Task 3. True or false?

1. For successful implementation of information technology the ability to cope with the overall architecture of systems is the least important factor.

2. Information technology is concerned with providing the information basis for human and organizational problem-solving efforts. 

3. Information technology is absolutely self-sufficient and is not connected with other fields of science.

4. Professional activities involve integration of new systems into functionally operational existing systems and maintenance of the result.

 

Task 4. Answer the questions.

1. What is Information Technology?

2. What does the successful implementation of information technology depend on?

3. What are the methods of information technology? Do they facilitate traditional engineering techniques?

4. Where do the knowledge and skills required in information technology come from?

5. What are the basic tools for information technology?

 

Task 5. Give the English equivalents to the following word combinations using the text.

1. увеличивать эффективность;

2. информационные потребности людей;

3. технические средства;

4. связанные с этим процессы;

5. определение и оценка архитектуры;

6. проектирование и разработка;

7. взаимодействие человека с системами и процессами;

8. внедрение новой системы в существующие действующие системы;

9. взаимодействие в работе.

 

Task 6. Match the following words with their definitions.

1. endeavor                  a.  the physical equipment used in a computer system, such as the

                                              central processing unit, peripheral devices, and memory

2. to enhance                  b. the programs that can be used with a particular computer system

3. convert into                  c.  to deal successfully with or handle a situation; manage

4. software                  d.  an effort to do or attain something

5. aid                              e.  assistance; help; support

6. to cope with           f.  to intensify or increase in quality, value, power, etc.; improve;

                                             augment

7. design                     g.  any specific deed, action

8. hardware                  h.  a plan, scheme or project

9. activity                    i.  to change or adapt the form, character, or function of; transform.

 

Task 7. Complete the sentences using the following words and word combinations:

storage, improvements, basic tools, implementation, cope with, transmission, representations, solve… problems, acquisition, support.

1. A painting by Salvador Dali is my latest … .

2. Information graphics or infographics are graphic visual …of information, data or knowledge.

3. The police were informed of a … of radioactive material.

4. The … of this plan begins next year.

5.  The …. data was stopped. 

6. We need to carry out some … to the computer system.

7. The local people have given us a lot of … in our campaign.

8. We discuss the … for the detection of small periodic signals in noisy data.

9. I can't … such a pile of work this weekend.

10.  I know he will help you, he will … all your … .

 

Task 8. Retell the text using your topical vocabulary.

Step 3. TYPES OF COMPUTERS

 

Task 1. Learn the following words and word combinations.

To distinguish from – отличатьсяот

to store – хранить

to process – обрабатывать

to retrieve – извлекать (хранимую) информацию

data – данные

analog – аналоговой

varying data – переменные данные

discrete data – дискретные данные

concurrently ( with) – одновременно (с)

sophisticated – сложный, современный, передовой

general- purpose systems – системы общего назначения

to meet the needs – отвечать потребностям, удовлетворять потребности

RISC (reduced instruction set computer) processor – процессор с сокращенным набором команд

single- user – однопользовательский

multi- user – многопользовательский (способность компьютера и/или ПО поддерживать одновременную работу многих пользователей, предоставляя им весь спектр возможностей системы)

local area network – локальная сеть

parallel- processing system – система параллельной обработки

grid computing – сетевые вычисления, «решетки» вычислительных      ресурсов

integrated circuit – интегральная микросхема

to spur – стимулировать, вдохновлять

versatility – универсальность, эксплуатационная гибкость

inefficient – неэффективный

 

Task 2. Read and translate the text.

TYPES OF COMPUTERS

   A computer is a device capable of performing a series of arithmetic or logical operations. A computer is distinguished from a calculating machine, such as an electronic calculator, by being able to store a computer program (so that it can repeat its operations and make logical decisions), by the number and complexity of the operations it can perform, and by its ability to process, store, and retrieve data without human intervention. Computers developed along two separate engineering paths, producing two distinct types of computer-analog and digital. An analog computer operates on continuously varying data; a digital computer performs operations on discrete data.

  Computers are categorized by both size and the number of people who can use them concurrently. Supercomputers are sophisticated machines designed to perform complex calculations at maximum speed; they are used to model very large dynamic systems, such as weather patterns. Mainframes, the largest and most powerful general-purpose systems, are designed to meet the computing needs of a large organization by serving hundreds of computer terminals at the same time.

  Minicomputers, though somewhat smaller, also are multi-user computers, intended to meet the needs of a small company by serving up to a hundred terminals. Microcomputers, computers powered by a microprocessor, are subdivided into personal computers and workstations, the latter typically incorporating RISC processors. Although microcomputers were originally single-user computers, the distinction between them and minicomputers has blurred as microprocessors have become more powerful. Linking multiple microcomputers together through a local area network or by joining multiple microprocessors together in a parallel-processing system has enabled smaller systems to perform tasks once reserved for mainframes, and the techniques of grid computing have enabled computer scientists to utilize the unemployed processing power of connected computers.

  Advances in the technology of integrated circuits have spurred the development of smaller and more powerful general-purpose digital computers. Not only has this reduced the size of the large multi-user mainframe computers, but it has also made possible powerful, single-user personal computers and workstations that can sit on a desktop. These, because of their relatively low cost and versatility, have largely replaced typewriters in the workplace and rendered the analog computer inefficient.