Teletext/Viewdata

Teletext is a system for supplying commercial and other information through existing television networks. It is a form of electronic reference manual whereby ‘pages’ of information can be called onto the screen_..

Viewdata is somewhat similar to teletext in that it provides electronic reference to material but there are two main differences. Firstly, it is available to subscribers only and secondly it is interactive. This means that users can interrogate the data held in the system and also supply information to it. The information contained in the system is more specific and relevant to commercial users and the system uses a combination of telephones, computers, television and communication networks.

British Telecom operate a viewdata service known as PRESTEL and there are a growing number of private systems i.e. specific to a particular group. One example of a private viewdata system is that operated by Rover who have a system whereby their dealers can find a car of a required specification if held by another dealer. The dealers can access the system and also input changes to the information contained, for example, when a particular car is sold. Another example is the information provided by airlines which can be accessed by travel agents to check flight times and availabilities and to book seats.

In the UK there are currently over 60,000 PRESTEL users many of whom are associated with the Stock Exchange and the travel and insurance industries.

Assignments

I. Match the following English and Ukrainian words and phrases:

word processor	великі оформлювальні та графічні можливості
to edit	настільне видавництво
photocopier	багатоцільовий
Desk-Top Publishing	редагувати, переробляти, вносити корективи
extensive layout and graphic facilities	пристрій для електронної обробки тексту, текстовий редактор
versatile	фотокопіювальний пристрій
backing storage	пошук
repeated reference to information	самописець
to feed into a machine	пристрій, для перегляду плівок, дисків
recorder	неодноразове посилання на інформацію
viewer	уводити дані в машину
retrieval	зовнішня пам’ять

II. Suggest the Ukrainian equivalent of the phrases below:

stand alone word processor; dedicated word processor; general purpose micro-computer; word processing program; software; to manipulate; miniature printing system; developments; high quality graphics software; to relocate text and diagrams round a page; output on microform; roll film; to pass through a scanner; to translate into digital form; digitised image; reference and archive material; electronic reference manual; to call onto the screen; to check flight times and availabilities; to book seats.

III. Find English equivalents to the following words and phrases from the text:

текстовий редактор, призначений для спеціальних цілей; електронний довідник; обробляти; розробки; забезпечення; цифрове зображення; пропустити крізь сканер; довідковий та архівний матеріал; переводити у цифрову форму.

IV. Answer the questions:

1. What are the three main “areas” of IT application in information systems?

2. What main developments could be described as office support systems?

3. What is the purpose of word processor? How does it work?

4. What is DTP?

5. What are the two types of COM?

6. How can data be recorded onto microform and seen?

7. What data storage facilities are used for current operations?

8. What data storage facilities are used where there is the need for repeated reference to information?

9. What is DIP? How does it work?

10. What are the advantages of DIP systems?

11. Distinguish between teletext and viewdata.

12. What viewdata service is provided by British Telecom?

13. Give examples of private viewdata systems.