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2021/2022 Fundamentals of Computing
Code: 106486 ECTS Credits: 3
Type: OB Year: 1 Semester: 2
Degree
1488 - Artificial Intelligence
The contents of this guide are provisional and may be subject to minor changes. The final version of the guide will be available at the beginning of the semester.
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities
Contact
Name: Elisa Heymann
e-mail: Elisa.Heymann@uab.cat
Use of languages
Principal working language: English (Eng.) Some groups entirely in English: Yes Some groups entirely in Catalan: No Some groups entirely in Spanish: No
Prerequisites None
Objectives and Contextualization
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: 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 develop shell scripts.
• Understand the main components of a modern operating system.
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Competences
• To design, implement, analyse and validate efficient and robust algorithmic solutions to computational problems derived from the design of intelligent systems.
• To develop critical thinking to analyse in a grounded and reasoned way alternatives and proposals, both own and others.
• To analyse and solve problems effectively, generating innovative and creative proposals to achieve the objectives.
Learning outcomes
• To understand the basic principles of structure and computers.
• To understand and be able to use operating systems at the user level.
Content 1: Introduction
Functional structure of a computer, programs, conceptual levels of a computer.
2: Information representation
Numeric systems: decimal-binary, octal and hexadecimal systems. Numeric data representation (C1/C2). Real numbers. Text.
3: Introduction to computer architecture
Functional units. Processor. Execution flow. I/O system. Interruptions. Memory.
4: Machine language and assembly 5: Operating System
User level view. Linux commands. Shell scripts. System calls. Main components of a modern operating system.
Metodology
There are 2 hours of classroom time per week. Classroom time will be organized to discuss the theoretical contents of the course, followed by exercises.
The content for each class will be available on Campus Virtual before the first day of class.
Campus Virtual will also be used for posting relevant material, and for students to deliver their lab exercises.
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Activities
Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Type: Directed
Theoretical lessons 25
Type: Supervised Type: Autonomous
Autonomous work 45
Assessment
There will be 2 exams: A midterm and a final exam. The weight of those exams is 60% of the final grade.
Each topic will have exercises and there will be a project assignment. The weight of the exercises and project is 40% of the final grade.
Assessment activities
Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Midterm exam 30% 2 0.08
Final exam 40% 2 0.08
Exercises and project 40% 1 0.04
Bibliography
Fundamentos de los Computadores. Pedro de Miguel Anasagasti. Paraninfo. 9a edición. 2004.
Conceptos de Informática. Alberto Prieto Espinosa. Mc Graw Hill. 2006.
