Дисципліна: оакт

Напрям спеціальності: 6.050101 «Комп’ютерні науки, 6.050102 «Комп’ютерна інженерія»

Тексти для опрацювання

Read, translate and retell the text:

Modern digital computers still use the same logical operations as their predecessors. For the most part, human beings can do whatever computers can do, but computers can do it with much greater speed and accuracy. A computer is faster and more accurate than people. It is a high-speed machine which can process and store data, solve problems and display the results. To do this it needs a complete set of instructions that tells it exactly what to do. This set of instructions is called a program. Programs are placed into the computer's memory unit. The programs which make the computer process data and give the result are called software.

The computer itself and all the devices connected to it are known as hardware. The programs which make the computer give answers to the given problems are called software. Software is the term used to describe the instructions that tell the hardware how to perform the task. Thus all tangible parts of a computer (the parts you can touch), such as the monitor or the keyboard are hardware. But without software (something intangible) hardware is useless.

Read, translate and retell the text:

Computers are electronic machines which can accept data in a certain form, process the data and give the results in a specified format as information. From the first electronic digital computers of the forties to today's versatile computers very little has changed as far as the basic computer operation is concerned.

There are three kinds of computers: digital, analogue and hybrid. A digital computer computes by using numbers or digits. An analogue computer computes by using physical analogues of numbers. A hybrid computer is a machine which combines some properties of digital and analogue computers.

Computer technology changes fast, but a desktop PC (personal computer) usually has a tower, a separate monitor, a keyboard and a mouse. The CPU (Central Processing Unit), modem, CD-ROM and disk drives are usually inside the tower. The CPU controls how fast the computer processes data, or information. We measure its speed in gigahertz (GHz). The higher the speed of the CPU the faster the computer will run.

Read, translate and retell the text:

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 (I/O devices). Storage devices (hard disks, optical disks and USB flash drives) provide a permanent storage of both data and programs. 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. These are the main physical units of a computer system.

Read, translate and retell the text:

Computers are electronic machines which can accept data in a certain form, process the data and give the results in a specified format as information.

Three basic steps are involved in the process. First, data is fed into the computers 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.

Read, translate and retell the text:

A desktop PC used as a personal computer in the home or as a workstation for group work is the most common type of a computer. Typical examples are the IBM PC and the Apple Macintosh. It has its own processing unit (or CPU), monitor and keyboard. Some models have a vertical case called a tower. It is designed to be placed on the desk. A laptop (also called a notebook PC) is a lightweight computer that can be easily carried and is the most popular type of portables. It can work as fast as a desktop PC with similar memory capacity but it has a smaller screen. Instead of a mouse, it has a touchpad built into a keyboard - a sensitive pad that you can touch to move the pointer on the screen. It comes with battery packs, which let you use the computer when there are no electrical outlets available. They offer a lot of connectivity options: USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports for connecting peripherals, slots for memory cards, etc.

Read, translate and retell the text:

Computers in present use range considerably: from tiny things to very big ones. A super computer is a computer that is among the largest, fastest and most powerful of the computers available. The fastest supercomputer performs trillions operations per second. And they are being improved all the time. Soon they will be able to perform one quadrillion operations per second. Supercomputers are used to solve problems that are very complex or problems that deal with incredibly small or incredibly big things or things which are dangerous to deal with: climate research, studying of the Sun and space weather, simulating of tsunami impact, modeling nuclear explosions, different medical testing.

A mainframe is not so powerful as a supercomputer but it is used for large-scale computing purposes in banks, big companies and universities. It can process and store large amount of data. It is a multi user system i.e. it can be used by many people at the same time. It is also a multi-tasker - can support many simultaneous processes more than a PC. The central system is a large server connected to hundreds of terminals over a network.

Read, translate and retell the text:

Originally, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) were a distinct category of technology that encompassed small hand-held device. These devices were designed to keep track of appointments, memos and address books in an electronic format that could easily synch the user's personal computer. As technology has improved, various phones and other hand-held devices have taken on the typical PDA functionality, minimizing the need to carry multiple devices.

The Pocket PC is a Windows platform for mobile devices such hand-held PDAs and smartphones. Pocket PCs include the mobile version of Word, Excel, Outlook and Internet Explorer, as well several other applications designed specifically for the hand-held environment.

Read, translate and retell the text:

Almost all smartphones contain basic organization applications such as address books and calendars, not all smartphones are really PDAs. Some smartphones are designed to be communication devices, Internet browsers or music players. The iPhone by Apple is a high-end smartphone that provides users with a true Internet experience. With the Safari browser, users can integrate their phone and their Internet productivity tools. The iPhone offers many features, including a touch screen, camera phone, text messaging, visual voice mail and a portable media player. Many PDAs have gained the capacity to store and play music. The iPod Touch has most of the features included in the iPhone, including Internet access and a dizzying array of applications.

Read, translate and retell the text:

Business printers are becoming essential for many lines of work. Handheld printers are great ways for instantly printed small business documents. The brand Optics Planet offers a large range of portable printers to meet your needs to print in colour. Prices range from $25 to $530. Super Warehouse offers a huge selection of portable printers, including hand held receipt printers that have Bluetooth. Prices range from $50 to $1700. A portable laptop printer can be even more valuable to your travelings when you can print in color on the normal 8.5 by 11 size page. For your employees who need access to business plans, presentations and proposals, a portable color printer is a great option for them to travel with.

Words and word-combinations necessary to comprehend the text:

electrical engineering - енергетика;

a degree of Doctor of Science - ступінь доктора наук;

"artificial stability" - «штучна стійкість»;

control automation of complex systems - автоматичне управління комплексних систем;

automatic guidance for airborne missiles - автоматичне керування авіаційними ракетами;

ordinary differential equation - просте диференційне рівняння

to be awarded-бути нагородженим

to rely on – покладатися на…

to put into operation – ввести в дію

integrated circuit (IC) – інтегральне коло

to focus the work on – сконцентрувати роботу на …

to solve - вирішувати

to compete - змагатися

to improve - вдосконалити