English for Technical Students. Part 1

D. The Communication via Signals

E. The Remote Control Transmitter

F. Controlling Equipment

G. The First Attempts

H. The Beginning of Television Remote Control

Remote Control

1.The widespread use of television remote controls has turned people in coach potatoes*. We can change channels, adjust the sound and the picture, and do a lot of other actions on the teletext systems with the push of a button.

2.A remote control is a device for controlling equipment from a short line-of- sight distance. This electronic device is used for operating the television set wirelessly. The remote control can be contracted to remote or controller. Usually remote controls are consumer infrared (IR) devices used to command from a distance to televisions or other consumer electronics such as stereo systems, DVD players and dimmers.

3.Most of modern remote controls communicate to their respective devices via IR signals and a few via radio signals. Television IR signals can be mimicked by a universal remote, which is able to emulate the functionality of most major brand television remote controls. They are usually powered by small AAA or AA or sometimes A23 size batteries.

4.One of the earliest examples of a remote control was developed in 1898 by Nikola Tesla. He demonstrated a radio-controlled boat to the public during an electrical exhibition at Madison Square Garden in New York. Tesla called his boat a "teleautomaton". In 1903 Leonardo Torres Quevedo presented the Telekino at the Paris Academy of Science. The Telekino consisted of a robot that executed commands transmitted by electromagnetic waves. It meant the world's first apparatus for radio control and was a pioneer in the field of remote control. The first remotecontrolled model aeroplane flew in 1932, and the use of remote control technology for military purposes was worked intensively during the Second World War.

5.The first remote, which was intended to control a television, was developed by Zenith Radio Corporation in 1950. The remote, called "Lazy Bones", was connected to the television by a wire. A wireless remote control the "Flashmatic" was developed in 1955. It worked by shining a beam of light onto a special cell, but the cell did not distinguish between light from the remote and light from other sources. The Flashmatic also had to be pointed very precisely at the receiver in order to work. In the 1970s remote controls used ultrasonic tones.

6.The modern remote control contains keys and electronic components similar to those of a calculator. The keys are connected by wires which cross beneath each individual key. Pressing a key completes an electrical circuit, and a signal is sent to a microchip which, in turn, sends a series of on-off electrical pulses to a light-emitting diode (LED) at the front of the handset. A code spelt out by the length and spacing of these pulses switches on the LED. The LED flashes on and off to send an infrared beam to the receiving ‘eye’ on the television set.

7. Since the first remote control there have been a lot of stages of its development. Nowadays the remote control is used in military, space, video games, photography and other fields of science.

Couch potatoes* are people who spend most of their time sitting on a couch (sofa) watching television.

4. Answer these questions about remote controls.

1.What can we do using a remote control?

2.Give the definition of a remote control.

3.What consumer IR devices can work with the help of remote controls?

4.How do modern remote controls communicate to their respective devices?

5.What batteries do remote controls need?

6.What can you say about the modern use of remote controls?

7.Is a remote control a convenient device? Prove your answer.

8.Are you ready to refuse from a remote control? Give reasons.

5. Complete the table. Use the information from the text.

Date	Country	Invention	Inventor	Extra
				Information

1898

1903

1932

1950

1955

1970s

6. Read paragraph 6 again to complete the gaps in the flowchart, which shows how the remote control transmitter works.

1. You press a key.

2.

3. A signal is sent to a microchip.

4.

5. These pulses switch on the LED.

6.

7. Complete the tables. Pay attention to the part of speech the words belong to.

Noun	Verb
adjustment	1
2	beam

Noun	Adjective
14	useful
15	wireless

contraction	3
cross	4
emulation	5
6	exhibit
use	7
light	8
mimics	9
operation	10
shine	11
point	12
13	sound

16	long
17	light
18	wireless
19	operative
20	picturesque
21	pointless
precision	22
23	purposeful
similarity	24
25	useful

8. Match the words from two columns. Use the information above.

1. to shine	a) and the picture
2. to change	b) channels
3. to execute	c) devices
4. respective	d) between different sources
5. to emulate	e) exhibition
6. at the front	f) waves
7. to adjust the sound	g) the functionality
8. to be pointed	h) commands
9. military	i) of the handset
10. to distinguish	j) purposes
11. widespread	k) wirelessly
12. electromagnetic	l) very precisely
13. to operate	m) a beam of light
14. to cross	n) use
9. Match the words with a similar meaning.
1. precise	a) to regulate
2. to execute	b) ray
3. to consist	c) to be composed
4. to transmit	d) to imitate
5. to emulate	e) to carry out
6. similar	f) sphere
7. to operate	g) to manage
8. beam	h) to show
9. to adjust	i) accurate
10. to point	j) like
11. field	k) to deliver
12. via	l) through

10. Match the words with an opposite meaning.
1. front	a) to be unable to
2. to complete	b) to begin
3. light	c) to widen
4. similar	d) late
5. early	e) back
6. short	f) uselessness
7. push	g) darkness
8. to receive	h) pull
9. to be able to	i) to send
10. functionality	j) long
11. to contract	k) different

Language Study. Actions in sequence

Study this flowchart, which describes what happens when the signals are received from the remote control.

