(4) Output Devices

External devices that enable the user to see or hear the results of the computer's data processing are known as output devices. The results are output in either hardcopy or softcopy form. Hardcopy output can be held in your hand, such as paper with text (word or numbers) or graphics printed on it. Softcopy output is displayed on a monitor.

Monitor is a component with a video display or screen for viewing computer data, television programs, etc. Displays usually take one of two forms: a video screen with a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a video screen with a liquid crystal display (LCD). A CRT-based screen, or monitor, is similar to a television set. An LCD-based screen displays visual information on a flatter and smaller screen than a CRT-based video monitor. LCDs are often used in laptop computers.

Printers produce hard copy – a printed version of information stored in one of the computer's memory systems. Color ink-jet and black-and-white laser printers are the most common, though the decreasing cost of color laser printers has increased their use outside of the publishing industry³.

Most PCs also have audio speakers. These allow the user to hear sounds, such as music or spoken words that the computer generates.

A modem is an I/O device that connects a computer to a telephone line or cable television network and allows information to be transmitted to or received from another computer.

The digital signal sent from one computer is converted by the modem into an analog signal, which is then transmitted by telephone lines or television cables to the receiving modem, which converts the signal back into a digital signal that the receiving computer can understand.

Notes: ¹dozens – множество;

²single-sided disk – односторонний диск (с записью на одной стороне);

³publishing industry – издательское дело;

EXERCISES

Ex. 25. Search the text for the equivalents of the following phrases:

1. 16-разрядная шина;

2. одновременная передача 16 битов информации;

3. устройство, выполненное в виде одной микросхемы;

4. каждый выполняет определённую задачу;

5. промежуточные результаты вычислений;

6. четыре основные арифметические действия;

7. определённые логические операции;

8. выбор процедуры, необходимой для решения задачи;

9. синхронизировать все операции ЦПУ;

10. четыре миллиарда раз в секунду;

11. копирование значения из одного регистра в другой;

12. хранить данные временно или постоянно;

13. данные, необходимые для процесса, происходящего в настоящий момент;

14. информация не сохраняется, когда прекращается подача электроэнергии;

15. временно хранить информацию, пока идёт процесс обработки данных;

16. плоская круглая пластина, покрытая магнитным материалом;

17. оптические средства для считывания и записи;

18. воспроизведение цифровой звукозаписи;

19. любая информация может быть представлена в цифровой форме;

20. недорогой носитель для распространения и хранения информации;

21. справочник;

22. цифровое видеоизображение высокой четкости;

23. самое распространённое устройство ввода;

24. шесть букв в верхнем ряду клавиатуры;

25. светочувствительный датчик;

26. устройство, похожее на обычную ручку;

27. сигналы, которые компьютер может сохранять, обрабатывать и воспроизводить;

28. преобразовывать произнесённые слова в информацию, которую компьютер может распознать.

Ex. 26. Answer the questions:

1. What is the Webster's dictionary definition of the hardware?

2. What groups of hardware could be defined?

3. What is the main part of any computer?

4. How many microprocessors does a PC have? What about mainframes and supercomputers?

5. What two sections do most CPUs have? What are their functions?

6. There are two types of storage devices used in a PC, aren't there? What are they?

7. What can you say about the main memory?

8. What secondary storage devices do you know? Say a few words about each of them.

9. Can a user record his or her data on a CD-R?

10. What kind of storage hardware can contain more information: CD-ROM, RAM or ROM?

11. What is input hardware?

12. What are the examples of input hardware?

13. What is a mouse designed for?

14. What is a light pen?

15. What output devices do you know? What are they used for?

16. What is a modem used for?

17. Can a PC-user communicate with other people without a modem?

Ex. 27. Read the sentences, translating Russian words into English and add something to develop the idea. The beginnings of the sentences may be helpful for you.

1. The шина is a плоский cable with numerous parallel проводами. It links___. The bus can transmit___. A 16-bit bus allows___.

2. The центральный процессор is a основная part of any цифрового computer. It performs___. It coordinates and controls___. It determines___.

3. The блок управления times and regulates the whole computer system. It includes___. A counter___. A register___. A decoder___. A very fast clock___.

