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Personal computers are supposed to appear in the late 1970s. One of the first and most popular personal computers was the Apple II, introduced in 1977 by Apple Computer. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, new models and competitive operating systems seemed to appear daily. Then, in 1981, IBM entered the fray with its first personal computer, known as the IBM PC. The IBM PC quickly became the personal computer of choice, and most other personal computer manufacturers fell by the way-side. One of the few companies to survive IBM's onslaught was Apple Computer, which is sure to remain a major player in the personal computer marketplace. In less than a decade the microcomputer has been transformed from a calculator and hobbyist's toy into a personal computer for almost everyone.
What is a personal computer? How can this device be characterized?
— First, a personal computer being microprocessor-based, its central processing unit, called a microprocessor unit, or MPU, is concentrated on a single silicon chip.
— Second, a PC has a memory and word size that are smaller than those of minicomputers and large computers. Typical word sizes are 8 or 16 bits, and main memories range in size from 16 К to 512 K.
— Third, a personal computer uses smaller, less expensive, and less powerful input, output and storage components than do large computer systems. Most often, input is by means of a keyboard, soft-copy output being displayed on a cathode-ray tube screen. Hard-copy output is produced on a low-speed character printer.
— A PC employs floppy disks as the principal online and offline storage devices and also as input and output media.
— Finally, a PC is a general-purpose, stand-alone system that can begin to work when plugged in and be moved from place to place.
Probably the most distinguishing feature of a personal computer is that it is used by an individual, usually in an interactive mode. Regardless of the purpose for which it is used, either for leisure activities in the home or for business applications in the office, we can consider it to be a personal computer.
3. Ответьте на вопросы, используя информацию текста.
1. When did the first personal computer appear? 2. What was one of the first PC model? 3. What is a personal computer? 4. What are the four main characteristics of a PC? 5. What does the term "microprocessor-based" mean? 6. What are the typical word sizes of a PC? 7. How is input carried out in personal computers? 8. What principle storage devices does PC use? 9. What kind of a system is a PC? 10. What differs personal computers from large computer systems?
Конкурирующая операционная система; появляться ежедневно; ввязаться в драку; лучший компьютер; остаться в стороне; выдержать конкуренцию; главный поставщик на компьютерном рынке; игрушка для любителя; микропроцессорный; цельный кристалл (микросхема) из кремния; размер слова; компоненты меньшей мощности; посредством; вывести на экран; низкоскоростной принтер с посимвольной печатью; использовать гибкие диски; приборы (не) автоном-ного хранения данных; универсальный; автономная система; отличительная черта; интерактивный режим; независимо от цели; досуговая деятельность.
Personal computers have a lot of applications, however, there are some major categories of applications: home and hobby, word processing, professional, educational, small business and engineering and scientific.
The list of other home and hobby applications of PCs is almost endless, including: checking account management, budgeting, personal finance, planning, investment analyses, telephone answering and dialing, home security, home environment and climate control, appliance control, calendar management, maintenance of address and mailing lists arid what not.
Two important types of uses for personal computers in education are computer-managed instruction (CMI), and computer-assisted instruction (CAI). CMI software is used to assist the instructor in the management of all classroom-related activities, such as record keeping, work assignments, testing, and grading. Applications of CAI include mathematics, reading, typing, computer literacy, programming languages, and simulations of real-world situations
1. What are the main spheres of PC application? 2. Do you enjoy computer games? 3. Is it necessary for a person to be an analyst or a programmer to play computer games? 4. What other home and hobby applications, except computer games, can you name? 5. What is "a word processing program"? 6. What possibilities can it give you? 7. Can you correct mistakes while typing any material and how? 8. What other changes in the typed text can you make using a display? 9. Which professions are in great need of computers? 10. How can computers be used in education?
Много областей применения; тем не менее; обработка текстов; пользоваться популярностью; любители; способности компьютера; бесконечный перечень; анализ инвестиций; набор номера телефона; автоответчик; ведение календаря; хранение адресов и почты; и так далее; прикладные программы; исправлять ошибки в написании; стирать предложения; переставлять абзацы; бухгалтер; биржевые брокеры; консультант по налогам; юристы; работники образования; управленцы; бухгалтерский учет; подоходный налог; компьютерное моделирование; электронные таблицы; составление расписания; оказывать огромное влияние; прокладывать путь; дать толчок; удовлетворять потребности; учебная деятельность; компьютерная грамотность; моделирование реально-жизненных ситуаций.
