Ex.1 Work in pairs. Discuss the following questions.

Unit 5

Ex.1 Work in pairs. Discuss the following questions.

1. Have you got a computer? Is it a desktop or a laptop?

2. What do you use it for?

3. What types of computers do you know?

4. What are the main applications of computers nowadays?

Part 1

Ex.2 Read or listen to the following extracts. [1] Identify which place is described in each extract: a) a factory; b) a supermarket; c) a travel agent; d) a home

1. We use PC for writing letters, for playing games, to calculate our bills and to connect with the Internet.

2. We’ve got electronic checkout tills with barcode readers. They read a special barcode on almost everything we sell. They calculate the bill for the customer. At the same time they send information to a larger computer, so we always know what we’ve got in the store.

3. We make washing machines and refrigerators. The machines we use to make them are controlled by computers. We also use computers to calculate our wages, to look after all materials and parts.

4. Our terminal links to airline offices. If you want to fly everywhere in the world we can supply you with the tickets and we can reserve your hotel – all by computer.

Ex.3 Learn the following words.

1.rely on (v) / rɪˈlaɪ/	полагаться на
2.result in (v) /rɪˈzʌlt/	приводить к
3.deal with (v) /diːl/	иметь дело с
4.reduce (v) /rɪˈdjuːs/	уменьшать, сокращать
5.consume (v) /kənˈsjuːm/	потреблять
6.pursue (v) /pə(r)ˈsjuː/	преследовать (цель), следовать за
7.evolve (v) /ɪˈvɒlv/	развиваться
8.inspire (v) /ɪnˈspaɪə(r)/	вдохновлять, воодушевлять
9.advance (n) /ədˈvɑːns/	продвижение вперед, прогресс
10.demand for smth (n) /dɪˈmɑːnd/	требование, потребность
11/approach (n) /əˈprəʊtʃ/	подход
12/application (n) /ˌæplɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/	применение
13/reliability (n) /rɪˌlaɪəˈbɪlɪti/	надежность

Ex.4 Read the text and discuss the following topics:

· the main advantages of quantum computers

· the main achievements of biologically inspired computing

· the main benefits of nanocomputing technology

Radical Next-Gen Computing [2]

In the past half century driven by phenomenal advances in microelectronics, computers of different kinds, forms, and shapes have evolved and transformed almost everything we deal with. However, they still function on the same fundamental computational principles that Charles Babbage and Alan Turing envisage d and that John von Neumann and others subsequently refined. Do the principles that define modern computing — and that have guided us so far — require revolutionary rethinking?

Demands for computing, storage, and communication will continue to escalate. We’ll use computers for newer applications and computationally more difficult problems that we still haven’t addressed satisfactorily. More people, even those at the bottom of the economic pyramid who haven’t yet benefitted from IT, and almost everything, including objects, animals, and buildings, will eventually use and rely on computers in some form.

Unfortunately, digital computing based on silicon and the conventional architecture is reaching its limits owing to fundamental physical limits, economic considerations, and reliability issues. Thus, we must examine and advance new approaches that might seem radical or even difficult to realize.

Researchers and industry are thinking differently about computational principles and pursuing new paradigms such as quantum computing, biologically inspired computing, and nanocomputing. We might soon need to embrace such approaches, particularly for some of the emerging applications. So, we need to understand the principles and potential of these paradigms and be aware of their current status and future prospects.

Quantum computers, which represent a new generation of computing based on quantum mechanics rather than electronics, seem increasingly viable. Quantum computers based on quantum bits (qubits) exhibit astonishingly high-speed processing capabilities. However, renewed interest in quantum computing has just begun, and researchers have only demonstrated a few of its potential applications. Nevertheless, we might well have a general-purpose quantum computer in 10 to 15 years.

Even so, conventional computers with quantum components aimed at optimization problems are already available from companies such as D-Wave Systems. According to researchers quantum computers could greatly speed up certain machine-learning tasks. In some cases, they could reduce computing time from hundreds of thousands of years to mere seconds.

Biologically inspired designs adopt nature as a source of analogies. This concept, also called biomimicry or biomimetics has inspired many researchers and designers and resulted in innovations including retroreflective road markers, fast swimsuits, aircraft, windmill turbine blades, and high-speed trains. Biologically inspired computing has produced such early results as genetic algorithms and neural and sensor networks.

Biological developments exist even at the device level. DNA is a dense, stable information media, and advances in DNA synthesis and sequencing have made it an increasingly feasible high-density digital storage medium. According to some researchers, the entirety of human knowledge might soon be stored in a few kilograms of DNA, and in the future we might even store data in our skin.

