CHAPTER WHAT IS A COMPUTER? A computer is a machine with an intricate network of electronic circuits that operate switches or magnetize tiny metal cores. The switches, like cores, are capable of being in one of two possible states, that is, on or off; magnetized or demagnetized. The machine is capable of storing and manipulating numbers, letters, and characters. The basic idea of a computer is that we can make the machine do what we want by inputting signals that tum certain switches on and tum others off, or that magnetize the cores. ‘The basic job of computers is the processing information, For this reason, computers can be defined as devices which accept information in the form of instruction called a program and characters called data, perform mathematical/or logical operations on the information, and then supply results of these operations. The program, or part of it, which tells the computers what to do and the data, which provide the information needed to solve the problem, are kept inside the computer in a place called memory. Computers are thought to have many remarkable powers. However, most computers, whether large or small have three basic capabilities. First, computers have circuits for performing arithmetic operations, such as: addition, subtraction, division, multiplication and exponentiation. Second, computers have means of communicating with the user. After all, if we couldn’t feed information and get result back, these machines wouldn’t be of much use. However, certain computers (commonly minicomputers and microcom- 1 w Ssputers) are used to control directly things such as robots, aircraft navigation systems, 19 medical instruments, etc. Some of the most common methods of inputting information are to use punched cards, magnetic tape disk, and terminals. The computer’s input device (which might be a card reader, a tape drive or disk drive, depending on the medium used in inputting informa- tion) reads the information into the computer. eum S — vit vice Co CS Terminal " Figure: 1 For outputting information, two common device used are a printer which prints the new 25 information on paper, or a CRT display screen which shows the result on a TV-like screen. Third, computers have circuits which can make decisions. The kinds of decisions which 30 computer circuits can make are not of the type: “Who would win a war between two countries?” or “Who is the richest person in the world?” Unfortunately, the computer can only decide three things, namely: Is one number less than another? Are two numbers equal? and, Is one number greater than another? A computer can solve a series of problems and make hundreds, even thousand, of logical decision without becoming tired or bored. It can find the solution to a problem in a fraction of the time it takes a human being to do the job. A computer can replace people 35 in dull, routine tasks, but it has no originality; it works according to the instructions 2given to it and cannot exercise any value judgments. There are times when a computer seems to operate like a mechanical ‘brain’, but its achievements are limited by the minds of human beings. A computer cannot do anything unless a person tells it what to do and gives it the appropriate information; but because electric pulses can move at the speed 40 of light, a computer can carry out vast numbers of arithmetic-logical operations almost instantaneously. A person can do everything a computer can do, but in many cases that person would be dead long before the job was finished. (English for Computer Science, Norma D.Mullen) EXERCISES Answer the questions below! 1, What is the main idea of the first paragraph? 2. How can we make the computer do what we want? 3. As a machine for processing information, what is the definition of computer? 4. What tells the computer what to do? 5. What provides the necessary information to solve the problem? 6. Where is a program kept? 7. Most computers have three basic capabilities. What are they? 8. What is the common method of inputting information? 9. What reads the information into the computer? 10. What are the computer's input device? 11, ... prints the new information on paper. 12... . shows the results on a TV-like screen. 13. Basically the computer can only decide three things. What are they ? 14, Is it true that a computer will be tired and bored after solving a lot of problem? 15. “ A computer has no originality.” What does the sentence mean? 16. Mention what kind of work a computer cannot do! 17. Why can a computer carry out a vast numbers of arithmetical operations almost instantaneously? B. Cross “ T “ for the true statements and “ F “ for the false statements below. T:F 1. A computer can handle any data even if it does not have any information to do so. T:F 2. All computers receive and manipulate information in the form of instruc- tions and characters.T:F 3. The information needed to solve problem is in the memory of the computer. T:F 4. Not many computers can perform arithmetic operations, make decisions, and communicate in some way with the user. T:F 5. Computers are still very useful machines even if we cannot communicate with them. T:F 6. There is not only one type of devices used to feed information into a computer. T:F 7. There are not as many different types of devices for giving results as there are for accepting information. T:F 8. Any type of problem can be solved by computers. T:F 9. Computers can work without having to be bored and rest except there is a breakdown. T:F 10. A person can do everything a computer can do but not the other way round. C.___Look at the text again and find out what the bold words refer to. 1. or part of it (1.10) . 2. It can find the solution 1.34) ., 3. it works according to the instructions —_(1.36) .. 4. but its achievements are limited (1.38) 5. a person tells it what to do 1.39) ... D. VOCABULARY Find out the synonyms (words having similar meaning) of the following words in the text! 1. complex (1): intricate 2. fundamental (. 5) 3. ways (1.21) 4. uninterested (1.34) 5. immense (1.41) Find out the antonyms (words having an opposite meaning) of the following words in the text! 6. reject (8): accept 7. outputting a. 5) 8. large (14) 9. poorest (30) 10. small (41) 4STRUCTURES Too and enough Observe the following sentences! ‘The computer is very expensive. I can’t purchase it. * The computer is too expensive (for me) to purchase. Rearrange the following sentences using too: 1. His program is very intricate. I can’t understand it. 2. The work is very dull. He can’t finish it. 3. The monitor is very big. She can’t carry it. 4. C language is very difficult. George can’t understand it. 5. The computer room is very cold. We can’t stay in it for more than one hour. 6. My book is very thick. You can’t keep it in your bag. 7. The-car is. very old. It can’t run on such road. 8. The lamp in your room is very bright. You can’t sleep well. 9. The characters is very small. They can’t read them. 10. Your house is very big. They can’t paint it in.a couple of days. Observe the following sentences! He is quite clever. He understand the problem perfectly. * He is clever enough to understand the problem perfectly. Remake the following sentences, using enough. The printer is quite good. It can print the character well. That man is very strong. He can remove the machine. ‘The secretary is very diligent. She can finish the job on time. My computer is very small. I can bring it everywhere. The program is very long. We can do it together. The manager is quite good. He can manage his office well. The programmer is quite clever. He can finish the job soon. My sister is beautiful. She can win the contest. Your son in tall. He can join our volley ball team. CPN ANE Y NS 10. That lady is very young, She can walk on the road.