History and information about computers

The first electronic digital computer called «ENIAC» was built in 1945 in Philadelphia. It used so much electricity that lights in the near­by town dimmed every time it was used! What a long way we have made in a half-century, with personal computers in our houses, offi­ces, and schoolrooms across the world.

After the arrival of the microprocessor, many different computer companies appeared and began developing their own microproces­sors and microcomputers. Companies such as Apple, Compaq, and Commodore started during this period of confusion. At the conclu­sion of the timeline is the first home personal computer or PC, by IBM in 1981.

Computers began to steadily and rapidly increase in speed and power while becoming more compact and more user friendly from the early 1980's. The progress, however came in many small steps, rather than fewer major events like earlier years.

From the start of the decade to today, PCs have become immense­ly popular.

Computers have increased their role from professional and busi­ness machines to entertainment and educational tools. Telecommu­nications advancements such as the Internet have shown themselves to be useful both in education and business.

Hard disks or Computer hardware were invented in the 1950s. They started as large disks up to 20 inches in diameter holding just a few megabytes.

They were originally called «fixed disks» or «Winchesters» (a code name used for a popular IBM product). They later became known as «hard disks» to distinguish them from «floppy disks.»

Hard disks have a hard platter that holds the magnetic medium, as opposed to the flexible plastic film found in tapes and floppies. At the simplest level, a hard disk is not that different from a cassette tape. Both hard disks and cassette tapes use the same magnetic recording techniques.

A typical desktop machine will have a hard disk with a capacity of between 10 and 40 gigabytes. Data is stored onto the disk in the form of files. A file is simply a named collection of bytes. The bytes might be the ASCII codes for the characters of a text file, or they could be the instructions of a software application for the computer to exe­cute, or they could be the records of a data base, or they could be the pixel colors for a GIF image.

No matter what it contains, however, a file is simply a string of bytes. When a program running on the computer requests a file, the hard disk retrieves its bytes and sends them to the CPU one at a time.

The Internet was the result of some visionary thinking by people in the early 1960s who saw great potential value in allowing compu­ters to share information on research and development in scientific and military fields.

ІІІ. Language

Ex. 6 Find in the text derivatives of the following words containing suffixes: - al, -ment, -ent. State to what part of speech each word belongs, translate them into Russian. Use the table on page 102-104.

Person, to arrive, profession, to entertain, education, advance, to develop, to differ.

Ex.7. Match word and word combinations in column A with those in column B:

A hardware event data to execute microprocessor development advancement hard disk decade to distinguish

B a.подія b. виконувати c. мікропроцесор d.обладнання e.розвиток f.успіхи g. дані h.десятиліття i.жорсткий диск j. відрізняти

Ex. 8 Make up word-combinations using words given below.

to share	information
telecommunications
... on the computer
period of...
... of the timeline
... their role
arrival of the...
... of bytes
great... value
fewer ...events
cassette...

Conclusion, microprocessor, running, potential, tape, major, in­creased, confusion, advancements, collection.

Ex. 9. Fill in the missing words from the text. The words are given below.

1. The first electronic... computer was called «ENIAC».

2. A typical... machine will have a hard disk with a... of between 10 and 40 gigabytes.

3. The ... , however came in many small steps, ... than fewer major events like earlier years.

4. Hard disks have a hard... that holds the... medium, as opposed to the ... plastic film found in tapes and floppies.

Desktop, digital, progress, platter, magnetic, rather, flaxible

Ex. 10 Make the sentences complete using the information from the text .

1. After the arrival...

2. The Internet was the result...

3. Both hard disks and...

4. At the conclusion...

5. No matter what it contains...

6. From the start of the decade...

7. A file is simply...

ІV. Comprehension

Ex. 11. Agree or disagree with the following statements:

1. The first electronic digital computer called «ENIAC» was built in 1945 in Germany.

2. After the arrival of the microprocessor, many different computer companies appeared.

3. Companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Compaq, and Commodore started during this period of confusion.

4. From the start of the decade to today, PCs haven’t become immense­ly popular.

5. Hard disks or Computer hardware were invented in the 1950s.

6. Floppy disks have a hard platter that holds the magnetic medium.

7. A typical desktop machine will have a hard disk with a capacity of between 30 and 40 gigabytes.

Ex. 12. Answer the following questions:

1. How was the first electronic digital computer called?

2. When did computer companies begin to appear?

3. What computer companies are mentioned in the text?

4. What was invented in the 1950s ?

5. Why did Internet appear?

6. When was Internet widely used?