University of Macau

Faculty of Science and Technology

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Part A: Course Outline

Course Title Information Technology Revolution and Electronics

Course Code ECEB120 Year of Study: 1
Course Mode Historical and Theoretical with partial laboratory insight
Compulsory/E Compulsory
lective
Course None
Prerequisites
Prerequisite None
Knowledge
Class/Tutorial 2-hours lecture per week
Schedule
Duration One semester Credit Units 1
Text Books [1] Thomas S. Ashton (1948), online edition The Industrial Revolution (1760-1830), Oxford
and University Press, 1997.
References [2] Joel Mokyr, “The Second Industrial Revolution, 1870-1914”, from The Lever of Riches,
Oxford University Press, 1990.
[3] Rider, Christine, ed. Encyclopedia of the Age of the Industrial Revolution, 1700-1920 (2
vol. 2007).
[4] Joe Fitzsimmons, “Information Technology and the Third Industrial Revolution”, The
Electronic Library, Vol.12, No.5, pp. 295-297, Oct. 94.
[5] Tom Forester, The Microelectronics Revolution, MIT Press, 1981.
[6] The Vacuum Tube, http://www.pbs.org/transistor/science/events/vacuumt.html
[7] The First Vacuum Tube Cathode Arrays,
http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/physics/vacuum/tube-2.html
[8] "Milestones:Invention of the First Transistor at Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc., 1947",
IEEE Global History Network. IEEE.
http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/index.php/Milestones:Invention_of_the_First_Transistor_at_Bell_
Telephone_Laboratories,_Inc.,_1947.
[9] The Transistor in a Century of Electronics,
http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/physics/transistor/history/index.html
[10] The History of the Integrated Circuit,
http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/physics/integrated_circuit/history/index.html
[11] Franco Maloberti, Understanding Microelectronics – A Top-Down Approach, Wiley-
Blackwell, 1st. Edition, December 2011.
[12] R. Jacob Backer, CMOS – Circuit Design, Layout and Simulation, Wiley Interscience,
2nd. Edition, 2005.
[13] Ross, P.E., "Top 11 technologies of the decade," Spectrum, IEEE , vol.48, no.1, pp.27-63,
Jan. 2011.
Course The main objective of this course is to provide students with a broad vision about the evolution
Description of technology, in the modern age, since its early beginnings, by describing the significance of
the 3 Industrial Revolutions throughout time, since the 1st initiated with the Steam Engine
(James Watt-1763), followed by the 2nd started with the inventions of Electrical Power
Generation (Michael Faraday-1831) and the Combustion Engine (Siegfried Marcus-1864), until
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 the 3rd kicked-off with the discovery of the Transistor (John Bardeen, Walter Brattain and
William Shockley-1947) that really marked the commencement of what is now known as the
Information Technology Revolution, led by continuous and fast developments in Electronics,
Computing and Telecommunications. Current state-of-the-art and well-known information
technology platforms and gadgets will be briefly introduced at the system-level related with
their human interfaces, in particular the internet, the mobile phone, the computer, the video
game console, the media player, the global positioning system (GPS), and as a motivation for
showing what is underlying inside such systems in terms of Electronics. Then, an evolution of
silicon semiconductors from the original transistor until the present microchips and fiber-optics
networks will be described with projections into the future in terms of unlimited circuit
integration (processing capability related with the number of transistors on a chip) and
bandwidth availability (speed of communications).
Topics 1. Introduction
Covered 2. Historical Context and the concept of Industrial Revolution
st
3. The Steam Engine (1 . Industrial Revolution)
nd
4. Electrical Power & the Combustion Engine (2 . Industrial Revolution)
5. Information Technology Revolution (Overview)
6. Electronics
7. The Vacuum Tube
8. The Transistor
9. The Integrated Circuit
10. Technologies of the Decade
11. The Future
Course 1. To open students minds for the evolution of technology throughout the centuries as well as
Objectives its great contribution in shaping the current and future world.
2. To create the awareness for a discipline that is really at the heart of all present technological
developments – Electronics, and in particular to one of its core components – The Transistor.
Course 1. 1st Review Assignment Report: 20%
Assessment: 2. 2nd Review Assignment Report: 20%
3. Final Assignment Report with Presentation: 60%
Relationship This course primarily contributes to ECE program outcomes that develop students’ abilities:
to Program f. Understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
Objectives h. Broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in global and
and Outcomes societal context.
i. Recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning.
j. Knowledge of contemporary issues.

