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Read the text get the main information What is the Computer?
As with any problem-solving tool, you must understand the purposes for which computers can and cannot be used. What is the value of computers to you? Over the last decade, computers have become more powerful, easier to use, and less expensive. Thus, the effort required to apply computers in personal and professional pursuits is much simpler than it was a decade ago. Like all revolutionary technologies, such as electricity, telephones, and automobiles, computers have been embraced by individuals and organizations rather quickly. Thus, a certain amount of computer literacy is necessary to keep pace with rapid technological advances. Computers, although important, are not an end in themselves. They are simply tools. They are really nothing more than unusually fast and precise machines with an extraordinary ability to remember massive amount of detail. The computer's speciality is data processing, performing specific operations on data: adding, substracting. multiplying, and dividing numbers and comparing them and remembering them. These fundamental operations, conducted in countless combinations at tremendous speed, are the essence of all the computer's enormously varied applications. The computer can thus answer some highly complex questions, although the human being must tell it what to do and how to do it 10 A computer is an electronic device that can accept input, process it according to a set of instructions, store the instructions and the results of processing, and produce results as its output. The facts, numbers, letters, and images input to a computer are called data. The instructions that carry out the processing are called computer programs of software. The output, Intended for use and interpretation by people, is called information.
Answer the questions :
What are the main operations of computer ?
How can computer do operations ?
What is a computer ?
What is called data ?
What are called computer programs of software?
Some Facts from the History of Computers
Let us take a look at the history of the computers that we know today. The very first calculating device used was the ten fingers of a man's hands. This is why today we still count in tens and multiples of tens.
Then the abacus was invented, a bead frame in which the beads are moved from left to right. People went on using some form of abacus well into the 16-th century, and it is still being used in some parts of the world because it can be understood without knowing how to read.
During the 17-th and 18-th centuries many people tried to find easy ways of calculating. J.Napier, a Scotsman, devised a mechanical way of multiplying and dividing, which is how the modern slide rule works. Henry Briggs used Napier's ideas to produce logarithm tables, which all mathematicians use today.
The first real calculating machine appeared in 1820 as the result of several people's experiments. This type of machine, which saves a great deal of time and reduces the possibility of making mistakes, depends on a series of ten-toothed gear wheels. In 1830 Charles Babbage, an Englishman, designed a machine that was called "The Analytical Engine". This machine, which Babbage showed at Paris Exhibition in 1855, was an attempt to cut out the human being altogether, except for providing the machine with the necessary facts about the problem to be solved. He never finished his work, but many of his ideas were the basis for building today's computers.
In 1930 the first analog computer was built by American named Vannevar Bush. This device was used in World War II to help aim guns. Mark I, the name given to the first digital computer, was completed in 1944. The men responsible for this invention were Professor Howard Aiken and some people from IBM.
In 1946 two engineers from the University of Pennsylvania built the first digital computer using parts called vacuum tubes. Another important advancement in computers came in 1947, when John von Newmann developed the idea of keeping instructions for the computer inside the computer's memory.
The first generation of computers, which used vacuum tubes, came out in 1950. In 1960 the second generation of computers was developed and these could perform work ten times faster than their predecessors. The reason for this extra speed was the use of transistors instead of vacuum tubes.
The third-generation computers appeared on the market in 1965. These computers could do a million calculations a second, which is 1000 times faster then the first-generation computers. These computers are controlled by tiny integrated circuits,
The fourth-generation of computers appeared and the integrated circuits have been greatly reduced in size. This means that the circuits are much smaller than before; as many as 1000 tiny circuits now fit onto a single chip. A chip is a square or rectangular piece of silicon, upon which several layers of an integrated circuit are etched. The fourth-generation computers are 50 times faster than the third-generation computers.
Answer the following questions.
What was the very first calculating device?
What is the abacus?
When did people begin to find easy ways of calculating?
When did the first real calculating device appear?
