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Coen 001Understanding Digital Technologies

Ron DanielsonFall 2000

(1.2)Introductions

Professor–Ron Danielson

»computer engineering faculty member»chief information officer»24 years at SCU»8 years managing university computing

and communication services

–office Orradre 129, phone 554-6813, email rdanielson@scu.edu

–office hours»M 12:00 - 1:00, F 2:15 - 3:00»by appointment

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Students

(1.4)Administrative Stuff

Text–Danielson, Understanding Digital Technologies, draft manuscript, 1999

Objectives– learn about significant concepts of digital computers»semiconductor devices and processing»computer hardware»software development and systems»computer networks

(1.5)Administrative Stuff (continued)

Objectives (continued)–gain

»understanding of workings of digital technology

»appreciation for relationships between components of digital systems

»apply that knowledge to new instances of digital technologies

»understanding of positive and negative impacts on individuals and society

(1.6)Administrative Stuff (continued)

Core curriculum technology requirement learning outcomes: demonstrate an understanding of– the nature of technology– technology’s social context– the ways computer networks are structured

–how to use networks as sources of information

– some discipline-specific tools

(1.7)Administrative Stuff (continued)

Web site–http://www.cse.scu.edu/~rdaniels/

Web board–http://wb.scu.edu/~rdanielson

Grading–2 midterms 35%–homeworks 7.5%–Web board participation 7.5%– student presentation 25%–final 25%

(1.8)Historical Trends

Amazing price-performance improvement of digital computers–over history

»ENIAC, 1947•1,600 square feet; many tons; 5,000 adds per second

»modern PC•2 square feet; 20 pounds; 100,000,000 adds per second; 1,000 times lower cost!

–over shorter periods of time»Cray Y-MP (1988 - fastest supercomputer)

vs. IBM Power-2 (1993 - fastest workstation)»equal or better performance for 1/10 of

price

(1.9)Historical Trends (continued)

Price-performance (continued)– for individual people

» IBM 360/75 at U of I for academic computing needs of 35,000 students (1975)

» Intel 486 PC in my office at home (1993)» faster, more memory, more storage,

graphics for 1/1000 of price

(1.10)Computing Paradigms

Computing approaches that were commonly available– single user (1950s)

»“company brew”–batch (1960s)

» IBM 360– time sharing (1970s)

»DecSystem 10, VAX–desktop (1980s)

»“home brew”» IBM PC, Macintosh

–networked (1990s)»workstations

–mobile (2000s)

(1.11)Computing Paradigms (continued)

History repeats itself–network computers

(1.12)Historical Trends (continued)

Component trends–number of transistors per chip increases 60% to 80% per year»transistor density 50% per year»chip size 10% - 25% per year

–main memory capacity increases 60% per year

–disk storage capacity increases 50% per year

– cost decreases accordingly, particularly at lowest end of performance scale» factor of 5 - 10 over lifetime of

technology (4 years)

speed increases proportional

(1.13)Historical Trends (continued)

What does this mean for people who use computers?–dedicated computing capacity– software with more functionality–penetration of computer use into daily activities

–willingness to let the computer be idle

changes in behavior

(1.14)Why Bother?

Ubiquitous computers–apparent (PCs, mainframes)–hidden (thermostats and dishwashers)– tremendous change of

»speed»cost»size

Personal impact–work

»productivity tools»accelerated communication»shift of jobs

•content and location» learning

–play»games and Internet

no sign of slowdown

(1.15)Why Bother (continued)?

Societal impact–access

»haves and have-nots»content related to personal and

community standards

–education– reliability–privacy–medical

(1.16)What’s Understanding?

Coverage–major areas of digital technologies

»semiconductors»hardware»software and systems»networks

– concepts– current capabilities– future directions

(1.17)What’s Understanding (continued)?

Scientific understanding–physical and logical principles

Engineering understanding–organization–analysis– improvement

Society–what are the impacts of a technology?–what impacts are inherent to the technology?

–what impacts are due to misapplication?