1.A photodiode picks up rays from the remote control.

2.It feeds them into a decoding microchip.

3.They are interpreted and verified.

4.Your instructions are carried out.

We can link two stages in the flowchart to show the sequence of events like this:

1 + 2 When a photodiode picks up rays from the remote control, it feeds them into a decoding microchip.

2 + 3 After it feeds them into the microchip, they are interpreted and verified. 3 + 4 Once they are interpreted and verified, your instructions are carried out.

The part of each sentence beginning with a time word – when, after, once – is called a time clause.

When shows that one stage is followed immediately by the next stage. After simply shows the sequence of stages – 1 comes before 2.

Once emphasizes that one stage is completed before the next stage begins.

Writing.

11. Go back to the flowchart you made in task 6. Write sentences to link stages 1 and 2, 3 and 4, and 5 and 6, using the time clauses.

12.Write the translation of the paragraph which your teacher will give you.

LESSON 10. ALARM AND ALARM SYSTEMS

Lead-in.

1. What do you know about these alarms and alarm systems?

Alarm Clock

Personal Alarm

Car Alarm

Air Raid Siren

Burglar Alarm

Fire Alarm System

Distributed Control System

Medical Alarm

Reading and Vocabulary.

2. You are going to read the text about alarm systems. Before reading, clear up the meaning of the following words and expressions.

warning	to interrupt
to flee the danger	to approach
to attempt	to detect
false alarm	unauthorized entry
to waste resources	direct
emergency	to actuate manually
to awaken from naps	to notify
reminder	in the event of
to emit	to summon
to attract attention	to distribute
to scare off an assailant	assistance
to discourage theft	location

3.Read the information about different kinds of alarms and alarm systems. What alarms and alarm systems do you think people use more often than the others?

Alarms and Alarm Systems

1. An alarm gives an audible or visual warning about a problem or condition: people flee the danger or attempt to eliminate it. False alarms can waste resources expensively and can be dangerous, because they may acclimatize people to ignore alarm signals and an emergency. There are different kinds of alarms and alarm systems.

2.An alarm clock is a clock that is designed to make a loud sound at a specific time. The primary use of these clocks is to awaken people from their night's sleep or short naps; they are sometimes used for other reminders as well. Most clocks automatically stop the alarm sound if left unattended long enough. Most modern devices have alarm clock functions.

3.A personal alarm is a small electronic device with the functionality to emit a loud siren-like alarming sound. It is used to attract attention and scare off an assailant. The sound can also have the effect of disorienting or surprising the assailant.

4.A car alarm is an electronic device installed in a car in an attempt to discourage theft of the car itself and its contents. Car alarms work by emitting highvolume sound, flashing some of the car's lights and sometimes via interrupting different electrical circuits necessary for the car to start.

5.An air raid siren is a mechanical or electronic device (modern-day sirens are electrically-powered) for generating sound to provide warning of approaching danger and sometimes to indicate when the danger has passed. They can warn of natural phenomena such as earthquakes or tornadoes.

6.Burglar alarms are systems designed to detect unauthorized entry into a building or area. They consist of a lot of sensors, a control panel and alerting system, and interconnections. Sensors detect burglars by a lot of methods such as passive infrared motion detectors or monitoring door and window contacts. Sensors may be wired to a control panel that provides sensor power or may communicate wirelessly.

7.A fire alarm system is designed to detect the unwanted presence of fire. A fire alarm system is classified as automatically actuated, manually actuated or both. Automatic fire alarm systems notify the people to evacuate in the event of fire or smoke, summon emergency services and be ready to control the spread of fire and smoke.

8.A distributed control system (DCS) is a term used in a lot of industries to monitor and control distributed equipment. It generates alarms to direct the operator’s attention to an important event and informs about the bad working state of the system or its part.

9.A medical alarm is an electrical device that usually has a push button transmitter which a person may use to summon assistance to their location. The transmitter is designed to be worn around the neck, the wrist or clipped onto the clothing. Some alarms begin working automatically if they detect smoke, an intruder or a low room temperature.

4.Try to answer these questions.

1.What is an alarm?

2.What are the functions of alarm clocks?

3.How can a personal alarm help people?

4.Why do people use car alarms?

5.What is an air raid siren?

6.What do burglar alarms consist of?

7.How can fire alarm systems help people?

8.How does a DCS work?

9.What is the function of medical alarms?

10.Can you add any other alarm or alarm system to this text?

