COURSE OVERVIEW
This course explores the different layers of computing technology within your smartphone. We begin at the hardware level, covering digital logic beginning with transistors and moving up to finite state machines. In the second part of the course, we build on this material and discuss how computers are organized and designed, including how the hardware and software interact. Finally, we learn the basics of programming. These three parts give a broad coverage of the technology that enables your smartphone to operate. Then, we move beyond operation into performance, exploring advanced methods to speed up computers, including pipelining, multi-threading, and multi-core processors. Finally, we close the course with an overview of actual processors used in smartphones. Assignments throughout the course are tailored to build your understanding and solve problems. Hands on work using a simulator permits designing a small working computer that functions using the same basic computing principles as your smartphone.
ENGRI 1210x also provides students with the technical knowledge and Jade design tool experience to succeed in the more advanced MITx 6.004 (Computation Structures) course sequence.
To open the course schedule in a new window please click here. You can print by right clicking on your mouse.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Describe how a smartphone processor works.
- Explain computer system design from binary information to programming.
- Design a small working computer.
- Describe common techniques used to make computers fast.
PREREQUISITES
High school mathematics background in algebra and number systems.
WHAT WILL I BE GRADED ON? (WHAT COUNTS TOWARDS CERTIFICATE COMPLETION?)
Course assessments consist of three types of problems:
- Check Your Understanding problems occur after many of the video lecture segments. They are designed to assess whether you can apply the concepts in the lectures to answer questions and solve problems. Point values are found next to the question title. You have two attempts to submit the correct answer for most of these problems.
- Homework problems are in separate modules following most of the content modules. These are more difficult application problems that will usually require more time to complete. Point values are found next to the question title. You have two attempts to submit the correct answer for most of these problems.
- Lab problems are in separate modules and involve the use of a tool to design and build a small working computer. Point values are found next to the question title. You will have unlimited tries for lab problems.
CERTIFICATION
Participants who achieve the passing mark of 60% or more correct responses on the Check Your Understanding, Problems and Labs (each counts as ⅓ of your final grade) at the end of each Module will earn a certificate of mastery.
These certificates will indicate you have successfully completed the course, but will not include a specific grade. Verified certificates will be issued by edX under the name of CornellX.
COURSE GUIDELINES
CONTENT
The required textbook for this course is:
Patt, Y. and Patel, S. (2004). Introduction to Computing Systems: From Bits & Gates to C & Beyond. McGraw Hill.
The Patt and Patel text may be purchased directly from McGraw Hill Bookstore. You may purchase the full (ISBN: 9781308478845) ebook for $103.31 USD or a version with selected chapters (ISBN: 9781308478869) that only covers the content in this course for $57.14 USD. Please note that you must select the United States as your country. Additional information on how to purchase by credit card and download the ebook can be found by clicking here.
If the above link doesn’t work please copy and paste the following URL into your browser. https://create.mheducation.com/shop/
Student Resources (PowerPoints, selected solutions and Appendices A, B, C, D, and E) may be accessed here. If this link doesn't work please copy and paste the following URL into your web browser: http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0072467509/student_view0/index.html
An optional textbook is:
Harris, D. M. and Harris, S. L. (2012). Digital Design and Computer Architecture, 2nd Edition. Morgan Kaufmann. (eBook ISBN :9780123978165, Print Book ISBN :9780123944245).
A print copy or ebook can be purchased from the Elsevier store. If this link doesn't work please copy and paste the following URL into your web browser: http://store.elsevier.com/Digital-Design-and-Computer-Architecture/David-Harris/isbn-9780123978165/
Exploring Engineering includes complete interviews of our guests (including Chris Batten, Adam Kerin, Rajit Manohar, and Yale Patt) as well as information related to studying engineering and engineering careers.
HONOR CODE AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
This course is offered online and we encourage collaboration and help between students, but please avoid asking for and posting final answers. Violations of the honor policy undermine the purpose of education and the academic integrity of the course. We expect that all work submitted will be a reflection of one’s own original work and thoughts.
Please review our discussion guidelines to understand how we expect our students to conduct themselves in this course. Additionally all students are expected to follow the edX Honor Code, available at https://www.edx.org/honor.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Portions of the Powerpoint slides (Author: Byrd, Greg) from Introduction to Computing Systems: From Bits & Gates to C & Beyond, 2e, © 2004, by Patt & Patel are used with permission from McGraw-Hill Education Material. ISBN: 0072467509
The ARM VADD diagram was reproduced with permission from ARM Limited. Copyright © ARM Limited
McGraw-Hill Education makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy of any information contained in the McGraw-Hill Education Material, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. In no event shall McGraw-Hill Education have any liability to any party for special, incidental, tort, or consequential damages arising out of or in connection with the McGraw-Hill Education Material, even if McGraw-Hill Education has been advised of the possibility of such damages. All persons provided with the McGraw-Hill Education Material must be provided with written notice of this disclaimer and limitation liability, either in an end-user license and/or with an on-screen notice that is visible each time the end-user initiates access to the McGraw-Hill Education Material.
We would especially like to thank Christopher J. Terman, Senior Lecturer, Dept. of EECS, MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, for his help in adapting the Jade simulation tool to our course. The MIT License can be viewed here.
Statement of Permissions: Unless indicated as being in the public domain, the content on the Site is protected by United States and foreign copyright laws. Unless otherwise expressly stated on the Site, the texts, exams, video, images and other instructional materials provided with the courses offered on this Site are for your personal use in connection with those courses only. Every effort has been made to obtain permission from copyright holders to reproduce this material. We have acted in good faith at all times, and any queries relating to copyright in this content should be referred to copyright@cornell.edu for immediate attention.
Information, policies and schedule subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.