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Unit 1 Computer applications

Part 1

Task A

Computers have many applications in a great variety of fields. Read and match these captions with the texts:

Using an automatic cash dispenserIn education, computers can make all the differenceOrganizing the Tour de France demands the use of computer technologyControlling air traffic

1. Computers can help students perform mathematical operations and solve difficult questions. They can be used to teach courses such as computer-aided design, language learning, programming, mathematics, etc.PCs (personal computers) are also used for administrative purposes: for example, schools use databases and word processors to keep records for students, teachers and materials.

2. Race organizers and journalists rely on computers to provide them with thecurrent positions of riders and teams in both the particular stages of the race andin the overall competition.Workstations in the race buses provide the timing system and give up-to-the-minute timing information to TV stations. In the press room several PCs give real time information on the state of the race. Computer databases are also used in the drug-detecting tests for competitors.

3. Computers store information about the amount of money held by each client andenable staff to access large databases and to carry out financial transactions at highspeed. They also control the automatic cash dispensers which, by the use of apersonal coded card, dispense money to clients.

4. Airline pilots use computers to help them control the plane. For example,monitors display data about fuel consumption and weather conditions.In airport control towers, computers are used to manage radar systems and regulate air traffic.On the ground, airlines are connected to travel agencies by computer. Travel agents use computers to find out about the availability of flights, prices, times, stopovers and many other details.

Task B

When you read texts like these, you don't always need to understand every word. But there are words which you can guess from the context. Look at these words. Are they nouns (n), verbs (v) or adjectives (adj)?1 workstation…… .. 2 data.... 3 perform…… 4 automatic…….. 5 monitor............6 financial…….. 7 store..... 8 connected………. 9 word processor……… 10 large.........

Now find the words in texts 1 to 4, and match them with the meanings below.a informationb execute (do)c connected with money

d keep (save)e massivef linkedg self-acting, mechanicalh screeni powerful computer usually connected to a networkj program used for text manipulation

Task C

Look at text 1 again and discuss these questions.

1. How are/were computers used in your school?2. What other areas of study would benefit from the introduction of computers?

Part 2

Task A

Read the text and discuss with your partners each speaker’s job and what each speaker uses their computer for.

electrical engineer secretary librarian composer

1. I write music mainly for videos and plays. I work on a keyboard connected to a computer. I use the computer in two ways really, first of all, to record what I play on the keyboard, in other words to store what I play on the key board. Secondly, the computer controls the sounds I can make with the different synthesizers. The computer is the link between the keyboard which I play and the synthesizers which produce the sounds.2. I use my computer to do the usual office things like write memos, letters, faxes and so on, but the thing which I find really useful is electronic mail. We are an international company and we have offices all over the world. We are linked up to all of them by e-mail. With e-mail I can communicate with offices around the world very efficiently. It has really changed my life.3. Well, I use computers for almost every aspect of my job. I use them to design electrical installations and lighting systems: for example the program will tell you how much lighting you need for a particular room, or how much cable you need, and it will show where the cable should go. I also use the computer to make drawings and to keep records. We have to test our installations every five years and the information is stored on computer.4. I use computers to find information for people. Readers come in with a lot of queries and I use either our own database or the national database that we are connected to to find what we want. They might want to know the name and address of a particular society, or last year’s accounts of a company and we can find it for them. Or they might want to find a particular newspaper article but they don’t know the exact date it was published so we can find it for them by checking on our online database for anything they can remember: a name or the general topic. And we use computers to catalogue the books into the library and to record the books that readers borrow.

Do you know how to pronounce these words?

Organize, financial, technology, automatic, mathematical, consumption, consume, catalogue, design, miraculous, administrative, microchip, purposes, materials, competitor, alien, staff.

Give English equivalents

Решать сложные проблемы, погодные условия, база данных, полагаться на, хранить информацию, высокая скорость, выполнять, соединять.

Give Russian equivalents

To perform mathematical operations, fuel consumption, radar systems, administrative purposes, to keep records, personal coded card, to communicate with, flight reservation.

Part 3

Task A

Write a list of as many uses of the computer, or computer applications, as you can think of.

Task B

Now read the text below and underline any applications that are not in your list.

What can computers do?Computers and microchips have become part of our everyday lives: we visit shops and offices which have been designed with the help of computers, we read magazines which have been produced on computer, we pay bills prepared by computers. Just picking up a telephone and dialling a number involves the use of a sophisticated computer system, as does making a flight reservation or bank transaction.We encounter daily many computers that spring to life the instant they're switched on (e.g. calculators, the car's electronic ignition, the timer in the microwave, or the programmer inside the TV set), all of which use chip technology. What makes your computer such a miraculous device? Each time you turn it on, it is a”tabula rasa” that, with appropriate hardware and software, is capable of doing anything you ask. It is a calculating machine that speeds up financial calculations. It is an electronic filing cabinet which manages large collections of data such as customers' lists, accounts, or inventories. It is a magical typewriter that allows you to type and print any kind of document — letters, memos or legal documents. It is a personal communicator that enables you to interact with other computers and with people around the world. If you like gadgets and electronic entertainment, you can even use your PC to relax with computer games.

Task CTranslate the text into Russian.

Part 4

Other applications

Task A

In small groups, choose one of the areas in the diagram below and discuss what computers can do in this area.

Useful wordsFormula 1: racing car, car body, design, mechanical parts, electronic components, engine speedEntertainment: game, music, animated image, multimedia, encyclopedia Factories: machinery, robot, production line, computer-aided manufacturing softwareHospitals: patients, medical personnel, database program, records, scanner, diagnose, disease, robot, surgery

Useful constructionsComputers are used to ... A PC can also be used for ...Computers can help ... make ... control ... store ... keep ... provide ... manage ... give ... perform ... measure ... test... provide access to ...

Task B

Now write a short paragraph summarizing your discussion. Then ask one person from your group to give a summary of the group's ideas to the rest of the class.

ExamplesIn business, computers are used for financial planning, accounting and specificcalculations.In the office, computers are used to write letters and keep records of clients,suppliers and employees.

Computer

EntertainmentFormula 1 cars

Hospitals and medical research

Factories and idustrial processes

Task C

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only one word in each space. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Deep Blue

Can people build machines capable of evolving (0) __into__ something better, something able, perhaps, to invent solutions that go (1)________ the boundaries of human imagination? Using brute-force methods of calculation, computers can nowadays play (2) ________ passable game of chess. In 1997, an IBM supercomputer (3) ________ as ‘Deep Blue’ defeated the reigning world chess champion Garry Kasparov. In (4)_______ doing, Deep Blue appeared to satisfy (5) _______ least some of the criteria for artificial intelligence, for Kasparov described the experience as being every (6)________ as gruelling as playing a top – notch human challenge. Yet Deep Blue’s victory (7) ________ the world’s artificial – intelligence community unimpressed. That was because the machine performed its feat merely by crunching numbers faster than (8) ________ other computer had managed before. Its enormous processing power enabled it to predict a game’s possible course (9) _______ to 30 moves ahead, while its clever programming allowed it to work out (10) _______ of the millions of possible moves (11) ________ strengthen its position best. (12) _____ its own, all that Deep Blue could do, no matter(13)________ brilliantly, was the mathematics. (14) ________ it could not do was devise its own strategies for playing a game of chess, thus confirming conventional wisdom that (15) _______ long held that a machine’s abilities are limited by the imagination of its creator.

Task D

Read the text again and answer the following short-answer questions.

1. Which phrase in the second paragraph reinforces the idea introduced by ‘brute-force methods of calculation’?

2. In your own words, explain how Garry Kasparov found playing chess against the computer.

3. What does the phrase ‘its feat’ refer to?4. In your own words, explain what is meant by the term ‘conventional wisdom’.

Part 4

Task A

Render the text into English, using the words and word-combinations below.

CAD (Computer- aided design); Mayan cities; in three dimensions; fashion designer; waterslide; amusement park; velocity and effects of friction.

Автоматизированное проектированиеВ настоящее время программы автоматизированного проектирования (ПАП) появились в некоторых довольно необычных местах – например, джунгли Южной Америки. Археологи установили компьютерные станции в древнем

городе индейцев Майа, где проводились раскопки. Они надеялись, что воссоздание дворцов Майа с помощью ПАП могло найти верное направление поисков. Так как ПАП может создавать модели в трех измерениях и предлагает различные перспективы, программа неоценима почти для любого, кто имеет дело с проектированием. Модельер может изменить только что разработанную юбку, определить оптимальную длину и прибавить большое количество деталей несколькими командами. Проектировщики водных горок для луна-парка могут использовать ПАП, чтобы определить скорость и влияния трения от купальных костюмов – без карандаша и бумаги.

