УДК 811.111+ 004 (075)

ББК 811

Т 98

Тюрина С.Ю. English for Computer Science Graduates. Course book. Английский язык в сфере информационных и компьютерных технологий: Учеб. пособие для магистрантов / ФГБОУ ВПО «Ивановский государственный энергетический университет имени В.И.Ленина». – Иваново, 2013. – 100 с.

Данный учебник предназначен для углубленного изучения английского языка в области компьютерных и информационных технологий. Учебник разработан на основе аутентичных текстов профессионального дискурса.

Основная цель данного пособия – формирование ключевых компетенций выпускников и развитие их профессиональной иноязычной коммуникативной компетенции.

Предназначено для магистрантов, обучающихся по направлению подготовки 230000 Информатика и вычислительная техника.

Первое издание вышло в 2012 году. В настоящее пособие включены профессионально-ориентированные тексты из сферы компьютерных и информационных технологий.

Научный редактор

канд.филол.наук , магистр TESL и прикладной лингвистики Е.В. Щербакова

Рецензент

д-р филол. наук, заслуженный деятель науки и образования, академик РАЕ проф. Г.М. Вишневская

ТЮРИНА СВЕТЛАНА ЮРЬЕВНА

English for Computer Science Graduates. Course book.

Английский язык в сфере информационных и компьютерных технологий: учеб. пособие для магистрантов. Рабочая тетрадь.

Редактор Т.В. Соловьева

Подписано в печать . Формат 60х84 1/16.

Усл. печ. л. . Уч.-изд. . Тираж 50 экз. Заказ № .

ФГБОУВПО «Ивановский государственный энергетический

университет имени В.И. Ленина»

153003 Г. Иваново, ул. Рабфаковская, 34

© С.Ю.Тюрина, 2013

CONTENTS

	Introduction	4
	Placement Test	5
PART I. SPEAKING AND LISTENING		8
UNIT 1.	COMPUTERS IN HUMAN LIFE	8
UNIT 2.	HISTORY OF COMPUTERS	13
UNIT 3.	IT DEVELOPMENTS	17
UNIT 4.	CAREERS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY	25
UNIT 5.	INFORMATION SECURITY	30
UNIT 6.	INTERNET	37
UNIT 7.	ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE	41
PART II. READING AND WRITING		45
UNIT 1.	COMPUTERS IN HUMAN LIFE	45
UNIT 2.	HISTORY OF COMPUTERS	47
UNIT 3.	IT DEVELOPMENTS	57
UNIT 4.	CAREERS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY	61
UNIT 5.	INFORMATION SECURITY	69
UNIT 6.	INTERNET	74
UNIT 7.	ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE	78
	TEXTS FOR READING	82
	Appendix 1	90
	Appendix 2	93
	Appendix 3	94
	Bibliography	100

Предисловие

На современном этапе образования практическую значимость для специалистов технического профиля имеют навыки и умения грамотного и эффективного использования языковых средств для извлечения, обработки, продуцирования и восприятия информации в соответствии с целями профессионального общения. В этой связи языковая и речевая составляющие определяются как важнейшие компоненты комплексной профессионально-коммуникативной компетенции будущих специалистов. Это в свою очередь подтверждает актуальность проблемы развития профессиональной иноязычной коммуникативной компетенции выпускников.

Предлагаемое учебное пособие подготовлено по дисциплине «Иностранный язык» цикла гуманитарных дисциплин (базовая часть). Учебное пособие предназначено для магистрантов, обучающихся по направлению подготовки 230000 Информатика и вычислительная техника и разработано в соответствие с требованиями ФГОС ВПО.

Основная цель данного пособия – формирование компетенций, определенных основной образовательной программой ВПО по соответствующему направлению подготовки, и развитие профессиональной иноязычной коммуникативной компетенции выпускников магистратуры.

Для достижения основной цели в пособии решаются следующие задачи:

• развитие и совершенствование навыков всех видов речевой деятельности в устной и письменной сферах общения в ситуациях профессионального характера;

• организация самостоятельной работы обучающихся;

• мотивация к дальнейшему изучению английского языка в сфере профессионального общения.

В структуре учебного пособия две части: Speaking and Listening и Reading and Writing, объединенных общими темами, очередность которых может быть установлена обучающимся или преподавателем самостоятельно. Учебник содержит:

• аутентичные тексты из области компьютерных и информационных технологий;

• систему коммуникативных упражнений, разработанных с учетом становления речевых умений и навыков в различных видах речевой деятельности;

• диагностический тест в начале курса;

• примеры фраз, которые могут быть использованы для участия в научной дискуссии, при подготовке презентаций и докладов на профессиональные темы;

• краткий глоссарий терминов.

Предлагаемое учебное пособие рассматривается как средство оптимизации процесса обучения иноязычному профессиональному общению магистрантов технического вуза. Внедрение данного учебного пособия в процесс обучения отражает практическую значимость работы и способствует, в целом, повышению качества подготовки студентов магистратуры.

PLACEMENT TEST

1. Read the text and choose the right word.

WHO INVENTED GOOGLE?

A search engines is a program that 1. ________ the Internet and finds web pages for the user based on the keywords 2. _________ you submit.

The very popular search engine called Google 3. ___________ by Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

Google 4. __________ after a googol - the name for the number 1 followed by 100 zeros - found in the book Mathematics and the Imagination by Edward Kasner and James Newman. To Google's founders the name represents the immense amount of information that a search engine 5. _______ process.

In 1995, Larry Page and Sergey Brin 6. __________ at Stanford University as graduate students in computer science. By January of 1996, they began collaborating on writing 7. _______ program for a search engine dubbed BackRub, named after its ability to do back link analysis.

Next, fueled by the excellent reviews that BackRub received, Larry Page and Sergey Brin began 8. _________ on Google. Operating out of their dorm rooms, they built a server network using cheap, used, and borrowed PCs. They bought terabytes of disks 9. ________ discount prices. They tried 10. __________ their search engine technology; however, they couldn’t find 11. _________ who wanted their product at an early stage of development. Page and Brin decided 12. ________ Google, seek more financing, improve the product, and take it to the public themselves.

Google finally became a hot commodity. Co-founder of Sun Microsystems, Andy Bechtolsheim said after a quick demo of Google, "Instead of us discussing all the details, why don't I just write you a check?"

The $100,000 check was made out to Google Inc., however, Google Inc. as a legal entity 13. _________ . Larry Page and Sergey Brin incorporated within two weeks, cashed that check, and raised $900,000 more for their initial funding.

