Infotech
English for computer users
Student's Book
Santiago Remacha Esteras
Щ CAMBRIDGE
UNIVERSITY PRESS
PUBLISHED BY THE PRESS SYNDICATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
The Pitt Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RP, United Kingdom
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 2RU, United Kingdom 40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011-4211, USA 10 Stamford Road, Oakleigh, Melbourne 3166, Australia
© Cambridge University Press 1996
This book is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press.
First published 1996 Third printing 1997
Printed in the United Kingdom at the University Press, Cambridge
ISBN 0 521 45980 X Student's Book ISBN 0 521 45981 8 Teacher's Book ISBN 0521 459826 Cassette
Contents
Map of the book w
Thanks and Acknowledgements viш
Section 1 Computers today 1
Unit 1 Computer applications 2
Unit 2 Configuration 7
Unit 3 Inside the system 11
Unit 4 -Szfo and bytes 17
Unit 5 Buying a computer 21
Section 2 Input/output devices 26
Unite 6 Type and click! 27
Unit 7 Capture у our favourite image 32
Unit 8 Viewing the output 36
Units 9 Choosing a printer 40
Unit 10 I/O devices for the disabled 45
Section 3 Storage devices 50
Unit 11 Floppies 51
Unit 12 Hard drives 56
Unit 13 Optical breakthrough 60
Section 4 Basic software 65
Unit 14 Operating systems 66
Unit 15 The Graphical User Interface 70
Unit 16 A walk through word processing 74
Unit 17 Spreadsheets 80
Unit 18 Databases 83
Section 5 Creative software 88
Unit 19 Graphics and design 89
Unit 20 Desktop publishing 94
Unit 21 Multimedia 98
Section 6 Programming 102
Unit 22 Program design 103
Unit 23 Languages 109
Unit 24 The PostScript revolution 112
Unit 25 Jobs in computing 116
Section 7 Computers tomorrow 120
Unit 26 Electronic communications 121
Unit 27 LANs and WANs 127
Unit 28 New technologies 132
Notes for Student A 137
Notes for Student В 141
Glossary 145
Acronyms and abbreviations 151
Trademarks 153
Map of the book
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UNIT
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LISTENING
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READING
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Section 1
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1 Computer applications
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Using computers at work
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What can computers do?
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Computers
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today
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2 Configuration
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Types of computer systems
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What is a computer?
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3 Inside the system
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Describing a computer
system
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What's inside a microcomputer? Main memory: RAM and ROM
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4 Bits and bytes
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Units of memory: bits, bytes, KB, MB, GB; binary system Bits for pictures
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5 Buying a computer
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Buying a computer in a shop
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Computers for particular work situations
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Section 2 Input/output
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6 Type and click!
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Different input devices
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About the keyboard Point and click! (the mouse)
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devices
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7 Capture your favourite image
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Types of scanners
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What does a scanner do? Facts and opinions in advertisements
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8 Viewing the output
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Health and safety
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The monitor
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9 Choosing a printer
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Ink-jet printers
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Types of printers Adverts for printers
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10 I/O devices for the disabled
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Adaptive technology for the blind
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Computers for the disabled
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Section 3 Storage
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11 Floppies
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Buying disks
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Types of disks Technical details
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devices
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12 Hard drives
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Disk fragmentation
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When buying a hard disk . . . (drive mechanisms)
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1 3 Optical breakthrough
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What's a CD-ROM?
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Optical disks: pros and cons
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IV
SPEAKING
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WRITING
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GRAMMAR
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VOCABULARY
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How are/were computers used in your school?
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Specific computer applications
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Present simple passive Data + 3rd person singular verb
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Word fields: computers in education, banks, sports, airports, medicine, factories, entertainment
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Basic terminology: hardware, software, peripherals, input/ output devices, central processing unit
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Your ideal computer system
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Contextual reference Defining relative clauses
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Acronyms and abbreviations: CPU, ALU, RAM, ROM, bit, SIMMs
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Translation
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Prefixes: dm-, hexadeci-, kilo-, mega-,
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giga-, mini-, micro-, In-, tn-, mono-, multi-
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Role play: buying a computer
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Recommending a computer to a friend
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Vocabulary tree: terminology
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Describing and identifying input devices
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Describing a joystick
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for + -ing which + verb which/that is used + to + inf.