Vocabulary

Access иметь доступ, получить доступAccount банковский счетAid помощьAppropriate соответствующий, свойственныйArtificial искусственныйBill счетBoundary граница, пограничныйCash dispenser банкоматChallenge вызов, бросить вызов, оспаривать, подвергать сомнениюCompetition соревнование, конкуренция, состязание To confirm подтверждатьTo consume потреблять, расходоватьConventional обусловленный, условный, общепринятый Crunch хруст, треск, скрипCurrent текущий, течение, потокDatabase база данныхDefeat поражениеDemand требованиеTo detect обнаруживать, выявлятьDevice устройствоTo dial набирать номерDisplay дисплей, отображать, выводить на экранDrug наркотикTo enable дать возможностьGadget приспособлениеHardware техническое обеспечение, аппаратураIntelligence умTo interact with взаимодействовать Keyboard клавиатураLegal законныйMemo запискаParticular специфический, особенныйTo predict предсказыватьQuery вопрос, запросRecords записиTo rely on полагаться наSoftware программное обеспечениеSolution решениеSophisticated сложный

Staff штат сотрудниковTabula rasa (лат.) чистая доскаTeam командаTop notch результат высшего классаTraffic движениеTransaction дело, сделка, соглашение, транзакцияTypewriter пишущая машинка

Unit 2 What is a computer?

Part 1

Task A

Read the text and translate it into Russian

What is a computer?

Computers are electronic machines which can accept data in a certain form, process the data and give the results of the processing in a specified format as information.Three basic steps are involved in the process. First, data is fed into the computer's memory. Then, when the program is run, the computer performs a set of instructions and processes the data. Finally, we can see the results (the output) on the screen or in printed form. Information in the form of data and programs is known as software, and the electronic and mechanical parts that make up a computer system are called hardware. A standard computer system consists of three main sections: the central processing unit (CPU), the main memory and the peripherals.Perhaps the most influential component is the central processing unit. Its function is to execute program instructions and coordinate the activities of all the other units. In a way, it is the 'brain' of the computer. The main memory holds the instructions and data which are currently being processed by the CPU. The peripherals are the physical units attached to the computer. They include storage devices and input/output devices.Storage devices (floppy, hard or optical disks) provide a permanent storage of both data and programs. Disk drives are used to handle one or more floppy disks. Input devices enable data to go into the computer's memory. The most common input devices are the mouse and the keyboard. Output devices enable us to extract the finished product from the system. For example, the computer shows the output on the monitor or prints the results onto paper by means of a printer.On the rear panel of the computer there are several ports into which we can plug a wide range of peripherals - modems, fax machines, optical drives and scanners.These are the main physical units of a computer system, generally known as the configuration.

Task B

Use the information in the text to help you match the terms in the box with the appropriate explanation or definition below.

a software b peripheral devices с monitor d floppy disk e hardware f input g port h output i central processing unit

1 The brain of the computer.2 Physical parts that make up a computer system.3 Programs which can be used on a particular computer system.4 The information which is presented to the computer.5 Results produced by a computer.

6 Hardware equipment attached to the CPU.7 Visual display unit.8 Small device used to store information. Same as 'diskette'.9 Any socket or channel in a computer system into which an input/outputdevice may be connected.

Task C

Read these slogans or quotations, and say what computer elements they refer to.

a “Point and click here for power.” b “Obeys every impulse as if it were an extension of your hand.”

a “Displays your ideas with perfect brilliance.”b “See the difference – sharp images and a fantastic range of colours”

a “I love this drive. It’s quiet and fast.”b “With this it’s easy to back up your data before it is too late.”

a “Power and speed on the inside.”b “Let your computer’s brain do the work.”

a “…a big impact on the production of text and graphics.”b “Your choice: a laser powerhouse.”

Part 2Task A

Read the text and discuss it with your partners.

Before reading , answer these questions.

1. Have you got a computer at home, school or work? What kind is it?2. How often do you use it? What do you use it for?3. What are the main components and features (the configuration) of your computer

system?

Digital computers can be divided into five main types, depending on their size and power: they are mainframes, minicomputers, desktop PCs, laptops and handheld computers.'Mainframes' are the largest and most powerful computers. The basic configuration of a mainframe consists of a central system which processes immense amounts of data very quickly. This central system provides data information and computing facilities for hundreds of terminals connected together in a network. Mainframes are used by large companies, factories and universities.'Minicomputers' are smaller and less powerful than mainframes. They can handle multi-tasking, that is, they can perform more than one task at the same time. Minicomputers are mainly used as file servers for terminals, Typical applications include academic computing, software engineering and other sophisticated applications in which many users share resources.PCs carry out their processing on a single microchip. They are used as personal computers in the home or as workstations for a group. Typical examples are the IBM PC, or the Apple Macintosh. Broadly speaking, there are two classes of personal

computer: (a) desktop PCs, which are designed to be placed on your desk, and (b) portable PCs, which can be used as a tiny notebook. This is why they are called 'notebooks' and 'laptops'. The latest models can run as fast as similar desktop computers and have similar configurations. They are ideal for business executives who travel a lot.The smallest computers can be held in one hand. They're called handheld computers or palmtops. They are used as PC companions or as electronic organizers for storing notes, reminders and addresses.

Task B

Choose the correct answer.

1 According to the speaker:a a mainframe computer is less powerful than a minicomputer.b a mainframe is more powerful than a minicomputer.с a mainframe is not very powerful but can execute jobs very rapidly.2 Mainframe computers are used by:a students and teachers in school,b executives and businessmen.с large organizations processing enormous amounts of data.3 'Multitasking' means:a access to a minicomputer through terminals, b doing a number of tasks at the same time.с connection to a 'host' computer network so that many users have access to data and programs.4 The most suitable computers for home use are:a mainframes.b minicomputers.с microcomputers (PCs).5 The smallest computers are known as:a minicomputers.b desktop PCs.с laptops and notebook computers.

Exercises


Executive, companions, design, typical, tiny, simultaneously, enough, multitasking.


Выполнять инструкции, координировать действия, напечатать результат, компьютеры можно подразделить на пять основных видов, в зависимости от, выполнять, похожая конфигурация.


In the printed form, influential component, central processing unit, to execute program instructions, to extract the finished product from the system, a wide range of, to process immense amounts of data, to store notes, reminders and instructions.

Part 3

Task A

Complete the text below with the following words.

systems memory task terminals desktop CAD applications

However, modern microcomputers have

operating (4)………….and network facilities that can support many simultaneous users. Today, most personal computers have enough (5)…………. to be used for word processing and business (6)……….Some PCs can evenhandle multitasking and (7)…………. applications. As a result, the division between 'minis' and 'micros' is now disappearing.

Part 4

Task A


Analytical machine; mathematical computations (calculations); to store; intermediate and total results; in terms of figures, to process

Что такое компьютер

Слово «компьютер» означает «вычислитель», т.е. устройство для вычислений. Это связано с тем, что первые компьютеры создавались именно как устройства для вычислений, усовершенствованные и автоматические. Принципиальное отличие компьютеров от других счетных устройств состояло в том, что те могли выполнять лишь отдельные вычислительные операции (сложение, вычитание, умножение, деление), а компьютеры позволяют проводить без участия человека сложные последовательности вычислительных операций по заранее заданной инструкции – программе. Кроме того, компьютеры могут хранить в памяти полученные промежуточные и итоговые результаты.Хотя компьютеры создавались для численных расчетов, скоро оказалось, что они могут обрабатывать и другие виды информации - ведь практически любая информация может быть представлена в числовой форме. Для этого на компьютере надо иметь средства для преобразования нужного вида информации в числовую форму и обратно. Компьютеры превратились в

The first microcomputers, also known as(1) '..........................' PCs, were for singleusers only, and this clearly distinguished them from minicomputers. Another important difference was that 'minis' were much more powerful than 'micros': they could executemore than one (2).........................simultaneously and were used as file serversfor (3)...........................and workstations.

универсальные средства для обработки всех видов информации, используемых человеком.

Vocabulary

Application использование, применение To depend on зависеть отDesktop настольныйDevice деление, подразделениеDigital цифровойDisk drive дисководDistinguish разделять, отличатьFacility возможностьFacilities устройство, аппаратура, оборудованиеTo execute выполнять, исполнять Executive диспетчер, супервизор; управляющая программа A host computer главный компьютерImmense огромныйInput device входное устройствоInvolve вовлекатьLaptop лэптоп, переносной ПК Memory памятьOutput device выходное устройство, устройство выводаPalm ладонь Plug штекер, штепсельный разъемPortable портативныйPowerful мощныйTo print печатать Processing unit процессорA rear panel задняя панель

Unit 3 Buying a computer

Part 1

Task A

Read the text and discuss it with your partners. Translate the text into Russian.