14. ________ September of 1998, Google Inc. opened in Menlo Park, California and Google.com, a beta search engine, was answering 10,000 search queries every day. On September 21, 1999, Google officially 15. ______________ the beta (test status) from its title.

	A	B	C	D
1.	is searching	searches	searched	has been searching
2.	which	when	that	What
3.	was invented	invented	is invented	to be invented
4.	was named	is named	named	were named
5.	have to	must	is able to	has to
6.	were met	have met	met	Meet
7.	a	the	-	Some
8.	work	working	works	to working
9.	on	for	by	At
10.	to license	licensed	have licensed	Licensing
11.	no one	anyone	someone	Somebody
12.	to keep	keeping	kept	Keep
13.	had not exist	has not exist	did not exist	do not exist
14.	-	by	on	In
15.	removed	remove	removing	was removing

2. Read the text and choose the right word or word combination from the box.

supports binary flash architectures security user interface bug plugin compatibility free YouTube software packages Linux public domain display

OPEN SOURCE FLASH MOVIE PLAYER GNASH 0.8.10

By Juergen Haas, About.com Guide February 28, 2012

The latest update of Flash Player Gnash, not to be confused with accounting software GnuCash, brings various 1. _______ ___________ enhancements, efficiency improvements and 2. _______ fixes.

Gnash is one of the projects on the Free Software Foundation's high priority list. This is a list of projects for developing 3. __________ ___________for which there are currently no fully functional free alternatives.

Gnash is intended to become a 4. ________ software version of the Adobe Flash Player and is mostly already functional. It is the only free flash/shockwave player that 5. ____________ SWF v7 and many SWF v8 and v9 features. 6. _____________ with ActionScript 2.0 has been implemented as well. It can be used as a standalone program to play 7. _________ movies or it can be run as a Firefox 8. __________. Plugins for Chromium and Konqueror are also available.

Since Adobe only provides an official Flash player for x86 processor based 9. __________ systems, there is a need for providing a player for other processor architectures. Unlike the Adobe player, which is released only in 10. _____________ form, the open source Gnash project can be compiled and run on many more 11. ______________, including AMD64, MIPS/Irix, PowerPC, and BSD based systems.

Gnash produces high quality video 12. __________ using OpenGL and is compatible with streaming video sharing formats used for example by 13. ___________. The software is extensible and you can import your own modules into the player. It gives you full control over all network connections to improve 14. ____________.

Gnash is distributed under the GNU General Public License. It is based on GameSWF, which is also 15. __________ ____________ software. The development of Gnash is being led by Rob Savoye. Volunteers are welcome to participate in this and other GNU projects.

PLACEMENT TEST

ANSWER SHEET

Name_______________________ Date ______________________

1. Tick (V) the right letter.

	A	B	C	D
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

2. Put the right word or word combination from the box.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

PART I. SPEAKING AND LISTENING

UNIT 1. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN LIFE

WARM-UP Discuss the following questions. Can computer be considered as one of the most significant achievements of the XX century? Why? What is computer? What spheres of life are computers used in?

SPEAKING ACIVITIES

1. Read the text and compare your answers to the questions listed above with the information from the reading passage.

COMPUTERS IN HUMAN LIFE

Computer is perhaps the best invention and one of the most significant achievements of human thought.

A computer does not necessarily mean a monitor, keyboard, mouse and a CPU. A computer is any machine or device that can compute and execute instructions given to it in the form of programs. So technically, even a cell phone is a computer. And so are desktops, laptops, tablet PCs and PDAs. Anything that can perform a series of operations on its own is a computer. This gives us the idea how great the role of computers is.

One of the most important advantages of computers is in the field of science for research and development. The satellites, the telescopes and almost all the research tools make use of computers.

Next important use of computers is in the medical field. Many high tech surgical machines and instruments are endowed with small computer systems so that any surgical process is recorded and monitored to avoid complications. Many clinical imaging processes are conducted with the help of computers, such as X-ray and CT scan, etc.

Computers are a must in the field of education. The Internet is a huge source of information. We surf the internet and simply need to google to find any information. Different universities deliver online degrees, and distance learning is spreading dramatically. Notebooks are used to write research paper and Word Processing software automatically corrects spelling and grammar mistakes.

Software is widely used in communication sphere. People can send messages by e-mail to a person who is thousands of miles away. Chat software enables one to chat with another person on a real-time basis. Video conferencing tools are becoming available.

Next, all financial transactions are done by computer software. They provide security, speed and convenience.

The field of entertainment has been revolutionized by computers. Animation, graphic image manipulation, movie making, music composition, three-dimensional model creating have made the entertainment experience hundred times better. Computer gaming is achieving new landmarks in terms of technology.

This is only the tip of the iceberg. Software engineers, writers, businessmen, employees in the field of telecommunication, banking, research, medicine use computers daily.

Finally, just imagine one day without using your PC or any computer based application. You will surely understand the importance of this “thinking machine” in your life.

2. Some people say computers are the best way of teaching students. Conduct a survey on the benefits of computers in education and report your findings in class.

Suggested online resources:

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/role-of-computers-in-education.html

http://www.ryuuyume.net/

http://communication.ucsd.edu/bjones/comp_lit_paper.html

http://suppes-corpus.stanford.edu/browse.html?c=comped&d=2000

http://www.csulb.edu/~murdock/histofcs.html

http://www.illinoisloop.org/computers.html

3. In small groups discuss what you can do with computers in different areas. Use the following word-combinations to help you.

Formula 1 car: design the car, test virtual models, control electronic components, monitor engine speed, store information, display data, analyse and communicate data.

Industrial process: design product, do calculations, control industrial robots, control assembly lines, keep record of stock/ materials.

Entertainment: download music, burn CDs, play games, take photos, edit photos, make video clips, watch movies, listen to MP3s.

4.Read what people say about the use of computers in their life. Match the statements 1-4 with the profession A-D.

1. P ublisher

2. Home user

3. Secretary

4. Bank manager

Now make the list of the ways you use computer in your free time and for work.

5. How can people of the following professions use computers? Compare your answers with others in your group.

• Architects

• Interior designers

• Farmers

• Landscape gardeners

• Musicians

• Sales people

6. Work in pairs. Find out the following information from your partner.

For example: download music from the Internet (what site)

• Have you ever downloaded music from the Internet? What site did you use?

• …

• send a video email attachment (who to, when);

• fit an expansion card (which type);

• replace a hard disk (what model);

• fix a printer fault (what kind);

• make your own website (how);

• have a virus (which virus);

• watched TV on the Internet (what channel );

• write a program (which language).

Now report the information you have just learnt from your partner to the class.

