ESGIS ANNEE ACADEMIQUE : 2022-2023

TOGO

ENGLISH FOR COMPUTER AND

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Dr. Avafia KPOBLAHOUN

96 05 02 52/92 49 84 78
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TEXT 1.
Information Technology
Information technology plays a primary role in industry and business today. The incredible
changes and developments in the management and processing of information have brought
about advances in all areas, from design and production to distribution and sales. IT has
allowed companies to build up a competitive advantage, increase their efficiency and speed,
cut costs and develop strategic planning.
RFID TECHNOLOGY
RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification and it is a versatile technology for identifying,
tracking and auditing items. The two components of a RFID system are tags and readers. Tags
are the very tiny, data-carrying transponders which are attached to an item. These tags can be
self-adhesive, heat and water resistant, embedded on credit cards, wrist bands or key rings.
Readers are the devices used for the collection of the data and can be connected to a computer
or POS terminal, for example. These readers collect the data without direct contact with the tag:
it is sufficient for it to be within a certain distance. In addition, multiple tags can be read at the
same time, unlike barcodes which have to be read one at a time. This fast, contact-less reading
of data increases speed and efficiency, keeping costs lower and providing accurate, real-time
information. The applications for this technology are multiple and include ticket systems for
public transport, motorway toll payment systems, manufacturing process checks, distribution
chain, stock and inventory control and security and safety inspections.
COMPUTER-AIDED TECHNOLOGIES
Computer-aided technologies is a term used to indicate the use of computer technology to assist
with the ideation, design, analysis and manufacturing of products. Two of the most well-known
applications are CAD and CAM, although there are many others including CAE (computer-
aided engineering) and CIM (computer-integrated manufacturing). CAD, short for computer-
aided design, creates 2D drawings and 3D models and is used, for example, by designers,
architects and engineers. The software allows the user to rotate the model in any direction and
to edit and instantly make changes to the design. It is widely employed in the automotive and
aerospace industries, as well as architectural design.CAM stands for computer-aided
manufacturing and refers to computer applications which control the machine tools used to
produce high-quality parts. Its benefits include precise control, a more efficient and faster
production process and less waste of raw materials.
QR CODES
The Quick Response code, usually shortened to QR code, is a two-dimensional barcode which
can be read faster than a traditional barcode and also has a much greater storage capacity. It was
originally invented for use in the automobile industry to keep track of vehicles during
production. Its uses in business and industry include traceability, picking, inventory
management, document management and admission control and it can be found in all areas
from a manufacturing plant, to a retail outlet, warehouse or pharmacy. Recently, its use has
become extremely common in consumer advertising and marketing. These black and white
squares of code are placed everywhere: on adverts and bus shelters, in magazines and stores. A
potential customer can use his or her smartphone, with a QR scanner app, to scan the code and

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will be taken directly to a company website, for example, with more product information,
discounts or special offers
QUESTIONS
Read the texts and answer these questions.
1 What benefits has IT brought to businesses and industry?
2 How does CAD software help a designer?
3 In what ways does CAM assist the manufacturing process?
4 What are the two essential elements for a RFID system?
5 What advantages does RFID technology have over traditional barcodes?
6 In what areas is the use of QR codes common today? Why?

VOCABULARY
Some useful verbs
A. Match the verbs with the nouns.
1. recharge a. digital photos
2. click on b. faxes
3. Dial c. a number on your mobile phone
4. give d. a presentation
5. Move e. something with the mouse
6. print out f. the battery
7. send and receive g. the mouse
8. take some h. twenty pages

