Computing Revision

Computing Revision

1. Theory

   • Processor
     • Fetch/Decode/Execute Cycle
       • Processor Layout
         • Arthimetic & Logic Unit
         • Control Unit
         • Registers
         • Memory
         • Input/Output
       • Fetch instruction from memory
         • Decodes instruction to see what it does
           • Executes the instruction
     • Registers
       • Memory location in the processor
         • Frequently accessed/ temporary storage
         • Register Types
           • Memory Data Register (MDR)
             • Data currently in use
             • Contents of MAR address
           • Memory Address Register (MAR)
             • Address of next data/instruction
           • Program Counter (PC)
             • Stores address of next instruction
             • Counts programs read
           • Current Instruction Register (CIR)
             • Holds instruction in use
             • Operation (what the instruction means)
             • Address/Data
           • Accumulator (ACC)
             • Holds resultant data (i.e. from calculations/processing)
             • Handles all inputs/outputs
     • Performance
     • Processor Architecture
       • Von Neumann
         • Single control unit
         • Data/instructions stored together
         • Single data bus leads to bottleneck
       • Harvard
         • Data/instructions stored seperately
         • Different buses for different memory units
         • RISC
     • Parallel Systems
       • RISC
         • Reduced Instruction Set Computing
         • Limited number of instructions
         • Cheap/fast
         • Many cycles
       • CISC
         • Complex Instruction Set Computing
         • Single cycle
         • Single Register Set
         • Expensive/slowdown
     • Distributed Computing
     • Memory
       • Primary
         • RAM
           • Random Access Memory
           • Temporary
           • Volatile
       • Secondary
         • ROM
           • Read Only Memory
           • Non Volatile
     • Input and Output
       • Devices
         • Input
           • Mouse
           • Keyboard
           • Scanner
           • Barcode Reader
           • Chip & Pin Reader
           • Keypad
           • Concept Keyboard
         • Output
           • Monitor
           • Headphones
           • Speakers
           • Printer
     • Accessibility
       • Eye Typer
       • Braille Keyboard/Printer
       • Puff-Suck Switch
       • Text-to-Speech
       • Screen Magnifier
     • Storage
       • Magnetic
         • Hard Disk/Magnetic Tape
           • Cheap
           • Fast
           • Robust
       • Optical
       • Flash
   • Software
     • System Type
     • Memory Management
     • Scheduling
     • Interrupts
     • Virtual Machines
     • BIOS
     • Applications
     • Specialist Software
     • Utilities
     • Open vs Closed
     • Proprietary
     • Translation
     • Little Man Computer
   • Exchanging Data
     • Databases
     • Keys
     • Managing Data
     • DBMS
     • Characterstics
     • Protocols
     • Switching
     • Error Checking
     • Compression
     • HTML
     • CSS
     • JavaScript
   • Data Types
     • Binary/Hexadecimal
     • Negative Integers
     • Two's Complement
     • Floating Point
     • Negative Floating Point
     • Character Sets
     • Boolean Logic
     • Karnaugh Maps
     • Stacks and Queues
   • Legal Issues
     • Legal Issues
     • Ethical Issues
     • Exam Questions

2. Practical

   • Algorithms/Problem Solving