school: https://www.uab.cat/web/estudiar/estudis/graus/horaris-1345737392845.html

Classes will cover theoretical introductory lessons and then some practical examples and exercises to be solved by students and provided as an assessment.

Content and scheduling of the sessions will be available at the virtual campus. Subject web space will be the default communication channel between students and teachers. All planned assignments and assestments will be available there.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Exercices 20 1 0.04 1, 2
Labs 20 3 0.12 1, 2, 3
Partial exams 60 1 0.04 1, 2

Assessment of theory is done by two partial exams with a total weight of 60% of the subject. There will be a final exam that will allow students to be reevaluated. They must take this final exam for those partial exams that have a grade lower than 5.

There will be a list of exercises to solve as assignments that will have a total weight of 20% of the subject.

There will be two Continuous Assessment Activity (CAA) to do during the semester. Its weight will be of the 20% of the subject.

There is no reevaluation of exercice (CAA) and lab assignments.


Bibliography

“Computer Systems Design and Architecture” Vicent P. Heuring / Harry F. Jordan. Ed. Addison-Wesley

"Computer organization and architecture: principles of structure and function". William Stallings.


Software

The subject will use the lastest versions of Visual Studio and Ubuntu Linux for the development of the class.

There vill be the opportunity to installa Virtual Machine.


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 71 English second semester afternoon