PC; PU; CU; ALU: CPU; MPU; IBM; DOS; CRT; ROM; RAM; 1С; SSI; MSI; LSI; VLSI; MP; CD; I/O; IOP; CMI; CAI.
1. It is well known that personal computers enjoy great popularity among experimenters and hobbyists. 2. It took years to produce a high-speed computer performing a lot of functions. 3. When making up the summary of the text one should put down the exact title of the article, the author's name and the date of the edition. 4. It is difficult to imagine modern life without a computer. 5. It is quite impossible to listen to your English pronunciation: you make bad mistakes while reading. 6. Concerning these substances one must say that they vary in their composition. 7. When working with these substances one should be very careful. 8. It was once a universal practice to manifacture each of the components separately and then assemble the complete device by wiring (монтаж) the components together with metallic conductors. 9. It was no good: the more components and interactions, the less reliable the system. 10. It should first be made clear what the term "microelectronics" means.
Participle |
Active |
Passive |
Present |
using |
being used |
Past |
----- |
used |
Perfect |
having used |
Having been used |
1. The results obtained are of particular importance for our research. 2. Having obtained the required results we informed the manager of this fact. 3. The necessary data having been obtained, we could continue our experiment. 4. Being obtained the results of the research were analysed. 5. While operating with graphical interface people usually use such manipulators as a mouse and a track ball. 6. Key-to-disk devices used as data recording stations can correct data before storing it on a magnetic disk. 7. D.Mendeleyev having arranged the elements in a table, the existence of yet unknown elements could be predicted. 8. All the necessary preparations having been done, the operator began assembling the machine. 9. Being built on the basis of transistors lasers are successfully used in technology.
1. It is well known in computer science that the words "computer" and "processor' are used interchangeably. 2. The operation part of the instruction is decoded so that the proper arithmetic and logic operation can be performed. 3. It is difficult to establish whether this problem can be solved at all. 4. Programs and data on which the control unit and the arithmetic-logical unit operate must be in internal memory in order to be processed. 5. The CU has a register that temporarily holds the instructions read from memory while it is being executed. 6. Regardless o/the nature of the I/O devices, I/O interfaces are required to convert the input data to the internal codes used by the computer and to convert internal codes to a format which is usable by the output devices. 7. The purpose of registers in the ALU is to hold the numbers and the results of the calculation until they can be transferred to the memory. 8. Since the computer deals with pulses, the input device is a way of converting numbers written on paper into pulses and sending them to the storage. 9. The principal characteristics of personal computers are that they are single-user system and are based on microprocessors. 10. However, although personal computers are designed as single-user systems, it is common to link them together to form a network.
A MODEM
A modem takes computer information and changes it into a signal that can be sent over telephone lines. The modem is a bridge between digital and analog signals. The computer is of the digital type, and the telephone using analog technology. The modem converts the "0"s and "l"s of the computer (off-on switches) into an analog signals modulating the frequency of the electronic wave or signal. The modem does just the opposite and demodulate the signal back into digital code. The modem gets its name from MOdulate and the DEModulate.
Most people believe that you need a separate phone line for a modem, but that is not true.Your modem and telephone can share one line, the problem arises when someone else needs to use the telephone while the modem is in use. Also disable call waiting, it could disrupt your modem connection while the modem is in use.
There are three kinds of modems — internal, external, and fax. All modems do the same thing, they allow computers to communicate through telephone lines. This lets computers exchange information everywhere. Internal Modem is a circuit board that plugs into one of the expansion slots of the computer. Internal modems usually are cheaper than external modems, but when problems occur, fixing and troubleshooting the modem can sometimes prove to be quite difficult. External Modem attaches to the back of the computer by way of a cable that plugs into the modem port. It is usually less expensive and very portable. It can be used with other computers very easily by unplugging it and plugging it into another computer. Fax Modem can be hooked up to your telephone and used to send information to your computer. Your computer can also send information to a fax machine. Most computer modems are modems with faxing capabilities.
MICROCOMPUTER SYSTEM ORGANIZATION
The portion of the system software that is in ROM brings into RAM the additional instructions required to operate the microcomputer. Typically these instructions are stored on a magnetic disk; hence, they are called a disk operating system, or DOS. This start-up process is called bootstrapping. ROM also contains other programs that help to make personal computers easy to use, such as a programming language. Computer games are also stored in ROM cartridges.
In addition to the MPU, RAM, ROM, and associated control circuits, other components, called peripheral devices, are needed to make a complete microcomputer system. The principal peripheral units are: input devices, output devices, mass storage units, and communication components. Like a DOS, the programs that control the flow of data between a microcomputer and its peripheral devices are a part of systems software.