4. Компьютерная память is a physical устройство. It is used to___. There are two___.

5. The оперативная память is the systems component of the computer. It holds___. It receives___. The more memory the computer has___.

6. Вторичные запоминающие устройства are used for долгосрочного хранения данных и команд. They can store___. But they operate___. Magnetic and optical disks are___.

7. Устройства ввода are used для того, чтобы вводить information and instructions into a computer for хранения и обработки. Their purpose is___. Among input devices are___.

8. Устройства вывода позволяют пользователю to see or hear the results of the computer's обработки данных. The results are output in___. Monitor is used___. Printers produce___.

Ex. 28. TRUE or FALSE? Correct the false statements. Use the following clichés:

It's true. The statement is partly right. As far as I know… . It goes without saying. Nothing of the kind. In my opinion… . Naturally, it's correct. It's false. I don't know exactly but I think that… .

1. Computer is an electronic device therefore hardware is a system of electronic devices.

2. The purpose of the input hardware is to collect data and convert it into a form suitable for computer processing.

3. Scanner is used to input graphics only.

4. The purpose of processing hardware is to retrieve, interpret and direct the execution of software instructions provided to the computer.

5. CPU reads and interprets software and prints the results on paper.

6. User cannot change the contents of ROM.

7. Floppy disks are used more often because they are flexible and have more capacity than CDs.

8. Printer is a storage device because its purpose is to show the information produced by the system.

9. Modem is an electronic device that makes possible the transmission of data from one computer to another via telephone or other communication lines.

10. The purpose of storage hardware is to store computer instructions and data in a form that is relatively permanent and retrieve them when needed for processing.

Ex. 29. Give definitions to the following:

1) CPU; 2) ROM; 3) floppy-disk; 4) CD-ROM; 5) keyboard; 6) hard disk; 7) main memory; 8) modem; 9) trackball; 10) printer.

Ex. 30. Using the diagram given at the next page, complete the following paragraphs:

A computer has four basic components: input, processor, memory, and output. The CPU consists of two parts: the ¹___, which directs and controls the signals and commands inside the processor, and the ²___ unit, which does the arithmetic operations and the decision-making operations. While the ³___ is made up of a ⁴___, a ⁵___, a ⁶___, and a ⁷___, the ⁸___ is composed of ⁹___, a ¹⁰___, and ¹¹___.

In a computer, internal memory or ¹²___ refers to the storage locations inside the computer, whereas ¹³___refers to the storage embodied in the peripherals. ¹⁴ ___ may be divided into ¹⁵___ (¹⁶___) and ¹⁷___ (¹⁸___). The ¹⁹___ devices can be either a ²⁰___, a ²¹___. or a ²²___.

These devices enter information into the computer. After the processor has operated on it, the ²³___ devices display the results of the computations on either a ²⁴___ or a ²⁵___, or store them on tape or disk for future use.

Ex. 31. Translate the words (on the left) and find their definitions (on the right).

процессор клавиатура мышь дискета винчестер модем монитор экран ПЗУ О3У

nonvolatile, non-modifiable computer memory used to hold programmed instructions to the system. the part of a television or computer on which a picture is formed or information is displayed. rigid disk coated with magnetic material used for storing computer programs and relatively large amounts of data. an electronic device that makes possible the transmission of data to or from computer via telephone or other communication lines. a set of keys, usually arranged in tiers (ряд, ярус), for operating a typewriter, computer terminal, or the like. volatile computer memory used for creating, loading, and running programs and for manipulating and temporarily storing data. the key component of a computer system, containing the circuitry necessary to interpret and execute program instructions. a palm-sized device equipped with two or more buttons used to point at and select items on a computer display screen and for controlling the cursor by means of analogous movement on a nearby surface. a thin, usually flexible plastic disk coated with magnetic material, for storing computer data and program. the unit in a desk computer that contains the screen.

Ex. 32. Give the detailed description of the computer you use, point out its name, manufacturer, size, constituent parts, recording devices, jobs assigned.

TEXT FOR ADDITIONAL READING

Ex. 33. Read and translate the text, using a dictionary.