Computational Course (COM 408)

Detailed Syllabus
Unit 1: Introduction to Computers
Hrs]
1.1.
Definition and introduction: What is Computer?,

[6

Computer
Hardware, Computer Software, Applications of Computers, How Computer
Works: The Input-Process-Output Concept: (Data Input, Data Store, Data
Processing, and Data Output)

1.2.
The Computer System: Processor (CPU), Input Unit, Output
Unit, Storage Unit (Primary and Secondary Memory), Communication
Unit, Computer as a System, How CPU Works?(Fetch Decode Execute
and Store Cycle)
1.3.
Characteristics of Computers: High Speed, Accuracy, Storage
Capacity, Diligence, Versatility, Automatic, No IQ, No Feeling.
1.4.
History of Computer: Brief History on the Basis of Evolution
(ABACUS, Napiers Bone, Slide Rule, Pascals Machine, Leibnitzs
Calculating Machine, Babbages Analytical Engine, Lady Augusta Ada
Lovelace, Mark I, Von Neuman, ENIAC, EDSAC, EDVAC, UNIVAC), Brief
History of Computers in Nepal
1.5.
Generations of Computers: First, Second, Third, Fourth, and
Fifth Generation, Features, Advantages, and Limitations of each
Generation
1.6.
Classification of Computers: On the Basis of Working
Principle( Analog, Digital, and Hybrid Computers), On the Basis of Size
and Power(Microcomputer, Minicomputer, Supercomputer, Mainframe)
Unit 2: Operating Systems
[6
Hrs]
2.1.
Introduction: Computer Software (System Software, Application
Software, and Utility Software with Examples of each), Definition of OS,
Relationship of OS with Hardware, and Application Software, Objectives
of
OS,
OS
Terminologies
Multiprogramming,
Multithreading,
Multiprocessing, and Multitasking
2.2.
Types of OS: Batch OS, Time Sharing OS, Real Time OS, Network
OS, Distributed OS
2.3.
Functions of OS: Process Management (Programs vs Process,
Overview of Process Scheduling, Keeping Process Status: PCB &
Process States, Overview of Interprocess Communication), Memory
Management (Overview of Free Space Management, Memory Allocation
and Deallocation, Overview of Virtual Memory Management), File
Management (Overview of Naming Files, File Structures, File Access
1

Methods, File Attributes and Operations, Storing and Handling files),

Device Management (Overview of Input/output Handling, Device
Independence, Error Handling)
2.4.
Examples of Operating Systems: Overview of Windows,
Unix, and Linux
Unit 3: Data Communication and Computer Networks
[5 Hrs]
3.1.
Introduction: What is Network?, What is Data Communication?,
Basic Elements of Data Communication? Importance of Networking
3.2.
Computer Networks: Types of Networks (LAN, MAN, WAN),
Network Topologies( Bus, Ring, Star, Mesh, and Hybrid), Network
Architectures (Peer-Peer Network & Client/Server Networks),
Network/Communication Devices (Modem, Multiplexer, Hub, Switch,
Bridge, Router, Repeater, Amplifier, Network Adapter)
3.3.
Data Transmission Media: Guided Media (Twisted Pair Cable,
Coaxial Cable, Optical Fiber), Unguided Media (Radio Wave, Micro
Wave: Terrestrial Microwave & Satellite Microwave, Infrared Wave)
3.4.
Data
Transmission
across
Media: Modes of Data
Transmission, Speed of Data Transmission, Analog & Digital
Transmission
3.5.
Data Transmission and Data Networking: Circuit Switching,
Message Switching, and Packet switching
3.6.
Wireless Network: Definition, Benefits of Wireless Networks,
Wireless LAN, Wireless WAN
Unit 4: Internet and Internet Services
[5 Hrs]
4.1.
Introduction: Definition and Overview of Internet, Intranet &
Extranet, Brief History of Internet
4.2.
Internetworking Protocols: Definition of Protocol and
internetworking, OSI Reference Model, TCP/IP Protocol Suit, TCP vs
UDP
4.3.
The Internet Architecture:
Backbone, Internet Service
Providers, Network Access Point, Clients
4.4.
Managing the Internet: Internet Society, Internet Architecture
Board, Internet Engineering Task Force
4.5.
Connecting to Internet: Connecting to Internet with a modem,
connecting to Internet with Broadband Connection, Connecting to
Internet with Smart Phones
4.6.
Internet Connections: Dial-up Access, Leased Line, Integrated
Service Digital Network (ISDN), Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Cable
Modem, Wireless Internet Connection
2

4.7.
Internet Addresses: IP Address, Overview of IPV4 and IPV6,
Domain Names and Domain Name System(DNS)
4.8.
Internet Services: World Wide Web (Overview of Web browser,
URL, Web Server), HTTP, FTP, Search Engine, Communication
Services(Email, Telnet, Newsgroup, VoIP, Instant Messaging (IM),
Internet Relay Chat)
Unit 5: Data and Database Representation
[12
Hrs]
5.1. Number System: Positional Number System, Types of Number
System According to Base: Decimal, Binary, Octal, and Hexadecimal
5.2. Conversion from Decimal to Other Number System: Process of
Conversion, Conversion from Decimal to Binary, Decimal to Octal,
Decimal to Hex
5.3. Conversion from Other Number Systems to Decimal: Process of
Conversion, Conversion from Binary to Decimal, Octal to Decimal, Hex
to Decimal
5.4. Conversion between Binary and Octal or Hexadecimal:
Conversion between Binary and Octal, and Conversion between Binary
and Hex
5.5. Logic Gates: AND Gate, OR Gate, NOT Gate, NOR Gate, NAND Gate,
XOR Gate, XNOR Gate
5.6. Database System: Data Hierarchy, Database, DBMS, and Database
System, Data Management Approaches (File Management system &
DBMS), Advantages and Limitations of DBMS, Application of DBMS,
Database Schema & Instance, Data Models (Hierarchical model,
Network model, ER model, Relational Model, OO Model), Database
Languages (DDL & DML)
5.7. Database Architectures: Centralized Architecture, Client/Server
Architecture, Distributed Databases
5.8. Data Mining: Data Mining, Applications of Data Mining
5.9. Computational Biology, Computational Biology vs Bioinformatics
Computational Nanoscience, Space Data, Virtual Data
Unit 6: Multimedia
[6
Hrs]
6.1. Introduction: Definition of Multimedia, Multimedia Application,
Multimedia System, Categories of Multimedia Applications, Desirable
Multimedia Features (High Processing Power, Multimedia Capable File
System, Data Representations that support multimedia, Efficient and
High I/O, Special Operating System Storage and Memory, Network
Support, Software Tools )
3