Why not buy a computer?

Before you decide to purchase a computer, you need to think seriously about what you want to do. Do you plan to write the next Great American Novel? Publish a newsletter? Or just write occasional correspondence? Do you want to keep the books for your new business? Or do you own household budget? There are innumerable tasks you can do with a computer, assessing your needs carefully can make the difference between owning a highly useful tool and watching your computer gather dust. But even knowing what you want to do with the computer, how do you find out what fits your needs? Experience is the best. You should also do some research, popular computer magazines provide a wealth of information, including reviews of software and hardware.Selecting a computer family is the broadest decision you face. A family is a group of similar computers built around a common standard. The IBM PC and the Apple Macintosh (Mac) are both families. Because each family uses a different method for controlling software, different types of programs tend to operate better on computers in one family. The Mac has built a reputation around manipulating graphics. The Macintosh is therefore popular with people, such as graphic designers or desktop publishers, who produce material that is highly visual. Apple has expanded this niche by designing Macs to be very easy to use, they require very little setup and are nearly ready to run right out of the box. This “plug and play” aspect of the Macintosh has been one of its major selling points.The PC is known for its flexibility and ability to manipulate data. This one of the reasons for its use by financial analysts and database managers. A few years ago the differences between IBM and Macintosh were much more pronounced. Today, the gap is narrowing. It has also become much easier to get the kind of computer system you want pre-configured to your needs, so that getting started with a PC is nearly as simple as with the Mac. Ultimately, though, the most important factor in a buying decision is making sure it will handle the jobs you have in mind. This means that the computer family you need will depend on the specific software you choose and hardware need to run it. However, you should keep the differences between computer families in mind as you try out software and hardware.

Task B

Read the descriptions of the four people and the four computers below. With a partner, choose the most suitable computer for each person. Give reasons for your choices.

1 Daniel is a history student. He needs a computer to write essays, assignments and letters.2 Sarah is the manager of an advertising company. She needs a powerful system which will work with optical disks and multimedia applications, integrating text and pictures with animation and voice annotations. Digitized images and sound occupy a lot of disk space.3 Andy is a CAD engineer. His job involves computer-aided design, simulations and three-dimensional modelling. These applications require a lot of memory and a large drive.4 Tanya is a sales representative. She needs a lightweight machine with which she can process orders and communicate with head office while she is on the road.

Digital Alpha workstation

600 MHz 64-bit Alpha microprocessor128 MB RAM expandable up to 1.5 GBHard disk capacity: 9 GBSupports several graphics formatsLets you attach any peripherals and link up toany networkAllows you to handle your toughest technical,scientific and business-critical applicationsSupports Digital UNIX, Open VMS and Windowsoperating systems£4,049

HP VectraPentium processor running at 333 MHz32 MB of RAMHigh density 3.5", 1.44 MB floppy disk drive32x CD-ROM driveGB hard diskNetwork cardStandard keyboard and Microsoft mouseWindows£709

Compaq notebook

300 MHz Pentium processor with MMXtechnology64 MB RAMGB hard drive3.5" floppy disk drive and CD-ROM driveInternal 56k modem12.1" colour TFT display with high resolutionCompaq trackball mouseExtended life NiMH batteryWeighs only 6 lbsWindows comes pre-installed

£2,399

Power Macintosh

PowerPC processor at 400 MHz128 MB of RAM expandable to 1 GB1 MB of in-line cache on the processor card16 MB of video RAM12 GB hard disk3.5" floppy drive, 24x CD-ROM and Zip unitOptional DVD-ROM driveComes with Apple Vision monitor, sound board,built-in microphone, and stereo speakersMac OS with QuickTime (an extension that letsyou play video and animation on the computer)£2,999

Task C

Look back at the notes you made for Task B about your ideal computer system. What did you want?Read the descriptions of these computers again and choose the one that is closest to your ideal. Explain the reason for your choice.

Exercises


Purchase, seriously, publish, innumerable, manipulating, graphics, therefore, visual, niche, require, flexibility, ultimately, through, assignment, advertising, multimedia, animation, representative, manufacturer.


Различать, собирать пыль, проводить исследования, давать подробные сведения, выбирать компьютер, расширить нишу, убедиться, помнить.


To assess needs, to use a different method to control software, different types of programs tend to operate better on computers in one family, manipulating graphics, require little setup,

Part 2

Task ARead the dialogue, translate it into Russian and dramatize it.

Radio Presenter: Now it's time for this week's edition of Hotline, introduced by Miranda Green.Miranda: Good morning. Are you about to buy a new printer? And are you confused about all the different sorts on the market? Well, this week we're looking at ink-jet and laser printers. In the studio with me is John Kelly from TexPrint, manufacturers of ink-jet printers. Mr Kelly how does an ink-jet printer work?Mr Kelly: Well, basically, an ink-jet printer operates by firing droplets of ink onto the paper.Miranda: And is this a good method of printing?Mr Kelly: Yes it is. It's much quieter than the dot-matrix printer and its output is of a much higher quality.Miranda: But it's more expensive than the dot-matrix, isn't it?Mr Kelly: It is, yes, but, as I say, it's quieter and produces better results.Miranda: And what about laser printers? How do they compare with ink-jets?Mr Kelly: Well, laser printers do produce better quality output than ink-jets, but ink-jets are still an excellent alternative and have become real competitors for laser printers.Miranda: Why's that?Mr Kelly: Well, they are much cheaper than laser printers and some of them can produce up to 720 dpi resolution, which is very good.Miranda: And what kinds of things can ink-jets print? Can they just print sheets of paper, or do they do other things as well?Mr Kelly: Oh yes, they can print envelopes, labels and even transparencies.Miranda: And what about colour? Are there many colour ink-jet printers on the market?Mr Kelly: There are indeed, and some are PostScript compatible, so they can be used in professional graphics and business presentations. They operate by mixing four inks - magenta, yellow, cyan and black - to produce different colours.Miranda: What would your advice be to someone thinking about buying a printer?Mr Kelly: Well, I think that a laser printer is the best option for workgroups and large businesses. Ink-jet printers are ideal for individuals and small businesses.Miranda: Thank you very much, Mr Kelly

Part 3

Task A

A friend has written to you asking you to recommend a computer that suits their needs. Write a letter in reply, describing its technical features and saying why you recommend it.

Part 4

Task A


To solve tasks; database; storage; compatible; advertising and publishing; network

Если вы хотите преобрести компьютер для бизнеса, полезно знать, что…

Как правило, в больших организациях одновременно используются несколько типов компьютеров, поскольку на каждом типе компьютеров целесообразно решать свои задачи. Например, если в организации десяткам или сотням пользователей необходимо централизованно работать с большой общей базой данных, то для хранения и обработки этой базы данных может быть приобретена мини-ЭВМ или даже мэйнфрейм, а в качестве рабочих мест пользователей могут использоваться IBM PC – совместимые компьютеры. Производство рекламы и издательской продукции в той же организации может осуществляться на компьютере типа Macintosh (поскольку для этих компьютеров имеется более качественное программное обеспечение для издательской деятельности), а разъездным агентам могут быть выданы карманные компьютеры. Все эти компьютеры могут обмениваться данными с помощью объединения в локальную сеть, а также иными способами.

Vocabulary

Advertising рекламаAlternative альтернатива, альтернативный вариант Assignment назначение, распределение, заданиеCAD система автоматизированного проектирования Compatible совместимыйDot-matrix printer точечно-матричное печатающее устройствоTo expand расширять, наращивать, распространятьTo fit соответствовать, подходить, приспосабливатьFlexible гибкийFlexibility гибкостьTo handle обрабатывать, оперировать, манипулироватьInk-jet printer струйный принтерTo integrate интегрировать, объединять в одно целоеLocal локальный, местный, пользователь локальной сетиManufacturer производительNiche нишаTo occupy заниматьTo own владетьTo print печататьTo publish издавать, публиковать To purchase покупатьTo require требоватьResearch изучение, исследование, анализSelect выбирать, отбиратьSetup установка, устройство, схема, макет, сборка, монтаж, наладка, настройка

Unit 4 Input devices

Part 1

Input devices are the pieces of hardware which allow us to enter information into the computer. The most common are the keyboard and the mouse. We can also interact with a computer by using one of these: a lightpen, a scanner, a trackball, a graphic tablet, a joystick or a voice recognition device.

Task ARead the descriptions of three input devices. What are they?

