This text deals with the two most popular level 3 options of digital techniques and microcomputer systems. The contents cover the requirements of C&G 2240 Part 3 in these topics, and also Microcomputer Systems Installation and Maintenance 3 (C&G 7261/344). BTEC courses U86/343,347 are also covered, along with NVQ requirements. The text also looks ahead of the syllabuses to cover more modern topics that will eventually appear. Its 15 chapters range from chip technology, circuits, registers, memory and ADC/DAC devices; signalling and displays, fault finding, architectures and operations; programming, microprocessor applications and the PC. The authors' approach is essentially practical with the minimum of mathematics, placing the emphasis on experiment and fault finding. They aim to provide the important underpinning knowledge needed in the certification of vocational qualifications. With its well illustrated test questions and ideas for practicals, the text can also be used as a self study course for students and readers who wish to extend their knowledge of computer based systems in general. In particular, the chapter on PC machines should prove to be valuable to many users of these very popular systems.Readers will benefit from this step by step treatment of important topics and self test questions. They include students of C&G, BTEC, NVQ and equivalent courses, those in non-college courses and home study, and lecturers.
Ian Sinclair was born in 1932 in Tayport, Fife, and graduated from the University of St. Andrews in 1956. In that year, he joined the English Electric Valve Co. in Chelmsford, Essex, to work on the design of specialised cathode-ray tubes, and later on small transmitting valves and TV transmitting tubes. In 1966, he became an assistant lecturer at Hornchurch Technical College, and in 1967 joined the staff of Braintree College of F.E. as a lecturer. His first book, "Understanding Electronic Components" was published in 1972, and he has been writing ever since, particularly for the novice in Electronics or Computing. The interest in computing arose after seeing a Tandy TRS80 in San Francisco in 1977, and of his 204 published books, about half have been on computing topics, starting with a guide to Microsoft Basic on the TRS80 in 1979. He left teaching in 1984 to concentrate entirely on writing, and has also gained experience in computer typesetting, particularly for mathematical texts. He has recently visited Seattle to see Microsoft at work, and to remind them that he has been using Microsoft products longer than most Microsoft employees can remember. Ian Sinclair is the author of the following Made Simple books: Lotus 1-2-3- (2.4 DOS version) MS-DOS (up to version 6.22) PagePlus for Windows 3.1 Hard drives He is also the author of many other books published under our Newnes imprint.Visit Ian's website at http://website.lineone.net/~ian_sinclair
Geoff Lewis has spent many years in most branches of engineering including: motor vehicles, aeronautical, communication, telecommunication, production - as an engineer, teacher, lecturer, technical author. Geoff has a keen interest in environmental engineering including hydropower generated inventions. He has written on most of the above subjects, including 10 books, many journal articles and given public lectures. Geoff has long appreciated that knowledge is never wasted and that learning is a life long adventure. He has been told on many occasions that he has the ability to express complex concepts in a fairly easily understandable manner - at least this attribute is at the back of his mind when writing.
