Module 3. Devices and gadgets

№

Term

Definition

Usage

Assist (v)

help sb typically by doing a share of the work, providing money or information

~ sb at/in/with sth; assistant (n), assistance (n); assistive (adj): ~ technology;

syn. help, aid, give sb a hand

ant. hinder sth, prevent sb from doing sth

Barcode (n)

a set of printed lines on a product’s label that tells a computer information about it, such as its price

the ~ reader/system/generator/ program/ verifier; read/type/identify/print/ encode/scale the ~;

barcode (v): ~ (a/n) product/item/goods

Braille (n)

a system of printing and writing for the blind, in which characters are formed by patterns of raised dots which are felt with the fingertips

(the) ~ equipment/display/embosser/

system/writer/label/font/alphabet/converter; use/read/touch/create/learn ~;

written/labeled in ~;

brailled (v)

BYOD (abbr)

Bring Your Own Device

the practice of allowing employees or students to bring their own computing devices to work, college, university etc. for work/study purposes

implement/introduce/follow ~;

the ~ policy/practice

Camera (n)

a device for recording visual images in the form of photographs, films, or video signals

~ compartment/user/lens/rig/film/ shot/track; a(n) optical/compact/ the CCTV ~;

(re)furbish/upgrade/recharge a ~; cameraman (n)

Charge (v)

store electrical energy (in a battery or battery-operated device); formally accuse sb of sth, especially of an offence under law; entrust sb with a duty or responsibility; demand (an amount) as a price for a service rendered or goods supplied

~ a battery/gadget/device; keep the battery ~d; ~ sb with sth; be in ~ of sth; impose/levy a ~ on sb; lay/bring a ~ against sb; pay/increase/reduce the ~s; free of ~;

re/chargeable (adj): ~ battery; charger (n);

syn. control, accusation, fee

Connect (v)

join together so as to provide access and communication

~ to a device/wire/network/router/ printer/computer/gadget; connection (n): have/break/sever/establish/find/make/see a ~; (dis)connected, (adj); (dis)connectedly (adv); connective (adj); connectivity (n)

syn. link

ant. Disconnect, disconnection

Device (n)

a mechanism or a piece of equipment designed to serve a purpose or perform a function

~ contention/driver/node; a(n) input/output/MIDI/warning/ reading/locking/surveillance/ household/recording ~;

purchase/(dis)connect/upgrade a ~;

syn. gizmo, gadget

Digital (adj)

stored as numbers or electronic signals (about information)

~ age/audio/camera/certificate/ computer/divide/film/signature/

detox; digit (n), digitize (v), digitalize (v), digitizer (n), digitally (adv);

syn. numeric

ant. analogue

Display (n)

putting sth in a prominent place for it to be readily seen; the visual representation of the output of an electronic device

plasma/panel/processor/case/screen/unit/terminal ~;

a(n) eye-catching/clear/wide ~; put on/go on ~;

displayer (n), display (v);

syn. show

ant. conceal, hide

E- (prf)

electronic, indicating the involvement of the Internet

~ book/zine/pub/commerce/library;

purchase/subscribe to a(n) ~ book/zine/publication

Fax (facsimile machine) (n)

an output device capable of fast and convenient transmission of photocopied information through a telephone line

send/get/receive sth by ~ ;

~ modem/software/card/mode/call;

fax (v): ~ a(n) document/file/agreement /memo

Flash memory (n)

a type of non-volatile memory which does not need a constant source of electricity for it to retain the stored data

a ~ card;

compact ~;

read/(re)format the ~

Gadget (n)

a specialized mechanical or electronic device, usually small in size

use/invent/create/buy a ~; a ~ freak

a(n) musical/electrical/modern ~;

suffer from a ~ fatigue;

syn. gizmo, device

Gamepad (n)

a handheld device used to control a computer game or a video game

a ~ button/cord; a USB ~;

(dis)connect/play/operate/keep a ~

Google Glass (n)

a computer that is worn like eyeglasses, which has a tiny display within the field of vision, responds to voice commands and eye movements, and has a touchpad at the side

a ~ application/frame/pad/rim/ earpiece/lens/nose pad/end piece;

protect/upgrade/polish/wear a ~

Input (n)

information that is put into a computer

~ devices/data; have/need/get/receive/provide/ process an ~; input (v);

ant. output

Headset (n)

a device that holds an earphone and a microphone in place on a person's head

a high performance/cordless/ wireless/radio/bluetooth ~;

wear/upgrade/replace/take off/put on the ~

Lens (n)

a clear curved piece of glass or plastic that is used in eyeglasses, cameras, telescopes, etc., to make things look clearer, smaller, or bigger

magnetic/telescopic/cap/coloured/ tinted/contact/optical/spectacle/ camera ~;

reduce/change/wear/replace/take off the ~;lensed (adj);

