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4 Materials engineering
5 Environmental engineering
6 Nuclear engineering
6 Make a presentation. Dwell on one of the branches of engineering: speak on the duties and responsibilities of an engineer working in this field and on the tasks the job entails. Don’t forget to mention the professional and personal characteristics these engineers should have.
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Useful language |
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deal with |
be in charge of |
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be concerned with |
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be accountable for |
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participate in |
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be engaged in |
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take part in |
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be concerned in |
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be responsible for |
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be involved in |
7 Listen to the presentations of the students from Group B. Complete the table
below.
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Duties and |
Tasks |
Professional |
What kinds of |
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performed |
and personal |
computer |
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of an engineer |
by an |
qualities of an |
methods do the |
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engineer |
engineer |
engineers use? |
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Civil |
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engineering |
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Chemical |
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engineering |
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3 |
Mechanical |
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engineering |
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4 |
Electrical |
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engineering |
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5 |
Aerospace |
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engineering |
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8 Do you agree that “Large engineering teams are usually interdisciplinary, as a power station or mobile phone or other project requires the melding of several specialties”? Prove your point of view.
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MODULE 3. PEOPLE IN COMPUTING
1 Software Engineering vs. Computer Science
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1.1Before you read the passage, talk about these questions.
1)What does a software engineer do?
2)How do people become software engineers?
1.2Read this column from Tech Monthly. Then, choose the correct answers.
1. What is the column about?
A)What soft engineers do.
B)The limits of computer science.
C)Choosing a career in computers.
D)Software and hardware differences.
2. What is the purpose of verification?
A)It ensures that software works.
B)It checks software for ease of use.
C)It fixes problems after a product's release.
D)It ensures that software meets guidelines.
3. What process assures that software is easy to
use?
A)problem modeling
B)verification
C)validation
D)maintenance
At first glance, software engineering and computer science might seem very similar. But actually, these disciplines are very different.
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Computer science is very broad – it deals with the interaction of hardware and software. Software engineering is more specialized. Software engineers do more than just work on software development. They also focus on its design and operation. Software engineers go to great lengths to ensure a program's quality.
Once a project is designed, software engineers must assess it. Testing makes sure that the software works. Problem modeling analyzes the program for potential issues. The process of verification enforces its design specifications, and validation makes sure that the software is user-friendly.
But an engineer's work is not done when the product is released. The engineers will also do maintenance to fix any remaining problems.
So even though they are related disciplines, a software engineer works with a software product more than a computer science professional.
by Jason Rose
1.3 Match the words (1–9) with the definitions (A–I).
1) assess |
A to evaluate |
2) development |
B engineering that focuses on software creation |
3) software engineering |
C the structure of a software program |
4) design |
D checking for issues |
5) computer science |
E the entire process of building software |
6) problem modeling |
F the repair of software after its release |
7) validation |
G engineering that focuses on computer |
8) operation |
maintenance |
9) maintenance |
H the process of checking software's user- |
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friendliness |
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I the actual use of a software program |
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1.4 Use the words from the box to fill in the blanks.
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testing |
quality |
verification |
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1.Software engineers assess software's_____.
2._____ checks for all types of errors.
3._____ensures that programs meet specifications.
2 Different Types of Software Engineers
2.1What jobs in computing can you name? What tasks do these people perform? What are they responsible for? Compare answers with your partner.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
2.2Match the following people in computing with the tasks they perform.
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A) a person who writes applications programs |
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using a computer language |
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a person who protects system, recognizes |
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Webmaster |
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problems, implements security |
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Help-desk troubleshooter |
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improvements by assessing current |
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Applications programmer |
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situation |
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Security specialist |
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a person who specializes in writing systems |
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Systems programmer |
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software such as operating system programs |
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D) a telephone service for helping users solve |
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problems that occur on computer system |
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a person who administers a Web server |
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LANGUAGE WORK
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Defining relative clauses
We can define people or things with a defining (restrictive) relative clause. We use the relative pronoun who to refer to a person; we can also use that.
A blogger is a person who/that keeps a weblog.
We use the relative pronoun which (or that) to refer to a thing, not a person.
This is built into a single chip which/that executes programs instructions.
Relative pronoun can be left out when they are the object of the relative clause.
The main circuit board (which/that) you have inside your system is called the motherboard.
2.3Find the examples of relative clauses in Ex.2.2.
2.4Complete the sentences below with suitable relative pronouns. Give alternative options if possible. Put brackets round the relative pronouns you can leave out.
1.That’s the computer _____ I’d like to buy.
2.Core 2 Duo is a new Intel processor _____ contains about 291 million transistors.
3.A bus is an electronic pathway _____ carries signals between computer devices.
4.Here’s the DVD _____ you lent me!
5.Last night I met someone _____ works for GM as a software engineer.
2.5Work in groups of three: A, B and C. Read your text and complete this table. You may not find information for each section of your table.
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qualifications |
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4) personal |
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qualities |
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TEXT 1
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How to Become a Programming Expert
The primary requirements for being a good programmer are nothing more than a good memory, an attention to detail, a logical mind and the ability to work through a problem in a methodical manner breaking tasks down into smaller, more manageable pieces.
However, it's not enough just to turn up for a job interview with a logical mind as your sole qualification. An employer will want to see some sort of formal qualification and a proven track record. But if you can show someone an impressive piece of software with your name on it, it will count for a lot more than string of academic qualifications.
So what specific skills are employers looking for? The Windows market is booming and there's a demand for good C, C++, Delphi, Java and Visual Basic developers. Avoid older languages such as FORTRAN and COBOL unless you want to work as a contract programmer.
For someone starting out, my best advice would be to subscribe to the programming magazines such as Microsoft System Journal. Get one or two of the low-cost “student” editions of C++, Visual Basic and Delphi. Get a decent book of Windows programming. If you decide programming is really for you, spend more money on a training course.
TEXT 2
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How to Become a Computer Consultant
The first key point is that you can't know everything. However, you mustn't become an expert in too narrow a field. The second key point is that you must be interested in your subject. The third key point is to differentiate between contract work and consultancy. Good contractors move from job to job every few months. A consultant is different. A consultant often works on very small timescales – a few days here, a week there, but often for a core collection of companies that keep coming back again and again.
There's a lot of work out there for people who know Visual Basic, C++, and so on. And there are lots of people who know it too, so you have to be better than them. Qualifications are important. Microsoft has a raft of exams you can take, as does Novell, and in my experience these are very useful pieces of paper. University degrees are useless. They merely prove you can think, and will hopefully get you into a job where you can learn something useful. Exams like Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer are well worth doing. The same goes for Novel Linux Certification.
However, this won't guarantee an understanding of the product, its positioning in the market, how it relates to other products and so on. That's where the all-important experience comes in.
Here's the road map. After leaving university you get a technical role in a company and spend your evenings and weekends learning the tools of your trade – and getting your current employer to pay for your exams. You don't stay in one company for more than two years. After a couple of hops like that, you may be in a good position in one of the larger consultancy companies. By the age of 30, you've run big projects, rolled out major solutions and are well known. Maybe then it's time to make the leap and run your own life.
TEXT 3