Chapter 1

• Why knowledge of systems architecture is important to different roles and job titles (high-level overview from online lecture and in-class discussion)

• Types of implementations for automated computation 
  • Limitations of early mechanical systems; advantages of electronic implementation, optical, quantum computing
• Processor function, types (distinction between general-purpose and special-purpose)
• Function of components (primary storage; bus; secondary storage; I/O)
• CPU components – CU, ALU, Registers
• Computer types and classifications
• Virtualization
• Multicomputer configurations – cluster, blade, grid, cloud
• Types of software classifications – distinction between application programs, utility programs, and system software; layered approach to software design
• Operating System functions

• Data representation – definition
• Reasons for binary representation
• Numbering systems
  • Conversions (bin-hex-decimal); unsigned integers; signed integers (two’s complement method only) – note: be able to do this without a calculator
• Goals/Tradeoffs of data representation/encoding methods – be sure that you know CARES and be able to explain goals and tradeoffs in context of the primitive data types; how are they related;   
• Five primitive data types
• Problems of range limitations (how caused), overflow and underflow; precision and truncation 
• Character data representation (ASCII, EBCDIC, Unicode) – basic differences, impact on range/compactness/standardization
• Data structures (arrays, linked list, doubly-linked list)