Topics for the second-year students

(the 3^rd term)

Topic 6

AT THE UNIVERSITY

Now I am student of the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics.

On September 1, 1964 Minsk Radioengineering Institute admitted students for the first time. The youngest Institute of the Republic was established on the basis of the oldest Polytechnic Institute of the Republic of Belarus. It was assigned to meet the demand of the Republic in highly qualified specialists for evolving national radioelectronic industry.

In 1993 Minsk Radioengineering Institute was granted the status of university and celebrated its 30th anniversary as the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics. Within this period BSUIR has trained thousands of engineers, doctors and candidates of science.

Over 11 thousand students from the country and outside study at its 9 faculties: the Faculty of Computer-Aided Design, the Faculty of Information Technologies and Control, the Faculty of Radioengineering and Electronics, the Faculty of Computer Systems and Networks, the Faculty of Telecommunication, the Faculty of Engineer Economics, the Faculty of Extramural, Evening and Distance Education, the Pre-University Preparation and Occupational Guidance Faculty, the Military Faculty.

Now BSUIR prepares engineering staff on 22 specialities in the field of computer facilities, computer science, radio engineering, microelectronics, telecommunications automated systems, artificial intelligence, medical electronics, and economy.

The educative process and scientific research are conducted by highly competent teaching staff that consists of professors, assistant professors, lecturers and teachers. They give lectures, hold seminars and have practicals with the students in various subjects: physics, higher mathematics, descriptive geometry, technical drawing, etc. Special attention is given to such subjects as computing technology, impulse techniques, analogue and digital computers, theoretical foundations of electroengineering. Nobody can deny vital importance of mastering foreign languages nowadays. English, French, German and Spanish are taught at the University. Students also have an opportunity to study a second foreign language and to advance in one of the foreign languages and to acquire the speciality of a translator.

The University has all necessary facilities for teaching including up-to-date computers and laboratory equipment, robots, closed-circuit TV. A large electronic library is at the students’ disposal.

To sum up, the University provides a good engineering education. The graduates of the University work at computer centres, design offices, industrial enterprises, research laboratories and institutes, joint ventures and banks.

So, I take radio engineering at the University. As I am a correspondence student, I do not attend lectures every day. I have lectures only in September, January and June. In January and in June I also have my terminal examinations. From September to January and from January to June I study by myself, I get tasks and tests at the university or by mail, read my notes of lectures, study text-books in the library, consult my teachers and professors and fulfill these tests and send them back to the University. My short-term classes and lectures held in autumn, winter and in summer begin at 8 o’clock and finish at 10 p.m. It’s difficult to study by correspondence but I am not afraid of hard work. I am young and my practical experience helps me a lot in my studies.

Topic 7

MY FUTURE PROFESSION

Text I: Telecommunications

Telecommunications is a process of sending or receiving messages by telephone, radio, television or telegraph. In other words, it is a communication over a distance using equipment to overcome that distance. Telecommunications enables people around the world to contact one another, to access information instantly, and to communicate from remote areas. Telecommunications also provides the key medium for news, data, information, and entertainment transfer.

Over the past hundred years, the telephone has become the most familiar form of telecommunications. More recently, it has been supplemented by a range of computer-based telecommunications services. These have become popular through the Internet and World Wide Web, vast computer networks, which provide many people with the means to exchange information. Nowadays it is taken for granted that by pressing a few buttons people can talk to their families, friends, or business associates across the world.

The telecommunications industry has blossomed with the advent of new technologies. The advance of sophisticated telecommunications systems such as the Internet and fiber optics and the development of improved computer technology have stimulated the growth of this industry. Consequently, there is an increasing demand for skilled workers to meet the needs of telecommunications services.

Telecommunications engineers are employed by different industrial enterprises and organizations, especially in the field of radio electronics and communication. They are also in great demand at design offices, research institutes, television companies, telephone exchanges, broadcasting stations, consulting firms and other telecommunications services. They are able to develop, design, maintain up-to-date telecommunications systems and facilities, and install automatic telephone exchanges. Further, they inspect and test telecommunication equipment and networks, analyse and record test results.

Text II: Telecommunication From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Telecommunication is the transmission of signals over a distance for the purpose of communication. In modern times, this process almost always involves the sending of electromagnetic waves by electronic transmitters but in earlier years it may have involved the use of smoke signals, drums or semaphore. Today, telecommunication is widespread and devices that assist the process, such as the television, radio and telephone, are common in many parts of the world. There is also a vast array of networks that connect these devices, including computer networks, public telephone networks, radio networks and television networks. Computer communication across the Internet, such as e-mail and instant messaging, is just one of many examples of telecommunication.

Telecommunication systems are generally designed by telecommunication engineers. Early inventors in the field include Elisha Gray, Guglielmo Marconi and John Logie Baird. In recent times, optical fibre has radically improved the bandwidth available for intercontinental communication, helping to facilitate a faster and richer Internet experience. And, digital television has eliminated effects such as snowy pictures and ghosting. Telecommunication remains an important part of the world economy and the telecommunication industry's revenue has been placed at just under 3% of the gross world product.

Text III: Telecommunications Engineering

Not all that long ago, people communicated via signal fires, flags, drums, messengers, even carrier pigeons. These days, telecommunications engineers provide far more effective means of communication.

Morse code telegraphy, followed later by radio, was probably the first device that used electricity for tele-communications. Now, thanks to telecommunications engineers, a single optical fibre the thickness of a human hair can carry half-a-million digital television channels.

Society relies on telecommunications engineering for breakthroughs in applications such as satellites, next-generation mobile phones, air-traffic control, the internet and much more.

What do telecommunications engineers do?

Typically, a telecommunications engineer will:

• manage engineering teams

• design telecommunications equipment including modems, switches, routers and radio links

• develop real-time computer systems, including imbedded computer systems and their software

• build and test prototypes of new equipment including integrated circuit components

• predict telecommunication system performance

• optimise the performance of telecommunications systems

• provide technical support to marketing or customer service staff and telecommunications technicians

• train technical and engineering staff once new systems have been installed

• supervise special research projects on next generation telecommunication systems.

Topic 7

MY FUTURE PROFESSION

Text I: Computer-Aided Design

Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of a wide range of computer-based tools that assist engineers, architects and other design professionals in their design activities. It is the main geometry authoring tool within the Product Lifecycle Management process and involves both software and sometimes special-purpose hardware. Current packages range from 2D vector based drafting systems to 3D solid and surface modellers.

CAD is sometimes translated as "computer-assisted", "computer-aided drafting", or a similar phrase. Related acronyms are CADD, which stands for "computer-aided design and drafting", CAID for Computer-aided Industrial Design and CAAD, for "computer-aided architectural design". All these terms are essentially synonymous, but there are some subtle differences in meaning and application.