7. People who have grown up with PCs are often called the digital generation. Some digitally native people spoke about advantages of computers use. Look at these examples and speak on advantages of computers in our life.

8. Read the following sentences A-E. What problems 1-5 do they refer to?

Computer addiction Cybercrimes Technological dependence Loss of privacy Computer anxiety Electronic waste

We are sorry to announce that the Flight 345 to Rome is delayed. He should go to a psychologist. He spends hours surfing the Web. I’ve been trying to carry out me home assignment without the use of computer. Technology changes so quickly that we have to scrap computers when they become obsolete. I’ve been getting emails about offers for products I do not need. My computer system was broken and some useful information has been destroyed.

9. Read the statements. Say which of them you agree or disagree with. Give some reasons to support your opinion. Use the phrases in the LANGUAGE BOX to help you.

LANGUAGE BOX
GIVING OPINION. AGREEING AND DISAGREEING
Giving your opinion	I think/ feel that… In my opinion … In my view…
Clarifying	So, you're saying… In other words … Do you mean…
Asking for opinion	What do you think … How do you see it? How do you like it?
Agreeing	Yes, that is quite right … That's true … I quite agree … I see what you mean.
Disagreeing	Yes, but… Actually, I think that… To be honest... I don't quite agree…

1. Our society has developed technological dependence. When computers are down, our way of life breaks down: planes stop flying, telephones don’t work, and banks have to close.

2. Computers produce electronic waste, plastic cases and microchips that have to be recycled or just thrown away.

3. They are responsible for health problems, e.g. computer addiction, an inappropriate use of computers.

4. Cybercrime is creating serious problems.

5. Citizens may feel loss of privacy due to unauthorized use of personal data or receiving unwanted electronic messages.

6. The Web has become a dangerous territory for children and teenagers.

7. The Internet is a wonderful resource for lonely and elderly people.

10. You are going to hold a debate on advantages and disadvantages of computer use in different spheres of life. Divide into two groups to prepare arguments pro and con. Use the phrases in the LANGUAGE BOX to help you. A group to provide the last argument in the debate wins.

LANGUAGE BOX
GIVING OPINION. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
Discussing advantages and disadvantages	There are several advantages/disadvantages. Firstly, … Secondly, … Another advantage is that… One good/bad thing/point about … is that … One thing we should remember is …

LISTENING ACTIVITIES

You are going to watch "When Computers Changed the World». It is just one of more than 100 videos in the Computer History Museum's new exhibition: "Revolution: the First 2000 Years of Computing." In the span of a single lifetime, computers have gone from large, incredibly expensive and rare devices to small, low-cost, ubiquitous tools that we can't imagine living without. Yet, few people know the history of how this came to be.

Suggested online resource:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLg4MHyyqL0

1. Watch the video and answer the following questions.

1. What do we use computers for?

2. What are the results of industrial and computer revolution?

3. What does Steven Levy, Technology journalist, say about computers?

4. What does Sunil Nagaraj say about the differences of computers in the 50-s, in 70-s and in the 90-s?

5. What famous names are mentioned in the video?

2. Watch the video episode 00:48 and fill in the missing words.

Computing is ___________, computing is ___________. It is how we _______, get the ______ and __________ finance. It is how we ___________, chat, and ______ ______. Computing is _____ and ________ in our daily life.

3. Watch the video episode 2.28:2.50. The names of famous inventors of different times are mentioned. Prepare a small report about one of them.

4. Comment on the following statement: The story of computing is a human story. It’s about us. Who said these words?

5. Agree or disagree with the following statement: We are a privilege generation. Use the phrases of agreeing or disagreeing to help you.

UNIT 2. HISTORY OF COMPUTERS

WARM-UP

1. Who invented the first computer?

2. When did it happen?

3. Can we say that we are in the middle of the history of computer development?

SPEAKING ACTIVITIES

“Who invented the computer " is not a question with a simple answer. The answer is that many inventors contributed to the history of computers and that a computer is a complex piece of machinery made up of many parts, each of which can be considered a separate invention.

1. Look through the table. It covers some of the major milestones in computer history. Study the table and find some extra facts on computer history surfing suggested online resources. Then present your report in class using the phrases in the LANGUAGE BOX to help you.

Table 1. Computer history

Years	Inventors and inventions	Description
1936	Konrad Zuse, Z1 Computer	First freely programmable computer
1944	Howard Aiken & Grace Hopper Harvard Mark I Computer	Performed calculations including addition, subtraction, multiplication
1946	John Presper Eckert & John W. Mauchly, ENIAC I Computer	20,000 vacuum tubes later...
1948	Tom Kilburn Manchester Baby Computer & The Williams Tube	Baby and the Williams Tube used a stored program
1947/48	John Bardeen, Walter Brattain & Wiliam Shockley The Transistor	Transistor is not a computer, but this invention greatly affected the history of computers.
1951	John Presper Eckert & John W. Mauchly, UNIVAC Computer	First commercial computer able to do complex computations
1953	IBM IBM 701 EDPM Computer	Storage tubes for memory and magnetic tape to store information
1954	John Backus & IBM FORTRAN Computer Programming Language	First successful high level programming language
1958	Jack Kilby & Robert Noyce Integrated Circuit	Otherwise known as chip
1962	Steve Russell & MIT Spacewar Computer Game	First computer game
1954	Douglas Engelbart, Computer Mouse & Windows	Interactive, user-friendly information access systems
1969	ARPAnet	Original Internet
Years	Inventors and inventions	Description
1970	Intel 1103 Computer Memory	World first available dynamic RAM chip
1971	Faggin, Hoff & Mazor Intel 4004 Computer Microprocessor	First microprocessor
1971	Alan Shugart & IBM, Floppy Disk	Nicknamed floppy for its flexibility.
1973	Robert Metcalfe & Xerox The Ethernet Computer Networking	Networking
1974/75	Scelbi & Mark-8 Altair & IBM 5100	First consumer computers
1979	Rob Barnaby, WordStar Software	Word Processors
1981	IBM PC	Personal computer revolution
1981	MS-DOS Computer Operating System	Operating system of the century
1983	Apple Lisa Computer	First home computer with a GUI, graphical user interface.
1984	Apple Macintosh Computer	More affordable home computer with a GUI.
1985	Microsoft Windows	Microsoft begins a friendly war with Apple
1991	WWW	First Web server
	To be continued

