The Graphical User Interface

Most computers have a Graphical User Interface (GUI). The most common type of GUI uses a WIMP system. WIMP stands for windows, icons, menus and pointer. This type of interface is user-friendly, where system functions are accessed by selecting self-explanatory icons (pictures representing programs or documents) and items from menus. A drop-down menu, or pull-down menu, is a list of options that appear below a menu bar when you click on an item. The pointer is the arrow, controlled by the mouse, which lets you choose options from menus. The background screen that displays icons, representing programs, files and folders (directories) is called the desktop.

System Utilities

System utilities are small programs included with an OS that improve a system’s performance. They can be desk accessories, device drivers, or system extensions activated when you turn on the PC.

• A crashed disk rescuer is used to restore disks and corrupted files.

• An accessibility program makes a PC easier for disabled users to use.

• A compression utility rewrites data so that it takes less space on a disk.

• A media player lets you watch DVDs, play music and listen to the radio on the Web (from ‘Professional English in Use ICT’).

1. What types of software are there?

2. What is system software? Give examples.

3. What is application software? Give examples.

4. What difference is there between application software and an operating system?

5. What is an operating system?

6. What are the main functions of an operating system?

7. What is a GUI?

8. What does a WIMP stand for?

9. What is an icon?

10. What is a drop-down menu?

11. What is a desktop?

12. What system utilities do you know?

13. What is the purpose of a crashed disk rescuer?

14. What is the function of a compression utility?

15. What is a media player used for?

Exercise 44. Match the terms in the box with the appropriate definition.

Operating system GUI Window Word processor Application software Utility Pointer Spreadsheet Icon

1. ­­_______ the arrow you use to select icons or choose options from a menu.

2._______ an area of a computer screen where you can see the contents of a folder, a file, or a program.

3. ______ a small picture on the screen, representing a program, folder or file.

4. ______ a software interface designed to standardize and simplify the use of computer programs.

5. ______ a table of values arranged in rows and columns.

6. ______ software that controls the basic, low-level hardware operations, and file management, without the user having to operate it.

7. ______ useful program which is concerned with such routine activities as file searching, copying files, file directories, sorting or debugging and various mathematical functions.

8. ______ a program for a computer which allows the editing and manipulation and output of a text.

9. _______ a program which is used buy a user to make the computer do what is required, designed to allow a particular task to be performed.

Exercise 45. Match the descriptions on the left with these famous applications.

1. word processor a. Adobe Photoshop

2. spreadsheet b. Internet Explorer

3. virus protection c. Microsoft Word

4. browser d. Microsoft Excel

5. image editor e. Microsoft PowerPoint

6. media player f. Norton AntiVirus

7. email software g. Outlook Express

8. presentation software h. Adobe Page Maker

9. graphic design software i. RealPlayer

Exercise 46. Choose the correct word to fill the spaces.

1. Windows XP, Macintosh OSX and Linux are __________.

a) operating systems b) operating tools c) operators

2. Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat and CorelDraw are programs or ______.

a) applicators b) appliers c) applications

3. To open Microsoft Word, click on the __________.

a) picture b) symbol c) icon

4. I keep all my digital photos in a __________ called "Photos".

a) folder b) packet c) box

5. In Microsoft Word, to start typing a new letter, open a new ___________.

a) document b) page c) paper

6. In Windows, the icon is just a __________ to the application. If you delete the icon, the application will still be on your computer.

a) connector b) shortcut c) link

7. If I leave my computer on without using it, after a while it goes into _________ mode.

a) stand down b) waiting c) standby

Exercise 47. Translate the sentences into English using active vocabulary.

1. Графічний інтерфейс користувача (ГІК) – це інтерфейс між комп’ютером і його користувачем, що використовує піктограми, меню і засіб для вибору функцій та виконання команд. 2. Програмне забезпечення сучасних комп’ютерних систем поділяється на системне та прикладне. 3. Системне ПЗ включає операційну систему, антивірусні програми, текстові та діагностичні програми. 4. Операційна система забезпечує керування ресурсами комп’ютера, запуск прикладних програм, їх взаємодію з периферійними пристроями, а також забезпечує діалог користувача з комп’ютером. 5. Найпоширенішою операційною системою для персональних комп’ютерів є Windows, яка створена компанією Майкрософт. 6. Утиліта – це програма, яка допомагає керувати файлами, отримувати інформацію про комп’ютер, діагностувати й усувати проблему та забезпечувати ефективну роботу системи. 7. Архіватор здійснює стиснення даних (папки, файли) в один файл архіву для кращого транспортування або компактного зберігання.

8. Прикладні програми допомагають вирішувати конкретні завдання користувачів. Прикладами прикладних програм є текстовий процесор, графічний редактор, електронні таблиці тощо.

Language work. Making definitions.