The device is used to enter information into the computer. As well as having a normal typewriter keys for characters and a numeric keypad, it may also have function keys and editing keys for special purposes. This is a device for controlling a cursor and selecting items on the screen. The ball underneath is rolled in any direction. Across the surface of a table to move the cursor on the screen. By clicking a button, the user can activate icons or select items in the text.

In shape this input device is similar to an ordinary pen. It works by detecting light from the computer screen and is used by pointing directly at the screen display. It allows the user to answer multiple-choice questions and to draw diagrams and graphics.

Task BRead the dialogue, translate it into Russian and dramatize it.

Interviewer: Mobile phones and the Internet have changed the way we communicate. However, we still need to use the keyboard and the mouse to communicate with computers. When shall we be able to interact with PCs by voice? Anne: Well, the technology already exists but the habit of talking to a computer is only just beginning to take off.Interviewer: What are the basic components of a speech-recognition system? Anne: Basically you need voice-recognition software, a sound card and a microphone. If you want to have good results, you should get a high-quality headset microphone. Interviewer: Right. What sort of things can you do with a speech-recognition system?

Anne: The system converts voice into text, so you can dictate text directly onto your word processor or e-mail program. The technology is particularly useful to dictate notes, business memos, letters and e-mail. Interviewer: But is dictation accurate, I mean, does the system interpret all the words correctly? Anne: Speech companies claim an accuracy rate of around 98 per cent. But the system is more accurate if you train the software by reading aloud sample text for a few minutes. This process teaches the program to recognize words that are not in its built-in dictionary, for example, proper names, abbreviations, unusual words, etc. Interviewer: OK. And can you execute programs and navigate around menus and windows? Anne: Yes, you can control your PC by voice commands. This means you can launch programs, open a file, save it in a particular format or print it. Some systems even let you search the Web by voice or chat using your voice instead of the keyboard.Interviewer: That sounds exciting. And how do you see the future of speech-recognition? Anne: In a few years' time, I think a lot of people will use their voices to interact with computers. Some day, we'll be talking to our PC naturally, like a friend.

Task C

Match the descriptions with the names of keys on the right.

1 A long key at the bottom of the keyboard, each time it ispressed, it produces a blank space.

2 It moves the cursor to the beginning of a new line. It is alsoused to confirm commands.

3 It stops a program without losing the information from themain memory. Sometimes its use depends on the applications.

4 It works in combination with other keys to produce specialcharacters or specific actions.

5 It removes the character on the left of the cursor or anyselected text.

6. It produces UPPER-CASE characters (or the upper-casecharacter of the key).

7 It produces upper-case letters, but it does not affect numbersand symbols.

8 It moves the cursor horizontally to the right for a fixed numberof spaces (in tabulations and data fields).

9 They are used to move the cursor, as an alternative to themouse.

Part 2

Task A

Try to answer these questions.

1 How is the mouse connected to the computer?2 What does the mouse pointer look like on the screen?3 What are the functions of the mouse buttons?

Return

Arrow Keys

Caps lock

Shift

Escape

Tab

Space bar

Backspace

Alt

4 What are the advantages of a computer mouse over a keyboard?

Task B

Read the text to check your answers or to find the right answers.

Point and click!

Typically, a mouse is a palm-sized device, slightly smaller than a pack of cards. On top of the mouse there are one or more buttons for communicating with the computer. A 'tail' or wire extends from the mouse to a connection on the back of the computer.The mouse is designed to slide around on your desktop. As it moves, it moves an image on the screen called a pointer or mouse cursor. Thepointer usually looks like an arrow or I-bar, and it mimics the movements of the mouse on your desktop.What makes the mouse especially useful is that it is a very quick way to move around on a screen. Move the desktop mouse half an inch and the screen cursor will leap four inches. Making the same movements with the arrow keys takes much longer. The mouse also issues instructions to the computer very quickly. Point to an available option with the cursor, click on the mouse, and the option has been chosen.Mice are so widely used in graphics applications because they can do things that are difficult, if not impossible, to do with keyboard keys. For example, the way you move an image with a mouse is to put the pointer on the object you want to move, press the mouse button and drag the image from one place on the screen to another. When you have the image where you want it, you release the mouse button and the image stays there. Similarly, the mouse is used to grab one corner of the image (say a square) and stretch it into another shape (say a rectangle). Both of these actions are so much more difficult to perform with a keyboard that most graphics programs require a mouse.The buttons on the mouse are used to select items at which the mouse points. You position the pointer on an object on the screen, for example, on a menu or a tool in a paint program, and then you press the mouse button to 'select' it. Mice are also used to load documents into a program: you put the pointer on the file name and double-click on the name - that is, you press a mouse button twice in rapid succession.

Exercises


Graphic tablet, character, numeric keypad, cursor, multiple choice, diagram, speech recognition system, basically, particularly, accurate, rectangle, similarly, photocopier.


Устройство для распознавания голоса, чертить диаграммы, это устройство напоминает обычную ручку, правильно интерпретировать все слова, вместо клавиатуры, пустое пространство.


Graphic tablet, numeric keypad, to activate icons, to interact with personal computers by voice, a high-quality headset microphone, to recognize words which are not in the built-in dictionary, to navigate around menus and windows, to drag the image.

Task C

Here are some basic mouse actions. Match the terms with the explanations below.

a click b double-click с drag

Position the pointer on something, then rapidly press and release the mousebutton twice. (You do this to load a program, open a document or select textor graphics.)

Position the pointer on something, hold down the mouse button and move themouse to the desired position, then release the button. (You do this to movean image to a new location on the screen.)

Position the pointer on something, then press and release the mouse button.(You do this to place the insertion point, to choose an option, or to close awindow.)

Part 3

Task A

Use the information in the text to answer these questions. Read and translate it into Russian.

1 What is a scanner? Give a definition in your own words.2 How does a colour scanner work?

What does a scanner do?

A scanner converts text or pictures into electronic codes that can be manipulated by the computer.In a flatbed scanner, the paper with the image is placed face down on a glass screen similar to a photocopier. Beneath the glass are the lighting and measurement devices. Once the scanner is activated, it reads the image as a series of dots and then generates a digitized image that is sent to the computer and stored as a file. The manufacturer usually includes software which offers different ways of treating the scanned image.

A colour scanner operates by using three rotating lamps, each of which has a different coloured filter: red, green and blue. The resulting three separate images are combined into one by appropriate software. , ,A scanner sees images and translates them into a form that can be understoodby the computer.

What do you think are the benefits of using scanners in business?

Task B

Some of the adjectives have been left out of this persuasive advertisement. Read it and complete it with words below.

stunning affordable wide excellent complete easy-to-use

The GT-7000 provides amazing quality with powerful, (1)…………. Software and hardware at a very (2)………… price. Using a combination of EPSON Advanced Scanning Technology, the GT-7000 provides (3)………… quality whether scanning text documents, photos or film.The EPSON START Button takes the complexity out of scanning. Simply press this button once and your photo or document is scanned and inserted into the software package of your choice ready for editing, printing or publishing. Included with the GT-7000 is a (4)………… range of bonus software to help with home and business scanning, printing and publishing, allowing you to create (5)……… posters, letters, flyers and Web pages.The GT-7000 is also available as the GT-7000 Photo scanner (6)………… with advanced film adapter unit.

Part 4

Task A


To transform, transformer, to set up a connection, wires and cables, digital, options.

Для чего нужен модем.

Модем представляет собой преобразователь. Он трансформирует исходные нули и единицы компьютерного языка в нечто, что можно пересылать по телефонным линиям, телевизионным кабелям или отправить в открытое пространство. Там, на другом конце линии, второй модем преобразовывает эти сигналы в понятный компьютеру язык, и — не будем все усложнять — так эти два компьютера и общаются между собой.Сейчас функция компьютерного модема практически целиком заключается в установлении связи с Internet. Хотя с помощью модемов по-прежнему компьютеры могут общаться между собой, обычно все почему-то ограничиваются Internet.Модемы управляются программным обеспечением, так же как принтер или внешнее устройство хранения данных. На самом модеме вы не найдете ни кнопок, ни других опций настройки.Модем получил название по принципу своего функционирования. Модем преобразовывает компьютерные данные в аналоговые сигналы, которые пересылаются через телефонную линию общего пользования. Преобразование цифровых данных в аналоговые называется модуляцией, а обратный процесс — демодуляцией. Таким образом, модем — это Модулятор – Де - Модулятор.Высокоскоростные модемы не занимаются модуляцией и демодуляцией, поскольку общаются посредством исключительно цифровых сигналов. Но они тоже называются модемами.

