Page 23

Unit 4

Text Study: PC Configuration.

Additional Text: The Development of the Personal Computer.

Grammar: Revision of the Module.

Text Study

I. Pre-reading Exercises

1. Repeat the words in chorus:

View, primary, keyboard, delicate, punctuation, surface, smooth, rough, twice, quick,  succession.

2. While reading the text you will come across a number of international words. Try to guess what Ukrainian words they remind of you:

Monitor, metal, electronics, stereo, pixels, position, microphone, modem, port.

3. Pay attention to some grammatical points:

1) Don't remove the case's cover unless you need to do something inside the unit and always replace the cover when you are done. 2) Using it you type instructions and commands for the computer and information to be processed and stored. 3) .The mouse works by sliding it around (ball down) on a flat surface.4) The mouse does not work if you hold it in the air like a remote con­trol. 5) The display adapter for your system is either built onto the system board or is an expansion card plugged into your system board. 6) You should set them for the largest image without losing any part of it.  7) DVD Writer - a device used for both reading and writing data to and from a DVD.

II. Reading

Read, translate the text and mind the PC configuration.

PC Configuration

Meet the PC Configuration.

1. The main part of the system. An exploded view of modern personal computer: 1. Monitor; 2. Motherboard; 3. CPU (Microprocessor); 4. Primary storage (RAM); 5. Expansion cards; 6. Power supply; 7. Optical disc drive; 8. Secondary storage (Hard disk); 9. Keyboard; 10. Mouse

2. The case. The large metal box that is the main part of the computer is called the case. The case and its contents (power supply, system board, etc.) are called the system unit. The case has several functions:

- it protects the delicate electronics inside;

- it keeps electromagnetic emissions inside, so your TV, cordless phone and stereo don't go haywire when you power up the computer;

- it can also hold the monitor.

Don't remove the case's cover unless you need to do something inside the unit and always replace the cover when you are done.

3. The keyboard. You communicate with your computer with the keyboard. Using it you type instructions and commands for the computer and information to be processed and stored. Many of the keys on the keyboard are like those on a typewriter, letter keys, punctuation keys, shift keys, tab and spacebar. Your keyboard also has many specialized keys. The instruction manuals for most software applications contain a section describing the functions of each key or combination of keys.

4. The mouse. The mouse works by sliding it around (ball down) on a flat surface. The mouse does not work if you hold it in the air like a remote con­trol. The desktop is fine, but a ready-made mouse pad is the best sur­face to roll the mouse on. Its surface is flat and usually somewhat tex­tured. If a surface is too smooth or rough, the ball inside can slip. As you glide the mouse, the ball inside moves in the direction of your movement. You will see the arrow on your screen moving in unison. The arrow is called a pointer and the most important part is the very top of its point. That is the only part the computer pays attention to. To use the mouse, slide it on the mouse pad until the pointer's point is on something, like a button or an icon.

Click - position the mouse pointer over an element and press and re­lease the left mouse button once.

Double-click - same as above except press the mouse button twice in quick succession without moving the mouse.

5. The monitor. Your computer is not complete without a monitor, a TV-like de­vice. Most computers still use CRT (cathode-ray tube) monitors but in recent years flat screen based on LCD (liquid-crystal display) technology have become increasingly popular. The monitor displays text characters and graphics. It allows you to see the results of the work going on inside your system unit. The image you see is made up of tiny dots called pixels. The sharpness of the picture depends on the number and size of these pixels. The more pixels the sharper the image. This is called resolution.

A display adapter card is actually what builds the video images, the monitor simply displays them. The display adapter for your system is either built onto the system board or is an expansion card plugged into your system board.

Some of the controls on the monitor change the size and position of the image. You should set them for the largest image without losing any part of it.  You can set a screen saver to appear on your monitor screen if the computer doesn't work for a period of time.

6. The floppy drive. Floppy drives provide a way to pass data from and to the hard drive or another computer. The drives can read and write on floppy dis­kettes (3.5 inch, usually drive A). If you put a new diskette into the drive you have to format it first.

7. The hard drive. Unlike the floppy drive the hard disk drive is inside the compu­ter's case and you cannot see it. Usually it is referred to as drive C, D or F.

8. The optical drive. The optical drive is similar to the one you might have in your car or at home. It can play DVDs, music CDs as well as read software program CDs and the new Kodak photo CDs.

To operate the drive, press the eject button to open the tray. Put a CD in the tray (label side UP) and gently start to push the tray in.

9. Removable media devices

CD - the most common type of removable media, inexpensive but has a short life-span.

