IT1030.10 – Computer Organisation and Architecture

This subject introduces the fundamentals of computer organisation, including the roles of the processor, main memory, and input/output devices, and how these components work together to execute programs. It explains programs as sequences of machine instructions and explores the relationship between machine language, assembly language, and high-level compiled languages. Students learn number systems and data representation, including arithmetic and logical operations, as well as how data is stored and processed within a computer. Key concepts such as memory organisation, cache structures, virtual memory, instruction representation, addressing techniques, and instruction execution at the machine level are also covered. The subject provides an overview of operating systems, focusing on how hardware and software interact to manage resources and ensure efficient operation. In addition, it introduces basic digital logic, including logic gates and circuits, and concludes with an overview of how artificial intelligence is influencing modern computer organisation.