5. Diskettes cannot be backed up by running them through the xerox machine. If your data is going to need to be backed up, simply insert two diskettes into the drive. Whenever you update a document, the data will be written on both diskettes.
6. Diskettes should not be inserted or removed from the drive while the red light is flashing. Doing so could result in smeared or possibly unreadable text. Occasionally the red light remains flashing in what is known as a «hung» or «hooked», state. If your system is «hooking» you will probably need to insert a few coins before being allowed access to the slot.
7. If your diskette is full and you need more storage space, remove the disk from the drive and shake vigorously for 2 minutes. This will pack the data enough (Data Compression) to allow for more storage. Be sure to cover all the openings with scotch tape to prevent loss data.
8. Access time can be greatly improved by cutting more holes in the diskette jacket. This will provide more simultaneous access points to the disk.
9. Never use scissors and glue to manually edit documents. The data is stored much too small for the naked eye, and you may end up with data from some other document stuck in the middle of your document. Razor blades and scotch tape may be used, however, provided the user is equipped with an electron microscope.
10. Periodically spray diskettes with insecticide to prevent system bugs from spreading.
Слова и выражения:
access – комп . доступ
blade – лезвие
bug – жук, комп . системный сбой
clueless – не имеющий ключа, доступа
command – команда
commit – посвящать (себя чему-либо или кому-либо) , давать обязательство
commitment – обязательство (по отношению к кому-либо или чему-либо)
communicate – общаться
compression – сжатие
corrode – подвергать коррозии, ржавению
Creator – Создатель
diskette – дискета
edit – редактировать
error – ошибка
even – ровный
flash – сверкать
fold – складывать пополам
glue – клей; клеить
" hooked" – «зависший»
" hung" – «зависший»
incomprehensible – невнятный, непонятный, неразличимый
informative – информативный
insecticide – инсектицид
insert – вставлять
internal – внутренний, внутренняя
intricate – сложный
jacket – комп . корпус (дискеты)
jam – застревать (в чем-либо) , забивать (что-либо)
language – язык
logic – логика
magnet – магнит
manual – ручной
microscope – микроскоп
microscopic – микроскопический
particle – частица
paycheck – чековая книжка
powder – порошок, пудра
powerful – мощный
razor – бритва
retrieval – восстановление, повторное использование
scotch – скотч
scour – чистить, очищать
shavings – стружки
simultaneous – одновременный
slot – щель для монеты
smear – мазать, покрывать пятнами
spray – спрей
spread – распространяться
storage – хранение
stubborn – упрямый
stuck ( от stick – прилипать) – прилипший
update – дорабатывать, совершенствовать
vigorously – энергично
waxe – натирать воском
xerox – ксерокс
be mad at smb – разг . злиться, гневаться на кого-нибудь
turn smb on – разг . «заводить кого-либо»
power surge – энерг. перепады напряжения
knock out – разг . выбивать, посылать в нокаут
the rest – остаток
error-free – свободный от ошибок
disk drive – дисковод
leak out – вытекать
roll up – сворачивать в трубочку
pencil holders – футляры, держатели для карандашей
upside down – «вверх ногами»
be sure – удостовериться
naked eye – разг . невооруженный («голый») глаз
system bugs – системный сбой
Exercise 17
Answer the questions:
1. Who can understand computers\' internal logic?
2. Who can understand the computers\' native language?
3. Where are a man\'s smallest mistakes stored?
4. How much do you have to spend on the computer\'s accessoires?
5. What do you have to do in order to get the computer\'s attention?
6. Why cannot one leave diskettes in the disk drive?
7. How should the diskettes be stored?
8. What should microscopic metal particles be removed with from the surface of the disk?
9. How can one use big diskettes in little disk drives?
10. How can one back up the data?
11. Why cannot one use a xerox machine to do so?
12. What does one have to do if the system is hooked?
13. What does one have to do to compress the data on a diskette?
14. How many holes should one cut in a diskette jacket to make the access time double fast?What Happens if One Types the Wrong e-mail Address:
A Minneapolis couple decided to go to Florida to thaw out during a particularly icy winter. They planned to stay at the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years earlier. Because of hectic schedules, it was difficult to coordinate their travel plans. So, the husband left Minneapolis and flew to Florida on Thursday, with his wife flying down the following day. The husband checked into the hotel. There was a computer in his room, so he decided to send an e-mail to his wife. However, he accidentally left out one letter in her e-mail address, and without realizing his error, sent the e-mail.
Meanwhile, somewhere in Houston, a widow had just returned home from her husband\'s funeral. He died of a heart attack. The widow decided to check her e-mail expecting messages from relatives and friends. After reading the first message, she screamed and fainted. The widow\'s son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read:
To: My loving wife
Subject: I\'ve arrived
Date: April 6, 2006
I know you\'re surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now and you are allowed to send e-mails to your loved ones. I\'ve just arrived and have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then. Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.
P.S. Sure it is freaking hot down here!!!!!
Telecommunications: a Historical Review
A German archaeology team digs down 50m and finds traces of copper wire. Afterwards the German government proclaims that 2,000 years ago the Germans obviously had developed a telephone system.
Later an English archaeology team digs down 100m and finds traces of glass strands. Afterwards the British government proclaims that 3,000 years ago the English obviously had developed a fibre optic-based telephone system.
An American archaeology team digs down 200m and but finds nothing at all. Afterwards the American government proclaims that 4,000 years ago the Americans invented mobile phones!!!
Слова и выражения:
accidentally – случайно
archaeology – археология; археологическая
coordinate – скоординировать
copper – медь
couple – пара ( здесь : супружеская)
dig – копать
error – ошибка, дефект
faint – терять сознание, падать в обморок
fibre – волокно
freak – нечто ненормальное, аномальное
funeral – похороны
hectic – нервный, лихорадочный, возбужденный, чахоточный
honeymoon – медовый месяц
journey – путешествие
message – сообщение, письмо
mobile – мобильный
optic – оптическое
proclaim – провозглашать
relative – родственник
rush – броситься
schedule – расписание
scream – вопль, пронзительный крик; вопить, пронзительно кричать
strand – волокна, прядь
thaw – таять
trace – след
type – печатать на пишущей машинке, компьютере
uneventful – спокойное, обошедшееся без особых событий
widow – вдова
wire – провод
e-mail (electronic mail) – электронная почта
thaw out – оттаять
icy winter – холодная (ледяная) зима
check into the hotel – зарегистрироваться в отеле
leave out – выпустить, пропустить
heart attack – сердечный приступ
freaking hot – ненормально жарко
fibre optic-based – основанная на оптико-волоконной технологии
Exercise 18
Answer the questions:
1. Why did the couple decide to go to Florida?
2. Where did they plan to stay?
3. Why was it difficult for them to coordinate their travel plans?
4. What day of the week did the husband fly?
5. What error did the husband make?
6. Where did the widow come from in Houston?
7. What had her husband died of?
8. Why did the widow lose consciousness?
9. What was the weather like in the place where she received the e-mail from?
10. Where did she receive the letter from?
11. What material did the German team dig out?
12. Who invented the first fiber optic-based telephone system 3,000 years ago?
13. Who invented first mobile phones 4,000 years ago?