Cf. glass

Monitor (n)

a person who observes a process or activity to check that it is carried out fairly or correctly, especially in an official capacity; an output device that displays text and graphics

colour/CCTV/video/computer/screen/high resolution ~; on a/the ~;

protect/replace the ~;

monitor (v): ~ the performance/progress//procedure/ quality/situation;

monitored (adj); monitoring (n), monitorial (adj);

syn. screen, control

MP3 (n)

a means of compressing a sound sequence to enable its digital storage and transmission

~ file/player/format/ringtone/music;

convert/download/transfer an ~ file

Netbook (n)

a small, very light and inexpensive laptop computer with limited memory used primarily for accessing the Internet

~ computer; high/low-end ~;

upgrade/replace/repair a ~

Output (n)

the amount of sth produced by a person, machine, or industry; produced, delivered, or supplied data

an ~ data/file/form/screen/device; increase/decrease/provide some ~; a drop/fall/growth/rise in ~; steady/low/aggregate/gross/ overall/total ~; output (v);

ant. input

Optical (adj)

relating to sight, especially in relation to the action of light

~ media/disk/zoom/scanner/storage/ fibre/memory/cable/drive/array/ lens; optics (n), optically (adv), optician (n)

Pixel (n)

one of the individual dots that make up a graphical image

a ~ bit/graphic/count/information/ data/resolution/value; binary ~;

pack/modify ~s; pixilation (n), pixilate (v), pixelated (adj): a ~ image

Plotter (n)

an automated drawing tool that produces finely scaled drawings by moving a pen and/or paper in response to computer commands

a ~ font/display; a drum/flatbed/ pen/chart/laser/electrostatic/flat bed/colour ~;

upgrade/use/configure a ~

Projector (n)

a device used for displaying an image on a screen, as from a transparent slide or film

overhead/film/slide/video ~;

switch off (on)/operate a ~

PTOYED (abbr)

Please Turn Off Your Electronic Devices

(slang) an airline, cinema or theater announcement to make the passengers or viewers turn off their electronic devices and gadgets

implement/break/follow the ~ rule

Resolution (n)

a firm decision to do or not to do sth; a formal decision; the action of solving a problem; density of pixels, measured by the number of dots per inch

pass/vote on/adopt a ~; high/screen/spatial/color ~;

modify/adjust/configure ~; a successful/peaceful ~ of a problem; resolve (v): ~ a problem; (un)resolved) (adj); (ir)resolute (adj): be ~ in one’s determination to do sth; (ir)resolutely (adv)

Retina display (n)

a device that works without a screen by drawing pixels directly on the user’s retina with a focused beam of light

a ~ screen;

provide/include/adjust the ~

Sensor (n)

a device that enables digital machines to monitor the physical quantity of the analog world, such as temperature, humidity, or pressure, to provide data used in robotics, environmental climate control, and other applications

~ data fusion/unit/device; infrared/analog/image/ electromagnetic ~; sense (v);

sensory (adj); sensorily (adv);

syn. detector

Second-hand (adj)

having had a previous owner; not new

a ~ device/gadget/accessory/book/ clothing/goods/car/computer/ knowledge;

syn. pre-owned

Smart (adj)

having or showing quick wit and intelligence; (of a device) programmed so as to be capable of some independent action

~ watch/phone/board/house/TV/ application/interface;

smartness (n), smartly (adv);

syn. clever, intelligent

ant. dumb, stupid, imbecile

Speakers (n)

the part of a radio, CD player, etc. which the sound comes out of

high-quality/durable ~;

upgrade/(dis)connect/configure the ~

Swap (v)

(coll.) give sth to sb in exchange for sth else

~ gadgets/accessories/ identity/deal/ideas;

syn. trade, exchange

Tablet (n)

a small, flat computer that is controlled by touching the screen or by using a special pen

~ case/accessories/computer/PC/ pen/phone; digitizer/graphic ~;

upgrade/configure/furbish a ~;

Cf: I-pod, I-pad

Touch (v)

come into or be in physical contact with; manipulate sth by pressure and movement of fingers on a screen

~ pad/screen; multi ~; touch (n): a ~ on/of sb’s hand/shoulder; manipulate sth at the ~of the key;

(un)touchable (adj), touchy (adj);

syn. stroke

Upgrade (v)

improve a computer or another machine by using the most recent developments so as to make it more powerful or effective

