Computers in our life

A computer may be a person or a machine that information (problems and data), performs reasonable operations on the information and puts out answers. We may consider as a computer a man, for example, who receives information, writes some of it on paper, operates a slide rule¹ and by means of it solves some problems. Any device which can accept information, record and process it and then come out with a definite answer is a computer. There exist various types of mechanical devices which per­form computing operations and are in wide use in science and industry, i.e. in laboratories, research institutes, in plants and offices. These are adding machines which add numbers accurately and quickly and print the results of computations on tape³. There are also desk calculating machines which can add, subtract, multiply. Storage system or Memory is the unit which has the ability to store extensive programmes and instructions, refer to and modify them for operation. The Arithmetic unit operates on the data received i.e. it can perform high-speed calculations such as addition, subtraction, multipli­cation and division. It can produce results, i.e. provide answers to a large variety of problems by means of the Output unit all under the direction of the Control unit.

An up-to-date computer can solve a complicated problem many millions of times faster than a skilled mathematician. It handles thousands of calculations per second.

There are two main classes of computing equipment: analogue and digi­tal. They work on different principles and yield¹⁴ different results. The digital computers can perform a much broader range¹² of functions than the ana­logue computers. The application includes all forms of automic control in science and industry and first of all in space exploration, in automatic pilot­ing navigation and landing of space vehicles. Computer programming is the progress of the future. Computers will guide the first spaceships to Venus, Mars and other planets.

The state gives energetic support to the development of computer engineering. The Academy of Sciences established a network¹⁰ of comput­ing centres all over the country. These centres work out new numerical methods, develop new ways and means of automated programming work.

Ex.13. Discussion Points.

1. What does television enable us to see?

2. The most commonly used operating systems.

3. Computers in our Life.

Variant III

Ex.1. Study the vocabulary:

to come from — походити від

both…and — і…і

to be made up of — складатися з

with a very bright light — при дуже яскравому світлі

that does not matter — не має значення

one spot at a time — по одній плямі за раз

line by line — лінія за лінією

to consist in — заключатися в

to analize into elements — розкладати на елементи

to reconvert — знову збирати

to take advantage of — використовувати

photoelectric cell — фотоелемент

to blow — текти

electronic tube — електронна лампа

to amplify — збільшувати

current — електричний струм

Ex.2. Read and translate the following text with a dictionary. Do exercises after the text.