The most common input device used with personal computers is the keyboard. Most personal computer keyboards have extra keys that perform special functions and that can be used to control the movement of a cursor on a screen. A leverlike device, called a joystick, is also used as an input device, commonly for playing video games.
Mass storage units are available over a range of capacities and access times. Floppy disks, or diskettes, are the most common mass storage media. They store patterns of bits on magnetically coated, flexible plastic platters. A floppy disk platter is sealed permanently in a paper jacket with a small window for reading and writing. Hard disk storage systems are also available. They may be fixed or removable. Some mass storage units contain both floppy and hard disk devices.
Low-cost modulator-demodulator devices, called modems, that allow microcomputer systems to communicate over telephone lines have become increasingly popular. Modems permit networks of personal computer owners to exchange information or to access large data banks. These data banks may be dedicated to special applications, such as law or medicine, or they may provide a variety of consumer services.
Notes________________________________________________
bootstrapping — начальная загрузка; leverlike — рычажковый
1. A personal computer is a small relatively inexpensive device designed for an individual ______.
a) person; b) producer; c) user.
2. One of the first and most popular personal computer was ______ in 1977.
a) interpreted; b) introduced; c) integrated
3. All personal computers are based on ______ technology, its CPU being called MPU.
a) microscopy; b) microprocessor; c) microelement.
4. Very soon a microcomputer was ______ from a calculator into a PC for everyone.
a) transformed; b) transferred; c) transported.
5. Input in PC is usually performed by means of a_____.
a) mouse; b) scanner; c) keyboard.
6. A personal computer uses ______ disks as input and output media.
a) hard; b) fixed; c) floppy.
7. Personal computers have a lot of______, scientific, engineering, educational being among them.
a) multiplication; b) application; c) investigation.
8. Personal computers have a great ______ upon pupils, educators, accountants, stock brokers and who not.
a) influence; b) information; c) environment.
9. A word processing program called application______ enables you to modify any document in a manner you wish.
a) hardware; b) software; c) firmware.
10. Using a display you can ______ mistakes, ______ words and replace sentences.
a) delete; b) dial; c) correct.
2. Найдите в предложениях неличные формы глагола и назовите их:
A. a) Gerund; Ь) Present Participle Active; с) Present Participle Passive; d) Past Participle Passive; e) Perfect Participle Active; f) Perfect Participle Passive.
1. When keyed the data are held in a small memory called buffer. 2. Data keyed into the memory of a computer by typing on a keyboard are readable by humans. 3. Keyboard enables inputting numerical and text data. 4. The mouse provides the cursor control simplifying user's orientation on the display. 5. Having been constructed recently a new electronic device has important applications in space exploration. 6. Being supplied with a special appliance a television set may have a remote control. 7. The control unit operates by reading one instruction at a time. 8. Improved methods of obtaining three-dimensional television pictures have been worked on the basis of holography.
1. Input devices are used to enter data into primary storage. 2. These data appeared to have been investigated long ago. 3. We are glad to have obtained such valuable results. 4. You should have known wonderful features of computers long ago. 5. The problem to be solved is of great importance to the development of this branch of industry. 6. The first amplifying semiconductor devices (transistors) are known to have been developed in the USA in 1948. 7. He ordered these devices to be repaired as soon as possible.
PERSONAL COMPUTERS
The personal computer can serve as a work station for the individual today. Moreover, as it has become financially feasible to provide a computer for the individual worker, so also technical developments have made the interface between man and machine increasingly "friendly", so that a wide array of computer functions are now accessible to people with no technical background.
A personal computer is a small computer based on a microprocessor; it is a microcomputer. Not all computers, however, are personal computers. A microcomputer can be dedicated to a single task such as controlling a machine tool or metering the injection of fuel into an automobile engine; it can be a word processor, a video game or a "pocket computer" that is not quite a computer. A personal computer is something different: a standalone computer that puts a wide array of capabilities at the disposal of an individual.
The first generation of true personal computers, which came on the market between 1977 and 1981, had eight-bit microprocessors; later introduced systems had 16-bits ones. Now 32-bit microprocessor chips are available, and soon they will be included in complete computer systems.
1. a) Performance of a wide array of computer functions;
b) Accessibility of PC for not professionals.
c) Friendly interface of a personal computer.
2. a) A microprocessor-based PC;
b) PC — a pocket computer;
c) Comparison of a microcomputer and a PC.
3. a) Microprocessor's capacity;
b) The growth of MPC's capacity;
c) The first generation of personal computers.
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