Study these descriptions of an icon. An icon is a small picture on a computer screen. An icon represents items such as a folder. We can link these sentences to make a definition of an icon. An icon is a small picture on a computer screen which/ that represents items such as a folder. Study other examples of definitions. A password is a secret set of characters which allows access to a computer system. A GUI is a computer program which enables a person to communicate with a computer through the use of symbols.

Exercise 48. Work with a partner. Ask for and make definitions of the items.

Student A: menu, media player, word processor, Unix.

Student B: compression utility, operating system, desktop, Windows mobile.

Grammar. Present Perfect/ Present Perfect Continuous.

Exercise 49. Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Simple or the Present Perfect.

1. A: I … (see) this film before.

B: Me too, but I love this actor. He … (play) a lot of good roles and I hope, he’ll get the Oscar this year.

2. A: Who is that man?

B: He is an artist. He … (paint) a lot of beautiful pictures.

A: I think Van Gogh … (paint) the most beautiful pictures ever. But his life … (be) miserable.

3. A: I … (just/ hear) from an old friend of mine.

B: Oh, really?

A: Yes. Jim … (write) to me. I … (get) the letter this morning.

B: That’s nice. When … (you/ first/ meet) him?

Exercise 50. Read the situation and then write two sentences, one with the Present Perfect and one with the Present Perfect Continuous.

e.g. Tom is reading a book. He started two hours ago and he is on page 53.

(he/ read / for two hours) He has been reading for two hours.

(he/ read/ 53 pages) He has read 53 pages so far.

1. Linda is from Australia. Now she is traveling round Europe. She began her tour three months ago. (she/ travel/ around Europe for three months)

(she/ visit/ six countries so far)

2. Jimmy is a tennis champion. He began playing tennis when he was 11 years old. Now he has just won the national championship for the fourth time. (he/ play tennis since he was 11)

(he/ win/ the national championship four times)

3. Bill and Andy make films. They started making films together when they left college. (they/ make/ films since they left college)

(they/ make/ ten films since they left college)

Exercise 51. Put the verb into the correct form, Present Perfect or Present Perfect Continuous.

1. Look! Somebody … (break) that window.

2. I … (read) the book you gave me but I … (not/ finish) it yet.

3. ‘Sorry I’m late.’ ‘That’s all right. I … (not/ wait) long.’

4. Hello! I … (clean) the windows for two hours. So far I … (clean) five of them and there are two more to do.

5. There’s a strange smell in here. … (you/ cook) something?

6. My brother is an actor. He … (appear) in several films.

7. You look tired. … (you/ work) hard?

8. My sister is married. How long … (she/ be/ married)?

9. Diana teaches English in Germany. How long … (she/ teach) English?

10. Jack and Jill are looking for a flat. How long … (they/ look) for it?

Exercise 52. a) Put the verbs in brackets into the correct present forms.

Dear Sal,

You’ll never guess where I 1) … am writing… (write) from. I 2)… (sit) on a bench on the shore of Lake Windermere! The air 3) … (smell) wonderful – so clean and fresh. I 4) … (stay) here for nearly a week now and I 5) … (expect) I’ll stay for one more, as I 6) … (begin) to fall in love with the place. Every morning I 7) … (get up) at 7 o’clock and 8) … (go) for a swim in the lake before breakfast. The owner of the hotel 9) … (just/ tell) me that I can borrow his boat for the afternoon. This holiday 10)… (become) better and better as the days go by. Well, I think I 11) … (write) enough. I 12) … (sit) here for half an hour and now it’s time for my boat trip.

b) Which of the present forms in the letter above are used to express:

1. actions happening at or around the time of speaking/ writing …1,2….

2. repeated/ habitual actions …………...

3. actions started in the past and continuing up to the present …………...

4. recently completed actions …………...

5. permanent states (state verbs) …………...

6. changing or developing situation …………...

Exercise 53. Fill in: yet, already, since, for, usually, tonight, how long, ever, at the moment or still.

1. I don’t think Frank has … ever… been to a live concert. Why don’t we take him to one for his birthday? 2. I haven’t seen Louise … Jeff’s wedding. I wonder what’s happened to her. 3. I don’t know … Jack’s been working on that project, but it seems like weeks. 4. Mr Louis hasn’t rung me back about the contract … . 5. We’re meeting some friends for a meal … . Would you like to come along? 6. Pam has … finished her test and I’ve only done half of mine. 7. Patrick … gets to school at eight o’clock sharp, but it’s half past and he hasn’t arrived yet. 8. Is Jill … going out with Mark, or have they split up? 9. I’m trying to finish cleaning up … . Can you ring back later? 10. My neighbour has lived in that house … nearly 60 years.

Speaking

Exercise 54. Discuss the following questions in small groups. Compare your ideas and answers with other groups.

1. Make a list of software products that you use (e.g. word processor, spreadsheets etc). Are there any features of the products you never use? Are there any features missing?

2. Imagine that you were a developer of software. What kind of software package would you develop? Why?

3. Which operating system do you think will be the most popular in 10 years? Why?

Writing

Exercise 55. Write a paragraph giving reasons of Windows popularity nowadays.