5. Match the names of alarms or alarm systems and their examples or descriptions.

		a)	It is possible for the person who
				answers the call to hear and talk to
1.	Personal alarm			the individual although this is not
				necessary as the alarm has been
2.	Burglar alarm			raised by just pushing the button
		b)		It is intended to notify the building
3.	Car alarm			occupants to evacuate
		c)		It is found in nuclear power plants,
4.	Alarm clock			refineries or chemical facilities
		d)		The police or guards are warned
5.	False alarm			without indication to the burglar
				which increases the chances of
6.	Air raid siren			catching him or her
		e)		The volume varies from model to
7.	Medical alarm			model, with some models having 130
				decibels
8.	Distributed control system	f)		It notifies the car’s owner about thefts
		g) In some places it goes off at 7 a.m.,
9.	Fire alarm system			12 p.m., 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. every day
				to signal the time
		h)		It produces an alarm at a given time
		i)	Aesop’s fable of the Boy Who Cried
				Wolf

6. Find English equivalents in the information above.

1.	тревога, сигнализация	26.	торнадо
2.	слышимый	27. взломщик
3.	зрительный	28. здание
4.	состояние, условие	29. сенсор
5. опасный		30. панель управления
6. приучить		31. взаимосвязь
7. низкий		32. система оповещения
8. предназначать		33. мониторинг двери
9. производить громкий звук		34. скреплѐнный проволокой
10. в определѐнное время		35. беспроволочный
11. первоначальный		36. присутствие

12. оставленный без внимания	37. классифицировать
13. достаточно	38. эвакуироваться
14. функциональность	39. дым
15. сбивать с толку	40. распространение
16. устанавливать	41. отдел промышленности
17. высокая громкость звука	42. оборудование
18. электрическая цепь	43. важный
19. необходимый	44. аварийные службы
20. производить, создавать	45. врачебный, медицинский
21. обеспечивать	46. кнопка передатчика
22. указать	47. носить (одежду)
23. предостерегать о чем-либо	48. шея
24. природные явления	49. запястье
25. землетрясение	50. закреплять на одежде
7. Find the words with a similar meaning.
1. to distribute	a) to come
2. to summon	b) help
3. event	c) to try
4. to approach	d) to discover
5. to detect	e) to prevent
6. to scare	f) to arrange
7. assistance	g) circumstance
8. location	h) place
9. to discourage	i) to frighten
10. to attempt	j) to call
8. Find the words with an opposite meaning.
1. manually	a) to move away
2. to interrupt	b) to push away
3. direct	c) to go asleep
4. entry	d) safety
5. to awaken	e) crooked
6. to approach	f) exit
7. to attract	g) true
8. danger	h) to continue
9. to waste	i) automatically
10. false	j) to save

9. Complete the tables. Pay attention to the parts of speech. The necessary words are in the text. Translate all words.

Noun	Verb
1	alarm
approach	2
3	assail
4	assist
attempt	5
attraction	6
authorization	7
8	warn
waste	9
direction	10
scare	11
distribution	12
elimination	13
emission	14
15	enter
interruption	16
17	locate
18	nap
notification	19
20	remind

Noun	Adjective
alarm	21
22	wasteful
assailant	23
24	assistant
25	attentive
26	attractive
27	dangerous
manual	28
direction	29
30	distributive
31	eventful
32	local

10. Match words from two columns to have word combinations. The information about alarms and alarm systems can help you.

1. to scare off	a) emergency services
2. to summon	b) manually
3. to attract	c) resources
4. to direct attention	d) attention
5. to interrupt	e) warning
6. approaching	f) from naps
7. to flee	g) unauthorized entry
8. audible or visual	h) to an important event
9 to detect	i) thefts
10 in the event of	j) control system
11. to actuate	k) a loud sound
12. to notify	l) fire or smoke
13. to waste	m) the danger
14. to emit	n) electrical circuits
15. distributed	o) an assailant
16. to discourage	p) assistance

Grammar. Zero and First Conditionals.

Study this action and its consequence:

Action: A burglar tries to force the alarm open.

Consequence: Sensors trigger the alarm.

We can link action and result like this:

1.If a burglar tries to force the alarm open, sensors trigger the alarm. (Zero Conditional)

2.If a burglar tries to force the alarm open, sensors will trigger the alarm.

(First Conditional)

3.Sensors will trigger the alarm if a burglar tries to force it open.

Zero Conditional is used to talk about actual things which happen in the present under some real conditions. We use Present Simple in both clauses.

First Conditional is used to talk about the resulting situation which we will have under some real condition in the future. We use Present Simple in the conditional clause and Future Simple in the resulting clause.

11. Match the actions in Column A with an appropriate consequence from Column B. Then join each action and consequence using an if-sentence and making changes if it is necessary.

	A	B
1. Alarm clocks are left unattended long		a) People flee the danger or attempt to
	enough.	eliminate it.
2.	The system or its particular part	b) It is possible for people to ignore an
	works badly.	actual emergency.
3.	People hear or see an alarm warning	c) Sensors detect burglars by a lot of
	about a problem or condition.	methods.
4.	Automatic fire alarm systems detect	d) Most alarm clocks automatically stop
	the unwanted presence of fire or	the alarm sound.
	smoke.	e) A distributed control system generates
5.	False alarms acclimatize people to	alarms to direct the operator’s
	ignore alarm signals.	attention to an important event.
6.	The danger of natural phenomena	f) Air raid siren generates sound to
	approaches or has passed.	provide warning.
7.	A car alarm is installed in a car.	g) Automatic fire alarm systems notify
8.	Personal alarms emit a loud siren-like	the building occupants to evacuate.
	alarming sound.	h) A car alarm attempts to discourage
9.	Burglars enter a building or area.	theft of the car itself and its contents.
10. Medical alarms detect smoke, an		i) Medical alarms begin working