B. Choose the best verb.

9. To turn on the computer, __________ the "Start" button.

a. touch b. press c. switch
10. The printer has __________ of ink.
a. finished b. ended c. run out
11. Unfortunately, my scanner isn't __________ at the moment.
a. working b. going c. doing
12. Please __________ the CD ROM.
a. insert b. introduce c. inject
13. The projector isn't working because it isn't __________.
a. plugged b. plugged in c. plugged into
14. The batteries in my digital camera are nearly dead. They need __________.
a. to change b. exchanging c. changing
15. I have to __________ a computer screen for eight hours a day.
a. see b. look at c. watch
16. Switch off your computer, and __________ it from the wall socket.
a. de-plug b. unplug c. non-plug
17. I turned off the photocopier and ___________ the plug.
a. pulled out b. extracted c. took away
18. __________ any key to continue.
a. Kick b. Smash c. Hit

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 Work station
Choose the best answer

1. The mouse moves on a __________.

a. mouse mat b. mouse carpet c. mouse table
2. TV and computer screens are usually measured in __________.
a. feet b. miles c. inches
3. Before you start work, __________ the height of your chair
a. adjust b. change c. rearrange
4. To get sound from your computer, plug in a pair of __________.
a. loudhailers b. loudspeakers c. loud voices
5. The computer is connected to the telephone line via a __________.
a. module b. modem c. mod
6. You can increase the functions or performance of a computer with an __________.
a. extension card b. exploding card c. expansion card
7. Mobile phones and PDAs can communicate with computers via __________.
a. Bluebeard ® b. Blueberry ® c. Bluetooth ®
8. There's a spare __________ in the workstation…
a. electric hole b. power point c. electrical opening
9. …so you can plug in your mobile phone __________.
a. charger b. power c. electrification
10. SD cards can be read in a computer's __________.
a. storage reader b. memory reader c. card reader

Keyboard
Choose the best answer :
shift key alt key control key escape key
delete key tab key caps lock key backspace key

1. To go back one space, hit the _______________.

2. To change to capital letters, press the _______________.
3. To change the capital letters permanently, hit the _______________.
4. To insert a tabulation, press the _______________.
5. To activate the "Ctrl" functions, press the _______________.
6. To activate the "alt" functions, hit the _______________.
7. To stop the computer doing something, you can press the
_______________.
8. Select the text you want to remove, and hit the _______________.

standard keyboard ergonomic keyboard

key in (or type in) enter data input

9. Please _______________ your password.

10. It took me two hours to _______________ all
that text.
11. A keyboard is a _______________ device.
12. Do you have a _______________?
No. I have a special _______________. It's
better for my arms and back.

SOME GRAMMAR POINTS : use of simple present and the present continuous

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Put the verb into the correct form, present continuous or present simple.
1. I _______________
I don't belong (not/belong) to this particu1ar government committee.
2. Hurry! The bus _______________
Is comming don't want
(come). I _______________ (not/want) to miss it.
3. Gregory is a vegetarian. He _______________
doesn't eat (not/eat) meat.
4. I _______________
I'm looking (1ook) for the manager. I can't find him anywhere.
5. We are successful because we _______________
we take (take) the time to ta1k to our customers.
6. John _______________
John is dealing (deal) with all the enquiries about sales.
7. At the moment we _______________
we are making (make) a training video for Siemens.
8. _______________
Do you know is doing
(you/know) what Mr Briceson _______________ (do)? He is not in
his office.
9. I _______________
'm applying (apply) for a job in the sales department, but I don't know if I will be
successful.
It _______________
depend (depend) on whether or not they have any vacancies.
10. Unemployment _______________
is falling (fa1l) and is now down to 5.6%.
11. Jane is doing some research in the library. She needs it for a book she_______________
is writting
(write).

