1. Information for study

Computer and its components

We live in a time when automation is ushering in a second industrial revolution.

А. Stevenson

Computer is a programmable electronic machine that processes data and performs calculations and other symbol-manipulation tasks. It can take information from a person through the keyboard or mouse, from a device like CD or floppy disc or from the network through a modem. There are three types of machines: the digital computer, which manipulates information coded as binary numbers; the analog computer, which works with continuously varying quantities; and the hybrid computer, which has characteristics of both analog and digital computers.

Digital computers are widely spread and corresponding to their size and intended use they could be divided into four types.

Microcomputers are the smallest used in small business, at home, and in schools. They are usually single-user machines.

Laptop is a transportable computer, the best partner of yours when going somewhere on business, particularly in conferences, meetings, talks etc.

Every dignified businessman uses such device.

Mainframes which can often service several hundred users simultaneously, are found in large organizations, such as national companies and government departments.

Supercomputers are mostly used for extremely complex scientific tasks, such as analyzing the results of nuclear physics experiments and weather forecasting. The mechanical, electrical, and electronic components of a computer system is called hardware.

A collection of programs and procedures for making a computer perform a specific task is called software. Software is created by programmers and is either distributed on a suitable medium, such as a floppy disc, built into the computer in the form of firmware. Examples of software include operating system, compilers, and application programs. No computer can function without some form of software.

The main component of a computer, so to say, the very «brain» of it that executes individual program instructions and controls the operation of other parts is the central processing unit (CPU). It includes the arithmetic and logic unit that carries out all calculations and logical operations, and control unit, which helps to run information around the system, since it decodes, synchronizes, and executes program instruction.

The next important component of a computer is called «random access memory» or RAM. The memory is considered «random access» because the memory locations can be accessed directly rather than requiring sequential access. It means that the data can be selected without having to skip over earlier data first. This is the way that, for example, a CD, DVD will behave. The CPU must load application programs and the data they need into RAM before they can perform any processing. RAM is always supplemented by virtual memory, which increases the number of applications that can be run simultaneously.

Virtual memory-space on a hard disc used to temporarily store data and swap it in and out of RAM as needed.

RAM is the short-term memory of the computer. It is volatile, which means that any information stored in it will be lost if power goes out.

A permanent type of memory storage used by the computer for important data that does not change is called read-only memory (ROM). It does not lose its components when power is removed. ROM contains programs that are critical to the operation of the computer, for example, the instructions necessary to boot the computer when it is turned on.

BIOS (basic input/output system) is a type of ROM that is used by the computer to establish basic communication when the computer is turned on.

Cash is a special memory subsystem within a computer that temporarily holds data or program instructions to improve overall computer performance. Most cashes copy data or from a standard computer memory (RAM) to a type of memory that allows faster data access by the CPU.

Hard disc (sometimes called Winchester) is large-capacity permanent storage used to hold information such as programs and documents. Needless to say, that memory is one of the most important components of every computer. The larger the memory is the more possibilities are available and can be realized. Memory capacity (computer memory size) is measured in bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, or gigabytes. Byte is the sufficient computer memory to store a single character of data in bits (binary digits, e.g. 1 or 0). A byte usually contains eight bits. It makes possible, for example, to store the capital letter F as the bit pattern 01000110. Thus a single byte can specify 256 values, such as decimal numbers from 0 up to 255. In the case of single byte pixel (picture element) can specify 256 different colors. One kilobyte is equal to 1.024 bytes; one megabyte is equal to 1.024 kilobytes; one gigabyte is equal to 1.024 megabytes.

No doubt, the computer is a very complicated compound device, which particularities and especially all the details of its «activities» are beyond the reach of just an average man in the street, but nevertheless each more or less experienced user who wants to acquire a computer is always interested (besides the volume and rate of its memories) in parameters of its components, such as motherboard and video board or video adapter. Of course these parameters must depend on the purposes which his computer will be targeted to.

Motherboard is the main circuit board of the computer that all of the others internal components connect to. Typically, the motherboard contains the CPU, BIOS, memory, mass storage interfaces, serial and parallel ports expansion slots, and all the controllers required to control standard peripheral devices, such as the display screen, keyboard, and disc drive. Other circuit boards are called add-ons or expansion boards.

Because the motherboard contains the CPU, all other chips attached to the motherboard can access the CPU directly without going through the bus i.e. through the wires that provide the routes of transmitting data. Hence it is possible to improve the parameters of your computer if you change or add some new chips. E.g. to add memory to your system you may be able just only to insert additional chips onto the motherboard.

