TOPIC № 9 THE ROLE OF COMPUTERS IN OUR LIFE

I. Vocabulary:

1. application – применение

2. apply – применять, использовать

3. benefit – извлекать пользу, выгоду

4. common place – общее место

5. computer-generated – созданный компьютером

6. conventional – обыкновенный, традиционный

7. computer terminal – компьютерный терминал

8. increase – увеличивать

9. inquiry – запрос

10. operate – работать

11. optical scanning – оптическое сканирование

12. productivity – продуктивность

13. society – общество

14. store information – хранить информацию

15. tomography – томография

16. tool – инструмент

17. traffic – дорожное движение

18. transition – переход

19. withdrawal – снятие денег

20. work force – рабочая сила

II. Read the text:

At present a great deal of the work force of most countries is engaged in creating, processing, storing, communicating and just working with information. Computers have become commonplace in homes, offices, stores, schools, research institutes, plants.

The use of computers in business, industry and communication services is widespread today. Computer-controlled robots are able to improve the quality of manufactured products and to increase the productivity of industry. Computers can control the work of power stations, plants and docks. They help in mak­ing different decisions and in management of economy.

The work of banks depends upon computer terminals for millions of daily operations. Without these terminals, records of deposits and withdrawals would be difficult to maintain, and it would be impossible to make inquiries about the current sta­tus of customer accounts.

Computers form a part of many military systems including communication and fire control. They are applied for automatic piloting and automatic navigation. Space exploration depends on computers for guidance, on-board environment and re­search. Computers find application in astronomy and upper at­mosphere research. Weather forecasting, library information services can benefit from computers too.

It is interesting to note that computers are widely used in medicine. They became valuable medical diagnostic tools. Computers are used for optical scanning and image processing, ranging from pattern recognition to image processing. Techni­cians can operate computer tomography scanners that com­bine x-rays with computer technology to give sectional views of the body of patients. The views then can be combined into a single image shown on the screen.

It should be noticed that learning on a computer can be fun. Students spend more time with computer-aided instruction per­forming the assigned task, as compared with conventional class­room.

At last air traffic control is impossible without computer ap­plication. It fully depends upon computer-generated informa­tion. Many other uses of computers that we cannot imagine at present will become commonplace in the transition from an industrial, to post industrial, or information society.

III. Match English and Russian equivalents:

1. computer controlled robots	a. зависеть от компьютера
2. to improve the quality	b. без этих терминалов
3. to increase the productivity	c. счета клиентов
4. depend upon a computer	d. делать запрос
5. daily operations	e.постиндустриальное информационное общество
6. without these terminals	f.роботы,контролируемые компьютером
7. to make an inquiry	g. информация, созданная компьютером
8. records of deposits and withdrawals	h. прогноз погоды
9. current status	i. ежедневные операции
10. customer accounts	j. повышать производительность
11. to find an application	k. записи прихода и снятия денег
12. weather forecasting	m. текущий статус
13. computer – generated information	n. находить применение
14. post – industrial, information society	o. улучшать качество

IV. Complete the sentences:

1) The use of computers in business, industry and communication services … .

2) Computers are applied for ... .

3) Techni­cians can operate computer tomography scanners... .

4) Students spend more time with ... .

5) The work of banks depends upon ... .

6) Air traffic control is impossible... .

7) Computer-controlled robots are able ... .

8) Space exploration depends on computers... .

9) Computers have become commonplace ... .

10) It is interesting to note that ... .

V. Define if the statement is false or true:

1. Computers are rarely met in homes, offices, stores, schools, research institutes and plans.

2. Computer terminals provide millions of daily operations in banks.

3. Computers are almost never used for space exploration.

4. Weather forecasting, library information services can benefit from calculators.

5. Computers are not used as medical diagnostic tools.

6. Air traffic control is impossible without computer application.

VI. Answer the following questions:

1. What processes having deal with information are most countries engaged in?

2. What are computer-controlled robots able to do?

3. Does the work of banks depend on computer terminals?

4. What functions do computers do for banks?

5. Are computers widely or rarely used for forming a part of military systems?

6. What functions do computers do for military system and space exploration?

7. Computers are widely used in medicine, aren’t they?

8. What are they used for in medicine?

9. Are computers an essential part of information society?