CODE 72381 ACADEMIC YEAR 2025/2026 CREDITS 6 cfu anno 1 INGEGNERIA MECCANICA PER L'AUTOMAZIONE 11976 (L-9 R) - LA SPEZIA SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR INF/01 LANGUAGE Italian TEACHING LOCATION LA SPEZIA SEMESTER 2° Semester OVERVIEW This course sets the ground for using computers in technical and scientific fields. AIMS AND CONTENT LEARNING OUTCOMES A student who has completed the course will be able to: describe the structure of a computer and understand some of its technical characteristics; use the main "office" programs to organize data in tabular form, analyse them numerically and graphically, and produce a technical or scientific report; understand the fundamental concepts of programming and use them to write simple programs of technical and scientific interest. TEACHING METHODS Lectures and guided computer exercises, to be performed with the aid of the Aulaweb platform. SYLLABUS/CONTENT Introduction to computer science - Motivations; algorithms; artificial languages Coding of information: integer numbers; real numbers; characters. Introduction to computers – Computer architecture: CPU, main memory and other memories, bus, input/output devices. Operating systems concepts – Virtual machines; structure of an O.S.; processes, scheduling and performances; user-level functions, user interface; compiled and interpreted programs; text editors. Introduction to programming with examples in Matlab: programming paradigms; abstraction methods; the fundamental constructs of procedural programming; fundamental algorithms and data structures. Personal productivity software: spreadsheet, word processor. REMARK: The distribution of individual topics, particularly those which are not propedeutic to others, might be different from the stated sequence, taking also into account the needs of the practical part. RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY Given the diversity of the topics, the course will mainly be based on teaching material (handouts, texts, programs) provided through Aulaweb. Suggestions about additional textbooks related to specific topics will be provided on request. TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD STEFANO ROVETTA Ricevimento: All lecture days after class (approx. 20 min). Upon prior agreement, at any other time. Since the teacher is in charge of several courses, if you are getting in touch with means other than in person (email, Teams messaging, Aulaweb mesaging...) please specify which degree and which course you are referring to. LESSONS LESSONS START https://corsi.unige.it/en/corsi/8784/studenti-orario Class schedule The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy EXAMS EXAM DESCRIPTION The final evaluation takes into account the attendance to lab exercises, a written test on theory, and a programming test. FURTHER INFORMATION No formal prerequisites.