Suggested online resources:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK0PT5q7GlE&feature=related

http://inventors.about.com/library/blcoindex.htm

http://www.historyofthings.com/history-of-computers

http://www.computerhistory.org/

http://www.ideafinder.com/history/category/computing.htm

http://www.compustory.com/

http://www.hpmuseum.org/

http://www.computer.org/portal/web/guest/sitemap?uri=http://www.computer.org//history/development/early.htm

http://www.pbs.org/nerds/timeline/

LANGUAGE BOX
GIVING A PRESENTATION
Opening	Let me first introduce myself. I am…/ My name is… I would like to tell/ present/ introduce …. I’ll begin with … I’m going to be covering… Let’s start with …
Introducing other points	If I could now turn to… Now, turning to… Let me move on to…
Introducing graphs	I’d like you to look at this graph/ diagram/ pie chart/ slide. It shows / presents / illustrates …
Comparing factors	First of all… Firstly…, secondly,… thirdly… On the one hand…, on the other hand…
Concluding	So, to sum up / summarize… That completes my overview of…
Questions	Please, don’t hesitate to interrupt me if you have any questions. If you don’t mind we’ll leave the questions to the end
Finishing	That’s all I have to say. Thank you for your attention.

2. Read and translate the text about Charles Babbage.

Charles Babbage, 1971.

Charles Babbage is widely regarded as the first computer pioneer and the great ancestral figure in the history of computing. He is often called the "father of computing" for his detailed plans for mechanical Calculating Engines, both the table-making Difference Engines (1821) and the far more ambitious Analytical Engines (1837), which were flexible and powerful punched-card controlled general purpose calculators, embodying many features which later reappeared in the modern computer.

3. Visit the Web sites and create a timeline of milestones of Charles Babbage life.

Suggested online resources:

http://www.cbi.umn.edu/about/babbage.html

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/onlinestuff/stories/babbage.aspx

http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Babbage.html

1791 –	1821 –	1837 –
1811 –	1827 –	1856 –
1816 –	1832 –	1871 –
1820 –	1833 –

4. Visit the Web sites and create an Internet Scavenger Hunt of Charles Babbage life. Create a list of questions for classmates to answer with the help of these Web sites.

Charles Babbage: Pioneer of the Computer

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0691023778/thegreatideafind

The Charles Babbage Institute

http://www.cbi.umn.edu/about/babbage.html

Science Museum - Charles Babbage

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/onlinestuff/stories/babbage.aspx

Welcome to the Babbage pages

http://projects.exeter.ac.uk/babbage/

The Analytical Engine

http://www.fourmilab.ch/babbage/

Inventor of the Week

http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/babbage.html

Babbage Printer Finally Runs

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/710950.stm

Babbage's Other Inventions

http://ei.cs.vt.edu/~history/Babbage.html

Charles Babbage

http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Babbage.html

5. Surf the Internet and create an Internet Scavenger Hunt of Bill Gates or Steve Jobs lives. Create a Hot List of Web sites. Make a list of questions for classmates to answer with the help of these Web sites.

6. A lot has changed since Charles Babbage introduced his Analytical Engines. Today, computers are extremely powerful and extremely small. In fact, the computer has been a tremendous engine in worldwide growth and becomes more and more sophisticated.

Work in small groups. Present your report in class about modern computers.

LISTENING ACTIVITIES

You are going to watch video on the history of computers. We can't imagine living without a computer yet few people know the history of how this came to be.

1. Watch the video “History of computers” and answer the following questions.

Suggested online resource:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbhbssXWDAE

1. What was the first calculation device?

2. What was the main concept of Quipu? What was it used for?

3. What device has made an industrial revolution? What was its advantage?

4. Why was punch card technology very important? What was Herman Hollerith famous for?

5. What was the major concept of his calculation device? What was the “dark side” of his device?

6. When were code machines developed? What for? What was their function?

7. What was the most important step in computer history?

8. What was the first programmable electronic computer?

9. What was the reason to develop such a computer? What sphere was the first programmable electronic computer used after the Second World War?

10. Why was computer communication system developed?

11. When did Arpanet appear?

2. Speak about the first computer communication net work.

3. Watch the BBC video on Alan Turing activity and answer the following questions.

Suggested online resource:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbhbssXWDAE

1. Prove that first calculating machines had powerful calculation capacity.

2. When did Alan Turing publish his paper “On computable numbers”? What was the key idea of his paper?

3. Why was Alan Turing’s work kept in secret?

4. What was Enigma famous for?

5. When did the first electronic digital computer, Colossus, begin to operate?

6. Compare the key concepts of ENIAC and Colossus?

7. What did Prof. Donald Michie, Codebreaker at Bletchley Park in 1942-45, say about Alan Turing?

8. What project did Alan Turing try out at Manchester University?

9. When did Alan Turing commit suicide?

10. Which of Alan Turing’s dreams have come true?

4. Comment on the following statement: Today computers are universal machines.

5. Agree or disagree with the following statement: Colossus has an insignificant impact on development of computers. Use the phrases of agreeing or disagreeing to help you.

UNIT 3. IT DEVELOPMENTS

Predictions of developments in Information Technology. 2030 Direct links between brain and computer 2003 Hydraulic chair for VR games 2005 Personal wearable health monitor 2005 Computer built into clothing 2010 Robotic pets 2025 Artificial brain implants 2010 Robotic devices within blood vessels 2100 Electronic humans

WARM UP Study these predictions of developments in Information Technology. Which, if any, have come true? How likely are the others to come true? What other possible innovations can take place in future with the help of computer technologies? Give reasons for your decisions and compare answers with your partner.

SPEAKING ACTIVITIES

Work in groups. Read the texts on recent developments in Information Technology (A, B, C, D, E or F) and present the main points of the text you’ve read to your groupmates. Use the phrases in the LANGUAGE BOX to help you.

LANGUAGE BOX To start with … It is important to say/ to note/ to emphasize that … One must know that … The fact is … The thing is that … As for … Finally, I’d like to say that …

TEXT A. LICENCE TO CHILL

Barcodes in the packaging of groceries will soon be replaced with radio-frequency tags that can be read at a distance and with greater reliability. As well as indicating what the product is, the data in the tags will include additional information such as the 'best before' date and even nutritional data. Now, imagine that a fridge could read these tags and keep track of the items placed there.

If an item is about to exceed its 'use by' date, the fridge tells you, and you can either use it or throw it out. Fancy something different for dinner? No problem, ask the fridge to suggest some menus based on the ingredients it knows you have in stock. Or tell the fridge the menu you require and it will provide you with a shopping list of the items you don't have or order the items via email. This is the Screenfridge from Electrolux.

But why 'Screenfridge'? On the door is a touch-sensitive panel or screen that provides a means of communicating with the users.