~ (a) computer/gadget/skills/policy/ system/package/standard/security/ phone;

upgrade (n): software/price/network ~;

syn. Improve

ant. downgrade

Cf. update, refurbish

Wearable (adj)

a computer or other electronic device that is small or light enough to be worn or carried on one’s body

(a) ~ computer/device/clothes/ shades/gadget; wear (v), (un)wearability (n);

ant. unwearable

Cf. portable

Webcam (n)

a device used for video input

a ~ leans/image/software; a wireless ~;

install/upgrade/replace a ~;

webcamming (n)

1. upgrade

2. sensor

3. display

3. monitor

4. connect

5. swap

6. gadget

7. smart

1. conceal

2. wearable

3. input

4. clever

5. downgrade

6. assist

7. upgrade

Noun

Verb

Adjective

Adverb

optician, optics

digitized

wear

(dis)connectedly

monitor

assistance/ant

(un)resolved

(ir)resolute

Target vocabulary unit

Noun

digital

Target vocabulary unit

Noun

second-hand

Target vocabulary unit

Noun

tablet

Verb

Target vocabulary unit

speakers

1. upgrade

A. a device that holds an earphone and a microphone in place on a person's head

2. headset

B. one of the individual dots that make up a graphical image

3. tablet

C. improve computer or other machine by using the most recent developments to make it more powerful or effective

4. resolution

D. stored as numbers or electronic signals

5. digital

E. a small, flat computer that is controlled by touching the screen or by using a special pen

6. pixel

F. owned or used by someone else before you

7. second-hand

G. density of pixels, measured by the number of dots per inch

Concepts

Type of logical relations

1. input – output

A. general and specific

2. MP3 – compression

B. cause and effect

3. label - barcode

C. contrast

4. gadget overuse – gadget fatigue

D. equivalence

5. smart - intelligent

E. part and whole

6. computer – netbook

F. method and purpose

7. alphabet – the Braille system

1. compact disk– blue ray

2. device – gadget

3. library – archive

4. restore – recover

5. overwrite – format

6. netbook – laptop

7. resolution – pixel

1. barcode

2. Braille

3. facsimile machine

4. flash memory

5. headset

6. MP3

7. Webcam

1. digitization

2. faxing

3. flash memory

4. charging

5. swapping

6. optimization

7. upgrading

1. archived

2. backed up

3. compressed

4. formatted

5. recovered

6. retrieved

7. upgraded

1

What is the logical relationship between the concepts “gadget – smartphone”:

a) cause and effect b) general and specific c) method and purpose d) part and whole

2

One of the individual dots that make up a graphical image is known as (a) ___ .

a) resolution b) retina display c) brightness d) pixel

3

A device used for displaying an image on a screen, as from a transparent slide or film is known as a ___. a) hologram b) projector c) webcam d) monitor

4

All of these mean “a mechanism or a piece of equipment designed to perform a number of functions” EXCEPT FOR;. a) charger b) gizmo c) device d) gadget

5

All of these are output devices EXCEPT FOR:

a) speaker b) headset c) microphone d) Braille embosser

6

All of these gadgets have rear cameras EXCEPT FOR:

a) MP3, b) smartphone c) I-pad d) tablet

7

All of these collocate with the adjective “digital” EXCEPT FOR:

a) divide b) time c) age d) certificate

8

All of these collocate with the adjective “optical” EXCEPT FOR:

a) cable b) media c) disk d) pixel

9

What is the logical relationship between the concepts “show – conceal”:

a) cause and effect b) general and specific c) contrast d) method and purpose

10

What is the logical relationship between the concepts “webcam – input”:

a) cause and effect b) general and specific c) contrast d) method and purpose

11

Cartographic data consist of ___ maps, that is, maps converted to numerical form.

a) digital b) digit c) digitized d) digitally

12

Once again, many thanks for your ____ in this matter.

a) assistant b) assistance c) assistive d) assist

13

All of these are wearable devices EXCEPT FOR: a) camera b) Google glasses c) digital helmet d) Braille embosser

14

A person who is obsessed with his electronic gadgets is called a gadget ____.

a) freak b) monitor c) gizmo d) fatigue

15

The part of a radio, CD player, etc. which the sound comes out of is known as a ___. a) speaker b) headset c) lens d) video card

16

Hackers can manipulate bank accounts ___ a keystrokea) with b) at c) in d) by

17

The bank imposed a penalty ___ the manager for data diddling. a) on b) for c) to d) with

18

Mark the odd word: a) upgrade b) improve c) optimize d) promote

19

To get regular updates one has to subscribe ___ this publication. a) to b) for c) – d) in

20

My visually impaired junior assistant helped the group get started on the ____ alphabet. a) Braille b) Brailled c) Brailling d) Brailles