CS1S465 Computer Systems Concepts Assessment Brief | USW

Assessment Description

Context

The Little Man Computer (Wikipedia Little Man Computer) is a simplified model used to illustrate the workings of stored instruction computers. It is valuable to compare the operation and characteristics of these models to real-world processors. In this case, a small microcontroller is chosen for the comparison.

Task

You are required to consider the Little Man Computer and the venerable PIC 16F84 Microcontroller family. Ignoring peripherals and memory banks in the PIC micro, you are to: 

Compare the basic structure of the LMC and PIC, the instruction sets and how programmes are executed. You should consider:

• The structure and purpose of the LMC
• The structure and instruction set of both the LMC and PIC micro
• Demonstrate your understanding of the operation of stored instruction computers, including such details as the fetch execute cycle, addressing schemes & etc.

Create small programmes in the Assembly language of each, which:

• Reads two values from specified locations in memory, adds them and writes the sum to a third memory location.
• Adds a value drawn from a specified memory location to itself x times, where x is a small integer value, which has been read from a second specified location. The result should be stored in a third location.
• which reads the values of two memory locations and decrements the first value by one, x times, where x is the value held in the second location. The result should be stored in a third location. Labels should be used in the PIC programme.
• Programmes should be annotated and follow suitable coding conventions.

You should use these programmes to aid in your comparison.

If you deem it helpful, you are free to provide additional programmes to illustrate any points you wish to make. You may also choose to make comparisons to other micro-processors where appropriate.

CHOOSE

You have a choice as to how you present your work. You may either: 

1. Write a report of your findings.

• You should also make a video screencast of your programmes running. Submit this video to Panopto. Ensure that you link to the file submitted on Panopto and make it clear you have done so.

Or

2. Record and submit a video presentation, submitted to Panopto.

• The presentations should be no longer than 15 minutes. Note: 15 minutes is not the target duration. This is the maximum.
• You should submit a text file with your programmes to Blackboard. The grade and feedback will be provided against this submission

Recorded presentations need to be (should not be simply derived from a PowerPoint (or equivalent presentation software). You are free to use appropriate tools, techniques and style, but must ensure that the content matches the requirements of the assessment. Submissions for similar assessments have included animations, videoed puppet shows, and even short dystopian dramas. Please feel free to "knock our socks off", but also please try to avoid ambition damaging your ability to submit on time, or work that addresses the module requirements.

Regardless of your choice, the technical content and grading criteria remain the same.

In the past, students have found that by expressing themselves through the video presentation, they have made it easier to convey their achievement of the learning objectives for this module.

Guidance on the Format of Assessment

Note: Students are reminded not to include this assignment brief with the assignment submission

Written reports should:

• It should be written in a formal style.
• Include suitable figures, tables, etc to support your work.
• Include references presented in Harvard format as appropriate.
• Include the assembly code programmes, with appropriate commentary in an appendix.
• Be approximately 2000 words.

a. Word count does not include text in tables, figures, the reference list, or appendices.

Presentations should be:

• Of less than 15 minutes duration.
• Not compressed.
• In a common format
• Accompanied by a text-based submission to the Blackboard link. This must include a link to the video.

Learning Outcomes Assessed

• Demonstrate knowledge of key theoretical principles of computer systems.
• Apply knowledge of computer system concepts to the completion of related practical

Marking Criteria/Rubric

Note: All grades are provisional until they are ratified by the exam board. Please see Appendix Two

Submission Details

Written reports:

• Submit to the Blackboard link. Submitted files will be subjected to automated plagiarism checks in line with University policy.
• Submissions must be MS Word documents or PDF files.
• Screen captures of the programmes running should be submitted to the Panopto "assignments" folder for this module. Ensure your student number is included in the file name. Provide a link to the submission in your report.

Presentations:

• Should be uploaded to the Panopto "assignment" folder for this module.
• Must use your student number as a filename (for video, especially).
• A file containing code as text should be uploaded to the Blackboard link. Include a link to the presentation file on Panopto
• If you have original presentation files (e.g. PowerPoint files), convert to PDF and submit to the Blackboard link. An appendix in this file will hold copies of the code.

Panopto:

It is essential that you upload to the correct location to ensure the graders have access to your work.

Failure to adhere to the submission requirements may mean that your assessment is considered a Did Not Submit [DNS] which could result in you being awarded a mark of zero.