Computer organization

What is it?

-- computer architecture

programmer's view of the machine

data representation and operations

-- computer organization

structural relationships not visible to the programmer

Why study it? (Top 5 List)

-- you want to be a computer scientist

-- it makes you a better programmer

-- performance: programming is more than just getting the answer

(covered more in 411)

-- it's fun to learn how things work

-- you may need to buy a computer someday

What is a computer?

-- dictionary definition

1) A person who makes calculations;

spec. a person employed for this in an observatory etc. M17.

-- person

-- mechanical device

-- electronic device

analog: continuously varying (flight simulation)