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English for Specific Purposes - Exercise

Disciplina: INGLÊS INSTRUMENTAL Semestre:


Professor (a): ÁTILA DA SILVA VALE FILHO Período
Data: Turma: Turno:

SKIMMING
TEXTO I

What is Computer and


Its Full Form Updated Jan 31, 2023

Computer stands for:


Common Operating Machine Purposely Used for Technological and
Educational Research.

The word computer is derived from the word compute. Computers are
perhaps the most important invention of the last 100 years.
English for Specific Purposes - Exercise

From outer space satellites, self-driving cars, artificial intelligence-


powered robots, drones to paying your electricity bills online – they are
used everywhere! This electronic device can be considered as the
pioneer of the technological revolution that shook the world.

Computers are used in every field including information technology,


physics, chemistry, biological sciences, astronomy, archaeology,
engineering, and defence. In this post, we will learn the basics of this
amazing device.

Definition of Computer
A computer is a device that can carry out arithmetic and logical
instructions very fast. It takes input and processes the output using
software and hardware.

But this definition is out-of-date and the computer has come a long way
since its invention. Let us now see the system has evolved in the next
section.

Modern Definition of Computer


It is an electronic device that can manipulate, store, process, and
retrieve data. Computers are used in daily tasks such as sending
emails, playing games, preparing documents, posting comments on
English for Specific Purposes - Exercise

social media, and watching videos on YouTube. Apart from desktops


and laptops, you can find computers on TVs, remote controllers, ACs,
refrigerators, cars, smartphones, and tablets.

Let us gather a deeper understanding of the device. A computer is


made of two important components - The Arithmetical Logical
Unit and Control Unit.

COMPUTER = Arithmetical Logical Unit (ALU) + Control Unit


(CU)

ALU (Arithmetical Logical Unit)


This part of the computer executes all the arithmetic and logical
operations. In some processors, the ALU is divided into 2 more parts –

• Arithmetic unit (AU)


• Logic unit (LU)

ALU executes arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction,


division, multiplication, and shifting operations. In the case of logical
operations, it executes AND, OR, NOT, XOR functions and Boolean
comparisons.

CU (Control Unit)
This part of the computer’s processor handles the flow of data through
the processor. It also controls the timing of instructions and operations.
After receiving instructions from a program, it sends them to the ALU.

The 2 main components of CU are:

• Program counter: This loads instructions from memory and


stores them in sequential order.
• Instruction register: This decodes the instructions and
transforms them into CPU commands

Categorization of Computer
Based on technology, computers are divided into 3 broad
categories:

1) Digital Computer
These are the computers you come across every day. The IBM PC and
Apple Macintosh were the first digital computers to be used. These
systems can perform various computational tasks based on the
instructions given.
English for Specific Purposes - Exercise

Typically, digital computers use the binary system, which has 2 digits
– 0 and 1. These digits are called bits and they are used for
representing information.

2) Analog Computer
An analog computer handles and processes analog data. These systems
store data in physical quantities and execute calculations using
measures. The results of these calculations are represented using
symbolic numbers.

3) Hybrid Computer
These systems can be considered a combination of both digital and
analog computers. The digital part handles logical and numerical
operations. On the other hand, the analog component tackles complex
mathematical operations.

Generation of Computers
First Generation (1940 - 1956)
The period between 1940 and 1956 was considered the first generation
of computers. The computers were developed using vacuum tubes.
They worked on binary code and accepted input using punched cards.

Examples: Mark I and Electronic Numerical Integrator And Calculator


(ENIAC)

Second Generation (1956 - 1963)


The period between 1956 and 1963 is the second generation of
computers. The transistor technology was used for creating computers
back then. Moreover, these systems took less time for performing
calculations than the 1st generation computers.

Examples: IBM 1620 and CDC 3600

Third Generation (1963 - 1971)


1963 to 1971 was the 3rd generation of computers. The computers of
this generation were developed using integrated circuits. These
systems consumed less power, heat and were easy to maintain.

Examples: IBM-360 and VAX-750

Fourth Generation (1972 - 2010)


English for Specific Purposes - Exercise

The period between 1972 and 2010 is considered the 4th generation of
computers. Microprocessors were used for developing these computers.
The systems were faster than the other generations. It was this
generation when computers were made commonly available for people.

Examples: IBM-PC and Apple-Macintosh

Fifth Generation (2010-Present)


The fifth generation of computers started in 2010 and is continuing.
Computers today are faster than ever and can process multiple
instructions at a time. Some of the technologies in this generation
include artificial intelligence, data science, cloud computing, parallel
processing, cybersecurity, and nanotechnology.

Important Components of a Computer


Hardware
The various physical components of a computer are called hardware.
These include a keyboard, mouse, monitor, CPU, servers, etc. These
components are used for providing input to a computer. Based on this
input or instructions, the system will execute operations.

