- •I. What is a computer?
- •II. Glimpses of history development of the transistor
- •The transistor and the computer. The computer's miniaturization
- •Planar technology
- •Integrated microcircuits come in
- •Microelectronics makes rapid progress
- •Birth of the microprocessor
- •Speedier semiconductor chips
- •III. The computer principles, structure and operation binary system
- •Logic circuits
- •Microelectronic memories
- •Using the computer
- •Data structures
- •Input. Process. Store, output
- •Output — video and printing devices
- •Video Terminals
- •IV. The computer's software programming a computer
- •Programming languages
- •Program development
- •Input Requirements
- •Table 5. Program Containing an Error
- •VI. Microcomputers in industry. Robotics machine tools5
- •Process control
- •Inspection and measurement
- •Robotics
- •The robot's nervous system
- •Robots in industry
- •VI. Educational applications of microelectronics computers on wheels
- •The computer teaches painting
- •A talking abc-book
- •VII. Computers all around us
- •Viewdata6
- •Integrated work station3
- •Multiple-fare meter2
- •Shade for the eyes. Music for the ears
- •Computer in a wristwatch
- •Talking watch
- •The doll talks
- •Pocket-size lie detector
- •Electronic watchman
- •Shock treatment2 for thieves
- •Passport for the electronic age
- •Illustrated copying instructions
- •Plain-speaking home robot
- •Touchy calculator
- •Optical discs: thanks for the memory
- •VIII. Computers at their best data base management systems'
- •Computer languages
- •The computer acquires intelligence
- •5 Whose syntax and structure lend themselves to interactive use — синтаксис и
- •Translation by computer
- •Enter the intelligent computer
- •Computers with intelligence
- •"Aesculapius"2 diagnoses the case
- •A smarter way to fly
- •Computer-controlled irrigation
Computer languages
Computer languages are the most important programming toots. They are usually classified as procedure-oriented or problem-oriented languages.9
Procedure-oriented languages such as FORTRAN, COBOL, PL/I are the most frequently used computer languages. They are general-purpose in that10 almost any procedure can be coded in these languages. The original intention in the creation of these high-level languages was to ease the burden of the programmer and to make
' impact... on — воздействие,,, на
2 distributed data base -•- распределенная база данных (т. с. данные расположены на различных физических носителях и различных ЭВМ или системах ЭВМ)
3 practical—-реальный, осуществимый
4 integrated statistical collection — база данных с наборами статистических структур
3 supportable—приемлемый
is... far short of what is necessary-- далеко не соответствует уровню, необходимому для того, чтобы
with respect to storage capacity... improved use of storage media, associative memories — в отношении объсут пшугги,.., лучшего использования носителей данных, ассоциатиуной памяти (запоминающее устройство, где доступ к данным осуществляется указанием .^"лпенин одного ее поля)
8 interactive system •- интерактивная (диалоговая) система
9 procedure-oriented or problem-oriented languages — процедурные (основанные на понятиях процедуры и переменной) или проблемные (предназначенные для решения задач определенного клаг.са) я.-!ыки программирования
10 they are general-purpose in that г.-'. универсальность заключается в том, что
80
programming somewhat more machine independent.' And these purposes have been achieved. But the expectation that general-purpose languages would make the computer more accessible to non-programmers turned out not to be realistic.2 The problem is that programming in, say, FORTRAN, COBOL or PL/I still requires special skills and training, and the user is not free to concentrate on the problem-oriented aspects of his work.3
In response to this, two trends have developed; one is toward interactive4 programming languages, and the other toward problem-oriented languages.
A number of languages such as BASIC, JOSS, APL have been developed whose syntax and structure lend themselves to interactive use.5 The advantage of interactive programming and compiling is that the programmer has immediate feedback6 on his progress and that a considerable number of errors are eliminated at the point of generation.7 The disadvantage lies in the fact that interactive compilers are interpretive and much slower at run-time than conventional compilers. However with the increasing use of terminals, it is expected that interadfive programming languages will develop further.
There is a special programming language used for teaching children of pre-school and junior-school age. It is called LOGO. Its syntax is close to that of the natural language, adjusted to the interactive mode and supported by an intricate system of sprites.8
The computer acquires intelligence
An interesting schedule9 in the computing centre of the USSR Academy of Sciences prognosticates a rise in the number of programs
' to make programming somewhat more machine independent — сделать программирование в меньшей степени зависимым от ЭВМ
2 turned out not to be realistic—оказалась нереальной
3 is not free to concentrate on the problem-oriented aspects of his work — не может целиком переключиться на решение фактических задач
4 interactive — интерактивный; диалоговый (диалоговый режим предполагает обмен текстовыми командами (запросами) и ответами; в интерактивном режиме могут использоваться более развитые устройства взаимодействия)