Further steps of evolution of the computer

Burkhardt in Germany, Odhner in Sweden and Burroughs in America were three of the important developers and the results of their work are embodied in mechanical calculators of the kind we see today in banks, offices, shops and laboratories all over the world.

It was Charles Babbage, the 19^th century Cambridge mathematician, who really laid down the principles of our modern computers in mechanical form.

At about the same time as Babbage was working on his machine another mathematician was putting forward some new ideas, which have since found expression in the modern counterparts of the «analytical engine». This was George Boole.

In 1866 W.S. Jevons conceived the idea of a «logical abacus» using wooden tablets, each inscribed with the symbols for a particular statement or proposition, which could be moved about in a frame.

Answer the following questions:

1. Where do we see some of the developers’ results of work all over the world?

2. Who laid down the principles of our modern computers in technical form?

3. At what time was George Boole putting forward some new ideas which have since found expressions in the modern counterparts of the “analytical engine”?

4. What idea did W.S Jevons conceive in 1866?

Text 4

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Further steps of evolution of the computer

In 1937 the International Business Machine Corporation in America collaborated with Howard Aiken, of Howard University, in the construction of an automatic sequence controlled calculator.

This arose from Aiken's idea that the techniques and components used in business machines could be adapted to the construction of an automatic type of calculator controlled by a sequence of instructions.

About the same time the Bell Telephone laboratories began to explore the possibilities, of electromagnetic relays for computing and since then a number of machines have been built on these principles.

The first digital computer to make use of valves was the «Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator» or ENIAC, designed by Eckert and Mauchley in America. It used about 18.000 valves and consumed vast quantities of electricity.

Answer the following questions:

1. What corporation collaborated with Howard Aiken, of Howard University, in the construction of an automatic sequence controlled calculator?

2. What laboratories began to explore the possibilities of electromagnetic relays for computing?

3. How many valves did ENIAC use?

4. Why did it consume vast quantities of electricity?

Text 5

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Electronic Computer Evolution

One of the most progressive and dynamic branches of science and technology is computer technology. The word "computer" is of Latin origin and means “counting”. A computer is a special kind of counting machine. It can do arithmetic problem at a tremendous speed. By means of electrical circuits it can find the answer to a very difficult and complicated problem with lightning speed. A computer can remember information you give it and store it in its «memory» until it is needed.

The first electronic computer appeared in 1946 on the basis of electronic vacuum tube with response number of five thousand operations per second. As early 1960s the second generation appeared in which transistors were used to increase the number of operations to 200 thousand per second.

Answer the following questions:

1. What is one of the most progressive branches of science and technology?

2. What does the word “computer” mean?

3. What problem can it do at a tremendous speed?

4. When did the first electronic computer appear?

Text 6

Read and translate the text with a dictionary, analyze the words and define the tense forms.