U08021 Computer Networks

This unit aims to provide the student, as an individual, an opportunity to carry out an extended study in a specific application of electrical and electronic techniques, and enable the student to develop their analytical, practical and communication skills.

U08049 Relational Database Design

The unit aims to present modern electronic circuit design methodologies with an emphasis on the performance of manufactured circuits compared with theoretically predicted performance. Typical filter or oscillator circuits will be used to investigate the performance of non ideal circuits and technologies for estimating manufacturing yields will be studied. In addition, current developments in manufacturing technology illustrating the philosophy of total quality in the product life cycle. This unit introduces students to the problems associated with electromagnetic interference and the good design practices required to ensure electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).

U08180 Advanced User Interfaces

This unit aims to make use of the knowledge and analytical skills developed throughout the course to design modern digital systems signal processing systems. Additionally this unit aims to provide students with practical experience of designing and realizing real-time digital signal processing algorithms. The student will use a CAE package to support theoretical considerations of the systems design process to make performance predictions. A hardware DSP environment with supporting assembly and debugging software will be used to produce a real-time implementation of the algorithm being studied. A typical algorithm should be a FIR/IIR filter.

U08182 Information Systems Design

This unit aims to develop an understanding of integrated circuit design in terms of sub-systems and primitive building blocks, in addition to considering the higher level issues and techniques, associated with designing systems on silicon. This is to be achieved through the analysis and design of such primitives and system level components, from layout through to spice level, gate-level and behavioural specification and verification using modem CAD tools. Practical design and implementation issues such as IC layout and testing will be emphasized throughout the unit by means of examples and case studies. The commercial issues surrounding integrated circuit development and implementation will be explored.

U08784 Software Project Management

A software development project involves three main activities; the technical development of the product, the quality assurance of the delivered product and the management of the project activities. The technical aspects of software engineering have been comprehensively covered on many modules you have taken in the computing fields and it is assumed that you are familiar with these; this course addresses the twin issues of project management and quality control. It covers: software development methods, stage planning, methods and tools for project analysis, work breakdown, effort estimation, task planning, risk analysis, documenting project plans, software metrics, determining quality factors and methods for monitoring and measuring quality

U51020 Management Information Systems

This module introduces students to the nature and purpose of information systems. It develops knowledge of the types of information system used in business, the technologies used and the process of designing and implementing effective systems. The nature of information and its transmission, systems theory and its application ? Business information systems - entity, attribute, relationship modeling

• An introduction to databases and distributed database management systems
• Decision support systems and their links with information systems
• Expert systems - their benefits and limitations
• Computer software capabilities
• Computer hardware technologies - existing and forthcoming
• Systems development methodologies - a review
• Performance, security and legal issues

U08096 Interdisciplinary Project

An extended study of a topic selected from a suitable area common to the fields of the student’s programme, involving the solution of a practical problem. The joint supervisors will determine the? apportionment of the student effort with respect to the fields involved. The overall aim of this module is to enable the students to produce a substantial piece of work on a topic of special interest chosen from those laying on the boundary of the studied fields. It is expected that by doing so the students will consolidate knowledge and strengthen the skills acquired throughout their period of study on both fields.