Computer Make the World Smaller and Smarter

The ability of tiny computing devices to control complex operations has transformed the way many tasks are performed, ranging from scientific research to producing consumer products. Tiny computers on a chip are used in medical equipment, home appliances, cars and toys. Workers use handheld computing devices to collect data at a customer site, to generate forms, to control inventory, and to serve as desktop organizer. Not only is computing equipment getting smaller, it is getting more sophisticated. Computers are part of many machines and devices that once required continual human supervision and control. Today, computers in security system result in safer environments, computers in cars improve energy efficiency, and computers in phones provide features such as call forwarding, call monitoring, and call answering. These smart machines are designed to take over some of basic tasks previously performed by people; by so doing, they make life a little more pleasant. Smart cards store vital information such as health records, drivers licenses, bank balances, and so on. Smart phones, cars and appliances with built in computers can be programmed to better meet individual needs. A smart house has a built in monitoring system that can turn lights on and off, open and close windows, operate the oven, and more. With small computing devices available for performing smart tasks like cooking dinner, programming the VCR, and controlling the flow of information in an organization, people are able to speed more time doing what they often do best being creative. Computers can help people work creatively. Multimedia systems are known for their educational and entertainment value, which we call edutainment. Multimedia combines text with sound, video, animation, and graphics, which greatly enhances the interaction between user and machine and can make information more interesting and appealing to people. Expert system software enables computers to think like experts. Medical diagnosis expert system, for example, can help doctors pinpoint a patients illness, suggest further tests, and prescribe appropriate drugs. Connectivity enables computers and software that might otherwise be incompatible to communicate and to share resources. Now that computers are proliferating in many areas and networks are available for people to access data and communicate with others, personal computers are becoming interpersonal PCs. They have the potential to significantly improve the way we relate to each other. Many people today telecommute-that is, use their computers to stay in touch with the office while they are working at home. With the proper tools, hospital staff can get a diagnosis from a medical expert hundreds or thousands of miles away. Similarly, the disabled can communicate more effectively with others using computers. Distance learning and videoconferencing are concept made possible with the use of an electronic classroom or boardroom accessible to people in remote locations. Vast databases of information are currently available to users of the internet, all of whom can send mail messages to each other. The information superhighway is designed to significantly expand this interactive connectivity so that people all over the world will have free access to all these resources. People power is critical to ensuring that hardware, software, and connectivity are effectively integrated in a socially responsible way. People computer users and computer professionals are the ones who will decide which hardware, software, and networks endure and how great an impact they will have on our lives. Ultimately people power must be exercised to ensure that computers are used not only efficiently but in a socially responsible way. A. Find the answers to these questions in the following text. 1. Name some types of devices that use computers on a chip. 2. What uses of handled computers are mentioned in the text? 3. What are the benefits of using computers with the following items? a. Security system. b. Cars c. Phones

4. What smart devices are mentioned in the text? 5. What are smart cards used for? 6. What are the advantages of multimedia? 7. What can medical expert systems do? 8. How can computers help the disabled? 9. What types of computing systems are made available to people in remote locations using electronic classrooms or boardrooms? 10.What aspects of computing can people power determine? B. Re-read the text to find the answers to these questions: 1. Match the terms in Table A with the statement in Table B. Table A a. Edutainment b. Multimedia c. Expert System d. Telecommute e. Information superhighway Table B i. Software that enables computers to 'think' like expert ii. Use computers to stay in touch with the office while working at home iii. Internet system designed to provide free, interactive access to vast resources for people all over the world iv. Multimedia materials with a combination of educational and entertainment content v. A combination of text with sound, video animation, and graphics 2. Mark the following statements as True or False: a. Desktop organizers are programs that require desktop computers. b. Computers are sometimes used to monitor system that previously needed human supervision. c. Networking is a way of allowing otherwise incompatible system to communicate and share resources. d. The use of computers prevents people from being creative. e. Computer users do not have much influence over the way that computing develops. 3. Fill in the blanks. a. perform b. c. d. e. communicate f. access g. decide producer; producibility information improvable communicative accessible

STRUCTURE: ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE

A. Use either active or passive, in any appropriate tense, for the verbs in parentheses.

1. The Amazon valley is extremely important to the ecology of the earth.

Forty percent of the worlds oxygen (produce) there.

