Task 4. Read and memorize the following words:

1. to need - нуждаться , требоваться

2. temporary- временный

3. permanent - постоянный

4. to lose (lost, lost) - терять

5. content(s) - содержание, содержимое

6. volatile - энергозависмый, непостоянный, временный

7. non-volatile - энергонезависимый

8. firmware- программно-аппаратные средства; встроен­ные программы, микропрограммы

9. capacitor- конденсатор

10. to require- требовать

11. to refresh - обновлять отображаемую информацию, регенерировать, восстанавливать

12. non-contiguous- несвязанный, сопутствующий

13. to eliminate - устранять

14. storage -запоминание, память

Task 5. Read and translate the text.

MEMORY

Memory. Also called main memory. The working space used by the computer to hold the program that is currently running, along with the data it needs, and to run programs and process data. The main memory is built from RAM chips. Main memory is temporary, and is lost when the computer is turned off.

Cache memory. A high-speed buffer storage that is smaller than the main storage. The cache memory is a place that temporarily stores instructions and data.

Volatile memory. Memory that loses its content when the power is shut off. Any changes made to files must be saved to disk before the power is turned off or they will be lost.

Non-volatile memory or nonvolatile memory. Memory that does not lose its content when the power is turned off.

Random access memory. The kind of memory used for holding programs and data being executed is called random access memory or RAM. RAM differs from read-only memory (ROM) in that it can be both read and written. It is called volatile storage because the contents of RAM are lost when the power turned off. RAM is also sometimes called read-write memory or RWM.

Read-only memory. Memory that can be read but not changed. Read-only memory is non-volatile storage; it holds its contents even when the power is turned off. Data is placed in ROM only once, and stays there permanently. ROM chips are used for storage of the important software of the computer, called firmware.

Dynamic random access memory. (DRAM). A type of computer memory that is stored in capacitors on a chip and requires a refresh signal to be sent to it periodically.

Static random access memory. (SRAM). A kind of random access memory that requires a constant supply of power in order to hold its content, but does not require refresh circuitry as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) does. Static RAM is usually faster than dynamic RAM, but takes up more space and uses more power. It is used for the parts of a computer that require highest speed, such as cache memory.

Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory. (SDRAM). High-speed DRAM that adds a separate clock signal to the control signals. SDRAM can transfer bursts of non-contiguous data at 100 MBytes/sec, and has an access time of 8-12 nanoseconds. It comes in 64-bit modules: long 168-pin DIMMs.

Fast page mode memory (FPM DRAM). A kind of DRAM memory. Fast page mode improved upon the original page mode memory by eliminating the column address setup time during the page cycle.

Unit 4. Software.

Task 1. Read and memorize the following words:

1. equipment— oборудование

2. internal — внутренний

3. mainboard — материнская плата

4. memory capacity — вместимость памяти

5. peripheral — периферийный

6. regardless — несмотря на,

7. specific — определенный

8. to boot — загружать

9. to check — проверять

10. to conduct — проводить

11. to develop — развивать,

12. developer — разработчик

13. to handle — управлять, обращаться c

14. to install — устанавливать

15. to provide with — обеспечивать чем-либо

16. to require — требовать

17. to secure — обеспечивать безопасность

18. security — безопасность

19. to transfer — переводить, переносить

20. Web-browser — «бpayзер» (программа, позволяющая пользователю искать и считывать информацию с глобальной электронной сети Internet)

Task 2. Read and translate the text.

TYPES OF SOFTWARE

A computer to complete a job requires more than just the actual equipment or hardware we see and touch. It requires software — programs for directing the operation of a computer or electronic data.

Software is the final computer system component. These computer programs instruct the hardware how to conduct processing. The computer is merely a general-purpose machine which requires specific software to per­form a given task. Computers can input, calculate, compare, and output data as information. Software determines the order in which these operations are performed.

Programs usually fall in one of two categories: system software and applications software.

System software controls standard internal computer activities. An operating system, for example, is a collection of system programs that aid in the operation of a computer regardless of the application software being used. When a computer is first turned on, one of the systems programs is booted or loaded into the computers memory. This software contains infor­mation about memory capacity, the model of the processor, the disk drives to be used, and more. Once the system software is loaded, the applications software can be brought in.

System programs are designed for the specific pieces of hardware. These programs are called drivers and coordinate peripheral hardware and computer activities. User needs to install a specific driver in order to activate a peripheral device. For example, if you intend to buy a printer or a scanner you need to worry in advance about the driver program which, though, commonly goes along with your device. By installing the driver you «teach» your mainboard to «understand» the newly attached part.

Applications software satisfies your specific need. The developers of application software rely mostly on marketing research strategies trying to do their best to attract more users (buyers) to their software. As the produc­tivity of the hardware has increased greatly in recent years, the programmers nowadays tend to include as much as possible in one program to make soft­ware interface look more attractive to the user. These class of programs is the most numerous and perspective from the marketing point of view.

Data communication within and between computers systems is handled by system software. Communications software transfers data from one computer system to another. These programs usually provide users with data security and error checking along with physically transferring data be­tween the two computer's memories. During the past five years the develop­ing electronic network communication has stimulated more and more com­panies to produce various communication software, such as Web-Browsers for Internet.