Living in a digital age

MODULE 1. COMPUTERS

Unit 1. Uses of Computers

Active vocabulary

1. Access ['ækses] доступ, мати доступ

2. Accurate ['ækjərət] точний

3. Application [ˌæplɪ'keɪʃ(ə)n] застосування, використання

4. ATM (automatic teller machine) банкомат

[ˌeɪtiː'em] [ˌɔːtə'mætɪk 'telə mə'ʃiːn]

5. Bar code ['bɑːˌkəud] штрих-код

6. (To) collect [kə'lekt] збирати

7. Computer-aided design (CAD) автоматизоване проектування,

[kəmˌpjuːtə ˌeɪdɪd dɪ'zaɪn] комп'ютерний дизайн

8. Computer-assisted instruction (CAI) автоматизоване навчання

[kəm'pjuːtə ə'sɪstɪd ɪn'strʌkʃən]

9.Computer-assisted manufacturing (CAM) автоматизоване виробництво

[kəm'pjuːtə ə'sɪstɪdˌmænjə'fækʧərɪŋ]

10. Database ['deɪtəbeɪs] база даних

11. (To) download ['daunləud] завантажувати, скачувати

12. Expert System ['ekspɜːt 'sɪstəm] експертна система

13. Flight simulator ['flaɪt 'sɪmjəleɪtə] авіатренажер

14. GPS (Global Positioning System) глобальна система визначення

[ʤiːpiː'es] [ˌgləubl pə'zɪʃənɪŋ ˌsɪstəm] положення, система GPS

15. Local-area network (LAN) локальна мережа

[ˌləukəl ˌɛərɪə 'netwɜːk] ['læn]

16. Modem ['məudem] модем

17. Online [ˌɔn'laɪn] онлайн (у режимі реального часу через інтернет)

18. PDA (personal digital assistant) персональний цифровий

[ˌpiːdiː'eɪ] [ˌpɜːsənəlˌdɪʤɪtələ'sɪstənt] секретар (мініатюрний ПК)

19. Powerful ['pauəf(ə)l] потужний

20. Precise [prɪ'saɪs] точний

21. (To) process ['prəuses] обробляти

22. Programming ['prəugræmɪŋ] програмування

23. Researcher [rɪ'sɜːʧə] дослідник

24. Scientist ['saɪəntɪst] вчений

25. Screen [skriːn] екран

26. Simulation [ˌsɪmjʊ'leɪʃ(ə)n] моделювання (процесу)

27. (To) store [stɔː] зберігати

28. Three-dimensional [ˌθriːdaɪ'menʃənəl] тривимірний, просторовий

29. (To) transmit [trænz'mɪt] передавати

30. Word processor ['wɜːdˌprəusesə] текстовий процесор, текстовий редактор

31. Workstation ['wɜːkˌsteɪʃ(ə)n] робоча станція

Pre-reading task (discussion)

Exercise 1. Work in small groups. Share information on where and how computers are used nowadays. Compare answers with other groups and make a list of uses.

Reading

Exercise 2. Read and translate the text.

LIVING IN A DIGITAL AGE

We are now living in what some people call the digital age, meaning that computers have become an essential part of our lives. Young people who have grown up with PCs and mobile phones are often called the digital generation.

Computers help students to perform mathematical operations and improve their maths skills. They are used to access the Internet, do basic research, and communicate with other students around the world. Teachers use projectors and interactive whiteboards to give presentations and teach sciences, computer-aided design (CAD), programming, history or language courses. PCs are also used for administrative purposes – educational institutions use word processors to write letters, and databases to keep records of students and teachers. A school or university website allows teachers to publish exercises for students to complete online. Students can enroll for courses via the website and parents can download official reports.

Mobiles let you make voice calls, send texts, email people and download logos, ringtones or games. With a built-in camera you can send pictures and make video calls in face-to-face mode. New smart phones combine a telephone with web access, video, a game console, an MP3 player, a personal digital assistant (PDA) and GPS navigation system, all in one.

In banks, computers store information about the money held by each customer and enable staff to access large databases and to carry out financial transactions at high speed. They also control the cashpoints, or ATMs (automatic teller machines) (Fig. 1.1), which dispense money to customers by the use of a PIN-protected card. People use a chip and PIN card to pay for goods and services. Instead of using a signature to verify payments, customers are asked to enter a four-digit personal identification number (PIN), the same number used at cashpoints; this system makes transactions more secure. With online banking, clients can easily pay bills and transfer money from the comfort of their homes.

Race organizers and journalists rely on computers to provide them with the current position of riders and teams in both the particular stages of the race and in the overall competition. Workstations in the race buses provide the timing system and give up-to-the-minute timing information to TV stations. Computer databases are also used in drug-detecting tests for competitors.

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 (Fig. 1.2), 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 other details.

Businessmen make bar graphs and pie charts to convey information. Furthermore, computers help businesses to predict their future sales, profits, costs etc. making companies more accurate in their accounts (from ‘Infotech. English for Computer Users’).

Exercise 3. Answer the following questions to the text.

1. What does the term “digital generation” mean?

2. What way do teachers use computers?

3. How can you use computers for education?

4. What do modern mobiles include?

5. How are computers used in banks?

6. What do race organizers use computers for?

7. How are computers used in aviation?

Exercise 4. Match these devices with the places you would find them.

1. Photocopier a) on the back of a credit card

2. Video camera b) at a supermarket checkout

3. Magnetic strip c) outside a bank

4. ATM d) in the headquarters of a large company

5. Mainframe computer e) in the hands of a tourist

7. Barcode reader f) in an office, school or copy shop

Exercise 5. Find the words in the text which have the following meanings.

1. _________ is an accurate worldwide navigational and surveying facility based on the reception of signals from an array of orbiting satellites.

2. _________ is the action or process of writing computer programs.

3. ________ is a computer or program for storing, manipulating, and formatting text entered from a keyboard and providing a printout.

4. _________ is a structured set of data held in a computer, esp. one that is accessible in various ways.

5. _________ is a hand-held computer, used mainly for storing and accessing personal information (e.g. addresses, telephone numbers).

6. _________ is a desktop computer terminal, typically networked and more powerful than a personal computer.

7. _________ is the action or process of obtaining or retrieving information stored in a computer's memory.

8. _________ is a machine at a bank branch or other location which enables a customer to perform basic banking activities (checking one's balance, withdrawing or transferring funds).

9. _________ is the use of a wide range of computer techniques that assist engineers, architects and other design professionals in their design activities, especially involving the use of computer graphics.

Listening

Exercise 6. (Track 1.1). A) Listen to four people talking about how they use computers at work. Before you listen, try to predict the uses they describe.

a) electrical engineer c) librarian

b) secretary d) composer

B) Now listen to the recordings and write each speaker’s job in the table and what the speakers use their computers for.

Speaker	Job	What they use computers for
1.
2.
3.
4.

Exercise 7. (Track 1.2). Listen to four extracts. Identify which place is described in each extract and what the people use their computers for.

a) a factory c) a travel agency

b) a supermarket d) home

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14