Did C.Babbage design the first digital computer?
The first analog computer was built in 1930, wasn't it?
In what part of computer are instructions kept?
Did the first-generation computers use transistors?
Which computer generation used transistors?
How many integrated circuits does a single chip have?
Translate into Ukrainian the following word combinations.
Ten fingers of a man's hand, the very first calculating device, easy ways of calculations, a bead frame, to move from left to right, mechanical way of dividing, to produce logarithm tables, to reduce the possibility of making mistakes, the problem to be solved, the invention of the first digital computer, faster than predecessors, to perform work faster, to perform calculations, to be controlled by integrated circuits, the abacus was invented.
Using of Computers
Computers seem to be indispensable in our lives. Since they were invented in 1948, they have revolutionized the way millions of people work, study, conduct business transactions, carry out research and rest.
Computers are being increasingly used in medicine. They are very helpful in medical diagnosis, patient monitoring and general hospital administration. In banking and finance they have replaced paper for nearly all accounting. Such areas as architecture, engineering or machinery are also increasingly dependent on a computer design. Moreover, computers are revolutionizing such fields as advertising or marketing the new products.
There is a widespread impact of computers in education. Educational institutions use them for various purposes. First of all, they perform administrative functions, such as data recording or bookkeeping. Second, they play an important role in teaching. More and more secondary schools offer classes in computer science to educate young people how to use them. This trend is increasing as we are all on the brink of computerized future and the understanding of computers is especially important to the young generation. Everyone will probably agree that the future of modern society depends greatly on computerization.
The computer industry is one of the largest in the western countries and especially in the USA. If includes the companies that manufacture, sell and lease computers, as well as the companies that supply products and services for people working with computers.
Ex. 1. Complete the following statements: Computers were invented in...
Computers have changed the life of millions of people because they...
Computers keep information in memory until... In medicine computers are used to...
Such areas as architecture, engineering or machinery are... Advertising and marketing the new products are-More and more secondary schools offer classes in... At schools computers perform administrative functions, such
as...
The understanding of computers is...
Everyone will probably agree that the future of modern society depends on...
Read it and think if the attitude of Britons towards computerization is the same as in our country.
Using of Computers in Great Britain
Computers have been used more and more frequently in Great; Britain. Today many Britons use them every day. According to recent: statistics every third person has contact with a computer at work. The ability to operate at least some basic computer programs is a major requirement when applying for a job as an accountant, secretary or an administrative clerk. A lot of older people often have to learn new skills to be able to stay in their jobs. Access to personal computers is also growing. The number of people who purchase them is gradually increasing. Today most people have computers at home, others are planning to buy one soon.
Computers in Great Britain are being increasingly used in numerous walks of life. They are revolutionizing the design, printing, manufacturing, accountancy, banking, telecommunication, energetic, the mining industries and the railway system.
The computer is no longer simply an object of fascination but an absolute necessity. Many analysts are of the opinion that in a few years' time the inability to operate a computer will be treated as a kind of cultural illiteracy.
One of the main advantages is the time that can be saved by using a computer. This is especially beneficial in the workplace where employees can do their work far faster than in the past. In addition to this, a computer can be educational and fun. From a very young age children can gain basic computer skills through programs that allow them to learn, draw and play. In today's technological world this knowledge can only help them in future.
However, there are various negative aspects in using computers. The computers can do many tasks more efficiently than humans. This has led to high unemployment in many countries. What is more, computers can actually cause health problems. Endless hours in front of the screen can cause eye strain and headaches which have serious side effects.
To sum it up, it seems that computers are a useful addition to our fast-moving world of high technology. However, it must be remembered that they are here to serve us — not to replace us.
You’ve learned some facts about the computers in the British people's life, haven't you? Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F):
1) Every Briton has a computer at home today.
2) Many people have contact with a computer at work
3)The ability to operate basic computer programs is a major inrementen applying for some jobs.