Computer Architecture

This textbook presents the subject of computer
architecture in a modern light to match the needs of educational institutions
and graduates for modern industry. The book reflects the fact that there are
around 40 times as many embedded systems sold as desktop computers each year,
and many more graduates will end up designing embedded systems hardware than
will ever design a traditional desktop computer.



Without overlooking the historical perspective of
computers, or the traditional topics in computer architecture, Computer
Architecture: an embedded approach presents the subject in a readable and
interesting format, and above all, provides the background and places emphasis
on the increasingly important embedded systems that we all rely upon for our
day-to-day living.



Whilst traditional computer engineering textbooks
were fine resources for students needing to learn about computers, work on
desktop or mainframe systems of the 1980s and 1990s, these older approaches are
looking increasingly dated as technological progress marches on. Students of
today tend to be more inspired by the iPod than by ENIAC, and working with such
tiny, low power embedded devices is precisely what Computer Architecture: an
embedded approach aims towards. This means that modern and interesting
topics for embedded systems are included in this book.



An embedded systems-relevant approach, this book addresses the needs of
industry, inspires students in their studies, and interlinks with neighbouring
electronics, computer engineering or computer science course within a typical
curriculum. It is not just a computer architecture book with an extra chapter on
embedded system, it looks at the computer architecture
of today, which is built upon the foundation and history of bigger and older
machines and drives toward greater levels of integration within embedded
systems.