Computer technology pervades almost every aspect of our life: from the cars that we drive to the mobile phones that we use to communicate; from the digital cameras that capture images of the world around us to the laser printers that turn image into picture. Yet at the heart of these enabling technologies lie fundamental components & systems without the understanding of which such technologies would never have been developed. Principles of Computer Hardware" explores the fundamentals of computer structure architecture & programming that underpin the array of computerized technologies around which our lives are now built. The book opens with an introduction to the fundamental concepts upon which computers are constructed
- gates circuits logic
- & computer arithmetic the language through which computers communicate. It then reveals how computers are structured & how they operate taking us step-wise from the instruction set architecture the bringing together of instructions through assembly language programming & on to the heart of the computer the central processing unit. The book then builds on these foundations to consider how the hardware interfaces with its surroundings introducing us to topics such as computer memory; operating systems & the interface between hardware & software; & computer peripherals & computer communications
- the interface with the outside world. Always putting educational value first " Principles of Computer Hardware" uses the 68K processor as a powerful teaching & learning tool putting substance firmly before style. With the clarity of explanation & captivating style for which Alan Clements is renowned the book draws the student in to the heart of the subject to foster an in-depth understanding from which more specialised study can then extend. The learning experience is enriched still further with a free CD-ROM providing resources to enable students to engage with the subject in a hands-on manner: a Windows-based simulator for the student to explore the design of digital circuits; Windows & DOS-based 68K simulators for students to investigate the operation of the 68K processor; & an ARM simulator for students to write programs for a RISC processor & run them on a PC. The Online Resource Centre provides: for lecturers (password protected): figures from the book available to download to facilitate lecture preparation; solutions to problems featured in the book to aid formative learning; & multiple choice question test bank to facilitate assessment of students learning."