Learning objectives
- Recognize the importance and impact of computerization in processes.
- Recognize the basic terminology and use it appropriately.
- Understand the main ways of representing information in the computer world.
- Recognize the different types of programming languages and software.
- Understand the operating logic of a relational database.
- Understand the logic operation of a computer and to recognize the hardware components and input and output devices.
- Recognize the computer networks.
- Recognize the main purpose of an Information System on where people live and work in a Department of Public Health.
Course unit content
Introduction: The Digital divide, Innovation technology and culture, Informatics, IT and ICT, Medical Informatics, Public health informatics, Electronic public health.
Information representation: digital and analogic, numerical systems; binary code: bit, byte, word; hexadecimal code; decimal/binary/hexadecimal conversion, characters codification (ASCII and Unicode).
Introduction to programming languages: code, algorithm, flux diagrams.
Programming languages: Machine languages, high and low lwvel programming languages.
Software: System and application software, operative systems, graphic interface, "horizontal" and "vertical" software.
Sets of data: Records, Arrays, strings, lists, tuples, tables.
Databases and information systems: The concept of information system, databases, the DBMS, logical data modeling, the relational model.
The computer - the operating logic: concepts of programmable machine, Boolean algebra, the concept of automaton.
Basic models and computer architecture: algorithm, the concept of automaton, Turing Machine, Model of Von Neumann.
Hardware: motherboard, CPU, data bus, memories, graphics cards.
Features: Desk Top, Net book, Note book.
Network architecture: The centralized model, The distributed model and peer-to-peer networks, LAN and WAN, networks of networks, Distributed systems.
The lines of communication: telephone, ADSL, fiber optics.
Network hardware: Hubs and Switches, Routers, Modems, the performance of a network.
Networking software: The levels of communication, the hierarchy of TCP/IP protocols, Reliability of the protocol, network addresses, private addresses and public addresses, the Domain Name System.
Application: analysis of a type of information system on where people live and work in a Department of Public Health.
Bibliography
Classroom notes and slides
