ECE 101 An Introduction to Information Technology Introduction to ECE 101

Course Objectives To introduce Information Technology as a key and integral part of Electrical Engineering To introduce some basic terms and concepts of Information technology and Electrical Engineering To introduce the different aspects of Electrical Engineering To introduce societal implications of IT and EE including ethics and professionalism Along the way, to have fun with our learning

Electrical Engineering Communications (including Telecommunications and Networks) Signal Processing Computer Engineering Control Systems Electromagnetics and Microwaves Electronics and Photonics Power Engineering

Signals and Information Signal – A physical representation of a process, such as electronic impulses, light or sound waves Message – the Content of the signal, such as am or fm modulation, binary words Information – Knowledge that can be extracted from a message

Information Definition Definition – –Quantity needed by a system to complete a task (Kuc) –Knowledge communicated or received concerning a particular fact or circumstance (dictionary) Reliability of storing and communicating Analog vs Digital

Information Path Information Destination Information Processor & Transmitter Information Receiver and Processor Source of Information Digital Sensor Transmission Medium

Course Content -1 Information Introduction – its generation, acquisition, storage, transmission, and reception (1) Acquiring information by means of sensors (2) Processing information for transmission (3) A/D (and D/A) Manipulation of information (incl. Digital Logic) (4)

Course Content -2 Computing Systems (5) that perform coding and character formation Information Theory (probability) (6) –Measurement of information present in data Information Coding (bar codes, information compression) (7) –Code words from symbols –Detecting and correcting errors –Maximizing information transmitted –encryption

Course Content -3 Information Transmission (8) –Channel capacity –Channel noise –Cellular telephone –Data packets and networks –Internet The Future of Information Technology (10) Ethics & Professionalism (notes)

The Natural World is Analog Ref: Cyganski and Orr, Info. Technology This continuous acoustical waveform can be detected by a device and converted into an analogous electrical waveform for transmission over a circuit. Human speech is an example of analog communication. Speech causes air to vibrate with varying amplitude (volume) and frequency (pitch).

Digital and Analog Signals Analog Continuous smooth variables Slide rule Mercury thermometer “old” records VCR Analog Computers Digital Discrete, finite number of variables Calculator Digital thermometer CD DVD (Digital) Computers

The Digital World Rapid rise of digital information is due largely to advances in electronic devices and computer hardware & software Computers routinely process information which is represented in digital form as binary digits = bits, 0’s and 1’s.

Digital Information Why choose digital information –Easy to use, manipulate, store, and transmit –More reliable Hence need a conversion, back and forth Digital data is processed by logic gates, which are formed into logic circuits to perform useful functions Logic circuits lead to computers

Information Processing Amount of information present in data is measured as the entropy Information can be coded for error detection and correction techniques for robust storage and encrypted for security Data are transmitted over a variety of channels Computers are limited in their capacity to manipulate data

Just a few typical applications Bar codes on products USPS bar codes on mail Credit and debit cards CD’s and DVD’s Cellular telephones Computers and computing systems Networks including internet Digital clocks Burglar alarms

A few personal notes

In our professional life, what is it that we all want? SUCCESS! (among other things!) but what is success? SUCCESS IS … IS THE PROGRESSIVE REALIZATION OF A WORTHWHILE GOAL.

What leads to Success at a University? Attitude & Dedication to Excellence Organization of Time and Study Habits Perseverance and Patience Willingness to Ask Questions and Seek Help MORE THAN Academic background Native Intelligence

Success at a University - 1 BE ACTIVE Risk failure in order to progress, failure is rarely fatal Team work - requires respect of people Action often requires Change: Change is not coming - it is here “Fire in your belly”: real interest now, not “instant gratification”; rewards follow later Be Balanced

Success at a University - 2 Be Active Be Balanced Be Creative: what is the French for Engineers? ingenieur > engineer most rewarding part of professional life: create something new - that is appreciated by others & helping others through teamwork Be Dedicated to what is right and true, you won’t go wrong

Advice Treat school as your primary job, Be flexible, Listen and appreciate the views of others, be a good team worker, Don’t always keep the focus on yourself, Admit to your mistakes, be real! Get excited! You are in an exciting, relevant, and rewarding field!!

Welcome to a Great Profession Be Dedicated & Creative Enjoy your work, Have fun! Rewards will be yours! $,£,L,DM,F,¥,!