unit 2 computer hardware 《计算机专业英语》潘果. 计算机专业英语 unit 2 computer...

Unit 2 Computer Hardware

《计算机专业英语》

潘果

计算机专业英语


• Section1 Situational Dialog Shopping for a Computer

• Section 2 Passages Passage A. A Guide on The Main Components In a PC Passage B. Introducing Common Peripherals

• Section 3 Skill in Focus Reading Skills Part 2—Characteristics of Computer English

Vocabulary Characteristics of Computer English Text

• Section 4 Extended Reading Part III of Commencement Speech at Stanford Given by Steve

Jobs Intel Settles Antitrust AMD Case for $1.2bn A Brief Rundown of What You Need In A Laptop Tips: Upgrade Your PC with a New Graphics Card



Section 1 Situational Dialogue

Shopping for a Computer

1 、你购买过计算机吗？描述一下你的购买过程以及你的电脑配置。或者如果你打算购买，你会买一台什么配置的电脑。

2 、你觉得购买计算机的时候应当考虑哪些因素？


Unit 2 Section 1

Chen Hong plans to buy a computer and she is asking Mr. Li for suggestions.

• Chen Hong: Excuse me, Mr. Li. I’m planning to buy a computer. I wonder if you could give me some advice.

• Mr. Li: Sure. It would be better if you’ve got a budget. Which do you prefer, a desktop or laptop? And what do you want it for?

• Chen Hong: I’d like to spend about 4,000 yuan on a desktop, with which I could learn about image processing software and search some information online. Besides, I’d really love to watch some blockbusters in my spare time. I know a branded computer is a better choice for a layman like me since an assembled one does not ensure good services. I went to the PC Mall the other day and brought back these leaflets. Would you please select one for me?


Unit 2 Section 1

• Mr. Li: OK. Let me take a look. …

• Mr. Li: I recommend this one. You see, it enjoys a good CPU and an independent Graphics card, suitable for image processing. Its 22in display with 1080p full HD capability is ideal for video watching. Most importantly, the price is competitive.

• Chen Hong: The retailer also offers speakers, a USB flash drive, a camera and a tablet free of charge, and the RAM can be upgraded considerably for 100 yuan more.

• Mr. Li: That’s impressive. Surf the Internet and you can learn a lot about hardware from this shopping experience.

• Chen Hong: That’s quite true! Thank you very much for your advice!



Section 2 Passage A ：A Guide on the Main Components in a PC

1 、计算机是由哪些组件构成的

2 、选择一个你最熟悉的硬件向同学们介绍


Unit 2 Section 2 Passage A

• component

• binary

• interact

• motherboard

• RAM

• ROM

• BIOS

• BUS

• O/I

• Harddisk

• sector

• FAT

• CD-ROM

• DVD-ROM

• burning

• expansion card

• modem

• analogue

• translator

• graphics card

• AC

• DC



• Historically, a computer is any device that can store and process data.

• Today it usually refers to an electronic device with circuits that allow for data to be manipulated in binary form. So the main components are software (programs to process data) and hardware (devices used for the storing and processing of that data).

• And lastly, an array of components for humans to interact with the electronic data “machine.”



• Modern computers usually contain the following components:

1. Motherboards2. CPU3. Memory4. O/I Ports5. Hard Disk6. CD-ROM/DVD-ROM Drive7. Expansion Cards8. Power Supply


Unit 2 Section 2 Passage A• Motherboards

The motherboard is heart of the computer, with all of its connections leading out from itself and into every device in the machine.

When you open a PC you’ll see the Motherboard will more than likely cover the whole of one side of the PC.

It is a very important part of the system since everything has to be connected to it, everything therefore has to be compatible with it.

The speed of the connections that run from each component to the motherboard can also have a positive or negative effect on the system.



• CPU The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is often referred to as

the “brain” of the computer. Although it is argued amongst many people weather or not this is the most important part of the computer, it is still one of the most significant pieces of hardware inside the case.

However, it is not to say that by merely buying a new CPU you will be speeding up the computer, which is a common mistake made by users who don’t see the computer as a “whole” but as its different components.

The CPU works in direct harmony with all other parts of the system. The impact of a CPU will be greatly reduced if the motherboard has a slow BUS speed.



