2 Read the text

Interview: it Manager

The IT Manager being interviewed in this unit has seen a lot of developments in computing and expresses his views about future developments.

Electronc computers have only been around for a relatively short time. They started out as very big mainfame systems that consumed a lot of power, were unreliable, and needed a team of professionals to operate and maintain them.Mainframes are still in use however and have continued to be developed.

Supercomputer such as the Cray computers are the most powerful type of mainframe available today.Smaller personal computers that consume a modest amount of power, are fairly reliable, and can be controlled and maintained by the user are now very common.The development of network systems using personal computers has encouraged the move away from centalized systems, controlled by a large mainframe, to the development of distributed systems, where various smaler computers share the workload and control the system. Computers are likely to continue to become faster, cheaper, and more efficient.

Some of the views expressed by the IT Manager include the following:

1 Speech recognition requires the use of very powerful systems that are only now becoming possible to produce. They will make a big change in computing and will inevitably encourage a lot more people to use computers in everyday situations.

2 Hyperlinked webpages are likely to be the type of computing interface that will become the standard for the future.

3 As networking develops, video conferencing is likely to become more common, although people will prefer to meet face-to-face where possible.

4 Although there is always some resistance to change, it is likeky that computers will play a bigger role in teaching in the fuuture. Teaching, however, requires human skills and is unlikely to be done entirely by computers.

5 It is difficult to find a good time to buy a computer because they are always being improved. Having a home computer entices you to continue working at home.

Unit 26

1 Words to know

1 activate, v	активизировать, активировать, приводить в действие, вызывать
2 dormant, adj.	нереализуемый; отложенный, дремлющий, спящий
3 hacking, n	хакерство
4 pirating, n	пиратство, пиратская деятельность
5 prevention, n	предупреждение
6 virus, n	(компьютерный) вирус
7 anti-virus, n	1) антивирус 2) противовирусный, антивирусный
8 a backup system, n	система создания копий
9 security system, n	система безопасности
10 plastic swipe card, n	пластиковая карточка
11 bulletin board, n	доска объявлений (напр. электронная)

2 Read the text

Issues in computing

Because faults can develop in computer systems, it is important to keep copies of valuable data using a backup system. This is especially important in a network where many users are storing vast amounts of data. Networks also require security systems to control access. Login names and passwords are often used, but these may be combined with the use of plastic swipe cards containing a user identification number. Some computer systems use recognition systems that scan and identify characteristics of the user such as their fingerprints, facial features, voice, or eyes.

Computer crimes include:

1. hacking – unauthorized access to computer systems and tampering with other users’ data.

2. pirating, i.e. illegally copying and selling programs.

3. intentionally attempting to spread viruses.

Viruses are programs that have been written to make a computer behave in

an unexpected and undesired way. Although they are often relatively harmless, they sometimes cause a lot of damage. They are usually designed to remain hidden and dormant until a particular time, or until the user performs a particular action, such as pressing a particular combination of keys. They can replicate themselves, and often attach themselves to other programs. It is common for a user to have a virus program on their disk without being aware of it.

Viruses can be found and removed by anti-virus programs, which scan disks and files looking for programming code that is known to belong to particular virus programs. When a piece of virus code is found, the virus can be identified, and an appropriate program run to delete the virus code from the disk or file. Plane text email messages cannot contain a virus, but viruses can be carried in email attachments, i.e. files attached to email messages. Some viruses are much more common than others and are often unknowingly downloaded from a network system such as the Internet. Care should be taken to check for viruses when using removable disks or when transferring files.