CD-ROM Drive - a device used for reading data from a CD.

CD Writer - a device used for both reading and writing data to and from a CD.

DVD - a popular type of removable media that is the same di­mensions as a CD but stores up to 6 times as much information. It is the most common way of transferring digital video.

DVD- ROM Drive - a device used for reading data from a DVD.

DVD Writer - a device used for both reading and writing data to and from a DVD.

DVD- RAM Drive - a device used for rapid writing and reading of data from a special type of DVD.

Blu-ray - a high-density optical disc format for the storage of digital information, including high-definition video. Currently a rival of HD-DVD.

BD-ROM Drive - a device used for reading data from a Blu-ray disc.

BD Writer - a device used for both reading and writing data to and from a Blu-ray disc.

HD DVD - a high-density optical disc format and successor to the standard DVD. Currently a rival of Blu-ray.

Floppy disk - an outdated storage device consisting of a thin disk of a flexible magnetic storage medium.

Zip drive - an outdated medium-capacity removable disk storage system, first introduced by Iomega in 1994.

USB flash drive - a flash memory data storage device integrated with a USB interface, typically small, lightweight, removable and re­writable.

Tape drive - a device that reads and writes data on a magnetic tape, usually used for long term storage.

10. Sound card

Enables the computer to output sound to audio devices, as well as accept input from a microphone. Most modem computers have sound cards built - in to the motherboard, though it is common for a user to install a separate sound card as an upgrade.

11. Networking. Connects the computer to the Internet and/or other computers.

· Modem - for dial-up connections.

· Network card - for DS L/Cable internet, and/or connecting to other computers.     . • Direct Cable Connection - Use of a null modem, connecting two computers together using their serial ports or a Laplink Cable, connecting two computers together with their parallel ports.

Vocabulary Notes

motherboard ['mADq"bLd] системна плата

primary [praImqrI] /secondary storage ['stLrIG]первинна/вторинна пам’ять

expansion card [Iks'pxnS(q)n] плата розширення

power supply джерело живлення

case корпус

system unit системний блок

to go haywire ['heI"waIq] =  out of order — несправний

shift key клавіша переключення регістру

tab    клавіша табуляції

spacebar клавіша пробілу

mouse pad килим для миші

sharpness [SRpnIs] чіткість зображення

a display adapter [dIs'pleI   q'dxptq]адаптер дисплею

life-spanтермін дії

high-density [haI 'densItI] з високою щільністю розміщення

null modem [nAl 'mqVdqm] безмодемний

network card мережевий адаптер

Comprehension

1. Tell what sentences are true and what are false.

1) The large metal box that is the main part of the computer is called the case. 2) You communicate with your computer with the keyboard. 3) The mouse works by sliding it around (ball down) on a rough surface. 4) The monitor displays only text characters. 5) Floppy drives provide a way to pass data from and to the hard drive or another computer.6) The hard disk drive is inside the compu­ter's case and you cannot see it. 7) CD-ROM Drive - a device used for reading and writing data from a CD. 8) Tape drive is a device that reads and writes data on a magnetic tape, usually used for short term storage. 9) Most modem computers have sound cards built - in to the motherboard. 10) Network card is used for DS L/Cable internet, and/or connecting to other computers.  

2. Choose the right answer:

1) The case and its contents (power supply, system board, etc.) are called .

a) the mouse;

b) the keyboard;

c) the system unit.

2) Using … you type instructions and commands for the computer and information to be processed and stored.

a) the mouse;

b) the keyboard;

c) the system unit.

3) To use … , slide it on the mouse pad until the pointer's point is on something, like a button or an icon.

a) the mouse;

b) the keyboard;

c) the system unit.

4allows you to see the results of the work going on inside your system unit.

a) the mouse;

b) the keyboard;

c) the monitor.

5) Usually … is referred to as drive C, D or F.

a) the hard drive;

b) the floppy drive;

c) the system unit.

6) … can play DVDs, music CDs as well as read software program CDs and the new Kodak photo CDs.

a) the hard drive;

b) the floppy drive;

c) the optical drive.

7) … is an outdated storage device consisting of a thin disk of a flexible magnetic storage medium.

a) Floppy disk;

b) Zip drive;

c) USB flash drive.

8)  … is an outdated medium-capacity removable disk storage system, first introduced by Iomega in 1994.

Most often, input is by means of .

a) Floppy disk;

b) Zip drive;

c) USB flash drive.

9) … is a flash memory data storage device integrated with a USB interface, typically small, lightweight, removable and re­writable.

a) Floppy disk;

b) Zip drive;

c) USB flash drive.