For many households, life revolves around the kitchen. This is the assumption Electrolux made in designing the Screenfridge. The same screen is a messaging centre. Since the fridge is equipped with a microphone, speaker and video-camera, you're not limited to textual information. The fridge is connected to the Internet, so it can be used to send and receive email or you could surf the Web to find a new recipe.

Many people have a TV in the kitchen, but if you already have a screen on the fridge, why clutter up the work surface with a TV? Call the Screenfridge's TV mode and watch your favorite programme on the fridge. The Screenfridge can be interfaced to a surveillance camera to check out visitors or to keep an eye on the children. Finally, the Screenfridge can perform some of the household management tasks normally associated with a PC. For example, it has a diary, address pad and a notepad.

TEXT B. SMART FABRICS MAKE FOR ENHANCED LIVING

Imagine a handbag that warns you if you are about to forget your umbrella or wallet, and which you can later turn into a scarf that displays today's pollution levels. Or how about creating a wall hanging that glows if someone tries to use your home's wireless internet connection?

All these bizarre objects could soon be possible thanks to a system of computerized fabric patches developed by engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Each patch contains a functional unit of the system - a microcomputer and a memory plus either a radio transceiver, a sensor, a microphone, batteries or a display. Put the patches together in different ways and you can create a variety of information-providing or environmentally-sensing objects, say developers at MIT's Media Lab.

To keep it waterproof, the circuit board inside a patch is coated with a hard transparent resin. It is then padded with a layer of foam and encapsulated in the chosen fabric. It can be populated with a variety of components, from Bluetooth transmitters to a cut-down PC motherboard.

The patches can be joined using Velcro which has been modified to enable electrical as well as physical connections. Wires from the circuit board are attached to silver-coated contacts in Velcro. In this way, data and power can flow from one module to the next. Using square or triangular patches the user can fashion, and refashion, useful objects such as bags, curtains or scarves. "You could wear a system as a scarf today and a belt tomorrow."

To make a bag that prevents people forgetting things, Nanda and Cable have equipped a module with a radio antenna and receiver. The unit is programmed to listen for signals from radio frequency identification (RFID) tags on objects like cellphones, keys and wallets.

A sensor module in the bag's handle detects when the bag has been picked up, indicating the owner might be leaving. This triggers the reader to check through the objects the computer module has been programmed to look for. If it does not detect a required item, it uses a voice synthesizer module in another patch to warn: "Cellphone, yes! Wallet, yes! Keys, no!"

TEXT C. DAWN OF THE CYBERBABES

Stratumsoft are developing the first electronic virtual assistant, or EVA. If EVAs live up to the developers' claims, they could provide the illusion of personal service without the cost. Call centres, online advertisers and Internet service providers are among the initial targets. Eighty per cent of call centre requests could, Stratumsoft argues, be dealt with by an EVA. E-commerce is another application.

The technology behind EVA combines two global trends in website design. One, developed out of the computer animation and gaming industry, is the ability to give Web images the impression of three dimensions. The other is the use of dynamic database skills and artificial intelligence-style searching to retrieve information from data banks.

Each EVA can be programmed with information such as a product catalogue, answers to frequently asked questions or an online encyclopedia. It is also equipped with a search engine to interpret customer requests made in colloquial language. Queries are typed in and answered via on-screen text boxes.

If the EVA does not have an answer, it will interrogate the questioner, record the response, and add the answer to its database for future enquiries. EVAs are not fully animated to imitate human features but they can be programmed to gesture and imitate different moods. An EVA is run via a Java applet - a small, self-contained program coded to download on to any type of personal computer rather than being transmitted over the Internet.

TEXT D. THE FUTURE OF CARS

Road traffic navigation systems will be much more advanced. We will be able to tell our computer what time we want to arrive and it will be able to negotiate slots with the traffic management systems for the appropriate roads to ensure we arrive there on time. With every car having automatic systems that communicate with those in other cars, it will be possible to more than double the capacity of the roads.

Electronic systems can automatically lock the brakes and accelerators of a whole chain of cars together to make for a much smoother and faster journey. All cars would brake together, with only microseconds delay instead of hundreds of milliseconds. Drive by wire systems could make it almost impossible to cut dangerously in front of another driver. It might be impossible to change lane unless there is a gap to move into.

As well as telling us which way to go, or taking us automatically, we will be able to get appropriate news and travel information as we travel through an area. Integration of the transport system into the net will make it possible to say 'find the nearest cinema showing such and such a film'. Communication systems built into the car will obviously keep us in touch as today, but we might also be able to message to cars around us.

Many sensors will be in the future car, for example in tyres and exhaust systems. Our cars might even respond to our emotions, picking up when we are stressed and helping to calm us down. It might become the norm to have sophisticated identification systems built into cars which prevent unauthorized people from driving them, or take them direct to the nearest police station. Retina scans, voice prints, finger prints or several other biometrics could be used.

Cars might look quite different in terms of their materials and coatings. Because of the danger of distracting other drivers, it is unlikely we will see video displays on the bodywork though this would be feasible technologically. What is more likely is being able to change the colour of the car each day, or to use slowly changing patterns.

TEXT E. WALKING ROBOT CARRIES A PERSON

The first walking robot capable of carrying a human was unveiled in Tokyo, Japan.

Its creators at Waseda University in Tokyo and the robotics company Tsmuk hope their two-legged creature will one day enable wheelchair users to climb up and down and assist the movement of heavy goods over uneven ground.

The battery-powered robot, code-named WL16, is made of an aluminum chair mounted on two sets of telescopic poles. The poles are bolted to fiat plates which act as feet.

VVI.-16 uses 12 actuators to move forwards, backwards and sideways while carrying an adult weighing up to 60 kilograms. The robot can adjust its posture and walk smoothly even if the person it is carrying shifts in the chair. At present it can only step up or down a few millimeters, but the team plans to make it capable of dealing with a normal flight of stairs.

‘I believe this biped robot, which I prefer to call a two-legged walking chair rather than a wheelchair, will eventually enable people to go up and down the stairs,' said Atsuo Takanishi from Waseda University.

Tsmuk chief executive Yoichi Takamoto argues that multi-legged robots will be more useful than so-called 'caterpillar models' for moving over uneven ground.

WL-16's normal walking stride measures 30 centimeters and it can stretch its legs to 136 cm apart. The prototype is radio-controlled, but the research team plans to equip it with a joy stick-like controller for the user in future. Takamoto says it will take 'at least two years' to develop the WL-16 into a working model.

