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4 WritingMaria Quintana, from Spain, is interested in the job of computer operator as advertised below. Use her notes to -write a letter applying for the job. You can start like this: I'm writing to apply for ... INTERNATIONAL MERCURY COMPUTERS requires Computer Operators We have vacancies for experienced operators to work on their own initiative in a busy company. You will be responsible for the day-to-day running of our data-processing equipment. You must be highly communicative and have good problem-solving skills. We can offer an excellent salary, training and good promotional prospects to the right candidate. Send your CV and a covering letter to James Taylor, International Mercury Computers, 37 Charles Place, London, SW10 6XX FAX 0171-323-05712. Computers tomorrow Unit page 26 Electronic communications 121 27 LAN's and WAN's 127 28 New technologies 132 Learning objectives /и this section you will learn how to: • talk about different kinds of data communication systems: e-mail, fax, local bulletin boards, and commercial online services. • describe the components and functions of a computer network, in oral and written form. • talk and write about new technologies. • understand how a pen computer works. • make predictions about the impact of computers on our lifestyle. Unit 26 Electronic communications 1 Before you read Try to answer these questions. 1 How can a PC be connected to another computer? 2 What data communication systems can you think of? Make a list. 2 Reading A Which data communication services would you use for each of these requirements? 1 To send a personal message to a friend who is at a different workstation. 2 To send a copy of a paper document -for instance, a scientific article - from Trento University to Cambridge University. 3 To access massive databases containing all kinds of information, or to be connected with an airline reservations service. 4 To receive shareware and public domain programs from a user group. 5 To find out weather forecasts and sports information from the television. a) fax b) electronic mail (e-mail) c) teletext e) commercial online service
Bulletin boards are frequently free because they are maintained by community-minded computer enthusiasts. There are local bulletin boards sponsored by user groups, individuals and businesses. How do you find a bulletin board? Ask the salesman at your local computer store or a friend who is involved in telecommunications. If the bulletin board requires registration, you will be subjected to a friendly interrogation and be required to enter your name, address, telephone number and other information such as the kind of computer and modern you are using. Then, the system operator (called a sysop - pronounced SIS-op) will contact you over the telephone to assure him/herself of your identity. Once you are in telephone contact with the board, you can download (receive) artwork, games and useful programs; or you can play games or 'talk' to the other people online. If you upload (send) programs, make sure that those programs are shareware or public domain programs — those that specifically permit public access. Electronic mail requires some special software. Yоu type a message onto your computer screen, click a Send button and it pops up on the recipient's screen — provided that he/she is connected to your computer via a network like the Internet. Voice-mail is similar to e-mail except that it includes sending recorded sound in addition to text Commercial online services A commercial online service differs from a local bulletin board in two key ways: (1) they are larger and more comprehensive, and (2) they are operated to make a profit. On a commercial online service, you will find such diverse services as a low-cost stock broker, an airline reservations service, technical support personnel for hardware and software manufacturers, and access to massive databases containing all kinds of information. Two popular commercial services are CompuServe and Prodigy. Among CompuServe's many services are the following: news, electronic mail, telex, games, airline reservations, online shopping, conferences and special interest groups. Prodigy's services are aimed particularly at shoppers and the needs of drildren. For adults, Prodigy provides the whole range of services from banking to shopping, as well as helpful document files from experts on managing money, cooking and other useful information. For children, there is an online encyclopedia, as well as adventure, science and entertainment features. A stand-alone fax service is a facsimile machine which transmits copies of original documents. It operates by scanning pictorial or textual documents so that the image is converted into electrical signals which are sent to and used by a receiving machine that produces a copy of the original A fax-modem is a modem with software and hardware which can emulate a fax machine. This allows you to receive a fax directly into your computer, where you can read it or print it onyour printer. To send a fax you prepare the document on your computer —for example, by using a word processor Teletext on ITV and Channel Four is an information service in Britain which broadcasts a database alongside the TV signal. It provides constantly updated and real time information (Adapted from Your First Computer, A. Simpson, Sybex, 1992) В Read the text again and match the following words with their definitions. 1 computer communications
a) a hardware device that converts digital signals from computers to analogue signals for transmission through the telephone system, and vice versa b) the process of sending and receiving private messages via computer c) the process of transferring information from one PC to another via modems and telephone lines d) programs that are distributed free, via electronic bulletin boards or on diskette from user groups e) an electronic online service that allows users to send and receive messages, retrieve programs, request information and communicate with other people, using a computer, a modem and the telephone line С Match and link the pairs of expressions that have the same meaning. file of structured data sysop bits per second BBS facsimile machine system operator MODEM phone network fax database Bulletin Board System Modulator/Demodulator baud telephone wires Directory: english english -> Chaos equipment included english -> Protecting the rights of the child in the context of migration english -> United Nations E/C. 12/Esp/5 english -> Form a-122 File No. Retirement homes act, 2010 application under section 116 of the act english -> The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine english -> 1. 2 Extraction of exposure and others parameters english -> 【Education&Working Experience】 english -> Tourist Areas Haiti, another discovery english -> Active Vocabulary Download 1.2 Mb. Share with your friends:
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