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Text 2: The Internet of Things. Should you worry if your jeans go smart?
What if those new jeans you’ve just bought start tweeting about your location as you cross
London Bridge? It sounds bizarre, but it’s possible – if they are equipped with a tiny RFID
device, your location could be revealed without you knowing about it. This technology is just
one of the current ways of allowing physical objects to go online – the so-called Internet of
Things. Those in favour of the IoT claim that interconnectivity would allow us to locate and
monitor everything, everywhere and at any time. Imagine a smart building where you know
how many people are inside just by detecting movement with motion-sensitive lights. This
could help save lives in an emergency.But as more objects become part of the digital world,
there is growing debate over the benefits of smart technology versus the lack of privacy. To
what extent can surveillance of people be accepted? Which principles should govern the use of
the IoT? The European Commission, for example, has established a framework to safeguard
consumer privacy as industries develop this technology further. Within the retail industry, a
number of stores have started using RFID tags to check and track stock more easily. However,
some people are worried that the RFID reader being used by a shop employee to check the
number of pairs of jeans could also read the data on a customer’s driving licence, for example,
if it contained a RFID chip. This could then lead to identity theft. If the tag is not removed at
the checkout, the item could be tracked on the street. Once the tag is thrown away, it can still
be scanned, allowing someone to get an idea of your shopping habits.Supporters of the IoT
point out that in our already digital and high-tech society your mobile phone operator and bank
know much more about your life than your partner does and it is certainly more critical
information than the type of jeans you wear.
QUESTIONS.
Read the text and decide if these sentences are true (T) or false (F). If there is not enough
information, choose ‘doesn’t say’ (DS).
1 You are always aware that RFID tags are communicating your location. F
2 The Internet of Things means everyday objects and items can be connected to the Internet.T
3 There are more people in favour of the IoT than against it. Doesn't say
4 The European Commission is against the development of RFID technology. F
5 If someone has a document with an RFID chip, they could be at risk of identity theft. Doesn't say
6 Because of digital technology, many companies already hold a lot of private, important T
information about us.

VOCABULARY
Some useful adjectives
1. Oh dear. I pressed the __________ button.
a. incorrect b. wrong c. false
2. I can't use my mobile phone. The battery's __________.
a. over b. flat c. exhausted
3. The battery isn't completely flat, but its very __________.
a. down b. short c. low

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4. My video camera is very __________.
a. easy to use b. uncomplicated c. obvious
5. My new computer has a very __________ processor.
a. quick b. high speed c. fast
6. The X19 notebook computer features a very __________ design.
a. compact b. little c. small
7. Keeping files on paper is __________ solution.
a. an old-tech b. a past-tech c. a low-tech
8. Keeping files on a computer database is a __________ solution.
a. new-tech b. now-tech c. high-tech
9. My new PDA is the __________ model.
a. latest b. newest c. most modern
10. In our office, we've set up a __________ network.
a. wire-free b. no wires c. wireless
11. A call from New York to Toyko is __________ distance.
a. far b. long c. faraway
12. I don't think this printer is __________ with my computer.
a. compatible b. connectable c. suitable
13. My laptop is only 3 centimetres ___________.
a. thick b. tall c. wide
14. The screen on my laptop isn't very __________.
a. light b. white c. bright
15. In three or four years, my new computer will probably be __________.
a. old fashioned b. behind the times c. obsolete
16. When you connect this to your computer, it will work immediately. It's __________.
a. plug and go b. plug and play c. plug and use

Mobile phone networks

Choose the best word.
1. After 6pm, calls cost 20p __________ minute
a. for one b. per c. each
2. You can't use a mobile in a cave because there's no __________.
a. network b. connection c. power
3. I need to charge up my mobile phone battery. Have you seen my __________?
a. charger b. recharger c. charging machine
4. When you send a text message, the __________ function can help your write it more quickly.
a. predicting text b. predictive text c. text predictor
5. In the car, it's safer to use a __________ phone.
a. handless b. no hands c. hands-free
6. If you don't want to dial a number by mistake, turn on the __________.
a. keypad locker b. keypad lock c. locker of keypad
7. Which network has the lowest __________?
a. call charges b. call costs c. call expenses
8. My pay-as-you-go account __________ is about £7.
a. balance b. level c. amount
9. My average call __________ is about two minutes.
a. time b. length c. duration
10. We're a long way from the nearest __________ …
a. broadcaster b. antenna c. transmitter
11. …so the __________ is very weak.
a. sign b. signal c. transmission

