Scientific innovation:

Its impact on technology

1. Mr. A. The impact of scientific activity on technology is often discussed today. But one thing is not clear. What is meant here: the impact of today’s scientific activity on today’s technology or the impact of today’s scientific developments on technology thirty years from now?

2. Mr. B. I think there is usually an interval of twenty years or so between the discovery of a new scientific principle and its impact on industry. In the case of the transistor, for example, it took about that long. Some things move a bit faster but it must be admitted that many are even slower.

3. For example, our computers are based on fundamental discoveries in physics that may be traced back thirty, forty, even fifty years. What will come out of contemporary science, out of the research that is being done today – we just do not know.

4. Mr. A. Do you think the isolated inventor is still the usual source of innovation, or has the group inventor been put to the fore now?

Mr. B. It seems that the lone inventor in most fields has been replaced by the group. But more often than we realize the original brilliant idea is still the product of one man’s genius. He may, however, live in a group environment and have the advantage of the scientific and technical competence and intellectual contacts that come from working with a large group of people.

5. Mr. A. You are probably right. But as soon as a new idea is put forward, it requires many people’s efforts before it can be transformed into a product. And at this stage innovation becomes a group and not an individual activity, involving both a sophisticated body of information and a sophisticated technology.

Give a summary of the text.

Grammar Review

Remember the expressions

To consider = to give consideration to - рассматривать

To allow for = to make allowance for - учитывать, делать поправку на

To contribute to = to make a contribution to - вносить вклад в

To make mention = to mention - упоминать о

To refer to = to make reference to - ссылаться на

To use = to make use of - воспользоваться

To make use of = to take advantage of - воспользоваться

To take note of = to take notice of =to pay attention to - обращать внимание

I. Give Russian equivalents:

1. This method has een referred to in an earlier paper. 2. I do not think this innstrument can be relied upon. 3. The data can’t be accounted for by the existing theory. 4. This theory has been referred to as “big bang” theory. 5. The best treatment of this syndrome is generally agreed upon. 6. Rapid development of chemical technology has been called for by the needs of the national economy. 7. The prolongation of life may be thought of as a feat of endurance rather than a race against time.

II. Translate into English using passive constructions:

1. Многое было сделано для развития науки в современной России.

2. В этой лаборатории за последнее время было реализовано только два исследовательских проекта.

3. Расчеты собираются завершить на это неделе.

4. Необходимую информацию скоро представят.

5. Консультант может выполнять несколько функций.

6. Сегодня были отправлены новые данные.

7. Врачу необходимо доверять.

III. Think of sentences that would include the following words and word combinations:

Being tested, should be put into, will ... performed, been provided, to be obtained, was presented

“False friends of the translator”