Computer Engineering

This course will: • Help you understand the significance and pervasiveness 

of computers in today’s society and economy • Teach you how computers really operate 

and how they are designed • Introduce you to concepts that students in the Computer 

Engineering degree program learn in depth over four years • Prepare and motivate you 

for study in this degree program • Will count towards introduction to engineering 

Technology • Technology advances at astounding rate – 19th century: attempts to build 

mechanical computers – Early 20th century: mechanical counting systems (cash registers, 

etc.) – Mid 20th century: vacuum tubes as switches – Since: transistors, integrated 

circuits • 1965: Moore’s law [Gordon Moore] – Predicted doubling of capacity every 18 

months – Has held and will continue to hold • Drives functionality, performance, cost –

Exponential improvement for 40 years

Some History Date Event Comments 1947 1 st transistor Bell Labs 1958 1 st IC Jack 

Kilby (MSEE ’50) @TI Winner of 2000 Nobel prize 1971 1 st microprocessor Intel 

(calculator market) 1974 Intel 4004 2300 transistors 1978 Intel 8086 29K transistors 1989 

Intel 80486 1M transistors 1995 Intel Pentium Pro 5.5M transistors 2006 Intel Montecito 

1.7B transistors