What Can Computers Do?

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 472.

Text 13(A)

From the first electronic digital computers of the forties to to-day's versatile computers and most up-to-date microcomputers, very little has changed as far as basic computer operation is concerned. In the last thirty years, vast improvements in the size, speed and capabilities of computers have taken place. But to-day digital computers still use the same logical operations as their predecessors. There are many basic concepts that can be applied to all types of computers, including microcomputers.

For the most part, human beings can do whatever computers can do, but computers can do it with much greater speed and accuracy, though computers perform all their calculations and operations one step at a time. A computer is faster and more accurate than people, but unlike most people it must be given a complete set of instructions that tell it exactly what to do at each step of its operation. This set of instructions, called a programme, is prepared by one or more persons for each job a computer is to do. These programmes are placed in the computer's memory unit in a binary-coded form, with each instruction having unique code.

Computers are often used in applications where the results of their calculations are required immediately to be used in controlling a process. These are called real-time applications; they are often found in industrial process control in industries such as paper mills, oil refineries, chemical plants, and many others. The measuring systems send their signals to the computer which processes them and responds with appropriate control signals to be sent back to the process.

Computers in present use range considerably: from tiny things to big fellows. The microcomputer is the smallest and the newest member of the computer family. It usually consists of several integrated circuit chips, including a microprocessor chip, memory chips, and input/output interface chips which are a result of tremendous advances in large-scale integration.

Minicomputers are larger than microcomputers, they are widely used in industrial control systems, scientific institutions, and research laboratories. Although more expensive than microcomputers, minicomputers continue to be widely used because they are generally faster and possess more capabilities.

The largest computers (“maxicomputers”) are those found in research centers, large scientific laboratories, big universities.

Most of the computer principles and concepts are common to all categories of computers, although there can be tremendous variations from computer to computer.

A question sometimes arises whether computers are able to think. As a matter of fact they do not think. The computer programmer provides a programme of instructions and data which specifies every detail of what to do, how to do, and when to do it. The computer is simply a high-speed machine which can manipulate data, solve problems, and make decisions, all under the control of the programme. If the programmer makes a mistake in the programme or puts in the wrong data, the computer will produce wrong results.

Every computer contains five essential elements or units: the arithmetic logic unit, the memory unit, the control unit, the input unit, the output unit.

The arithmetic logic unit is the area of the computer in which arithmetic and logic operations are performed on data.

The memory unit stores groups of binary digits (words) that can represent instructions (programme) which the computer is to perform and the data that are to be operated on by the programme.

The input unit consists of all the devices used to take information and data that are

external to the computer and put it into the memory unit.

The output unit consists of the devices used to transfer data and information from the

computer to the outside world.

The control unit directs the operation of all the other units by providing timing and

control signals. This unit contains logic and timing circuits that generate the signal necessary to

execute each instruction in a programme.

Notes:

1. versatile – універсальний;

2. integrated circuit chip – кристал інтегральної схеми;

3. input/output interface chip – кристал інтерфейсу вводу/виводу;

4. large-scale integration – велика інтегральна схема;

5. maintaining and updating large quantities of data and information – збереження та коректування великої кількості даних і інформації;

6. timing circuit – схема синхронізації.

Exercises:

I. Translate the words paying attention to negative prefixes:

Indirect; unimportant; unequal; irresponsive; irrelative; indifferent; improper; impracticable; unusual.

II. Give verbs of the same root and translate them:

Application; integration; operation; instruction; variation; production; manipulation; calculation.

III. Form words after the model and translate them (v + ment, v + ion (-tion, -ation)):

1. to improve – improvement;

2. to require –

3. to develop –

4. to measure –

5. to apply –

6. to calculate –

7. to prepare –

8. to specify –

9. to solve –

10. to decide –

IV. Form adjectives (nouns, adverbs) adding the suffixes -er, -al, -ly, -ment, -ion, -able to the following words:

To consider; to improve; industry; usual; to program; to operate; to instruct.

V. Translate the following word-combinations:

Basic concepts; to perform calculations; one step at time; a complete set of instructions; digital computer; up-to-date minicomputer; logical operation; basic concept; scientific institution; research laboratory; binary digit; binary coded form; real-time applications; tremendous advances in large-scale integration.

VI. Translate the following international words:

Computer; electronic; minicomputer; programme; system; category; machine.

VII. Choose the correct English equivalent:

to take place

Відбуватися to take a seat

to take part

VIII. Make up pairs of the following words and translate them into Ukrainian:

1. vast a. computer
2. logical b. code
3. digital c. institution
4. unique d. operation
5. chemical e. improvement
6. scientific f. plant
7. research g. chip
8. memory h. laboratory

IX. Fill in the blanks with the words given below:

Logical, range, mistake, calculation, integrated.

1. Today digital computers still use the same ……… operations as their predecessors.
2. Computers are often used in application where the results of their ……… are required immediately to be used in controlling a process.
3. Computers in present use ……… considerably: from tiny things to big fellows.
4. The microcomputer usually consists of several ……… circuit chips.
5. If the programmer makes a ……… in the programme or puts in the wrong data, his computer will produce wrong results.

X. Answer the questions:

1. Have there been any changes as far as basic computer operation is concerned?

2. What can human beings do? What can a computer do?

3. What is a programme? How is it prepared?

4. What are computer applications?

5. How do computers range in size?

6. Can computers think? Prove it.