Communications

ECX3336 Computer Technology &

TM Assignment #1 2019/20

You are to bring the solutions to this assignment to your lab 2 with you, on the 1st day allocated to
your group. You may not be able to present your assignment on other days. Even if you are allowed
to submit the assignment thereafter, you will not be getting the full marks. You are expected to
present your assignment on the allocated day, even if you do not do the lab.
Try to answer the assignment using your own words. Marks will be decided on the originality of your
answer as well as knowledge. Plagiarism (direct copying) without relevant knowledge will not gain you
any marks.
Question #1 (carrying 10% marks) of this TMA is the online quiz, and is already done.

Q2.
(a) Explain the following with regard to a microcomputer;
i. Program ii. Stored program concept iii. Instruction decoder
(b) Explain the meaning of the abbreviation BPO with regard to business organizations, and
comment on ITES-BPO.

(c) Assume the following scenario:

In parallel with your OUSL studies, you wish to start a part time job in the IT field. Your
interest is to the BPO industry, because your best friend is also working in a BPO company
where jobs are available. According to your qualifications, you have the opportunity to join the
same company. To start the job, your minimum requirement is a PC with reliable internet
connection and a dot-matrix printer. You already own an Intel i5 processor and you wish to
purchase the other hardware parts from the local market to assemble a PC to suit your
requirement.
Explain the BPO job you plan to start. And prepare a budget for your requirement in PC
hardware (H/W) and software (S/W) using the following table formats.

PC H/W part Specifications & features (if any) Price

- - -
(It is adequate to detail the compulsory parts only)

Software Version Reason why it is necessary

- - -
(Include system software and four other main software only)
(30 marks)

Q3.
(a) Scenario:
Consider that you are working as a Programmer cum Systems analyst for an established
computer training institute where hundreds of students are doing a one-year computer
diploma programme. Students are having four continuous assessment activities during the
 year; two written tests and two practical tests. All four activities are evaluated separately and
given percentage marks; t1, t2, p1,p2 respectively. Students are then grouped into three
categories (of eligibility) based on their performance, and conduct the final examinations. You
are assigned to build a computer program to analyse the activity marks and hence prepare
the annual eligibility report. Eligibility criterion is given in the Table #1 below.

Criteria2:
Criteria1:
Average of marks
Average of best
of two practical Status of Eligibility
three marks
tests (PA);
(CA); CA>=40
PA>=40
Yes Yes Eligible for the final examination
Yes No P1>=50 Repeat the practical test2 only
No P1<50 Repeat both practical tests
No Yes/ No Repeat the full course next year
Table #1: Eligibility Criterion

Assuming that the students’ index numbers and activity marks are available as a data file,
construct an algorithm to demonstrate the logic of your program and show it in a flowchart using
standard symbols.
Your program should output a record for each individual student in the following format.
Index number Status of eligibility CA mark (if applicable)

In your algorithm, it is compulsory to use the following pre-processor for one instance.
Reads the student’s index number and four activity marks from the
Read marks data file (one student at a time) and stores in variables ind, t1, t2, p1,
p2 respectively.

Hint: Assume the number of students be n and construct a loop statement.

(35 marks)

(b) Consider the accumulator ISA of the Student Experimental Processor (SEP). According to the
first digit of your registration number, select one of the following tasks with regrad to the
algorithm in above (a). Write an assembly code for the selected task.

Task#1: To check whether CA>=40 and hence call one of the sub routines “check_criteria_2”
or “output_result” accordingly.
Task#2: To check whether PA>=40 and hence call one of the sub routines “check_p1” or
“output_result” accordingly.
Note:-
You are to demonstrate the simulation of your answer using SEP, on the 1st day of your
Lab#2.

(25 marks)