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Degree Regulations & Programmes of Study 2010/2011
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Informatics : Informatics

Postgraduate Course: Energy Aware Computing (Level 11) (INFR11052)

Course Outline
School School of Informatics College College of Science and Engineering
Course type Standard Availability Available to all students
Credit level (Normal year taken) SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) Credits 10
Home subject area Informatics Other subject area None
Course website http://www.inf.ed.ac.uk/teaching/courses/eac
Course description This course aims to introduce students to basic concepts and modern techniques in designing, modelling and evaluating energy-efficient computing systems. Low energy/power consumption is the most important design issue in modern computing devices as it has a direct impact not only on the battery life of mobile electronic equipment, but also sets limits on the operating speed of high-performance computing devices. This course will examine techniques to improve energy consumption at circuit (logic gate), micro-architecture, memory hierarchy and, at a lesser degree, at OS, compiler levels. It will also introduce state of the art approaches to energy aware computing by examining selected research papers. Practical coursework will require students to implement and evaluate selected methods in research simulators and to critically review literature in this field.
Entry Requirements
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Energy Aware Computing (Level 10) (INFR10031)
Other requirements For Informatics PG and final year MInf students only, or by special permission of the School. Prior attendance at undergraduate courses on computer architecture and computer design is desirable although not essential. Students are expected to be competent programmers in C, C++ or Java.
Additional Costs None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites None
Prospectus website http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/visiting-exchange/courses
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1) WebCT enabled:  No Quota:  None
Location Activity Description Weeks Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
CentralLecture1-11 14:00 - 14:50
CentralLecture1-11 14:00 - 14:50
First Class Week 1, Tuesday, 09:00 - 09:50, Zone: Central. Room 1.B09, Forrest Hill
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
1 - describe and discuss the factors which contribute to the consumption of power/energy in computing systems and how they affect the system performance.
2 - explain in detail mechanisms found in modern computing systems for conserving energy.
3 - discuss, assess and compare the behaviour and performance of energy-saving techniques on computing micro-architectures
4 - gain familiarity with state-of-the-art tools such as processor simulators, memory models and compilers, and use them to implement and evaluate techniques described in the technical literature.
5 - write and present clear and concise descriptions of complex systems/methods.
6 - locate, summarise and discuss critically peer-reviewed literature on a specific subarea of energy-aware computing.
Assessment Information
Written Examination 50
Assessed Assignments 50
Oral Presentations 0

Assessment
There will be two pieces of assessed coursework.

The first (worth 40%) is a project to design, implement and evaluate an energy efficient architectural technique, using state-of-the-art modelling and simulation tools. The students will document their work in a short report and demonstrate it to the course lecturer.

The second piece of coursework (worth 10%) will consist of writing a literature survey and critical evaluation of an area related to the course topics.
Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information
Special Arrangements
Not entered
Contacts
Course organiser Dr Michael Rovatsos
Tel: (0131 6)51 3263
Email: mrovatso@inf.ed.ac.uk
Course secretary Miss Kate Weston
Tel: (0131 6)50 2701
Email: Kate.Weston@ed.ac.uk
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copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh - 1 September 2010 6:11 am