Mobile computing

Speaking Work in small groups. ‘What features do you use on a mobile device (e.g. GPS
maps, camera)? What do you use them for?
Work in pairs. Think about people in these jobs. How might a mobile device be
useful to them?
1 a company sales person who visits many client companies
2 a delivery driver for a parcel delivery company
3 a technician who installs entertainment systems in people’s homes
Complete the flowchart with steps a-f in the correct order.
admin staff print out work instructions
admin staff send invoice asking for payment
client signs paperwork
technician finds client and installs system
technician picks up instructions
technician takes paperwork hack to office
Entertainment systems installation worl-(flow
S -l In

Work in pairs. How do you think the workflow in 3 will change if the technician
has a mobile device? Draw a new flowchart and complete the stages.

Listening 5 m Listen to an IT specialist talking to a high-level manager, explaining

how their entertainment system installation technicians can use new tablet
computers. Check your answers in 3 and 4.

Language

Zero and first conditionals

We use the zero conditional to talk about something
that usually or always happens as a result of an action
or situation
We use the first conditional to talk about the result of
B fUtUl'E HCTIDH OI’ SHUBHOH
if you drop a tabtet, it breaks.
if you use a tablet, you can send documents easily
if if we have a problem, we ‘ll send a message.

We use a comma between the two clauses when the T if we buy tablets, we’ll save money
if clause comes first but not when it comes last. l Weill save money if we buy tablets.

The company in 5 is now using the tablets. Complete these zero conditional
sentences.
With the tablets, if the technician (not know) the way to a
job, he or she (use) GPS to find the best way there.
If the customer _ (be) happy with the job, he or she
(sign) using the tablet‘s screen.
If a customer _ (change) their order, the system
.. .- (update) the details on the tablet.
If a technician (need) to order a new part, he or she
- . (send) a message electronically.
E Data communication
 Speaking 7 Work in pairs. Look at the flowcharts in 3 and 4. Describe how efficiency and
flexibility will improve if the company uses tablets. Then look at audio script 16
on pages 74-Y5 to check your answers.

8 Work in pairs. How are these mobile device features and functions useful?

calculator calendar camera e-book reader GPS

long battery life torch USB recharger
if the phone hos o GPS, we con use it to find places. lf the buttery life is long,
9 Work in pairs. ‘What is the person in the photo doing? I
‘What is her job? How might a mobile device help her in K
her job?

Vocabulary 10 Read the advertisement and find words in the text that
match these definitions.
1 change something to make it suit a special purpose

2 add electronic information to something, e.g. a

photo 7___
3 the position of something i__
4 changing written or printed words to data that a
computer can understand _i___
5 give information _i__
6 a word used to show that something is completely i
correct and true ____
7 stored information, e.g. on a computer _i__
8 a small part inside smartphones and other devices that measures change of
speed, e.g. if someone drops it __?

Your mobile workers can be more

With our fabulous new hand-held devices, your mobile workers can be safer and more productive at the same
time! l-lave no more paperwork that takes up workers’ time and that can get lost! Know where your workers
are at any time!
We can customise devices for any situation. As an example, let’s look at devices that we‘ve customised for
traffic wardens:
I The devices have cameras and GPS so the warden can take photographs of illegally parked cars. The
device automatically tags the photographs with location and time. Then optical character recognition
(OCR) technology can read the car’s registration number from the photograph and transmit it wirelessly to a I
central database. The warden saves time because there is no data entry.
I The devices continuously report the wardens location back to the control centre. So if there is a problem, l
the control centre knows exactly where the warden is and who to contact.
I Because most of the data is kept electronically, record keeping costs are lower.
I Being a traffic warden can be dangerous. The accelerometer in the device automatically sends a message if C
it falls, unless the user presses the ‘Cancel’ button immediately. Then the control centre can call the police.

Speaking 11 Work in small groups. You are technicians in the mobile device company in 10.
Suggest how and why you could customise mobile devices for these jobs.
1 delivery driver 2 salesperson 3 nurse
A GPS will be uery useful for o delivery driver. if he or she gets lost, it'll help hirn
or her to find his or her customers.