TEXT F. SPORTING ROBOTS

Each year teams take part in an international football competition. The teams are organized into five leagues and the prize is a cup. Not just any cup, but the Robocup, for the players are all robots. They don't play on turf but the objective is the same, to hit a ball into a goal.

The aim behind the Robocup is to promote the development of robots which can work together. Football is a good test of co-operation for any team and the robots are no exception. Although robot footballers are poor competition for a human team, each year their performance gets better and each year the standards expected are raised so that competitors must constantly develop better hardware and software.

The top league is the Sony legged robot division. They use modified versions of the well-known Sony robodog AIBO. A humanoid league will start as soon as there are sufficient two-legged players. The organizer of the Robocup is confident in the future of robotics, 'By mid-21st century, a team of fully autonomous humanoid soccer players will win a soccer game, complying with the official rules of FIFA, against the winner of the most recent World Cup.'

Other sporting events for robots exist. For example, The British Association for the Advancement of Science organizes a two-a-side event called Robot Volley Ball. The players' task is simply to return a ball within 60 seconds of its being served. The objective again, is to promote the development of robots which can work co­operatively. The advantages of having robots which can tackle a range of tasks together rather than constructing single expensive robots designed for one task only are obvious.

2. Look through the texts again. List the predictions, if any, in the articles you have read. Have any of them already taken place? How likely are the others to happen in the near future? Discuss your answers with your group mates.

Text	Prediction
TEXT A. LICENCE TO CHILL
TEXT B. SMART FABRICS MAKE FOR ENHANCED LIVING
TEXT C. DAWN OF THE CYBERBABES
TEXT D. THE FUTURE OF CARS
TEXT E. WALKING ROBOT CARRIES A PERSON
TEXT F. SPORTING ROBOTS

3. Use an appropriate certainty expression from the LANGUAGE BOX to complete these predictions. More than one answer is possible in some cases.

LANGUAGE BOX
MORE C E R R T A I N LESS	Verbs	Adverbs	Adjectives
	will, will not	certainly	certain
	likely, unlikely
	probably	probable
could, may, might	possibly	possible

1. Barcodes … soon be replaced with radio-frequent tags.

2. All those bizarre objects … soon be possible thanks to a system of computerized fabric patches.

3. If EVAs live up to the developers' claims, they … provide the illusion of personal service without cost.

4. This biped robot … eventually enable people to go up and down the stairs.

5. Because of the danger of distracting other drivers, it is … we will see video displays on the bodywork.

6. What is more … is being able to change the color of the car each day.

7. By mid-21st century, a team of fully autonomous humanoid soccer players … win a soccer game against the winner of the most recent World Cup.

8. A virtual world populated by virtual humans … become a very tangible reality.

4. Search for the latest developments in one area of Information Technology. Make a summary of your findings to report to the class.

Suggested online resources:

Domestic appliances	www.electrolux.co.uk www.merloni.com/Ariston www.vipdomotec.co.uk www.zanussi.co.uk www.sony.co.uk
Future cars	www.daihatsu.com/technology/ www.futurecars.blogspot.com
Avatars	www.pulse3d.com www.kiwilogic.com www.softimage.com www.digimask.com
Wearable computers	www.media.mit.edu/wearables/lizzy/wearlinks.html www.smartextiles.co.uk
Robotics	www.aibo-europe.com world.honda.co./ASIMO/ www.robotbooks.com/Mitsubishi-robots.htm

5. How do you think developments in IT will affect these areas of life in the next ten years? Compare your predictions with others in your group. Try to agree on a ranking from most likely to least likely.

• commerce

• work

• humans and computers

• nature and environment

6. Read the text below and answer the following questions.

1. How does the author justify his claim that we are 'in the midst of convergence'?

2. What will be the difference between computers and humans after 2015?

3. What does he mean by a 'positive feedback loop' in computer development?

4. Why will knowledge of a major language be the only IT skill needed?

5. Which of the author's predictions do you accept?

THE FUTURE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

We are in the midst of convergence. At the hardware layer, computers, phones and consumer electronics are converging. At the applications layer, we see convergence of information, entertainment, communications, shopping, commerce, and education.

Computers have come from nowhere 50 years ago and are rapidly catching up in capability with the human brain. We can expect huinam: machine equivalence by about 2015. Rut after this, computers will continue to get smarter, there is a noticeable positive feedback loop in technology development, with each generation of improved computers giving us more assistance in the design and development of the next. Ultimately, they will design their offspring with little or no human involvement.

This technology development will push the knowledge forwards. It will be almost as though extraterrestrials had landed in 2020 and given us all their advanced technology overnight.

But we will never get far unless we can solve the interface problem. In the near future we may have electronic pets, with video camera eyes and microphone ears, linked by radio to the family computer. With voice and language recognition we will have easy access to all that the Internet can provide. We can tell the pet what we want and it will sort it out for us. It will be impossible to be technophobic about such an interface, and the only IT skill needed will be to speak any major language.

7. Find the statements from the text “The Future of Information Technology” you agree or disagree with. Give reasons to support your opinion.

8. Work in groups of three or four. Read the text extracts (А, В and C) and complete the table below. Compare the contents of the tables between groups in class.

1. Area of IT
2. Predictions
3. Comments

TEXT A.

Telecoms applications will soon be bundled together in much the same way as office application suites are today. A major example is the electronic marketplace, which will bring customers and suppliers together in smart databases and virtual environments, with ID verification, encryption and translation. It will then implement the billing, taxation and electronic funds transfer, while automatically producing accounts and auditing.

The whole suite of services will be based on voice processing, allowing a natural voice interlace to talk to the computer, all the AL to carry out the request, and voice synthesis and visualization technology to get the answer out.

Electronic money will be very secure but much more versatile than physical alternatives. E-cash can be completely global and could be used as a de facto standard. It does not have to be linked to any national currency, so can be independent of local currency fluctuations. Its growing use on the Net will lead to its acceptance on the street and we may hold a large proportion of our total funds in this global electronic cash. People will increasingly buy direct from customized manufacturers. Shops will be places where people try on clothes, not buy them.

Their exact measurements can be sent instantly to the manufacturer as soon as they have chosen an outfit. The shops may be paid by the manufacturer instead.

TEXT B.

Employment patterns will change, as many jobs are automated and new jobs come into existence to serve new technologies. Some organizations will follow the virtual company model, where a small core of key employees is supported by contractors on a project by project basis, bringing together the right people regardless of where they live. The desks they will use will have multiple Hat screens, voice interfaces, computer programs with human-like faces and personalities, full-screen videoconferencing and 3D sound positioning. All this will be without any communication cables since the whole system uses high capacity infrared links. The many short-term contractors may not have enough space in their homes for an office and may go instead to a new breed of local telework centre.