2. Right now Roberto is in the hospital. He (treat) for a bad burn on his
hand and arm.

3. The game (win, probably) by the other team tomorrow. Theyre a lot
better than we are.

4. There was a terrible accident on a busy downtown street yesterday.

Dozens of people (see) it, including my friend, who (interview) by the police.

5. In my country, certain prices, such as the price of medical supplies,

(control) by the government. Other prices (determine) by how much consumers are willing to pay for a product.

6. Yesterday a purse-snatcher (catch) by a dog. While the thief (chase)

by the police, he (jump) over the fence into someones yard, where he encountered a ferocious dog. The dog (keep) the thief from escaping.

7. The first fish (appear) on the earth about 500 million years ago. Up
to now, more than 20,000 kinds of fish (name) and (describe) by scientists. New species (discover) every year, so the total increases continually.

8. Richard Anderson is a former astronaut. Several years ago, when he

was 52, Anderson (inform) by his superior at an aircraft corporation that he could no longer be a test pilot. He (tell) that he was being relieved of his duties because of his age. Anderson took the corporation to court for age discrimination.

9. Frostbite may occur when the skin (expose) to extreme cold. It most
frequently (affect) the skin of the cheeks, chin, ears, fingers, nose, and toes.

10. In 1877, a network of lines (discover) on the surface of Mars by an

Italian astronomer, Giovanni Schiaparelli. The astronomer (call) these lines channels, but when the Italian word (translate) into English, it became canals. As a result, some people thought the lines were waterways that (build) by some unknown creatures. We now know that the lines are not really canals. Canals (exist, not) on Mars.

11. Carl Gauss (recognize) as a mathematical genius when he was ten.

One day a professor gave him an arithmetic problem. Carl (ask) to add up all the numbers from 1 to 100 (1+2+3+4+5, etc). It (take) him only eight seconds to solve the problem. How could he do it so quickly? Can you do it quickly?

Carl could do it quickly because he (know) that each pair of numbers 1 plus 100, 2 plus 99, 3 plus 98, and so on to 50 plus 51 equaled 101. So he (multiply) 50 times 101 and (come) up with the answer: 5,050. B. Use the verb in parentheses with the modal or phrasal that sounds best to you. All of the sentences are passive. 1. The entire valley (see) from their mountain home. 2. He is wearing a gold band on his fourth finger. He (marry) 3. According to our teacher, all of our compositions (write) in ink. He wont accept papers written in pencil. 4. I found this book on my desk when I came to class. It (leave) by one of the students in the earlier class. 5. Five of the committee members will be unable to attend the next meeting. In my opinion, the meeting (postpone) 6. A child (give, not) everything he or she wants. 7. Your daughter has a good voice. Her interest in singing (encourage) 8. Try to speak slowly when you give your speech. If you dont some of your words (misunderstand) 9. Some UFO sightings (explain, not) easily. They are inexplicable.

10. What? You tripped over a chair at the party and dropped your plate of
food into a womans lap? You (embarrass) 11.She is very lazy. If you want her to do anything, she (push) 12.The hospital in that small town is very old and can no longer serve the needs of the community. A new hospital (build) years ago. 13.Blue whales and other endangered species (save) from extinction. Do you agree? 14.We cant wait any longer! Something (do) immediately! 15.In my opinion, Ms. Hansen (elect) because she is honest, knowledgeable, and competent. C. Create dialogues that include one (or more) of the given verb phrases. Use other passive modals if you can. Present your dialogues to the class.

1. should have been changed

2. must be submitted 3. ought to have been told 4. could have been damaged 5. will be announced

6. may be required 7. must have been surprised 8. had better be sent 9. is/are supposed to be worn 10. cant be estimated