3. Asking for technical help

Read all the conversations and then decide where these questions and replies should go.

1. Do you know how to connect up to the Internet? 2. Have you checked the connection?

3. How may I help you?

4. No. Do you think that will help?

5. OK. I'll give it a try.

6. Really?

7. Thanks. That's great!

8. Well, I can't get my personal organiser to work with my computer. A. RON: Computer Helpline, Ron speaking. KARL: Oh, hello. Can you help me? RON: What's the problem? KARL: (1)____________ RON: OK. Have you checked the batteries in your organiser? KARL: Yes, of course. RON: (2)____________at the back of your computer? KARL: (3)_____________ RON: Do I think it will help? Well why don't you try and see?

B. RACHEL: Hello. Computer Helpline. Rachel speaking. What seems to be the problem? JIM: Umm, well I know this is silly, but (1)_________? RACHEL: What system are you using? JIM: It's an Apple Mac. RACHEL: OK. Do you have an Internet icon on your screen? Like a globe? JIM: Yes. Yes, I do. RACHEL: Well then just click on the icon and you're away. JIM: OK, ... oh yes. (2)____________. RACHEL: You're welcome. C. MIKE: Hi, Computer Helpline. My name's Mike. (1)___________? MILLIE: This thing is driving me crazy! MIKE: Hold on! What's the problem? MILLIE: Well, my computer seems to have crashed. MIKE: How exactly? MILLIE: Well, I can't move anything. Even the cursor just sticks in the same place. MIKE: OK, well the best thing to do is to switch off and start again. MILLIE: (2) ____________ MIKE: Yes, really. That's what I would do. MILLIE: (3)___________Thanks. MIKE: No problem.

4. Here are six common computer problems. With a partner, ask for and give advice. Use the following structures:

Have you tried ... -ing?

Why don't you ... ?

If I were you, I'd ... .

1. I've never had a home computer, but everyone tells me I should get one. I don't know anything about them. I don't want to spend more than $1,000.

2. I keep having trouble whenever I try to send e-mails. I can receive e-mails, but can't send any.

3. I keep getting cut off when I'm online - usually after only about two minutes.

4. Whenever I print a document, it seems to take ages and I can't do anything until the printer has stopped. I'm wasting hours and hours just sitting waiting.

5. My mouse isn't working properly. Someone told me I should clean it, but I don't know how to.

6. My computer doesn't seem to be as fast as it was when I bought it two years ago. It takes much longer to open files than it should.

COMPUTER ENGLISH

Read the texts and think of Russian equivalents to the words in bold italics. They are taking over: Everywhere we go we use computer technology to process information. Supermarkets reed the bar code on the food you buy with laser scanners. Pay phones and ATMs* can read the information on a phone or credit card with magnetic strip readers and some can even record information onto the card . * Automated Teller Machines

Invasion at home: A recent Government report says that the number of household appliances containing microprocessors has doubled in the last five years. Although twenty years ago video machines and radio-cassette recorders could record when the owner was away, today’s washing machines, microwaves and fridges can all be programmed with the owner’s instructions. The change has hit children’s toys and games too. Many of today’s toys and games contain silicon chips and have LEDs* and screens that can display text and graphics. *Light-Emitting Diodes In the car: Get a CarPC computer in your car. Never get lost again with our GPS* navigation system . Monitor your engine’s performance . Entertain your passengers with games, CDs, DVDs, MP3s, TV and radio. Full access to Internet and e-mail, fax and pager messages. The liquid crystal display and infrared keyboard fit into the dashboard and microprocessor unit can be safely installed in the boot. *Global Positioning System Inputting information Q: How do text and pictures get into a computer? A: Text and images can be copied from another disk or downloaded from the Internet. Text can be typed in or scanned and then converted to text using OCR*. Images can also be scanned or drawn directly on the screen. This can be done with a mouse and mouse pad but a stylus and digitizing tablet will give better control. * Optical Character Recognition Review 2 A. Use these words to complete the sentences. screen digitizing synthesizer recognition bar codes Positioning 1. The letters GPS stand for Global______System.

2. Laser scanners read______in supermarkets.

3. A computer_____can display text and graphics.

4. Voice_____software converts speech into text.

5. A voice_____can convert printed text into the words.

6. Graphic artists draw with a stylus and______tablet. B. Match 1-4 with a-d.

1. chip a) You do this to get files from the Internet. 2. liquid b) Car computers know their position from_____information. 3. satellite c) Some monitor screens have______crystal displays. 4. download d) The heart of a computer is a silicon______ .

GRAMMAR REVIEW: PHRASAL VERBS.

Translate into Russian:

The meeting has been put off till next Tuesday.

We need to set up a meeting with them.

I'm tied up at the moment.

Have you made up your mind yet?

I can't get through to him.

We didn't get through all the items on the agenda.

I'll get back to you straightaway.

How are you getting on with the project?

We ran out of time.

We need to sort out this problem.

I'll hand over to Max now.

WEARABLE COMPUTERS