Short course name:

Computer Hardware, Configuration and Operating Systems 2

Module number:

COM 201

Course Syllabus:

Computer Display Devices:

A review of current display device technologies – electron Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), plasma and LCD display types. Relative merits and demerits of the competing technologies.

Overview of elements of the display sub-system – display controllers/processors, video buffers, color Look-up tables, text generators and Raster Ops units

Display device performance parameters – resolution, pixel depth/color table-size aspect ratio, interlaced designs and frame rates

Sizing video buffers and for specific resolution and pixel depth requirements

High-resolution, photorealistic display standards e.g. XGA and SVGA


Printing/Hard-copy Devices:

Review of standard printer types

Impact versus Non-Impact printers

Characteristics of inkjet printers

Characteristics of laser printers

The role of printer drives in the printing scheme

Criteria for selecting appropriate printers for varying business needs


Other Computer Peripherals:

Characteristics and general operation of scanners

Characteristics of modems and dial-up connection issues

Hardware versus software modems

Encryption and compression protocols for modems

A review of the characteristics of standard computer input devices – keyboards and pointing devices such as electronic/optical mice, joysticks, trackballs and touch-screens

The use of logical input device formalisms to categorize input devices e.g. valuator, choice and other logical types


Digital photography and cameras for computer systems – equipment interfacing and selection issues.


Laptop and Palmtop Computer Aspects:

Evolving standards in Laptop and Palmtop computing

Hardware adaptations required for laptop computers

Hardware adaptations required for palmtop computers

Interfacing and synchronizing laptop/palmtop computers with standard computers – wireless infra-red and cabled interfaces.