VocabularyAbbreviation сокращениеAccurate точный, правильный, безоошибочныйAffordable позволительный, допустимыйAppropriate подходящий, соответствующийAvailable доступный, имеющийся в наличиеBlank пустой; пробел, пропуск, пустое местоTo convert преобразовыватьTo drag перетаскиватьTo exist существоватьTo execute исполнять, выполнятьFlatbed scanner сканнер планшетного типа, планшетный сканнерTo grab контактировать, хватать, захватыватьHeadset наушникиInput device входное устройство, устройство вводаTo interact взаимодействоватьTo interpret интерпретироватьKeypad клавиатураLightpen световое пероLaunch запускатьMultiple множественныйParticularly особенно, подробно, детальноRectangle прямоугольникSample образецSpace пространствоSuccession последовательностьStunning оглушительный, ошеломляющийWire провод

Unit 5 Output devices

Part 1

We interact with computers by entering instructions and data into them. After this information has been processed internally, we can see the results on the visual display unit or VDU. To obtain a permanent copy of these results, we can use plotters, printers or video recorders. In this interactive process with the computer, the screen plays an important part.

Task A

Describe the screen of your computer to another student. Use these questions to help you.• Is it a monochrome or a colour monitor?• What size is it?• Does it produce a high quality image?

Task B

Read the text and try to guess the meaning of any new words in the box below. Refer to a dictionary if necessary.

dot pixel display resolution cathode ray tube electron beam scan (verb) hertz refresh rate flicker bit-mapped visualize

The monitor

The characters and pictures that we see on the screen are made up of dots, also called picture elements (pixels). The total number of pixels in which the display is divided both horizontally and vertically is known as the resolution. If the number of pixels is very large, we obtain a high resolution display and therefore a sharp image. If the number of pixels is small, a low resolution is produced.Typical resolutions are 640 x 480 or 1,024 x 768 pixels. The pixel density affects the image: a larger number of pixels gives a much clearer image. The cathode ray tube of the monitor is very similar to that of a TV set. Inside the tube there is an electron beam which scans the screen and turns on or off the pixels that make up the image. The beam begins in the top left corner and scans the screen from left to right in a continuous sequence, similar to the movement of our eyes when we read, but much faster. This sequence is repeated 50, 60 or 75 times per second, depending on the system. If the rate of this repetition is low, we can perceive a flickering, unsteady screen, which can cause eye fatigue. However, a fast-moving 75 Hz 'refresh rate' eliminates this annoying flicker.What we see on the screen is created and stored in an area of RAM, so that there is a memory cell allocated to each pixel. This type of display is called bit-mapped. On monochrome monitors, bits 0 are visualized as white dots, and bits 1 as black dots.On colour displays, there are three electron guns at the back of the monitor's tube. Each electron gun shoots out a beam of electrons; there is one beam for each of the three primary colours: red, green and blue. These electrons strike the inside of the screen which is coated with substances called phosphors that glow when struck by electrons. Three different phosphor materials are used – one each for red, green and

blue. To create different colours, the intensity of each of the three electron beams is varied. The monitor is controlled by a separate circuit board, known as display adapter, which plug into the motherboard of the computer. Different boards drive different types of displays. For example, VGA (video graphics array) card has become a standard for colour monitors. Portable computers use a flat liquid-crystal display (LCD) instead of a picture tube. An LCD uses a grid of crystals and polarizing filters to show the image. The crystals block the light in different amounts to generate the dots in the image.

Task C

Read the text again and answer these questions.

1 According to the writer, what is the importance of 'pixel resolution'?2 Which unit of frequency is used to measure the refresh rate of a monitor?3 In the writer's opinion, why can a low refresh rate produce eye fatigue?4 What substance is hit by electrons in a monitor?5 What is the standard display system for many PCs?6 What does 'LCD' stand for? What type of computers use LCD displays?

Part 2

Task A

Read the dialogue and discuss it with your partners.

Tony: As you may know, researchers have begun to worry about the health risks of spending a lot of time in front of a computer. Anyone spending more than four hours a day working on a PC may start to suffer from aching hands, neck or shoulders, occasional headaches and eye strain. These can all make you feel irritable and stressed. Yes?Student 1: Is there anything we can do to avoid these risks?Tony: Yes, there's quite a lot you can do. For example, if you take the trouble to position your computer properly you can avoid backache. Get a good chair - one that supports your lower back and is adjustable so you can have both your feet on the floor. Position the keyboard at the same height as your elbows, with your arms parallel to the work surface, and position the monitor so it is at, or just below eye level. You should look down at it slightly, not up. Don't put your monitor in front of a window, and make sure that there isn't a lamp shining directly into your eyes or reflecting off the screen. The monitor should also be fitted with a tilt-and-swivel stand. Does anyone know what that is?Student 2: Yes, I think it's a kind of stand that lets you move the monitor up or around so you can use it at the right angle and height.Tony: Yes, that's right. Have any of you had any health problems from using a computer?Student 3: Well, often my eyes feel really sore and tired after I've been using the computer for a few hours. How do I stop that happening?Tony: Well, as a general rule, don't use a monitor that's fuzzy or that distorts the image. Give your eyes a rest - look away from the monitor from time to time, out of the window or across the room.Student 4: I've heard that monitors can be dangerous because they emit electromagnetic radiation. Is that true?

Tony: Well, all monitors, except LCD displays, emit extremely low frequency radiation. We don't really know how serious prolonged exposure to this radiation can be but recent results are not very hopeful. To minimize your risk, stay at arm's length away from the front of the monitor when you're working. If you work in a room with a lot of computers, make sure you sit at least 1 m 20 cm away from the sides or backs of any monitors as the radiation fields can be strong there.Student 5: What do you think of radiation guards? Are they really useful?Tony: Yes, I think they are. As you know, they're protective filters that fit over the front of the monitor. They can't absorb all the ELF radiation but they do reduce it substantially. Anyway, the effects of radiation from screens are still being studied, so don't get too alarmed.

Exercises

Do you know how to pronounce these words?Internally, visual, monochrome cathode, visualize, horisontally, vertically, sequence, fatigue, phosphors, liquid, occasional, headache, height, electromagnetic radiation, irritable.

Give English equivalentsСканировать, общее количество (число) пикселей, дисплей высокого разрешения, влиять на изображение, быть очень похожим на, зависеть от, вызывать утомление глаз, быть покрытым веществом, жидкий.

Give Russian equivalentsVisual display, unit, interactive process, cathode ray, tube, electron beam, bit-mapped, refresh rate, in a continuous sequence, circuit board (display adapter).

Task B

Read the dialogue again and complete the sentences below.

1 You should get a good chair, one that............................................................2 Position the keyboard....................................................................................3 Position the monitor................eye level, or just...........................................4 A tilt-and-swivel display lets you..................................................................5 You should stay an arm's length away from..................................................6 If you work in a room with a lot of computers, sit........................................

Part 3

Task A

How many kinds of printers can you think of? Make a list. Read the text below and translate it into Russian.

Types of printers

Printing is the final stage in creating a document. That is the purpose of the printers joined to your computing equipment. Since the results you can obtain with different types of printers will vary substantially, here is a guide to help you decide which one is most suitable for your needs.To begin with, it must be taken into account that printers vary in cost, speed, print quality and other factors such as noise or compatibility. In fact, printing technology is evolving so quickly that there is always a printer for every application or personal requirement.Dot-matrix printers use pins to print the dots required to shape a character. They print text and graphics and nowadays some of them can print up to 450 characters per second (cps); however, they produce relatively low resolution output - 72 or 144 dots per inch. This level of quality, while suitable for preliminary drafts, is not recommended for reports or books that have a wide audience. They are slower than laser printers but much cheaper.One common type of non-impact printer is an ink-jet printer. It operates by projecting small ink droplets onto paper to form the required image. This type of printer is quite fast, silent and not so expensive as a laser printer.Nevertheless, you can expect high quality 30 results because there are some ink-jet printers on the market with a resolution of 720 dpi. Bubble-jet printers work the same wayLaser printers produce output at great speed and with a very high resolution of 600/1,200 dpi. 35 They scan the image with a laser beam and transfer it to paper with a special ink powder. They are constantly being improved. In terms of speed and image quality they are preferred by experts for different reasons: they have a wider range of scalable fonts, they can emulate different language systems, they can produce graphics, and they have many other advantages. It goes without saying that they are still expensive.

We must not forget to mention thermal printers. They use heat, a special kind of paper and electrosensitive methods. They are silent and considered to be inexpensive. However, some colour models that emulate HP (Hewlett Packard) plotters cost too much to be included in the same category.Photosetters can be regarded as an attractive alternative. They do not print on regular paper, but on photographic paper or microfilm. They can produce output with a resolution of over 2,000 dots per inch. In addition, they are extremely fast. Although they produce the highest quality output, they have one important drawback: they are the most expensive.Finally, plotters are a special kind of printer. Plotters use ink and fine pens held in a carriage to draw very detailed designs on paper. They are used for construction plans, engineering drawings and other technical illustrations.