• Memory The Memory of the computer comes under two sections, the

RAM (Random Access Memory) and the ROM (Read Only Memory).

The difference between the two is that, RAM is volatile (which means that when the workstation powers down or switches off then the contents of the memory is cleared) and ROM is not. The ROM is also known as the BIOS (Basic Input Output System).

Memory as in RAM is very important to the computer, especially if this particular computer is going to be working with a lot of large files and programs.

However on the other hand ROM is not very important; the BIOS version written onto it is the most recent (or a fairly recent) version.



• O/I Ports O/I Ports (Output/Input Ports) covers all of the sockets,

commonly at the back of the PC. These ports are intended for you to plug in external

hardware such as a printer or a mouse into your PC. Without them the user would be unable to interface with the PC.

They work, for the most part, by being connected into the motherboard.

Most of these are nowadays automatically detected as soon as we plug them into the slot therefore making it easy to just plug in a device and be able to use it right away.



• Hard Disk This is the main storage device on all PCs capable of

holding huge programs and file sizes. Inside the Hard Disk there is a read/write head that does

all of the reading and writing from the disk. This read/write head magnetizes something known as

sectors on the Hard Disk; if a sector fills up then the read/write head will move onto another sector, no matter where on the disk and continue writing.

The Hard Disk has a special area on it known as the FAT (File Allocation Table), which tells the read/write head where all the pieces of information it needs are.



• Hard Disk However if a read/write head has to keep moving around

the disk to get the information it needs instead of being in the one place, it will slow things down.

To counter this, programs like Disk Defragmenters are used to put all of the data together and therefore improve access times on the Hard Disk.



• CD-ROM/DVD-ROM Drive The CD-ROM and the DVD-ROM drives are very popular

methods of data storage. It is essential for almost all computers nowadays to have

access to a CD-ROM drive in the very least, especially at a business level.

They work in a very similar way to the hard disk drive in the sense that they are read and written to, however this job is done with a laser and the term for writing to a CD or DVD is often referred to as “burning”.

DVD-ROMs work in exactly the same way as CD-ROMS, the only difference being that DVD-ROMs contain a lot more data.



• Expansion Cards Expansion cards are the cards inside of the PC that are

useful for performing specific features. For example, the internal modem takes care of speaking to

an analogue line for the computer and acts as a translator for the computer and the phone line, and a graphics card allows you to deal with high quality media.

Expansion cards are paramount for fine-tuning the system. They are the parts of the machine that make it truly customizable.



• Power Supply The power supply supplies power to the whole system. Is

the part of the computer that is hooked directly into the mains.

Due to the capacitors and other electronics inside of them, they are normally very dangerous even when disconnected from the mains, and are almost completely non user-serviceable.

The power supply takes the AC power from the wall socket and converts it into DC power because AC current is liable to damage the delicate innards of the PC.



• Power Supply A power supply is another essential part. The only thing

you will be likely to get different on a power supply is the amount of wattage out and the amount of connectors that it will allow out.



•Exercises I 1. ______ is heart of the computer, with all of its

connections leading out from itself and into every device in the machine.

A. The motherboard B. The CPU C. The hard disk D. The power supply

A



•Exercises I 2. The impact of a ______ will be greatly reduced

if the motherboard has a slow BUS speed. A. O/I Port B. CPU C. memory D. hard disk

B



•Exercises I 3. ______ is the main storage device on all PCs

capable of holding huge programs and file sizes. A. The ROM B. The RAM C. The DVD-ROM drive D. The Hard Disk

D



•Exercises I 4. The term for ______ a CD or DVD is often

referred to as “burning” A. reading B. checking C. writing to D. moving

C



•Exercises II

1. CPU2. Power Supply3. I/O Ports4. CD-ROM5. FAT6. Memory7. Hard Disk8. BIOS9. Motherboard10. Expansion Card

( ) a. 扩展卡( ) b. 内存( ) c. 中央处理器( ) d. 文件配置表( ) e. 硬盘( ) f. 基本输入输出系统( ) g. 输入 / 输出端口( ) h. 只读光盘( ) i. 主板( ) j. 电源