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Word field: input devices Symbols and special keys Mouse actions: click, drag
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Comparatives and superlatives
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Word building: suffixes Persuasive words in advertisements
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Describing your computer screen
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Explaining tables
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Instructions and advice: imperative, should, ought to
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Monitors: resolution, pixels, display, hertz, VGA, LCD, CRT, phosphors
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Describing the printer you would like to use
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The pros and cons of the printer you use
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Discourse cohesion: reference signals and linking devices Comparison: revision
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Types of printers: daisywheel, dot-matrk, ink-jet, thermal and laser printers, photosetters
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Discussing devices for computer users with vision and mobility limitations
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A letter asking for information about I/O equipment for disabled workers
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Noun phrases; modifiers
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Braille, speech synthesizers, Morse code, optical head pointer, voice recognition
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How to protect your disks
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Instructions with must/must not
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Floppies: track, sector,format, magnetic, read /write heads, directory, DD/HD
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Suffixes: -ic, -ism, -ize, -liable, -er
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Completing a hard disk advertisement
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Hard disks: access time, data transfer rate, password, fragmentation, removable cartridge
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Choosing the most suitable storage devices for specific purposes
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Completing a table with relevant information about optical disks
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Discourse cohesion: reference signals and connectors and modifiers
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Acronyms and abbreviations: laser, ms, WORM, CD-ROM, EOD
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UNIT
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LISTENING
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READING
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Section 4 Basic
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14 Operating systems
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System utilities (screen saver, virus detectors, etc.)
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Operating systems
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software
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-'
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15 The Graphical User Interface
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Microsoft Windows operating systems
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GUIs
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1 6 A walk through word processing
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The 'Cut and Paste' technique
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Word-processing facilities Writing tools: spell checker, online thesaurus, grammar
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checker
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17 Spreadsheets
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Spreadsheet programs
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18 Databases
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Mail merging
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Basic features of database
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programs
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Section 5
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19 Graphics and design
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A basic tool palette
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Computer graphics
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Creative
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software
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20 Desktop publishing
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Fonts, a necessary part of DTP
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What is 'desktop publishing?
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2 1 Multimedia
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A multimedia system Software: revision
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Multimedia magic!
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Section 6 Programming
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22 Program design
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Steps in producing a program
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Programming languages Flowcharts
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23 Languages
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С language
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A short description of BASIC
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24 The PostScript revolution
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The PostScript language (gap dictation)
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What is PostScript?
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25 Jobs in computing
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A job interview
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Job advertisements
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Section 7 Computers
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26 Electronic communications
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Videotex systems
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Channels of communication Hackers!
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tomorrow
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27 LANs and WANs
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A computer network
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Network configurations WANs and worldwide
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communications
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28 New technologies
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How a pen computer works
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New products
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VI
SPEAKING
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WRITING
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GRAMMAR
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VOCABULARY
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What's the function of the operating system?