Task B

Read the text again and complete this table with the most relevant information. Then compare your notes with a partner.

Type of printer Technical specifications and other features

Dot-matrix Ink-jet Laser Thermal Photosetter Plotter

Task C

Read the text and describe to your partner the characteristics of a printer you would like to use. Give reasons.

Printing is the final stage in creating a document. That is the purpose of the printers joined to your computer equipment. Since the results you can obtain with different types of printers will vary substantially, here is a guide to help you to decide which one is most suitable for your needs. To begin with, it must be taken into account that printers vary in cost, speed, print quality and other factors such as noise or compatibility. In fact, printing technology is evolving so quickly that there is always a printer for every application or personal requirement.

Part 4

Task A


Ink-jet, laser, drops, photosetter.

Принтер

Принтеры — устройства, которые печатают. Использование принтера — часто последний этап в создании чего-либо на ПК. Принтер создает твердую копию, которая представляет собой то, что вы создали на экране компьютера, а затем перенесли на бумагу.К двум основным типам принтеров, наиболее популярным сегодня, относятся струйный и лазерный принтеры.Пролить чернила на бумагу можно множеством способов. Два наиболее популярных из них легли в основу основных типов компьютерных принтеров: лазерного и струйного.Струйные принтеры — наиболее популярный тип принтеров. Обычно они бывают цветными и могут создавать высококачественные изображения текста или графики почти на любой бумаге. Некоторые, старшие члены семейства струйных принтеров способны даже обеспечить фотографическое качество. К тому же эти принтеры доступны по цене от менее 100 долларов до нескольких сотен, в зависимости от дополнительных функций.При печати струйные принтеры разбрызгивают мельчайшие капли чернил на бумагу. Капли переносятся на бумагу непрерывной струей — этим и объясняется название таких принтеров. Поскольку чернила из картриджа попадают непосредственно на бумагу, струйные принтеры не нуждаются в красящей ленте или картридже с тонером.Если струйные принтеры — больше для души, то лазерные принтеры — скорее для работы. Лазерные принтеры дороже струйных, но справляются с большими нагрузками, что и определяет сферу их применения как в домашних, так и в офисных условиях.Типичный лазерный принтер напоминает копировальную машину. Бумага поступает в принтер по тракту подачи, протягивается через устройство и, превратившись в твердую копию, выдается принтером.

Лазерные принтеры работают как фотокопировальные машины. Отличие в том, что созданное компьютером изображение наносится с помощью лазерного луча.К отдельной группе относятся так называемые струйные фотопринтеры, способные воспроизводить изображение с фотографическим качеством. Кроме стандартных четырех цветов чернил такие принтеры используют дополнительные оттенки.

Vocabulary

Annoying раздражающийArray матрица, решетка, таблица, расположенная в опреде- ленном порядке To avoid избегатьBeam лучBelow внизуBit-mapped побитовое отображение, растровое отображение гра- фического объектаBubble-jet printer струйный принтерCircuit схема, цепь, контурная микросхемаContinuous непрерывный, постоянныйDensity плотность, концентрация, интенсивностьDot точкаDrawback недостатокTo drive управлять, запускатьElbow локотьTo eliminate устранять, исключать, уничтожатьFatigue усталостьTo flicker мерцатьFlickering мерцающийFrequency частотаTo generate производить, создавать, генерировать, порождатьGlow свечение; светитсяGrid сетка, решетка, управляющий проводGun пушкаHeadache головная больHealth здоровьеImage изображениеIntensity интенсивностьInternally внутреннеIrritable раздражительныйLCD (liquid-crystal display) жидкокристаллический дисплей (ЖК-дисплей) Monochrome одноцветный (черно-белый)Motherboard материнская (объединительная), системная платаOccasional случайный, редкийTo perceive воспринимать, понимать, различать Phosphor люминатор, фосфорPrimary первичный, исходныйRAM ( random access memory) память, оперативное запоминающее устройствоRate коеффициент, степень, скорость, интенсивностьTo refresh обновитьResolution разрешающая способность, разрешениеScalable расширяемый, с изменением масштаба

To separate отделять, разделять Sequence последовательностьSharp острыйShoot стрелятьShoulder плечоStrain напряжениеTo strike ударять, нажимать (на клавишу)To support поддерживатьSurface поверхностьThermal printer термографическое печатное устройствоUnsteady неустановившийся, нестандартный, неустойчивый

VGA (video graphic array) логическая матрица видеографики, видео адаптер (видео карта)To vary меняться, изменяться

Unit 6 Floppies and Hard Drives.

Part 1

Task A

Match the instructions.

1. Protest your floppies a. from water and humidity2. Remember to block the disk b. on top of the disk3. Don’t put heavy objects c. the information stored on disks4. Magnetic fields can damage d. against high temperature5. Don’t leave them e. under the metallic cover6. Keep disks away f. near the telephone7. Don’t touch the magnetized surface g. if you want to be sure that information is not changed or erased by accident

Task B

In pairs, tell each other what you must or mustn't do to protect your disks.

ExampleYou mustn't leave them on top of your computer.

1 in a protective case2 into the disk drive very carefully3 near strong magnetic fields4 at a temperature of between 10°C and 52°C5 bend or fold the disk

Task C

Read the dialogue, answer these questions and dramatize it with your partner.

1. What type of disks did Sue want to buy - hard or floppy? 2. Did she mention a particular make of disk? 3. What is the storage capacity of high density disks? 4. How much was a pack of ten formatted disks? 5. Which disks did she buy - formatted or unformatted? 6. How much did she pay altogether?

Assistant: Yes. Can I help you?Sue: Yes. I'm looking for a removable hard drive. Have you got any? Assistant: Sure. If you come with me I'll show you some drives over here ... Sue: What different systems are there? Assistant: At the moment, we've got two drives from Iomega: the Zip drive, which can store 100 or 250 megabytes on Zip disks, and the Jaz system which can store 2 gigabytes on each Jaz disk. Sue: So the Jaz drive can hold more information. Would you recommend it?

Assistant: Well, not exactly. That depends on your needs. A Zip disk is used as a substitute for diskettes. It's like a superfloppy, ideal for transporting personal files. The Jaz drive is more for professionals, big enough to back up your hard disk. It's as fast as a hard disk, so you can run all sorts of programs.Sue: I see. And how much do they cost?Assistant: The Zip drive costs £60 and the Jaz drive is £140. They both come with a free disk.Sue: Right. And have you got any portable systems to store music and video?Assistant: Yes. We have a pocket-sized drive called Peerless. A Peerless system can hold disks of 20 gigabytes, so you can store large files of music, graphics, videos or games.Sue: That sounds interesting. How much is it?

Part 2

Task A

Read the text and translate it into Russian.

Technical details

Information stored in the RAM is lost when the computer is turned off. Because of this, data and applications are stored in either hard or floppy disks which provide a more permanent backing store.Floppy disks are so called because they consist of flexible plastic material which has a magnetizable surface. The surface of a floppy disk is divided into concentric circles or 'tracks', which are then divided into 'sectors'. When you insert a blank disk into a disk drive, it must be 'initialized', or formatted, before information can be recorded 15 onto it. This means that magnetic areas are created for each track and sector, along with a catalogue or 'directory' which will record the specific location of files.When you save a file, the operating system 20 moves the read/write heads of the disk drive towards empty sectors, records the data and writes an entry for the directory. Later on, when you open that file, the operating system looks for its entry in the directory on the disk, 25 moves the read/write heads to the correct sectors, and reads the file into the RAM area.

Task BMatch the words and expressions on the left with the explanations on the right.

1 backing store a. a catalogue of where each piece of data is stored and how to find it

b. recording heads с. secondary storage d. diskettes e. initializing; setting tracks and sectors on

magnetic disks

2 floppies3 disk drive4 formatting5 directory

6 read/write

f . a peripheral which spins disks and contains a read/write head

Part 3

Task A

Try to answer these questions.

1. What is the main function of a hard disk?2. Which unit is used to measure hard disk capacity?3. Can you think of one advantage that hard disks have over floppies?

Task B

Read the text quickly to find out if you were right in Task A. Read the text again and make a list of the technical aspects that you should consider when buying a hard disk.

When buying a hard disk ...