Emerging nanotechnologies are squeezing more transistors into silicon chips by reducing their physical dimensions to a few nanometers. Such devices can bring increase in computing power while consuming far less power per function. Nanocomputing technology could revolutionize how we build and use computers. However, to realize these benefits, research must make major progress in device technology, computer architectures, and integrated-circuit processing, while addressing dependability challenges.

Ex.5 Match the following words to their definitions.

1. rely on (v)	a) a very firm statement that you want something
2. result in (v)	b) a particular use that something has
3. deal with (v)	c) a particular way of thinking about or dealing with something
4. reduce (v)	d) to trust someone or something to do something for you
5. consume (v)	e) an ability of a vehicle, or a system to work well
6. pursue (v)	f) to give someone the enthusiasm to do or create something
7. evolve (v)	g) to cause something
8. inspire (v)	h) to use a supply of something such as time, energy or fuel
9. advance (n)	i) to make something smaller or less in size, amount, importance, etc.
10. demand for smth (n)	j) to take action to do something, especially to solve a problem
11. approach (n)	k) to follow a course of activity
12. application (n)	l) to gradually change and develop over a period of time
13. reliability (n)	m) progress or an instance of progress in science, technology, human knowledge etc

Ex.6 Match the words to their synonyms.

1. evolve (v)	a) follow (v)
2. inspire (v)	b) count on (v)
3. pursue (v)	c) develop (v)
4. result in (v)	d) encourage (v)
5. rely on (v)	e) cause (v)
6. advance (n)	f) use (n)
7. demand (n)	g) way (n)
8. approach (n)	h) requirement (n)
9. application (n)	i) progress (n)

Ex.7 Look through the following words/word combinations.

envisage (v) /ɪnˈvɪzɪdʒ/	представлять, предвидеть, намечать
refine (v) /rɪˈfaɪn/	улучшать
escalate (v) /ˈeskəleɪt/	увеличиваться
address (v) /əˈdres/	обращаться к кому-либо (чему-либо)
embrace (v) /ɪmˈbreɪs/	принимать, включать
exhibit (v) /ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/	показывать
squeeze (v) / skwiːz/	протискивать, сжимать
feasible (adj) /ˈfiːzəb(ə)l/	возможный, выполнимый, осуществимый
viable (adj) /ˈvaɪəb(ə)l/	конкурентный, жизнеспособный
digital storage medium	носитель информации
processing capabilities	способность обрабатывать информацию

Ex.10 Answer the questions.

1. Who was the first to envisage fundamental computational principles?

2. Why will demands for computing, storage, and communication continue to escalate?

3. Why is digital computing reaching its limits?

4. Which new paradigms are researchers and industry pursuing nowadays?

5. What do we need these paradigms for?

6. What are quantum computers based on?

7. What are the main advantages of quantum computers?

8. What results has biologically inspired computing produced?

9. What new digital storage medium is mentioned in the text?

10.Could nanocomputing technology revolutionize how we build and use computers? Why? Give your reasoning.

 

Ex.14 Make up a dialogue.

I’m thinking of buying a computer and I need some advice………………….

Script

References

1. Glendinning E., McEwan J. Basic English for computing. Oxford University Press, 2002. P.129

2. Burridge T. Supercomputer beats TV quiz champions [Электронный ресурс] // bbc.co.uk: сайт новостей Би-би-си URL http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/02/110218_witn_humanvscomputer_page.shtml (дата обращения – 14.06.2015)

3. Murugesan S. Radical Next-Gen Computing [Электронный ресурс] //Computing Now. - 2015. - V. 8.
№ 6. URL http://www.computer.org/web/computingnow/archive/radical-next-gen-computing-june-2015 (дата обращения – 14.06.2015)

[1] Glendinning E., McEwan J. Basic English for computing. Oxford University Press, 2002. P.129

[2] Murugesan S. Radical Next-Gen Computing [Электронный ресурс] //Computing Now. - 2015. - V. 8. № 6.

Unit 5

Ex.1 Work in pairs. Discuss the following questions.

1. Have you got a computer? Is it a desktop or a laptop?

2. What do you use it for?

3. What types of computers do you know?

4. What are the main applications of computers nowadays?

Part 1

Ex.2 Read or listen to the following extracts. [1] Identify which place is described in each extract: a) a factory; b) a supermarket; c) a travel agent; d) a home

1. We use PC for writing letters, for playing games, to calculate our bills and to connect with the Internet.

2. We’ve got electronic checkout tills with barcode readers. They read a special barcode on almost everything we sell. They calculate the bill for the customer. At the same time they send information to a larger computer, so we always know what we’ve got in the store.

3. We make washing machines and refrigerators. The machines we use to make them are controlled by computers. We also use computers to calculate our wages, to look after all materials and parts.

4. Our terminal links to airline offices. If you want to fly everywhere in the world we can supply you with the tickets and we can reserve your hotel – all by computer.