Of course, workers can be fully mobile, and we could see some people abandon offices completely, roaming the world and staying in touch via satellite systems. Even in trains and planes there may be infrared distribution to each seat to guarantee high bandwidth communication. One tool they may have in a few years is effectively a communicator badge. This will give them a voice link to computers across the network, perhaps on their office desk. Using this voice link, they can access their files and email and carry out most computer-based work. Their earphones will allow voice synthesisers to read out their mail, and glasses with a projection system built into the arms and reflectors on the lenses will allow a head-up display of visual information. Perhaps by 2015, these glasses could be replaced by an active contact lens that writes pictures directly onto the retina using tiny lasers.

TEXT C.

Finally, by around 2030, we may have the technology to directly link our brain to the ultra-smart computers that will be around then, giving us so much extra brainpower that we deserve a new name, Homo Cyberneticus. In much the same time frame, geneticists may have created the first biologically optimized humans, Homo Optimus. It would make sense to combine this expertise with information technology wizardry to make something like the Borg, Homo Hybridus, with the body of an Olympic athlete and a brain literally the size of the planet, the whole global superhighway and every machine connected to it. Over time, this new form may converge with the machine world, as more and more of his thoughts occur in cyberspace. With a complete backup on the network, Homo Hybridus would be completely immortal. Ordinary biological humans would eventually accept the transition and plain old Homo Sapiens could become voluntarily extinct, perhaps as early as 2200.

9. Now exchange information with others in your group to list all the predictions made in the text. Discuss with your group the predictions made and add your own comments on the predictions in the last section of the table.

10. Agree or disagree with the following statements. Give reasons to support your opinion.

1. By 2015 scientists will have developed active contact lenses.

2. By 2030 geneticists may have created the first biologically optimized humans.

3. Some organizations will follow the virtual company model.

4. It's possible that we'll work from telework centers in future.

5. E-cash can be completely global and could be used as a de facto standard.

10. Make your predictions for 2020. You may wish to use these verbs:

develop

disappear

Increase

replace

take over

computing power	machine intelligence	apartments
interfaces	the internet	medicine
monitors	keyboards	transport
tele working	speech recognition	information exchange
money	shops	education

11. Think of arguments for and against this statement.

Computers will catch up with the power and speed of the human brain by 2050. Some time after that they will start outstripping us and taking over from us.

Deliver a Persuasive Presentation to support your argument. But before, study some key tips on “How to make a persuasive presentation.”

Suggested online resources:

http://www.articlesbase.com/ask-an-expert-articles/the-art-of-persuasion-32299.html

http://psychology.about.com/od/socialpsychology/a/persuasiontech.htm

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Burden+of+Persuasion

http://www.persuasivewordsandphrases.com/

Watch the video “Persuasive Speaking Tips” to learn more on persuasive techniques.

Tips for Persuasive Speeches

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF8ZzxbQErg&feature=relmfu

How to Write an Introduction for Persuasive Speeches

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBObNfR2n_4

How to Use Arguments in Persuasive Speeches

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ae4x1qUKU4&feature=relmfu

How to Write a Conclusion for Persuasive Speeches

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDVit9ASVUg&feature=relmfu

Now, watch the best examples of persuasive presentations and use the persuasive techniques in your speech.

Barack Obama’s persuasive presentation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVyDi-iwuNY&feature=related

Steve Jobs’ persuasive presentation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHX-xnP_G5s&feature=related

UNIT 4. CAREERS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

WARM UP

1. What do the following people do in computing? Compare your answers with your partner.

1. Webmaster

2. Help-desk troubleshooter

3. Applications programmer

4. Security specialist

5. Systems programmer

SPEAKING ACTIVITIES

1. Read the text on job description in IT sphere and answer the following questions.

1. Information technology is a very wide field. How do positions in IT differ?

2. What basic requirements should the IT professional meet?

3. What are the responsibilities of the Systems Analyst? How do they differ from the Systems Support Person ones?

4. What does Software Engineer do?

5. What is Computer Services Engineering Technician responsible for?

6. What skills should Network Support Person have?

7. What does Applications Programmer do?

Information technology is a very wide field, and if a person is thinking of choosing a career in IT, he/she has to be very specific about what he/she actually wants to do. Several positions are available and they differ according to the responsibilities and duties of the IT professional. Moreover, these professionals are highly paid in comparison to other jobs. Certifications and trainings are even more important than basic educational qualifications such as bachelor's and master's degree. Furthermore, previous IT experiences also counts.

Systems Analyst studies the methods of working within an organisation to decide how tasks can be done efficiently by computers; makes a detailed analysis of the employer's requirements and work patterns to prepare a report on different options for using information technology. Systems Analyst either uses standard computer packages or writes a specification for programmers to adapt existing software or to prepare new one; may oversee the implementation and testing of a system and acts as a link between the user and the programmer.

Software Engineer or Designer produces the programs to control the internal operations of computers; converts the System Analyst's specification to a logical series of steps and translates it into the appropriate computer language. Software Engineer designs, tests and improves programs for computer-aided design and manufacture, business applications, computer networks and games.

Computer Services Engineering Technician is responsible for installation, maintenance or repair of computers and associated equipment. He/she installs hardware, tests by running special software, carries out routine servicing of large mainframe systems, aiming to avoid breakdowns and upgrades machines usually on customer’s premises.

Network Support Person or Computer Engineer maintains the link between PCs and workstations, uses telecommunications, software and electronic skills and knowledge of the networking software to locate and correct faults.

Computer Salesperson sells equipment to suit individual requirements, organizes the sale, delivery and, if necessary, installation and testing. He/she may arrange support, training, maintenance and consultation, must have sufficient technical knowledge.

Applications Programmer writes the programs to enable a computer to carry out particular tasks. He/she may write new programs or adapt existing ones to meet the needs of the company. When writing a new program, he/she follows a specification provided by a Systems Analyst. Applications Programmer checks programs for faults and does extensive testing.

Systems Support Person is an Analyst Programmer who is responsible for maintaining, updating and modifying the software used by a company. He/she uses machine codes and low-level computer languages; may sort out some problems encountered by users.

Hardware Engineer researches, designs and develops computers and computerized element of appliances, machines and vehicles. He/she is also involved in manufacturing, installation and testing. Hardware Engineer has to be aware of cost, efficiency, safety and environmental factors as well as engineering aspects.

2. Work in pairs. Choose one of the IT careers from the list provided. Your partner is to find out what your job is by asking only Yes/No questions. Your partner cannot ask “Are you a programmer?” etc.