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Answering a quiz
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System software Basic DOS commands Acronyms and abbreviations: OS, MS-DOS, IBM
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A summary
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Ways of reducing sentences
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GUIs: windows, icons, pull-down menus, pointer, user-friendly
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Comparing word processors
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Describing the process of moving text
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Sequencers:/»/, now, next, finally
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WP programs: edit, format, search, replace, indent, WYSIWYG, clipboard
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Visual representations versus spreadsheets
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Producing an invoice with a spreadsheet program
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Spreadsheets: cell, column, row, formula, invoice, expenses
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Writing a standard letter to clients
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Plurals
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Databases: field, record, file, sort, update
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Describing 2D and 3D
graphics
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Gerunds (-ing nouns)
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Graphics: patterns, primitives, attributes, dithering, zoom, rotation, scaling, rendering
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Exchanging information about computers for newspapers
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A letter to a newspaper
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Affixation, conversion, compounding
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DTP packages: layout application, 'imagesetter, service bureau, font software designer, import
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A leaflet advertising multimedia products
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Conditional clauses
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Multimedia PC: built-in sound, stereo speaker, sound card, animation, full-motion video
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Making a flowchart
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Infinitive constructions
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Programming: compiler, debug, flowchart Prefixes and suffixes
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Sharing information about computer languages
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Describing С language
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The passive
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Acronyms: BASIC, FORTRAN, LISP, PROLOG, COBOL
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Personal experience with
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The past simple
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Forming new words with script
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computers
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Discussing personal qualities and professional skills
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Letter applying for a job
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Far, since and ago Past simple and present perfect
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Jobs: programmer, DTP operator, computer operator
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Discussing computer crime (hacking, software piracy)
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The past simple: revision
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Data communication services: fax, BBS, e-mail, modem Prefixes: tele-, auto-, inter-, trans-
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Describing two networks connected via satellite
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Descriptions of network connections
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Prepositional phrases of 'reference'
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Networks: local area network, node, transceiver, protocol, token, gateway
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Discussing the advantages and limitations of pen computers
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Making predictions
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will + infinitive The future continuous The future perfect may /might /could + inf.
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New technologies: electronic publishing, virtual reality, video teleconferencing
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VII
Thanks
The author would especially like to express his gratitude to Мй Paz, Marina and Violeta, without whose support this
book would not have been possible.
My special thanks to Will Capel for his invaluable comments and advice.
Thanks are also due to the following for their comments on the first draft of the book: Anna Maria Bergamini;
Michel Chariot at IUT, Cergy-Pontoise, France; Max Gallo at Insearch, University of Technology, Sydney,
Australia; Magda Hayek; Gisella Lange, Milan, Italy; Terry Wynne at the Fachochschule fur Technik, Esslingen,
Germany.
Angel Benedi for his help and generous advice on technical aspects.
Mary Margaret Michel, Ma Antonia Quinones, Filar Gallego, Manuel Vazquez,
Enrique Artal andj. Antonio Martinez for their ideas and suggestions.
The Department of Mathematics (Zaragoza University).
Vincente Casanova, Tony Galvez, and the staff of Campus Informatico, S.A. for their materials and technical
support.
Students and teachers of Institute Pilar Lorengar, Zaragoza: Javier Latorre, Javier Jimenez and Elena Marco, who
advised me on computer-related topics.
Brigit Viney for editing the typescript.
Joanne Currie for designing the book, Andy Robinson for producing it and Amanda Ogden for researching the
photographs. Thanks also to Peter Ducker for his design assistance.