On most PCs, it is possible to replace the motherboard to upgrade to a faster microprocessor. Replacing the motherboard improves performance of all its components in addition to adding a faster CPU. Besides that, by replacing everything at once you can avoid possible compatibility problems.

Video board is located on an expansion board and inserted into a slot in the computer to provide it with the ability to display a video image. The parameters of this device are very important for the multimedia purposes.

Sound card is used by the computer to record and play audio by converting analog sound into digital information and vice versa.

Graphics card translates image data from the computer into a format that can be displayed by the monitor.

SCSI (pronounced «skuzzy»), acronym for small computer system interface. One type of standard interface used to connect computers to devices such as hard discs, printers, scanners, and CD-ROM drivers. SCSI interfaces provide for faster data transmission rates than standard serial and parallel ports.

There are several peripheral devices that can be attached to a computer: VDT (visual display terminal) or monitor, the primary device for displaying information from the computer; keyboard, the primary device for entering information into the computer; mouse, the primary device for navigating and interacting with the computer; disc drive units for mass memory storage (e.g. CDs, floppy, etc.), scanners for copying pictures and texts, printers for printed output, and modem (acronym for modulator-demodulator) for connecting to the internet.

Every of mentioned above peripheral devices connected to the computer needs a driver program, a program that controls it. The driver ensures that communication between the computer and the device is successful. For example, it is necessary for some purposes to connect different types of printers, each with its own special operating codes, to the same type of computer. This is possible because driver programs are supplied to translate the computer’s standard printing commands into the special commands needed for each printer.

As it was mentioned before, immediate access memory or internal memory describes the memory locations that can be addressed directly by the central processing unit. It is either read only or read / write. Read only memory stores information that must be constantly available and is unlikely to be changed. It is nonvolatile. Read / write memory is volatile – it stores programs and data only while the computer is switched on.

External memory (backing storage) is nonvolatile memory located outside the central processing unit, used to store programs and data that are not in current use. It is provided by such devices as magnetic discs – floppy and hard discs or optical discs – CD ROM.

Floppy disc is a storage device consisting of a light flexible disc enclosed in a plastic. It is placed in a disc drive, where it rotates at high speed. Data are recorded magnetically on one or both surfaces. Present day average floppy discs hold not more than several megabytes, depending on the disc size, recording method, and whether one or both sides are used.

CD ROM (compact disc read-only memory) is a storage device developed from the technology of the audio compact disc. It consists of a plastic coated metal disc, on which binary digital information is etched in the form of microscopic pits. This can then be read optically by passing a light beam over the disc. CD ROMs hold 500–700 megabytes and are used in distributing large amounts of texts and graphics. On CD RWs (read and write discs) it’s possible to rewrite information many times. DVD can hold the amount of information up to several gigabytes.

At the end of this concise computer review it’s necessary to touch the question of different kinds of connections.

Slot is a rectangular opening inside a computer into which can be inserted, for example, a printed circuit board.

Port (an external connection) – the socket that is used to connect the cable for a peripheral device to. The computer has different ports:

• parallel port is commonly used to connect a printer;

• serial port is typically used to connect an external modem; universal serial bus (USB) is an external connection. The buses connect the computer to all peripheral devices;

• AGP (accelerated graphics ports) is a very high-speed connection used by the graphics card to interface with the computer.

Computer speech

As a matter of fact every specific area of human activity is tightly connected not only with the development of a formal professional language but with the inevitable birth and simultaneous development of his colloquial stepbrother – colorful and often humorous slang. No doubt, good knowledge of the contemporary colloquial computer language will save you much trouble in your communication with foreign colleagues.

Now you have an opportunity to get in touch with it. Jump at the chance.

Antidote a program used to protect a computer from computer viruses

Artware advanced software and hardware that allows the user to generate art using a variety of elements (sound, color, etc)

Box (noun) a computer

Bug (noun) a software error or flaw

Chat chatting is like e-mail, only it is done instantaneously and can directly involve multiple people at once

Confuser slang for computer. Usually encountered in compounds such as ‘confuser room’, ‘personal confuser’, ‘confuser guru’

DDT a debugging program

Debug to eliminate the error or flaw

Gweep a term used mostly by computer professionals to describe people who only know enough about computers to get by at their jobs

Hack to work on a computer with great affinity and adeptness for work or fun

2. Exercises