3. Complete the sentences:

1) An exploded view of modern personal computer: … . 2) Many of the keys on the keyboard are like those on … . 3) Click - position the mouse. 4) A display adapter card is … . 5) To operate the optical drive … . 6) DVD- ROM Drive is … . 7) Blu-ray is … . 8) HD DVD is … . 9) Modem is … .

4. Answer following questions.

1) What functions has the case? 2) What contains a section describing the functions of each key or combination of keys? 3) What is the best sur­face to roll the mouse on? 4) What types of screen have become increasingly popular? 5) What is called resolution? 6) What have you do first when you put a new diskette into the drive? 7) What removable media devices do you know? 8) What is the application of networking?

5. Find as quickly as possible and read out the sentences containing the following important information:

  • the using of the keyboard;
  • the using of the mouse;
  • types of drives.

*6. Try to tell the gist of the text.

 

Word Study

1. Give Ukrainian equivalents of the following.

An exploded view of modern personal computer, to protect the delicate electronics, electromagnetic emissions, cordless phone, the instruction manuals, a remote control, the mouse pointer, a screen saver, to press the eject button, to open the tray, to push the tray in, a rival of Blu-ray.

2. Give English equivalents of the following.

Курсор мишки, дистанційне управління, безпровідниковий телефон, покомпонентне відтворення вигляду сучасного персонального комп’ютера, захищати чутливу електроніку, інструкція з користування, зберігач екрану, натиснути кнопку викиду, відкрити лоток (піддон), закрити лоток, електромагнітне розповсюдження (емісія), конкурент блу-рей.

3.  Match the words in A with their synonyms in B:

A                                 B

circuitry                       capability

computer of choice     universal

storage                        circuits

to employ                    the best computer

general-purpose          memory

eventually                   to use  

capacity                      finally

        4. Fill in the gaps with the words from Vocabulary Notes in the appropriate form.

General-purpose/to employ/circuitry/self-contained

1) Any modern computer use … . 2) Computers that can do many different jobs are called … computer. 3) The smallest fully functional … personal computers are notebook computers.4) Analog computers are devices that … continuously variable physical phenomena to make computations.

5. Translate sentences into English using words and word combinations from the Vocabulary Notes.

1. Комп’ютери компанії IBM стали найкращими, а поступились їм комп’ютери Apple. 2) Усі персональні комп’ютери використовують носії для виводу та вводу даних. 3) Усі друковані документи можна назвати друкованими копіями вихідних даних. 4) Ноутбуки – це є автономні, універсальні ПК. 5) CD диски, флеш карти – це автономне зберігання даних окремо від комп’ютера.

 

Additional Text

Read, translate the text and answer the following questions:

  • How many mainframes did IBM think it was possible to sell in 1952?
  • How many PCs have now been sold?
  • Who paid for the initial research into PCs?
  • Which company later used the results of this research to develop their operating system?
  • What are command-based operating systems?
  • DR/DOS is an acronym. What does it stand for?

 

The Development of the Personal Computer

In 1952, a major computing company took a decision to get out of the business of making mainframe computers. They believed that there was only a market for four mainframes in the whole world. That company was IBM. The following year they reversed their decision.

In 1980, IBM decided that there was market for 250,000 PCs, so they set up a special team to develop the first IBM PC. It went on sale in 1981 and set a world-wide standard for IBM- compatibility which, over the next ten years, was only seriously challenged by another company, Apple Computers. Since then, over seventy million PCs made by IBM and other manufactures have been sold. Over this period, PCs have become commodity items.

The history of the multi-billion dollar PC industry has been one of mistakes. Xerox Corporation funded the initial research on personal computers in their Palo Alto laboratory in California. However, the company failed to capitalize on this work, and the ideas that they put together went into the operating system developed for Apple’s computers. This was a graphical interface: using a mouse, the user clicks on icons which represent the function to be performed.

The first IBM PC was developed using existing available electrical components. With IBM’s badge on the box it became the standard machine for large corporations to purchase. When IBM were looking for an operating system, they went initially to Digital Research, who were market leaders in command-based operating systems (these are operating systems in which the users type in commands to perform a function). When the collaboration between IBM and Digital Research failed, IBM turned to Bill Gates, then 25 years old, to write their operating system.

Bill Gates founded Microsoft on the basis of the development of MS/DOS, the initial operating system for the IBM PC. Digital Research have continued to develop their operating system, DR/DOS, and it is considered by many people to be a better product than Microsoft’s. However, without an endorsement from IBM, it has become a minor player in the market.