Vocabulary

Opposites

When a word and its opposite are often used together, try to remember them as a pair. Complete the missing words (they are all used in this book).

1 backwards a

2. b anticlockwise

3. c external

4. input d

5. open e

6 f step-down gear

7 wind /ai/ g

Customer care

Giving clear instructions

One way of communicating with customers is by instruction manuals or leaflets for your company's products. These need to be written in clear, simple language which cannot be misunderstood. This is particularly important in medical technology, where there is a high degree of risk to the user or damage to the product if it is used wrongly.

1 Study the extract from instructions for using a medical inhaler. Discuss with your partner if these instructions are easy to understand and follow.

How to use your inhaler the right way

Using an inhaler may seem simple, but many

patients do not use their inhaler in the right way.

If you use your inhaler the wrong way, less medicine

goes to your lungs. For the first two weeks, read

these instructions out loud as you follow them.

Getting ready

1. Take off the cap and shake the inhaler

2. Breathe out all the way.

3. Hold your inhaler in the correct way (see picture)

Breathe in slowly

4. As you start breathing in slowly through your mouth, press the inhaler down once. (If you use a spacer press down on the inhaler first.Then within five seconds start to breathe in slowly.)

5. Take as long a breath as you can, slowly.

Hold your breath

6 Hold your breath and count slowly to ten.

2 Study the description of how to charge the batteries for an electric wheelchair. Use it to make a set of clear instructions for a wheelchair user. Give titles to the steps of your instructions.

The batteries must be charged when the capacity has fallen to 1 0%. This is indicated by two red lights flashing at the top of the joystick. When the charger is connected, a charging indicator

will show on the control panel. When the green indicator lights, this shows that the batteries are fully charged. Batteries should be charged in a well-ventilated area using only the charger supplied.

3 Exchange your set of instructions from 2 with another student and decide if it can be followed easily. Mark any places where the instructions are not clear enough.

78 Unit 10

If somebody a few years ago saw the medical technology

we make now,they'd call us miracle workers.

DrJ.W.Steadman

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Pronunciation

Linking words

When a word begins with a vowel sound, the final consonant sound of the word before links to it.

1Listen to this example. adoorppener

2 Mark where the words link in compound nouns 1-10. Then read them out loud.

1. a curtain opener 6 a domestic appliance

2. a window opener 7 a gear box

3. a personal alarm 8 a diesel engine

4. a remote control 9 a digital radio

5. a light switch 10 an MP3 player

3Listen and check your pronunciation.

Writing

Short description

1 Study the information about an ultrasound machine which makes images of internal parts of the body. Use it to complete the short description below.

Main components Function

transducer probe generates,transmits, and

receives high-frequency sound waves

piezoelectric crystals produce sound waves when current is applied across them

Computer

CPU (central processes the data from the

processing unit) transducerto produce an image

hard disk storage stores the image along with

device patient details and other

information

LCD monitor displays the image

keyboard allows the operator to key in

patient details and other information

printer prints the image

An ultrasound machine is used to

¹ It consists of a transducer

probe, computer, LCD, monitor, keyboard, and

² The probe

contains ³

which ⁴

The computer includes a CPU which

⁵ This is displayed on

⁶ It also contains a hard disk

which ⁷ This information

is keyed in by the ⁸

Images can be printed or copied to DVDs i

2 Find out about CAT scanners (CT scanners), and write your own description in the same way

Medical technology 79

Pairwork

1. Work in pairs, A and B. Discuss ways in which technology could provide a safe environment for an elderly person living alone and make a list.

2. Each of you has a list of devices produced by a company specializing in telecare for the elderly. Make notes in the table and then describe to your partner what you think these devices are for, and how they work.

Student A Go to p.112. Student B

Device a) What it's for b) How it works

Pressu re-sensitive floor tiles Movement detector Pillow alert smoke alarm Temperature extremes sensor Personal radio alarm trigger Bogus caller button

3 Choose from your combined lists the six most important devices to ensure a safe environment for an elderly person living alone.

Checklist

Assess your progress in this unit.

Tick (\/) the statements which are true.

I know key terms in medical technology I can make definitions with relative clauses

I can locate information in a diagram and text

I know howto linkwords when speaking I can write a short description

My reading and listening are good enough to understand most of each text in this unit

Key words

Adjectives

artificial

hydraulic

rechargeable

Nouns

accuracy

coil

image

joystick

scanner

sell-by date

ultrasound

valve

web page

Verbs

calculate

reflect

vibrate

Note here anything about how English is used in technology that is new to you.