Hard disks have important advantages over floppy disks: they spin at a higher speed, so you can store and retrieve information much faster than with floppies. They can also hold vast amounts of information, from 500 MB up to several gigabytes. Apart from this, both types of disks work in the same way. To directly access the necessary information, the read/write heads of rigid disks seek the required tracks and sectors, and then transfer the information to the main memory of the computer or to another form of storage, all of which is done in a few milliseconds (ms).Bearing in mind that you always need disk storage, it is good sense to ask yourself some vital questions: What size capacity do I need? What speed can I use? What kind of storage device is the most suitable for my requirements? If you only use word-processing programs, you will need less storage capacity 20 than if you use CAD, sound and animation programs. For most users, 2 GB on the hard disk is enough.Now let's turn our attention to speed. Access times vary from 8 ms to 20 ms. Access time' - 25 or seek time - is the time it takes your read/write heads to find any particular record. You have to distinguish clearly between seek time (e.g. 20 ms) and 'data transfer rate' (the average speed required to transmit data from a 30 disk system to the RAM, e.g. at 20 megabits per second). Remember that the transfer rate also depends on the power of your computer.When buying a hard disk you should consider the kinds of drive mechanisms and products 35 available. There are 'internal' and 'external' drives which are both fixed hard drives, i. e. rigid disks sealed into the drive unit, either within or attached to the computer. A third type of hard drive, known as ‘removable’, allows information to be recorded on ‘cartridge’, which can be removed and stored off-line for security purposes. Popular removable hard disks include Jaz and Zip drives. A Jaz cartridge can store up to 2 GB of data, whereas a Zip drive can store up to 250 MB of data.Finally, a few words about ‘optical’ technology: CD-ROMs and CD-Recordable drives have become a reality. However, magnetic hard disks are still preferred for

personal data storage, whereas optical discs are used for recording large amounts of information such as a dictionary or encyclopedia.

Exercises


Magnetized surface, humidity, peerless system, gigabyte, concentric circles, initialize, encyclopedia, advantage, rigid Give English equivalents

Употреблять (использовать) вместо, преимущество над, содержать огромное количество информации, иметь доступ к, иметь в виду, предпочитать, защищать от высокой температуры, случайно стереть(уничтожить). Give Russian equivalents Storage capacity, high density disk, backing store, directory, to transfer the information to the main memory of a computer, to be suitable for requirements.

Task C

Now read these sentences and decide if they are true or false.

1. Hard disks are rigid rotating disks.2. ‘Seek time’ refers to the average time required for the recording heads to move

and access data.3. If you use multimedia applications, you need the same storage capacity as

required for word processor.4. ‘Access time’ and ‘data transfer rate’ mean the same.5. Optical disks are magnetic.6. Each Jaz cartridge can hold up to 1000 MB of data.7. CD-ROMs disks are used for storage of massive amounts of information.

Task D

Complete the advertisement for the MegaMind hard disk with the words below.

megabytes drive compatible highest time protection secure write multimedia

MegaMind

Today's personal computers are very powerful, but to handle large applications like databases, (1)……….., DTP publishing and CAD, you need to have more than 200 (2)…………in your hard disk. That's where MegaMind XT comes in: a reliable hard

(3)…………with 6 gigabytes of capacity; 8 ms average seek (4)………… and 13 mbits/sec average data transfer rate; and a 3.5" drive unit with a five-year warranty.You also receive software utilities that let you easily manage and (5)……. your data.Our software provides formatting, partitions, disk optimization and password (6)………..MegaMind XT is (7)……….with IBM PCs as well as Macintosh computers. As with every MegaMind product — hard disk or optical, 1 GB to 6 GB — the XT gives you the (8) ………..performance. So call us today on (0181) 796 0402. Or (9)……… to MegaMind, PO Box 673, London, N22 1XB.

Part 4

Task A


Software, hardware.Аппаратное и программное обеспечение

Каждая компьютерная система состоит из двух частей: аппаратного и программного обеспечения. Этих два элемента неразрывно связаны друг с другом.Аппаратное обеспечение — это физическая часть компьютера, то, что можно потрогать и увидеть. Но само по себе аппаратное обеспечение ничто, без контролирующего его программного обеспечения. Аппаратное обеспечение можно отчасти сравнить с машиной без водителя или пилой без плотника: чтобы что-то произошло, нужны обе составляющие.Программное обеспечение — это "мозг" компьютера, который говорит ему, что именно делать. Без программного обеспечения аппаратные составляющие будут без толку пылиться в углу. Чтобы компьютер заработал, необходимо программное обеспечение. Фактически оно определяет индивидуальность каждого компьютера. Программное обеспечение намного важнее аппаратного. Именно оно определяет, что делать аппаратному обеспечению.Программное обеспечение компьютера — это не что иное, как инструкции, объясняющие аппаратному обеспечению что делать, как действовать и когда терять данные.Без программного обеспечения аппаратному будет нечего делать.

Vocabulary

By accident случайноAdvantage преимуществоTo back up резервировать, поддерживатьTo bend сгибатьCompatible совместимыйDamage повреждениеDensity плотностьDirectory каталог, директория, папка, справочникTo erase стирать, удалятьFloppy гибкий дискTo fold свертывать, складыватьHumidity влажность, сырость

Permanent постоянный, неизменныйRemovable съемный, сменныйRigid жесткийRotating вращающийсяSecure безопасный, прочный, надежныйSpin вращениеSubstitute замена; заменять, замещатьTrack канал, проводник, связь

Additional texts for reading and rendering.

Text A

Computers and Language Read this article about the way computers are affecting the English language. Six paragraphs have been removed from the text. Choose from the paragraphs A-G on page 121 the one which fits each gap (1-6). There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to use.

One evening in 1945, a luckless moth flew into a huge government computer in Virginia, USA. Computers were then largely mechanical, and the insect was crushed instantly between two metal blades, shutting down the machine and providing English with its first widespread bit of computer slang: bug.1.On the timeline of technology, computers are, if not exactly in their infancy, perhaps barely in their teens. Their real impact on English is yet to come: ultimately, computers will profoundly alter the way that language itself is written. Before the flood tide of computers, however, only engineers and scientists came into contact with computer terminology. Now, a large part of society is exposed to the jargon, either in the home, office, through schools, or in the media.2.Discoursing on RAM and ROM at social gatherings, of course, is in the end no different from carrying on about power-steering or carburetors. More compelling is the way computer jargon is increasingly applied to other concerns. It is perhaps emblematic of technology that, as with bug, the most successful linguistic crossovers thus far are all inspired by computer failure.3.Other computer borrowings abound, not all originating from the idea of technical failure. Some, such as programmed, to describe behaviour, have been enriched by their computer association but are ultimately not far from their pre-computer meanings. The business world, for instance, has appropriated words like network and interface. Such borrowing simply replaces existing words with rather graceless jargon.4.For example, computers offer fresh meaning for the word background. When powerful computer are given more than one job to do, they relegate the lesser task to 'background' -processing that problem only when the more important 'foreground' task is momentarily at rest. Computer buffs have found background an attractive metaphor for a certain level of thought. Instead of 'I'll sleep on it,' one may say, I'll keep that in the background' - implying that the thought will not only be stored but some additional, probably subconscious, thinking will be done.

5.Such obscure usages remain mostly confined to technical communities, such as Silicon Valley. At the same time, some commentators are concerned that these and other computer metaphors are dangerous. In her book The Second Self, a study of computers and culture, sociologist Sherry Turkle warns that when children take computers too literally as models of human thought, they may devalue the subtlety of their own minds.

6.In the end it is the very ubiquity of computers which will bring far more profound changes to language than merely fresh vocabulary. Soon the computer will fundamentally alter the way people write. While the current adult population has largely adopted computers for writing, few will use the machines the same way as their children will, who have never known anything else.

A. Another new and exotic arrival which illustrates this link between thought and computers is munge. This describes the state of being delayed while the computer performs a particularly complex task. Normally delays are sources of irritation, but munge implies they are forgivable because of the difficulty of the task. Munge is also applied to difficult human mental tasks, expressing regard for the difficulty of the task and at the same time sympathy for the thinker.

B. Crash, which is a major system shutdown, has found broad acceptance. One story goes that crash arose with the first student computer enthusiasts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, most of whom also belonged to the MIT biking club, where crashes were of the conventional variety.

C. Broadening access to computers will place an additional premium on the ability of writers to create original thought and diminish the value of well-schooled but merely glib expression. The most elegant, evocative, and revolutionary creations of language will still spring directly from human inspiration.

D. Since that incident, computers have proliferated at an astounding rate, culminating in the past decade's barrage of bits and bytes, servers and hosts, chat rooms and websites. Yet thus far, the computer's influence on general language still lags quite considerably behind the jargon of, say, sports or commerce.

E. Though research has shown that conventional computers operate differently from the human brain, the newer 'neural network' computers more closely imitate the brain's structure, and may well some day offer even more enticing mental associations to those millions of people all over the world who use computers as a fact of life.

