Writing

Ex. 1. Put the words in brackets into the correct form to make an accurate description of sizes of computers.

There are different types of computer. Тhе (large) and (powerful) are mainframe computers. Minicomputers are (small) than mainframes but are still very powerful. Microcomputers are small enough to sit on a desk. They are the (common) type of computer. They are usually (powerful) than minicomputers.

Portable computers are (small) than desktops. The (large) portable is a laptop. (Small) portables, about the size of a piece of writing paper, are called notebook computers. Subnotebooks are (small) than notebooks. You can hold the (small) computers in one hand. They are called handheld computers or palmtop computers.

Language work: Compound Adjectives

Task. a) Find these noun phrases (battery-powered systems, hands-free operations, waist-mounted computer, head-mounted display, voice-activated device) in the text and explain their meaning as in the Help box.

Wearable computers, aren’t they chic?

Can you imagine wearing a PC on your belt and getting e-mail on your eyeglasses? Wearable computers are battery-powered systems worn on the user’s body – on a belt, backpack or vest and are designed for mobile or hands-free operation, often incorporating a microphone and a head-mounted display.

Some devices are waist-mounted, equipped with a wireless modem, a keypad and a small screen. Others are voice-activated, worn like a scarf and can access e-mail or voice mail.

Users of wearable technology consider themselves 'cyborgs'. This term comes from 'cybernetic organism^’, referring to a being that is part robot, part human.

Help box

A compound adjective is made up of two parts and usually describes appearance. The second part is frequently a past participle.

e.g. blue-eyed girl = a girl who has got blue eyes

sugar-free product - a product that uses no sugar

A menu-driven program lets you select a command from a menu.

A voice-activated product is activated by the user's voice.

Object-oriented programming is based on objects and their effects оn each other, rather than on a series of instructions.

Other common patterns include:

noun + present participle

Space-saving PCs take up very little desktop space.

noun + adjective

A hands-free device does not require the hands for operation.

A stand-alone computer or business can operate on its own.

b) Complete these sentences with a compound adjective from Help box.

1. A …-… telephone allows people with limited mobility to dial and answer the phone with just the sound of their voice.

2. A fax machine is a …-… device, so it does not require any other device to function.

3. A …-… application is operated by making choices from menus instead of giving instructions on a keyboard.

4. In some countries it is obligatory to use a …-… car kit when you are using a mobile phone while driving.

5. An …-… language like C++ lets the programmer concentrate on individual units (e.g. a piece of text, a graphic or a table) and give each object functions which can be changed easily.

6. They’ve launched a new …-… computer, an entire PC embedded inside a keyboard.

Unit 4