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Which is not possible?
12. I'll call her on my…
a. mobile phone b. cell phone c. moving phone d. cellular phone
13. A mobile phone can't work without a…
a. SIM card b. sim card c. sim chip d. similar card
14. Don't forget to send me…
a. a text message b. a text c. an SMS d. a phone message
15. When I arrive, I'll…
a. text you b. textualise you c. send you an SMS d. send you a text

Other devices
1. When you pay by credit card, your card is __________.
a. swooped b. swiped c. swapped
2. A laptop computer with a screen you can write on is called a __________.
a. tablet PC b. table PC c. flat screen PC
3. An image on TV or computer screen is made up of thousands of __________.
a. points b. pixels c. bits
4. You can draw directly onto a computer screen with a __________.
a. bright pen b. light pen c. pixel pen
5. A camera connected directly to the internet is called __________.
a. an internet camera b. a web watcher c. a webcam
6. The woman in the photo is wearing a __________.
a. headpiece b. headphone c. headset
7. She talks to customers on the telephone all day. She works in a __________.
a. telephone centre b. call centre c. talking centre

Data storage
Choose the bet option

burn capacity card drawer

eject free space hard drive stick

1. The data and applications on your computer are stored on the _______________.
2. To run this application you need at least 50MB of _______________ on your hard drive.
3. My computer's hard drive has a _______________ of 120GB.
4. Do you like this CD? I can _______________ you a copy if you want.
5. The opposite of "Insert the DVD" is "_______________ the DVD".
6. I can't eject the CD. I think the _______________'s stuck.
7. Digital cameras usually store pictures on a memory _______________ or a memory

Which do you think is the best solution for each problem? (More than one solution
is possible for some of problems.)
1. I want to make a copy of a music CD a. You need an external hard drive.
2. I want to store some files. I may need to update b. Use a CD-R.
them in the future.
3. I want to back up data from my computer. I want c. Try a USB flash drive.
to update it every day
4. My computer's having problems with reading and d. Perhaps you need a new internal CD drive.
writing CDs
5. I want to add 100MB of extra storage to my e. Put them on a CD-RW
computer.

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 6. I want to send a copy of a small file to a friend. He f. Perhaps you need to defragment the hard
has an old computer drive
7. My computer's running slowly g. You could put it on a floppy disk.

SOME GRAMMAR POINTS : use of the simple past and past continuous
Put the verb in the correct form: past simple or past continuous.
1. I _______________ (dream) when the alarm clock _______________ (go off).
2. They _______________ (wait) for me when I _______________ (arrive).
3. The phone _______________ (ring) while I _______________ (have) a shower.
4. We _______________ (not/go out) last Sunday because it _______________ (rain).
5. I _______________ (see) Kim at the party. She _______________ (wear) a new dress.
6. I _______________ (break) a bowl this morning. When I _______________ (wash) the
dishes it just _______________ (slip) out of my hand onto the floor!
7. When he _______________ (carry) the table, he _______________ (feel) a sharp pain in
his back.
8. Sarah _______________ (go) down the stairs when the lights _______________ (go
out).
9. We _______________ (watch) TV when someone _______________ (come) to the door
and _______________ (knock) very loudly.
10. What _______________ (you/do) at this time yesterday? Oh, I _______________
(prepare) the dinner.