1

2

34

5

6

78

9

10



•Exercises III retain computer memory store device dominance

The first hard disk, created by IBM in 1956, weighed over a tonne but could 1._________ only 5MB of files. Modern hard disks are smaller, cheaper and typically store 100,000 times more data.The hard disk is an invaluable part of a PC because, unlike a computer’s main 2._________, which is wiped when the 3._________ is turned off, the hard disk will 4._________ files when there is no power running through the computer. They have also found their way into other devices including portable media players, camcorders and digital (Free view) TV recorders.However, the hard disk’s 5._________ over our computers is now being threatened by an entirely different storage 6._________ the Solid-State Disk (SSD). SSDs are built with Flash memory, the same as is used in a digital camera’s memory card, which makes them much faster than hard disks.

store

memorycomputer retain

dominance

device



Section 2 Passage B Introducing Common Peripheral

1 、你觉得计算机外围设备指的是什么，请举例说明

2 、找一个你熟悉的外围设备向同学们介绍


Unit 2 Section 2 Passage B

• peripheral• perform• handle• OA• USB flash• scanner• fax machine• storage device• floppy disk• capacity• text• digital image• 3D• illustrations• daisy-wheel printer• dot-matrix printer• ink-jet printer• laser printer

• LCD

• LED

• MFP

• AIO

• MFD

• MP3

• MP4

• DV

• DC

• PSP

• audio

• WMA

• screen

• video

• UMD



• A peripheral is an object attached to the computer to help it perform some necessary assignments none of the other parts can handle.

• In most scenarios, no peripheral is required but nowadays, it is unusual for a computer not to have any peripheral at all.

• Below are some of the common peripherals used for Office Automation (OA) and for entertainment.

• Office Automation is a general term that includes a wide range of applications of computer, communication and information technologies in office environments.

• The most used peripherals for OA are the USB flash, a scanner, the printer, the Fax machine, etc.



• A USB flash drive consists of flash memory data storage device integrated with a USB (Universal Serial Bus) 1.1 or 2.0 interface. It is used for the same purposes as floppy disks but smaller, faster, more durable, and with thousands of times more capacity. Storage capacities in 2010 can be as large as 256 GB with steady improvements in size and price per capacity.



• A scanner is a device that optically scans images, printed text, handwriting, or an object, and converts it to a digital image. A scanner works by digitizing an image -- dividing it into a grid of boxes and representing each box with either a zero or a one, depending on whether the box is filled in. The resulting matrix of bits, called a bit map, can then be stored in a file, displayed on a screen, and manipulated by programs.

• Common examples are the flatbed scanners, the hand-held scanners, and 3D scanners.



• A printer is a device that prints text or illustrations on paper. There are many different types of printers.

• In terms of the technology utilized, printers can be classified into daisy-wheel printers which produce letter-quality print but cannot print graphics, dot-matrix printers which create characters with dots made by striking pins against an ink ribbon, ink-jet printers which prays ink at a sheet of paper to produce high-quality text and graphics, laser printers which use the same technology as copy machines and produce very high quality text and graphics, LCD & LED printers which use liquid crystals or light-emitting diodes to produce an image on the drum, line printers which contain a chain of characters or pins that print an entire line at one time, and thermal printers that work by pushing heated pins against heat-sensitive paper.



• A fax machine is a device that can send or receive pictures and text over a telephone line.

• Fax machines work by digitizing an image -- dividing it into a grid of dots. Each dot is either on or off, depending on whether it is black or white. Electronically, each dot is represented by a bit that has a value of either 0 (off) or 1 (on). In this way, the fax machine translates a picture into a series of zeros and ones (called a bit map) that can be transmitted like normal computer data.



• An MFP (Multi Function Product / Printer / Peripheral), multifunctional, all-in-one (AIO), or Multifunction Device (MFD), is an office machine which incorporates the functionality of multiple devices in one, so as to have a smaller footprint in a home or small business setting, or to provide centralized document management / distribution / production in a large-office setting.

• A typical MFP may act as a combination of printer, scanner, photocopier, and fax.



• The most used peripherals for entertainment include MP3 players, MP4 players, DC, DV, and PSP, etc.