Systems Analyst Applications Programmer Systems Support Person Hardware Engineer

Computer Salesperson Computer Services Engineering Technician Software Engineer Network Support Person

3. Study these requirements for different jobs in computing advertised on the Internet. Then describe these jobs.

Systems Manager/ Programmer	Support Analyst: IBM Mainframe MVS	Programmer
technical specialist min.2 yrs work in systems programming plus exp. of Net view/ automation design support	IBM MVS support technician 1 yr exp. of VTAM, NCP, SSP, NPM, IBM hardware authorized to work in the EU	3 yr exp. SAP Basic Technical Environment team player with strong analytical and problem solving skills ability to communicate and manage time effectively
Webmaster	Cisco Technician	IS Manager
strong Unix exp able to use HTML, DHTML, XML, Java Script knowledge of Shell Script	CCNA qualified min 2 yrs work in support excellent skills in the surrounding technologies	knowledge of current Network Operating System exp of ERP systems implementation strong managerial skills

4.IT certifications are the way to certify and validate individual IT skills. There are many certifications available from a number of institutions. Read the text (Adapted from 'Becoming Certified' by David Moss, Network Pro Section of PC Pro Magazine, November 1997) and find the answers to the following questions.

1. What advice is given for someone who is stuck in a computing support job?

2. What questions should you ask yourself if you are thinking of getting extra training?

3. What computer program is mentioned in the text?

4. Name two ways of studying mentioned in the text.

5. What two factors will be affected by your level of experience?

6. Why is it important to become used to answering exam questions?

7. What factors help you decide whether the course is suitable or cost effective?

8. What happens if you don't upgrade your certification?

BECOMING CERTIFIED

Suppose you're a support engineer. You're stuck in a job you don't like and you want to make a change. One way of making that change is to improve your marketability to potential employers by upgrading your skill-set. If you're going to train yourself up however, whose training should you undertake? If you need certificates, whose certificates should they be? Even if you get those certificates, how certain can you be that your salary will rise as a result? One solution is the range of certifications on offer from Microsoft.

Microsoft offers a large array of certification programmes aimed at anyone from the user of a single program such as Microsoft Word, to someone who wants to become a certified support engineer. There are a myriad of certificates to study for too. If you're the proud holder of any of those qualifications, then you're entitled to call yourself a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP).

Once you've decided which track you want to take, you should consider just how qualified you already are in terms of experience and knowledge. Will you need to go and take some courses with a training company, or are you the type who can make good use of self-study materials? How much time do you genuinely have to devote towards this? Will your employer pay for your course? Will it grant you leave to go and do the course - assuming you can find one - on either a full-time or part-time basis?

The key question here is experience. This will not only influence the amount of work you'll have to do to get up to speed for the exams, it could also mean the difference between passing or failing the exam.

While you're busy learning all you need to know for your certification, the practice exams are an absolute godsend. They show you the type of questions you'll encounter, and they familiarise you with the structure of the exam. This is essential if you want to pass: the exams have time limits, and you need to get used to answering the requisite number of questions within the allotted time. It's as simple as that.

If you decide a training course will help you out, don't let the title of a course alone convince you that it will be suitable or cost effective. Find out exactly what the course offers and whether there are pre-requisites for attendants. You should also find out what the training company is prepared to do if attendants don't have the minimum knowledge necessary to be on the course.

As exams are replaced by 'updated' ones, you need to upgrade your certification to stay current. Ultimately it's your responsibility to make sure you stay up to date. If you don't, you lose your certification until you take an update.

As a support engineer, you get the satisfaction of knowing that you passed a tough test, and the happy knowledge that your network manager is sweating a bit over the fact that you could be head-hunted at any time.

5.Read the information about Microsoft certification programmes to find the answers to the question.

Which qualification would be most useful if you wanted to do each of the following:

• be an operating system expert

• troubleshoot systems

• teach computing

• design business solutions

QUALIFICATIONS

Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)

MCSEs design, install, support and troubleshoot information systems. MCSEs are network gurus, support technicians and operating system experts.

Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD)

MCSDs use development tools and platforms to create business solutions.

Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA)

MCSAs administer network and systems environments based on the Microsoft Windows platforms. Specializations include MCSA: Messaging and MCSA: Security.

Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT)

MCTs teach others about Microsoft products using the Microsoft Official Curriculum at Microsoft Authorised Technical Education Centres.

6.Mark the following statements as True or False. Correct the false ones.

1. Microsoft offers a large range of certification programmes to study.

2. You must get an advanced certificate before you can call yourself a Microsoft Certified Professional.

3. All Microsoft training courses involve a period of full-time study.

4. Practice exams allow you to become familiar with the structure of the exams.

5. You can decide on the suitability of a course by its title.

6. It is your responsibility to make sure that your certification is kept up to date.

7. Gaining a certificate is likely to make you more attractive to other employers.

7.IT certification is not an ordinary exam. IT certifications require a good combination of practical and technical know-how. While majority are multiple choice questions, some certifications require a practical exam or on-job experience. In the ever changing IT market of today, a certification is very important for both experienced and fresh candidates.

Surf the Internet and find some information on the IT certifications.

Suggested online resources:

http://www.it-certifications.com/

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/a-plus-certification-cost.html

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/computer-certifications-in-demand.html

http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/le2/le0/le9/learning_certification_type_home.html

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/view-by-name.aspx

http://www.techtrainingonline.com/

LISTENING ACTIVITIES

1. Watch the video “Information Technology Careers” and answer the following questions.

Suggested online resource:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEoUT_mXF8E

1. What are the main issues of the presentation on IT career?

2. What is IT?

3. Who needs IT?

4. What are the two main groups of IT professions?

5. Describe IT job market.

6. What are educational requirements to the IT professionals?

7. What are IT career advantages?

2. Watch the video episode 03.30:05.10 and fill in the missing numbers.

1. IT jobs comprise … of the top … fastest growing careers.

2. Network systems and Data Communications is # … fastest growing job in all categories at … Growth Rate.

3. The top … IT careers will add … jobs by ….

4. Software Engineers hourly pay is ….

3.Comment on the following statement: IT is the fastest growing careers field in the world.

UNIT 5. INFORMATION SECURITY

WARM UP

Work in groups. What stories do you think followed these headlines? Compare answers within your group.

1. Love bug creates worldwide chaos.

2. Hackers crack Microsoft software codes.

3. Web phone scam.

What other types of computer crime are there? Make a list within your group and report it to the class. Check your answers reading the text INTERNET CRIME.

SPEAKING ACTIVITIES