6.2. Characteristics of Multimedia: Computer Controlled, Integrated,

Digitally Represented, Interactivity
6.3. Elements of Multimedia: Text (Definition, Coding: ASCII, UNICODE,
Text Size), Graphics/Image (Definition, Types: Raster/Bitmap, Vector
Graphics, Image Resolution, Color, Size), Audio (Definition, Digital
Audio, Characteristics), Video (Definition, Refresh Rate, Size,
Overview of video formats and compression), Animation (Definition,
Video vs Animations, Tools for Animation)
6.4. Multimedia System: Components (Definitions of Capture Devices,
Storage Devices, Communication Network, Computer System, Display
Devices, System Software, Authoring Tools)
6.5. Applications of Multimedia: Applications in Education and Training,
Product Promotion, Engineering, Leisure and Entertainment,
Information Provision, Virtual Reality and Simulations, Second Life
Unit 7: Computer Security
[10
Hrs]
6.1. Introduction: Security Threats, Security Attack, Malicious Software
(Virus, Worms, Trojan Horses), Security Services
6.2. Hacking: Definition, Types of Hackers (Black Hats, White Hats, Gray
Hats), Approaches of Hacking (Packet Sniffing, Password Cracking, Email Hacking)
6.3. Cryptography: Secret Key Cryptography and Public Key
Cryptography, Comparison between these Two, Hash Functions, Digital
Signature
6.4. Firewalls: Definition, Types of Firewalls (Packet Filter Firewall, Circuit
Filter Firewall, Application-Level Gateways)
6.5. User Identification and Authentication: What is Authentication?,
Ways to Achieving Authentication (Username and Password, Smart
Card System, Biometric Techniques)
6.6. Other Security Measures: Authorization(Access Control Lists), Antimalware
Applications,
Security
Awareness;
Security
Policy
(Formulating a security policy), Security Mechanism
Unit 8: GIS and Remote Sensing
[10
hr]
8.1 Introduction: GIS and RS concepts, GIS definition, historical
development, key related subjects, Physical components (hardware,
software, data,
people (users), and Procedure) GIS functional
components (Data Input, Data Storage, Data Manipulation & analysis,
and Data Output)

8.2

8.3

8.4

8.5

8.6

GIS Data Types & Data Models: GIS Data Types(Attribute Data,
Spatial Data), Spatial Data Types (Point, Arc/Line, Polygon), GIS Data
Models (Attribute Data Model, Spatial Data Model: Raster, Vector,
Image, Advantages and Drawbacks of Raster and Vector Data Model)
Data Sources & Data Input: Data Sources, Data Input Techniques
(Overview of Digitizing, Automatic Scanning, Coordinate Geometry,
Conversion of Existing Digital Data), Data Editing (Overview of Spatial
Data Errors, Attribute Data Errors, Data Verification)
Data Storage, Analysis and Output: Organizing Data for Analysis,
Editing and Updating Data, Data Retrieval and Querying, Data Analysis
& Types, Data Output and Display, Map Projection
Remote Sensing Applications: agriculture, forestry, land use/land
cover mapping, water resources snow and glacier, wetland
management
Some examples of Remote Sensing/GIS applications in Nepal and
elsewhere

Unit 9: Laboratory Work

Hrs]

[20

9.1. Using Operating Systems- 3 hr

- Windows, Linux (Creating files, folders)
9.2. MS Word- 4 hr
Creating, Saving, Opening, Formatting, Navigating, Editing, Viewing
and Printing documents by using MS-word
9.3. MS Excel 5 hr
Creating, Saving, Opening, Editing, Sorting, Formatting, Printing Work
Books & Worksheets.
Using Formulas, and Functions to perform calculations
9.4. MS PowerPoint 3 hr
Creating, Saving, Opening, Formatting, Navigating, Editing, Viewing
and Printing Presentations by using MS-PowerPoint
9.5. MS Access- 3 hr
Creating, Saving, Opening, Formatting Tables and Queries
Inserting, Deleting, Updating data stored in tables

9.6.

Internet and its Services- 2 hr

Using internet services,
Searching & downloading documents,
Using Emails, Chatting etc.

Text Books
Sinha P. K. and Sinha P. Computer Fundamentals, BPB Publication,
India, sixth edition, 2011
Huisman O. and de BY R.A. Principles of Geographical Information
Systems: An Introductory Text Book, International Institute for GeoInformation Science and Earth Observation, The Netherlands (2001)
References
Goel A. Computer Fundamentals, Pearson Education, India (2010)
Aronoff, S (1989), Geographic Information Systems: A Management
Perspective. Ottawa: WDL Publications.
Lillisand, T M and Keifer, R W (1984), Remote Sensing and Image
Interpretation. New York: John Willey E-Sons, Ink.