F. There is, however, a more intriguing class of computer-inspired language. This derives from the fact that some aspects of computers seem so similar to human thought that they provide new words with which to describe our own mental processes.

G. Even polite conversation is not immune: anyone trapped at dinner with voluble new computer owners knows that the little machines can easily become an obsessive topic. Small wonder then, that tales abound of hosts and hostesses who ban computer speak from the table altogether.

Text B

Render the text into Russian:

Что собой представляет ПК

ПК (персональный компьютер) назван так в честь самой ранней модели — IBM PC. Компания IBM (International Business Machines) создала свой первый ПК (PC — Personal Computer) после того, как долгие годы производила большие вычислительные машины ("не персональные" компьютеры).Сегодня любой компьютер, приобретаемый для использования дома или в офисе, является персональным, и он вовсе не обязательно должен быть собран в IBM. Даже компьютеры Macintosh по праву можно назвать персональными. Если вы работаете с компьютером, то он персональныйВ принципе, ПК —- это всего лишь большой калькулятор с хорошим дисплеем и большим количеством кнопок.ПК справляются с обработкой текстов так же хорошо, как с числовой информацией и графикой. ПК могут работать как отдельно, так и в группах (известных как сети) или общаться со всем земным шаром при помощи Internet.Ноутбуки представляют собой более портативные версии ПК. Обладатели таких компьютеров могут, например, играть в компьютерные игры во время авиапутешествий. Хотя вашим первым компьютером вряд ли будет лэптоп, я привожу много сведений об этих ПК, — специально, чтобы сделать приятное моему редактору.Компьютеры совсем не зловещи— степень развития их интеллекта не так опасна, как многие себе это представляют. В действительности, когда вы познакомитесь с ними поближе, они покажутся вам достаточно глупыми.

Text CRender the text into Russian:

Что такое компьютер

Это трудно определить однозначно. В отличие от других средств, имеющих строго определенное назначение, — пилы, которая пилит, отвертки, которая откручивает, и молотка, который заколачивает, — компьютер способен делать очень многое. Он решает бесконечное количество проблем для бесконечного множества людей. Почти все, что можно делать со словами, с числами, информацией или коммуникациями, можно сделать с помощью компьютера.Компьютер — это электронное устройство которое можно программировать таким образом, что оно будет выполнять множество интересных заданий. От вас всего лишь требуется сообщить компьютеру, что ему следует делать.

Компьютеры делают свое дело с помощью программного обеспечения. Программное обеспечение определяет, что компьютеру следует делать.Программное обеспечение — это только половина уравнения. Второй половиной является аппаратное обеспечение (или аппаратура, или оборудование).Для того чтобы пользоваться компьютером, вам необязательно уметь программировать. Пусть программированием занимается кто-нибудь другой, а вы воспользуетесь готовой программой (или программным обеспечением).Ваша задача, как пользователя компьютера, сводится к тому, чтобы указать программному обеспечению, что вам нужно, а оно уж сообщит компьютеру, что ему делать.Увидеть то, как компьютер будет сам диктовать свои условия человеку, можно лишь в фильме "Терминатор" и ему подобных.Конечно, никто не запрещает говорить компьютеру все, что вы о нем думаете, как и поступают миллионы людей во всем мире.

Text DRender the text into Russian:

Основное аппаратное обеспечение

Системный блок. Штука в виде коробки, представляющая собой главную часть компьютера. В этой коробке располагаются разные компьютерные запчасти, кнопки, огоньки и отверстия, к которым нужно подключать различные кабели.Монитор. Коробка, куда компьютер выводит информацию. Располагается справа или слева от системного блока. Если поставить системный блок под стол, монитор останется сверху.Клавиатура. С ее помощью печатают; это основной способ общения с компьютером.Мышь. Это — не живое существо, относящееся к грызунам, а одно из устройств персонального компьютера. Такие устройства особенно полезны при работе с различным графическими объектами на экране монитора.Колонки. Большинство ПК способно пищать и гудеть через набор стереоколонок или благодаря встроенным динамикам. Принтер. Устройство, которое находится сбоку от компьютера и умеет печатать, что, в общем-то, и послужило поводом назвать это принтером (от английского слова print — печатать). Распечатка, выданная принтером, называется твердой копией.Кроме основных элементов вокруг компьютера встречаются такие вещи, как сканер, цифровая камера, джойстик, внешний накопитель, высокоскоростной модем и много других важных компонентов.Основные компоненты компьютера содержатся внутри системного блока. Все остальное, что подключено к системному блоку, называется периферией.Процессор (Central Processing Unit — CPU) — это одна из главных частей компьютера, по сути, его мозг. Некоторые индивидуумы путают процессор с системным блоком, что является крайним заблуждением.

Text ERender the text into Russian:

Вариации на тему типичного компьютераНе все компьютеры выглядят так, одинаково. Наиболее популярный сегодня тип ПК известен как mini-tower. Подобный системный блок может располагаться на столе, но его легко убрать и под стол.Эта модель не всегда была самой распространенной. В первые десять лет эры компьютеров самыми популярными были машины типа desktop, однако в то время уже существовали и другие модели.Ниже приводится несколько терминов, которые обычно употребляют, когда разговор заходит о компьютерных моделях и модах.Mini-tower (мини-башня). Наиболее популярная конфигурация ПК, при которой системный блок располагается вертикальна на столе либо под столом.Desktop. Популярная в прошлом конфигурация ПК с плоским системным блоком, на котором стоит монитор.Desktop (small footprint — малый след). Под "следом" компьютера подразумевается место, которое он занимает на столе. Преимущество этой модели перед предыдущей состоит в том, что такой компьютер занимает меньше места.Notebook/Laptop. Разновидность компьютера, который помещается в небольшом удобном кейсе. Tower (башня). Очень напоминает системный блок desktop, стоящий на боковой стенке. Компьютеры этого типа имеют больше свободного места внутри, благодаря чему предоставляют больше возможностей для модернизации. Такие системные блоки обычно располагают на полу, а монитор и клавиатуру — на столе.

Text F Read the text answer the questions after it. Discuss it with your partners.

The Cyber School.

The most basic change that will take place in classrooms of the future is the actual idea we tend to have of the “classroom” itself. Rows of desks all facing the teacher and the blackboard at the front of the classroom have basically remained the same. Yes, artwork covers the walls, but not all pupils can see it due to the positioning of the desks. Small changes have been made, however. The blackboard, in many cases, has now been replaced by the more practical whiteboard and OHPs have started to appear at the back of some classrooms. The thing that would really puzzle any visitors from the past would be the sight of computers in those same classrooms. They are fast becoming the main source of information as well as the main means of presentation of information during lessons. Computers are, indeed, the classrooms of the future. While that will still continue, most of the curriculum will, in fact, be followed online. This is due to various factors. As access to online materials increases and many schools face shortages of teachers, it makes sense to take advantage of the latest technology. The basic skills needed to play interactive computer games will also be used to encourage children to explore and collect educational information. Three-dimensional views of cities, for example, together with the latest software, will make it possible to walk through Paris in the company of a professional guide.The curriculum of the future will include sharing of projects between schools both nationally and internationally as well as online classes.

Teachers will also find their “classes” growing, with lessons anywhere at any time through the use of video windows connecting them directly to children from all over the world. As parents generally prefer learning to be at school rather than at home, together with the fact that pupils enjoy company and like to share learning with their classmates, life will continue as usual for pupils as they will still need to attend school. Teachers might not always give the lessons, but they will still be there to encourage and supervise pupils. Furthermore, the old system of rows of pupils facing the front of the classroom will no doubt be replaced by circles of desks and chairs to encourage face-to-face discussion.Projects and artwork will be shown on computer screens, while fellow pupils and visitors will be able to try out the multimedia programs produced by pupils. Added to the usual pens and pencils, simple video production and use of software will become part of everyday life for school children.The latest mobile phones will allow children to access cartoons and exchange videos with friends. This technology, of course, will need to stay in the playground so as to stop phones ringing in the wrong place at the wrong time!Outside the classroom pupils will be able to record information using digital cameras and video recorders for their local history projects, for example, which can then be put onto computer the minute they return to school. Furthermore, pupils studying drama will be able to learn about lighting and cameras as they produce short plays or films. Children will be able to measure their level of progress throughout the training. Underwater filming of swimmers will also help children see what to do and enable teachers to give advice on particular problems. The cost of such technology is obviously high. Despite this, there is no doubt that cyber classrooms are slowly becoming a reality worldwide.

What are the writer’s predictions about schools in the future?Do you agree with these predictions? Why (not)?What latest technologies can be used and in what way? Prove it.

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