Acknowledgements
The author and publishers are grateful to the authors, publishers and others who have given permission for the use of copyright material identified in the text. It has not been possible to identify the sources of all the material used and in such cases the publishers would welcome information from copyright owners, (p = page; t = top; с = centre; b = bottom; 1 = left; r = right)
pp 31 and 122-3 reprinted from Your First Computer by Alan Simpson, by permission of SYBEX Inc. ISBN number 0-89588-752-5, Copyright 1992 SYBEX Inc. All rights reserved; p 35 adapted advertisement for Туры Scanner by permission of Caere Corporation; pp 46-7 adapted extract from 'Computers for the disabled' by Joseph J. Lazzaro, reprinted with permission from the June 1993 issue of BTTE Magazine © by McGraw-Hill Inc. New York NY All rights reserved; pp 75, 77, 94—5 and Unit 8 on the cassette reprinted (or reproduced) from Understanding Computers by Nathan ShedroffJ. Sterling Hutto and Ken Fromm, by permission of SYBEX Inc. ISBN number 0-7821-1284-X, Copyright 1993, SYBEX Inc. All rights reserved; p 93 extract from Introduction to Computer Graphics by permission of Hewlett-Packard Limited; p 99 sections 2 and 3 adapted from 'Upgrading to multimedia' courtesy of PC Upgrade Vol 2, No 2,June 1993;p 132 text 1 taken from an article in BYTEMagazine and p 133 text 2 taken from'Electronic publishing' by Andy Reinhardt, both reprinted with permission from the August 1993 and September 1993 issues respectively of BYTE Magazine © McGraw-Hill Inc. New York NY All rights reserved. For permission to reproduce photographs and computer screens:
p 2 tl Barclays Bank pic; p 2 tr John Birdsall; p 2 bl Art Directors; p 2 br Pascal Rondeau/Allsport; p 5 Paul Scheult/Eyc Ubiquitous; p 7 Graham Portlock; p 12 Digital Equipment Corporation; p 15 Taheshi Takahara/ Science Photo Eibrary; p 21 t Byte Computer Superstore Ltd; p 21 bl, br Apple Computer UK Ltd; p 21 1 Digital Equipment Corporation; p 23 r Amstrad pic; p 241 Compaq Computer Limited; p 24 r Apple Computer UK Ltd; p 35 Caere Corporation; p 42 Hewlett-Packard Limited; p 45 tl Hank Morgan/Science Photo Library; p 45 tr Action for Disability, Newcastle-upon-Tyne/Simon Eraser/Science Photo Library; p 45 cjacky Chapman/ Financial Times; p 45 bl Don Kryminec/Science Photo Library; p 45 br The Computability Centre; p 46 1 The Computability Centre; p 46 r Adam Hart-Davis/Science Photo Library; p 47 Chariot Magazine/Output UK; p 51 Paul Seheult/Eye Ubiquitous; p 56 ESS, a subsidiary of Integrated Technology (Europe) Ltd; p 58 screen from SUM Tune-Up by permission of Symantec Corporation; p 60 t Last Resort Picture Library; p 60 b Graham Portlock; p 63 Manning/Times Newspapers; p 67 t Microsoft Corporation; p 67 b Apple Computer UK Ltd; p 68 t IBM United Kingdom Limited; p 68 с AT&T (UK) Ltd; p 68 b Digital Equipment Corporation; p 70 the computer screen is reproduced by kind permission of Apple Computer Inc., Copyright Apple Computer Inc., All rights reserved; pp 72, 74, 76, 77, 78, 80 and 82 screen shots reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation; p 94 screen shot of Adobe ® PageMaker ® reproduced with the permission of Adobe Systems Europe Ltd; p 98 Microsoft Corporation; p 99 Graham Portlock; p 110 Microsoft Corporation; pp 117 and 119 Graham Portlock; pp 121 British Telecom/Scope Communications; p 122 IJohn Birdsall; p 122 r Philippe Plailly/Eurelios/Science Photo Library; p 123 1 The Electronic Frontier Ltd (Tel: 01734 810600); p 123 tr Paul Sehcult/Eye Ubiquitous; p 123 br screen from Teletext on ITV and Channel Four by permission of Teletext Ltd; p 125 screen from New Prestel Ltd; p 130 b Nottinghamshire Country Council Leisure Services, photograph by John Birdsall; p 132 tl Philips Communications & Processing Services Ltd; p 132 tr NASA/Science Photo Library; p 132 b University of Sunderland; p 134 Amstrad pic; p 135 Apple Computer UK Ltd; p 136 cartoon by Patrick Blower. Thanks also to Sibelius Software, Cambridge for the use of their premises and equipment for the photograph on P99.
Illustrations by Oxford Illustrators, Paul Collicut and Amanda MacPhail. Facsimile artwork by Kevin McGeoghegan. Cover design by Meta Union Design Limited.
Vii
Computers today
Unit page
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Computer applications 2
2 Configuration 7
3 Inside the system 11
4 Bits and bytes 17
5 Buying a computer 21
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