GLOSSARY
• algorithm
a precise rule specifying how to solve some problem
• alignment
adjusting the parts of something in relation to each other
• alpha
early testing stage of a software or hardware product
• analog
having an output that is proportional to the input
• application
a program that gives a computer instructions
• backup
a copy of a file or directory on a separate storage device
• bandwidth
a data transmission rate
• batch processing
the serial execution of computer programs
• baud
a data transmission rate for modems
• beta test
(computer science) a second test of an experimental product (such as computer software)
carried out by an outside organization
• binary
of or pertaining to a number system having 2 as its base
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• bit
a unit of measurement of information
• bitmap
an image represented as a two dimensional array of brightness values for pixels
• blog
an online journal where people post about their experiences
• Boolean
of or relating to a combinatorial system devised by George Boole that combines propositions
with the logical operators AND and OR and IF THEN and EXCEPT and NOT
• broadband
of or relating to or being a communications network in which the bandwidth can be divided
and shared by multiple simultaneous signals (as for voice or data or video)
• browser
a program used to view HTML documents
• buffer
a part of RAM used for temporary storage of data
• buffer storage
(computer science) a part of RAM used for temporary storage of data that is waiting to be sent
to a device; used to compensate for differences in the rate of flow of data between
components of a computer system
• bug
a fault or defect in a computer program, system, or machine
• bulletin board system
a computer that is running software that allows users to leave messages and access
information of general interest
• byte
a sequence of data processed as a single unit of information
• cache
RAM memory that is set aside as a specialized buffer storage
• capacity
the amount of information that can be stored on a disk drive
• CD-ROM
a compact disk that is used with a computer
• cell
any small compartment
• central processing unit
the part of a computer that does most of the data processing
• client
any computer that is hooked up to a computer network
• clip art
ready-made pieces of computerized graphic art that can be used to decorate a document
• closed-loop system
a control system with a feedback loop that is active
• code
the symbolic arrangement of data in a computer program
• configure
set up for a particular purpose
• cookie

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a short line of text that a web site puts on your computer's hard drive when you access the
web site
• copyright
the exclusive right to sell a work
• cybercrime
crime committed using a computer and the internet
• cyberspace
a worldwide network of computer networks
• database
an organized body of related information
• data mining
data processing using sophisticated data search capabilities and statistical algorithms to
discover patterns and correlations in large preexisting databases; a way to discover new
meaning in data
• debug
locate and correct errors in a computer program code
• decompress
restore something reduced in volume to its full volume
• desktop
(computer science) the area of the screen in graphical user interfaces against which icons and
windows appear
• desktop publishing
(computer science) the use of microcomputers with graphics capacity to produce printed
materials
• digitize
put into a format that can be read or processed by computers
• directory
a listing of the computer files stored in memory
• disk
(computer science) a memory device consisting of a flat disk covered with a magnetic coating
on which information is stored
• domain name
strings of letters and numbers (separated by periods) that are used to name organizations and
computers and addresses on the internet
• download
transfer a file or program to a smaller computer
• emoticon
a facial expression represented by a sequence of characters
• encryption
the activity of converting data or information into code
• exabyte
a unit of information equal to 1000 petabytes or 10^18 bytes
• export
transfer out of a database or document
• external storage
a data storage device that is not the main memory of a computer
• FAQ
a list of questions that are frequently asked (about a given topic) along with their answers
• feedback

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the process in which output of a system is returned to input
• field
a set of characters comprising a unit of information
• file
a set of related records kept together
• filename extension
a string of characters beginning with a period and followed by one or more letters; the
optional second part of a PC computer filename
• firewall
a security system preventing access to a computer or network
• firmware
(computer science) coded instructions that are stored permanently in read-only memory
• font
a specific size and style of type within a type family
• format
the organization of data according to preset specifications
• frame
an application that divides the user's display into windows
• freeware
software that is provided without charge
• function
a set sequence of steps, part of larger computer program
• gigabyte
a unit of information equal to 1000 megabytes or 10^9 bytes
• GPS
a navigational system involving satellites and computers that can determine the latitude and
longitude of a receiver on Earth by computing the time difference for signals from different
satellites to reach the receiver
• graphical user interface
a user interface based on graphics instead of text
• hack
fix a computer program piecemeal until it works
• hacker
a programmer who breaks into computer systems
• hard drive
computer hardware that holds and spins a magnetic or optical disk and reads and writes
information on it
• hardware
the mechanical components making up a computer system
• home page
the opening page of a web site
• host
a computer providing shared resources to a computer network
• HTML
a set of tags and rules (conforming to SGML) for using them in developing hypertext
documents
• hyperlink
a link from a hypertext file to another location or file
• hypertext
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machine-readable text that is not sequential but is organized so that related items of
information are connected
• icon
a symbol in a graphical user interface
• import
transfer data into a database or document
• information technology
the branch of engineering that deals with the use of computers and telecommunications to
retrieve and store and transmit information
• initialize
assign an initial value to a computer program
• input device
a device that can be used to insert data into a computer or other computational device
• interface
a point of interaction between a computer system and a user
• intranet
a restricted computer network
• iteration
a single execution of a set of repeated instructions
• justify
adjust the spaces between words
• key word
a significant word used in indexing or cataloging
• kilobyte
a unit of information equal to 1000 bytes
• local area network
a local computer network for communication between computers
• mainframe
a large digital computer serving 100-400 users and occupying a special air-conditioned room
• megabyte
a unit of information equal to 1000 kilobytes or 10^6 bytes
• memory
an electronic storage device
• microprocessor
integrated circuit semiconductor chip that performs the bulk of the processing and controls the
parts of a system
• modem
a device used to connect computers by a telephone line
• mother board
the main circuit board for a computer
• network
a system of interconnected electronic components or circuits
• noise
electrical or acoustic activity that disturbs communication
• operating system
(computer science) software that controls the execution of computer programs and may
provide various services
• output device