• An MP3 player is a portable consumer electronic device that allows you to store and plays music files in MP3 format. MP3 players are small handheld devices and often use flash memory for storing MP3 files. While frequently called an MP3 player, it fits under the broader category of digital audio players and often an MP3 players can use other file types such as Windows Media Audio (WMA).



• The name MP4 player is a marketing term for portable media players that comply with certain standards and formats. The name itself is a misnomer, since most MP4 players are incompatible with the MPEG-4 Part 14 or the mp4 container format.

• Instead, the term symbolizes their status as successors of MP3 players. In this sense, in some markets like Brazil, any new function added to a given media player is followed by an increase in the number, so it is possible to find “MP5 Players” and even “MP12 Players”



• A digital camera (also digicam or camera for short) is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor.

• Digital cameras can display images on a screen immediately after they are recorded, store thousands of images on a single small memory device, record video with sound, and delete images to free storage space. Some can crop pictures and perform other elementary image editing.

• Fundamentally they operate in the same manner as film cameras, but the image pickup device is electronic rather than chemical.



• DV is a format for recording and playing back digital video. It was launched in 1995 with joint efforts of leading producers of video camera recorders.

• The Play Station Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment.

• It is the first handheld video game console to use an optical disc format, Universal Media Disc (UMD), as its primary storage medium. Other distinguishing features of the console include its large viewing screen, robust multi-media capabilities, and connectivity with the PlayStation 3, other PSPs, and the Internet.



•Exercises I 1. ( ) In most scenarios, no peripheral is required but

nowadays, so it is usual for a computer not to have any peripheral at all.

2. ( ) Dot-matrix printers create characters with dots made by striking pins against an ink ribbon.

3. ( ) A fax-machine is a device that optically scans images, printed text, handwriting, or an object, and converts it to a digital image.

4. ( ) Ink-jet printers which produce letter-quality print but cannot print graphics.

5. ( ) MP4 players are compatible with the MPEG-4 Part 14 or the mp4 container format.

6. ( ) An MP3 player only allows you to store and plays music files in MP3 format.

F

T

F

F

F

F



•Exercises II 1. A peripheral is an object ____________ the computer

to help it perform some ____________ none of the other parts can handle.

2. Office Automation is a ____________ that includes a wide range of applications of computer, ____________ and information technologies in ____________.

3. A USB flash drive consists of flash memory ____________ integrated with a ____________.

4. In terms of the technology utilized, printers can be classified into ____________, dot-matrix printers, ____________, ____________, LCD & LED printers, ____________, and thermal printers.

attached tonecessary assignments

general term

communication

office environments

data storage device USB 1.1 or 2.0 interface

daisy-wheel printersink-jet printers laser printers

line printers



•Exercises II 5. LCD & LED printers use ____________ or

______________ to produce an image on________. 6. A digital camera is a camera that takes video or

____________, or both, digitally by recording images via ______________________.

7. An MFP is also called ____________, ________, or _______________; it is an office machine which ________ the functionality of multiple devices in one

8. The PSP is a handheld __________ manufactured and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It is the first handheld video game console to use ______________, Universal Media Disc (UMD), as its __________________.

liquid crystalsLight-emitting diodes the drum

an electronic images sensorstill photographs

multifunctional all-in-oneMultifunction Device

incorporates

multifunctional

an optical disc formatprimary storage medium


Unit 2 Section 3• Computer English Reading, Part 2

计算机英语词汇的特点计算机英语词汇主要可分为以下几类：

专业技术词汇半技术词汇非技术词汇非词汇 ( 即各种符号 )

计算机英语词汇体现出以下几方面特点： 1 ．转义性 2 ．专业术语和专业略语高频率使用 3 ．简单的屏幕命令，省略名词、动词 4 ．使用各种构词法 5 ．借用 6 ．新词汇不断出现


Unit 2 Section 4

• Part III of Commencement Speech at Stanford Given by Steve Jobs

• Intel Settles Antitrust AMD Case for $1.2bn

• A Brief Rundown of What You Need in a Laptop

• Tips for common PC problems: Upgrade Your PC with a New Graphics Card

unit 2 computer hardware 《计算机专业英语》 潘 果. 计算机专业英语 unit 2 computer...

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unit 2 computer hardware 《计算机专业英语》潘果. 计算机专业英语 unit 2 computer...