Data communication H
 Email
Speaking 1 Work in small groups. How often do you use email? When do you choose email
instead of instant messaging, face-to-face or telephone communication? Discuss.
Vocabulary 2 Match these words to A—.l in the screenshots of email clients below.
subject line __ spell checker _ 9 copy address _
recipient’s address _ forward _ 10 delete _
email signature _ blind copy address __.
J'=ICADI\3'—* attachment button _. ®\JO§U'l reply button ._
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3 Note down the steps in sending an email. Then compare your notes with a
partner’s. Are they the same?
Language
.
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We use a/an when we mention an item for the first time. = Please send me a message. ~_ I-
' . " __ cc in" 7" . 1*’
l———1l
Could you send me an email to remind me?
—— ———— I —— ~
;;,_
‘I’

We use the when the listener already knows which item

l~il‘.$"-l 'li?~.-'r
I 3 Could you forward the email that Jack sent? l

-I’- Zr;
we’re talking about. The intemet is down. 3
v;==. I We also use the when the item is the only one of its kind.
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4 Complete this intranet post about email guidelines with a, an or the.

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Here are some guidelines for using email at RML Digital: reply. It only takes a few seconds and it may stop
I Think carefully about what you write - emails can be someone worrying that the email didn’t get through.
permanent records. Even if you delete (1) _i_ I If you are copying emails to people who don ‘t know
email, (2) _i_ recipient could keep their copy. each other, use (7) i. ‘Bcc' line so that they
He or she might also forward (3) ____ email to can’t see each other‘s email addresses.
other people. I Check attachment size before sending! Some email
I Make (4) ____ subject line clear and short. systems limit attachments to 10 MB or less. l
I If you receive (5) 1?. important email, try I (8) ____ standard RML Digital signature should 1
to send (6) _.._._ quick ‘thanks’ message in beonallemailssentfromthecompany.

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 Business matters
Speaking 1 Work in small groups. You work for an lT consultant and have been asked to
prepare a proposal to upgrade a company’s electronic communications systems.
1 Read the company profile and the requests from staff members. Make lists of
the equipment and software that they’re using now, and what works well and
what doesn’t work well.
2 Discuss and decide the hardware and software needed to meet all the
requirements. Think about ways of sending video through browsers, intemet
security, features of mobile devices and altematives to email. Give reasons for
your choices.
3 Prepare your proposal and present it to the class. Your proposal should have
these parts:
I Introduction: Explain the problem.
I Body: Present your proposal.
I Conclusion: Say how much your proposal will help.
q_

Company profile: Beneflex Architects i

BeneflexArchitects is an architecture company with a Technology is important to us. It helps us work I
p difference: our sales team are fully qualified architects more efficiently and also helps to give you the best l
1 who talk with you and visit the place where you want solutions. In addition, we use it to keep you up-to-
tio build your house.We ask lots of questions, show you date all the way through the process.
lotsofideasandworkwitliyouthriougheverysizepin A
k-.thepi'ocess.ln this w'ay,we designyour perfect home. :
W--— in I I

- ‘ '

i.ll My problem is this: at the moment if:’s hard
§ (,0 know where the 53,193 team 3,1-e, If 3, new
E; enquiry comes in, I’d like to be able to send,
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I ' W9 1'98-1-IF need $0 i1I1PP0VB T-119 0115’!-01'-I161‘ 3‘
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. experience. Customers tell us that they want to

see the plans and images of their new home in

someone to the customer straight away. much gr-eater detail. They also want; video, not.
.- sales manager, l just; images.
‘Ti "T T *" ' Marketing manager
‘bi.

i _

It would be peat to see everyone‘s I W

appointments all at the Same time on the Same
screen That way Pd know when to can Bales
people mmout interrupting a meeting mth a_
customer.
Sales support admnustrator
I get too many emails. I seem to spend more
time dealing with emails than with customers!
There must be a better way to communicate!
Sales representative
_. .

..___..._. . . - T’

pg is Currently, we take a lot of photographs with i

g cameras of sites, buildings and things like that. If
I W9 P98-1157 Heed to 1119-KB the SYBFBIB IIIOPB we can upload them to somewhere - somewhere ,
I ii9t3l-lI‘9- 0111' IT PQPBOR Y-611$ I116 '1-hfi-11 9»I1.Y0I1B 08-I1 that we can access easily — that will save a. lot; of
; 1'93-<1 the iT11'°I'I11B-15i°I1 fi'°II1 the B3-16$ P90P19’S time. We won’t have to move photos from one
179-blew T113-V9 3 big PI'0b1BII1-’ 3 program to another or one device to another.
GBIIBPBJ Illa-113-8'6‘? Sales representative

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