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electronic or electromechanical equipment connected to a computer and used to transfer data
out of the computer in the form of text, images, sounds, or other media
• packet
(computer science) a message or message fragment
• parity bit
(computer science) a bit that is used in an error detection procedure in which a 0 or 1 is added
to each group of bits so that it will have either an odd number of 1's or an even number of 1's;
e.g., if the parity is odd then any group of bits that arrives with an even number of 1's must
contain an error
• peripheral
electronic equipment connected by cable to a computer
• personal digital assistant
a lightweight consumer electronic device that looks like a hand-held computer but instead
performs specific tasks; can serve as a diary or a personal database or a telephone or an alarm
clock etc.
• pixel
the smallest discrete component of an image on a screen
• plagiarism
taking someone's words or ideas as if they were your own
• platform
the combination of a computer and an operating system
• podcast
distribute (multimedia files) over the internet for playback on a mobile device or a personal
computer
• program
a sequence of instructions that a computer can execute
• programming language
a language designed for programming computers
• protocol
rules determining the format and transmission of data
• QWERTY keyboard
the standard typewriter keyboard
• RAM
the most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform necessary
tasks while the computer is on; an integrated circuit memory chip allows information to be
stored or accessed in any order and all storage locations are equally accessible
• read-only memory
(computer science) memory whose contents can be accessed and read but cannot be changed
• redundancy
repetition of messages to reduce the probability of errors
• router
(computer science) a device that forwards data packets between computer networks
• search engine
a computer program that retrieves documents or files or data from a database or from a
computer network (especially from the internet)
• server
a networked computer that provides access to client stations
• simulation
representing the real world by a computer program

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• software
written programs operating on a computer system
• spam
unwanted e-mail
• spreadsheet
a screen-oriented interactive program enabling a user to lay out financial data on the screen
• spyware
computer software that obtains information from a user's computer without the user's
knowledge or consent
• streaming
using or relating to a form of continuous tape transport
• subsystem
a system that is part of some larger system
• symbol
an arbitrary sign with a conventional significance
• telecommunication
(often plural) systems used in transmitting messages over a distance electronically
• template
a model or standard for making comparisons
• touch-type
type without looking at the keyboard
• transistor
a semiconductor device capable of amplification
• upload
transfer data to a server, remote computer, or website
• URL
the address of a web page on the world wide web
• virus
a software program capable of reproducing itself
• webcam
a digital camera designed to take digital photographs and transmit them over the internet
• wide area network
a computer network that spans a wider area than does a local area network
• WiFi
a local area network that uses high frequency radio signals to transmit and receive data over
distances of a few hundred feet; uses ethernet protocol
• word processor
an application that provides the user with tools needed to write and edit and format text and to
send it to a printer

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