Lesson 9

Internet innovations

I. Do you use the Internet? How often do you use it?

II. Before reading the text match the following technological words to their definitions.

1. to dial up	a. without cables or wires
2. to download	b. a small mobile computer, about the size of a large book
3. wireless	c. a very small mobile computer that will fit you in your hand
4. laptop	d. to make a connection to a phone line
5. notebook	e. a group of computers that are connected
6. network	f. to copy something from the Internet on to your computer

III. Read the text.

WAP, broadband, wi-fi, 3G – phone technology and the Internet change so rapidly that we barely have time to get used to one new concept before it is immediately replaced by another and becomes outdated.

What’s New?

Now we look at the latest technological advances for the Internet. By 2010 you’ll wonder how we ever managed without them.

☺ BROADBAND

What is it? A combination of the latest cable and radio technology means that huge amounts of electronic data can now be transmitted from computer at incredibly high speeds. It’s like changing from a narrow pipe delivering your water to a much broader pipe.

Benefits for the user: much faster, more reliable Internet connection; it’s turned on all the time (you pay a fixed sum every month, so you don’t have to keep dialing up); you can do two Internet operations at the same time (eg. Collect emails and download a picture from the Internet).

☺ WIRELESS

What is it? Computing without phone lines, similar to cordless phone technology.

Benefits for the user: the freedom to use a laptop or notebook without connecting it to a phone line (as long as you don’t go too far away from the wireless hub – the main unit of the network that is connected to a phone line).

☺ 3G

What is it? ’Third generation’ mobile technology (still in development) that will be able to transmit data quickly to your phone.

Benefits for the user: access to the complete, real Internet (not the mobile-only WAP network) quickly and in colour over your mobile; the ability to download music and video to your mobile.

Vocabulary notes

broadband – szélessávú

hub – elosztó, csomópont

WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) – WAP (vezeték nélküli alkalmazási protokoll, információ és szolgáltatások hálózata, amelyekhez mobiltelefonon keresztül férhetünk hozzá)

Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) – Wi-Fi (vezeték nélküli megbízhatóság)

IV. Answer the questions.

1. Is broadband quicker than an ordinary Internet connection?

2. How do you pay for a broadband connection?

3. What are the advantages of the wireless technology?

4. What are the limits of the wireless technology?

5. Has 3G technology been completely developed yet?

6. What will you be able to do with 3G technology on your mobile?