This course secondarily contributes to ECE program outcomes that develop students’ abilities:
a. Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering.
g. Ability to communicate effectively.
k. Ability to use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering
practice.
l. Ability to use the computer/IT tools relevant to the discipline along with an understanding of
their processes and limitations

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Course
Contents and Week
Relationship Topics Program Criteria
no.
to Program Introduction & Concept of Industrial
1 BS, ES
Criteria: Revolution
The Steam Engine (1st. Industrial Revolution),
1 Electrical Power & the Combustion Engine BS, ES
(2nd. Industrial Revolution)
Information Technology Revolution
1 BS, ES
(Overview), Electronics
1 The Vacuum Tube, The Transistor BS, ES
1 The Integrated Circuit, BS, ES
1 Technologies of the Decade BS, ES
4 Two Decades of Microelectronics in Macao BS, ES
1 The Future, Overview BS, ES
2 Final Assignment with Report and Presentation BS, ES
Contribution This course prepares students to have an overall picture about the importance of Information
of Course to Technology Revolution and Electronics and to understand the situation about the development
meet the of electronics engineering in Macau.
professional
component
Course Prof. Rui Martins
Instructor
Prepared by Prof. Rui Martins

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 Part B: General Course Information and Policies

Instructor: Prof. Rui Martins Office: N6-5033B

Office hour: By appointment Office ext.: 4309

E-mail: rmartins@umac.mo

Programme Educational Objectives

1. Problem Solving: Graduates have the ability to think in a critical and evaluative
manner and to consider a broad perspective, in order to solve technical and
nontechnical problems.
2. Leadership and Communication: Graduates will provide effective leadership,
act in an ethical manner and skills will include the ability to communicate well
and to work successfully within diverse groups.
3. Market Acceptance: Graduates will have successful careers in the academic
environment, industrial and government organizations.
4. Technical Competence: Graduates will be technically competent and have a
thorough grounding in the fundamentals of math and science in electrical and
computer engineering and experience in engineering design. They will be able
to use modern engineering techniques, skills, and tools to fulfill societal needs.

Scale: 1 (Highest) to 4 (Lowest)

Problem Leadership and Market Technical
Solving Communication Acceptance Competence
ECEB120 3 3 2 3
Information
Technology
Revolution and
Electronics

Remark:
Objective for “Problem Solving” can be achieved by assignments.
Objective for “Leadership and Communication” can be achieved by group
assignment, report writing and presentation. However, leadership training is
not given by this course.
Objective for “Market Acceptance” can be achieved by the course contents
that are required in industries.
Objective for “Technical Competence” can be achieved by using
fundamentals of math and science in electrical and computer engineering
on reports.
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 Program Criteria Policy:
Course VS Program Criteria
Scale: 1 (Highest) to 4 (Lowest)
Course PS DIC BS CS ES DE LA CV DM
ECEB120 Information Technology Revolution and 2 1
Electronics

Terms:
Probability and Statistics (PS), Differential and Integral Calculus (DIC), Basic Science (BS), Computer Science
(CS), Engineering Science (ES), Differential Equations (DE), Linear Algebra (LA), Complex Variables (CV),
Discrete Mathematics (DM)

Program Outcome Policy:

Course VS Course Outcomes
(H= Highly Related, S = Supportive, N = None)
Program Outcomes
a b c d e f g h i j k l
ECEB120 Information Technology Revolution S N N N N S S S S S S S
and Electronics

The electrical and computer engineering program outcomes are:

a. Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering.

b. Ability to design and conduct experiments.
c. Ability to design a system, component or process to meet desired needs.
d. Ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.
e. Ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems.
f. Understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
g. Ability to communicate effectively.
h. Broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in global and societal context.
i. Recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning.
j. Knowledge of contemporary issues.
k. Ability to use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.
l. Ability to use the computer/IT tools relevant to the discipline along with an understanding of their processes and limitations

T – TEACH; P – PRACTICE; M – MEASURED

Compulsory Course Program Outcomes

a b c d e f g h i j k l
ECEB120 Information Technology Revolution T T P T T T T T
and Electronics

Curriculum Detail
ECEB120 Information Technology Revolution and Electronics
Timetabled work in hours No of teaching Total hours No /Duration of Max marks
per week weeks exam papers available from:

Lecturer Tutorial Practice Exams Course

2 0 0 13 26 N/A 0 100

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 Term: 1st
Hours Percentage content of
Lecturer Tut/Lab Other Maths Basic Engineering Engineering Complementary Computer
Science Science Design and Studies Studies
Synthesis
26 0 0 5 40 45 10 0 0

Design Elements
% of Design Design Content in Design Project Design Content in
Content Course Work Laboratories
0% 0% 0% 0%

Course Assessment Policy:

1. Two review assignments will be given to students during the semester. No late submission is allowed.
Zero mark will be given when report is copied.
2. One final assignment will be given to students at the end of semester.
3. Report and Presentation for the final assignment is required.

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