Computer Science : A Concise Introduction

Covers the syllabus for City and Guilds 424, using the minimum of mathematics, and including suggestions for practical work, exercises and multiple-choice questions with answers. It should fill the need for a textbook on computer science that is based on hands-on experience with microcomputers. Computer Science: A Concise Introduction covers the fundamentals of computer science. The book describes micro-, mini-, and mainframe computers and their uses; the ranges and types of computers and peripherals currently available; applications to numerical computation; and commercial data processing and industrial control processes. The functions of data preparation, data control, computer operations, applications programming, systems analysis and design, database administration, and network control are also encompassed. The book then discusses batch, on-line, and real-time systems; the basic concepts of computer architecture; and the characteristics of main memory and backing storage. The main characteristics of common types of input, output, and input/output devices used in commercial computer applications and data transmission system are also considered. The book tackles the organization and accessing of serial, sequential, and indexed sequential file; file processing and management; and the concepts and functions of operating systems. The text describes on-line and off-line programming methods as well. Computer science students will find the book useful. Content: Front Matter, Page iii Copyright, Page iv Preface, Pages viii-ix 1 - Fundamentals, Pages 1-12 2 - Programs, Pages 13-26 3 - Computers and programs, Pages 27-41 4 - Inside the machine, Pages 42-61 5 - Outputs and inputs, Pages 62-84 6 - Introduction to files and filing, Pages 85-101 7 - File processing and management, Pages 102-123 8 - Programming introduction, Pages 124-141 9 - Programming methods, Pages 142-162 Appendix 1 - Useful texts, Pages 163-164 Appendix 2 - ASCII codes in denary and hex, Pages 165-167 Answers to exercises and multiple-choice test questions, Pages 168-170 Index, Pages 171-176