Motherboard
This is the main circuit board that connects the CPU, RAM, video card,
and hard drive. It has ports for all the other peripherals to connect. It is
placed inside the CPU casket and has ports for optical drives, memory,
and power supply. A peripheral slot is available for inserting video and
sound cards.

CPU/Processor
Central Processing Unit can be considered the brain of a computer. This
processes all the data fed into it and delivers the appropriate results.
These results may be displayed on the monitor or stored in an
application. It contains a processor that is a chip that performs all
calculations.

A CPU may have 2 processors (dual-core) or 4 processors (quad-


core). Popular CPU processors include Intel Core i7 and AMD Ryzen.

RAM
Random Access Memory (RAM) is used for storing information such
as machine code and working data. It is like the short-term memory of
English for Specific Purposes - Exercise

a computer, where the information gets erased when you shut down
the computer. As data is accessed randomly instead of sequentially,
RAM is very fast.

Hard Drive
This is the part of a computer that stores and retrieves data and is non-
volatile. It is attached to the disk controller of a computer’s
motherboard. The hard drive is essential for installing programs or
software on the system. The operating system is installed on the hard
drive along with other applications.

Software
Softwares are the various applications that are intended for executing
specific tasks. This application is a set of instructions that process the
input and produce an output. Popular software includes word
processors, security applications, image editors, web browsers,
database programs, software development tools, and cloud storage
services.

You can install any software of your choice, as long as it supports your
system’s hardware. Even PC games are high-end software used for
entertainment purposes. Perhaps the most important software on a
computer is the Operating System. This acts as a bridge between the
user and the system’s hardware. For example, Windows 10 and Mac
OS.

Some Important Computer Related full


forms
Abbreviation Full-Form
Common Operating Machine Purposely Used for
COMPUTER
Technological and Educational Research
OS Operating System
ROM Read-Only Memory
CPU Central Processing Unit
URL Uniform Resource Locator
USB Universal Serial Bus
USB-C Universal Serial Bus Type-C
VIRUS Vital Information Resource Under Siege
TCP Transmission Control Protocol
English for Specific Purposes - Exercise

Abbreviation Full-Form
UPS Uninterruptible Power Supply
SATA Serial Advanced Technology Attachment
RAM Random Access Memory
SMPS Switched-Mode Power Supply
CD Compact Disc
DVD Digital Versatile Disc
CRT Cathode Ray Tube
DEC Digital Equipment Corporation
SAP System Application and Products
PNG Portable Network Graphics
IP Internet Protocol
GIS Geographical Information system
DDS Digital Data Storage
CAD Computer-Aided Design
ACPI Advanced Configuration and Power Interface
AGP Accelerated Graphics Port
APM Advanced Power Management
APIPA Automatic Private Internet Protocol Addressing
HTTP HyperText Transfer Protocol
HTTPS HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure
HDMI High Definition Multimedia Interface

Common Memory Related full forms


Abbreviation Full-Form
KB Kilobyte (this is the smallest storage unit)
MB MegaByte
GB GigaByte
TB TeraByte
PB PentaByte
EB EXAByte
ZB ZetaByte
English for Specific Purposes - Exercise

Conclusion

Computers have changed the way manual tasks are seen and
perceived. Nowadays, you are likely to find an application to perform
any task that you can think of. Computers have helped small
companies speed up their development and manufacturing processes.
This has helped them grow their businesses and turn into large
corporates.

All this had paved the way for many job opportunities. Thanks to
computers, many people can earn a living even from the comfort of
their home, by doing freelance jobs.

FONTE: https://www.stechies.com/full-form-computer/

EXERCISE ( Answer according to the text)

1º) Qual é a definição moderna de um computador?

2º) Quais são os principais componentes de um computador?

3º) Qual é a função da ALU (Unidade Lógica Aritmética) em um


computador?

4º) O que é uma CPU?

5º) Qual é a diferença entre memória RAM e disco rígido?

6º) Qual é a função do sistema operacional em um computador?

7º) Quais são as categorias principais de computadores com base na


tecnologia?

8º) Quais são as gerações de computadores e suas características


distintivas?

9º) O que é um URL?

10º) O que é um vírus de computador?


English for Specific Purposes - Exercise

11º) Qual é a diferença entre um computador digital e um computador


analógico?

12º) O que é um sistema operacional?

13º) Quais são os componentes principais da placa-mãe de um


computador?

14º) Qual é a diferença entre memória ROM e RAM?

15º) O que significa USB e USB-C?

16º) Qual é o papel da CPU em um computador?

17º) Quais são as principais categorias de memória relacionadas ao


armazenamento de dados?

18º) O que é um programa de computador?

19º) Qual é o papel da memória RAM em um computador?

20º) O que é um sistema de quinta geração de computadores?

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