Lecturer: Giuseppe Coldani  

Course name: Fondamenti di informatica
Course code: 500655
Degree course: Ingegneria per l'Ambiente e il Territorio
Disciplinary field of science: ING-INF/05
University credits: CFU 6
Course website: http://gamma.unipv.it/fondinfo_a_mn

Specific course objectives

The primary goals of teaching are to provide students logical principles of computer system operation and organization. Teaching provides the description of the functional structure of the main hardware and software modules that make up a computer system.

Course programme

Basic concepts
Concepts, technical terms, and application fields of computer are defined. Shortly the history of computing is described.

Information encoding
Several techniques of representation of numerical information, text, graphics inside the computer are discussed. Binary codes are discussed. The Boolean algebra is discussed.

Algorithms and programs
The concepts of algorithm and program are defined.

Computer architecture
Functional design of computers and modules that compose them are discussed. Logic operation of processors, the format of the instructions and the execution cycle, organization of storage devices and related access techniques, principles of operation and the characteristics of peripheral devices are discussed. Architecture of a complex information system with reference to the problems of memory management and resources is discussed.

Operating systems
Main functions of the operating system and those of the kernel and basic software are presented. A classification of the various types of existing operating systems is presented.

Data structures
Data structures in terms of their abstract definition as well as their effective implementation on computational systems are discussed.

Communications and computer networks
Main services achievable through a computer network and what are the technologies that allow the operation are presented.

Data Base
Data Base and the criteria for the design and management are presented.

Course entry requirements

Course entry requirements for the registration.

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 40
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 10
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0

Suggested reading materials

J. Glenn Brookshear. Informatica. Una panoramica generale. Pearson – Addison Wesley, 9^ edizione, 2006, Milano.

P. Tosoratti. Introduzione all’Informatica. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 1998, Milano.

Testing and exams

The exams include a written test theory about the topics covered in the lectures.