Three Basic Steps of the Computer

Input

A program provides the basic instructions so the computer must follow in order to do a specific job. Like the basic rules of a game, the program is only the beginning, however. In order to do a job, the computer and the program must also have input. Input is a data and additional instructions you give to a computer to enable it to do a specific job. The input may be in the form of numbers, letters, words or pictures.

The computer may receive input through a keyboard, which looks very much like the keyboard on an ordinary typewriter. It may also receive input from a disk. Until a computer receives input, it can do nothing.

Processing

What does a computer do with the information it receives? Like the human brain, it sorts information, puts it into usable form, and does calculations. This step is called processing.

Output

Finally, the computer does something with the information it processes. It usually displays the results, often on a screen or on paper. The product of computer processing is called output. Output is the information the computer produces as a result of its work.

You are likely to see this three-step process – input, processing, output – in many day-to-day activities such as when you see a pocket calculator. In a calculator the input consists of numbers that you press on its keypad – let’s say the numbers 3 and 7. The processing occurs after you tell the calculator what you want it to do for example, multiply. The output – 21 – appears on a little screen at the top of the calculator.

The calculator can process the same information in different ways. You might have asked it to add the two numbers, in which case “10” would have appeared on the screen.

The Automatic Control System

Automatic control now appears in many fields and involves many control instruments and apparatus. Their usage embraces a great variety of machines, plants and processes.

Automatic systems take several forms and are based on several different techniques, but in each the measurement and correction of errors are performed and coordinated by electronic devices and the human operator does not take an active part in it.

First of all automatic control was widely established in such industries as chemical, petroleum, iron and steel, cement, paper, textile, printing, food and others. The overall trend now is toward a total automatic control in industry with the help of new generations of electronic devices with their rapidity, accurateness, reliability, flexibility and compactness.

Our country has many thousands of comprehensively mechanized and automated enterprises and workshops. The mechanized and automated production lines replace or lighten the work of a tremendous number of workers. All the hydropower plants in the country have been completely automated.

The present day stage of automation is based on the revolution in computer technology, in computerization of the whole national economy.

But still much research work is to be done to perfect the system. It is essential to improve the quality of automation equipment as well as the programmes of the computers. A major problem is to better automate inspection, quality control, information system. For automatic three-dimensional recognition the system (size, shape and colour) the problem still remains of greatest concern. With the increase of automation the scientist must solve the problem of complex interaction groups of sensors tied together by a single system of computer network. The development of new flexible technologies and sociological problems involves need, of course, a new approach too.

Notes:

Three-dimensional recognition the system n – тривимірна пізнавальна система

Compactness n – компактність

Comprehensively adj – всебічний

Coordinate v – 1) приводити у відповідність; 2) узгоджувати

Flexibility n – (тут) універсальність

Hydropower plant n –гідроелектростанція

Inspection n – контрль

Interaction n – взаємодія

Sensor n – датчик

To better v – поліпшувати, удосконалювати