Content
- Basic IT concepts.⇒
Recommended reading:
Computer Basics - Tutorial (2023-02-14)
Here are some useful tips and activities to process the learning material:
- read every lesson of the material very carefully and many times (see 'Recommended reading' above)
- read some parts of the text aloud with special care of the pronunciation and intonation
- try to learn (memorize etc.) the content of the material
- watch and listen to the attached videos
- try to understand the text from the beginning to the end; translate every unknown word (both technical terms and words belonging to the basic vocabulary), create your own vocabulary⇒, and add new items to your vocabulary, e.g.
- hunt for new definitions on the Internet (e.g. "A computer is a machine that can be programmed to carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations automatically.", Wikipedia)
- try to find good examples for each term (e.g. ENIAC, EDVAC, IBM System/360 and 370, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, IBM PC, PC/XT, PC/AT, X86 or X64-based PC etc. for the term 'digital computer')
- collect useful example sentences (e.g. "A broad range of industrial and consumer products use computers as control systems.", Wikipedia)
- Collins Example Sentences is a database of authentic English examples extracted from Collins resources. Whilst a definition can help you understand the meaning of a word, example sentences show you how to use the word in a sentence. They can also help you check that you've understood the meaning correctly, as well as enabling you to see and learn the linguistic features of the word. If you're looking to improve your writing, example sentences can also give you ideas for other words that naturally occur in similar contexts. (Collins English Sentences, 2023-02-20)
- use the excellent monolingual English dictionaries that are freely available on the Internet
- sometimes the Google Translate service can be very useful
- Use the Notepad to create your own vocabulary, e.g.
- ...
--------
computer
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= A digital computer is a digital electronic machine that can be programmed to carry out sequences of operations automatically.
= A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information or data. (Tutorial)
= A computer is an electronic device designed to accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations at high speed, and display the results of these operations. (Webster 2009)
= A digital computer is a universal electronic data processing equipment.
= A computer is an electronic machine that can store and deal with large amounts of information. (Collins 2023)
= A computer is an electronic machine that can quickly make calculations, store, rearrange, and retrieve information, or control another machine. (Collins 1997)
~ ENIAC was the first programmable, electronic, general-purpose digital computer, completed in 1945. (Wikipedia)
-- This tutorial will help you understand how computers work and how to use them. (Tutorial)
-- If you are just looking to learn more about how computers work, you will find all of the information you need in this tutorial. (Tutorial)
-- We'll talk about how to set up a new computer, the difference between hardware and software, and so on. (Tutorial)
...
- try to analyse and memorize the definitions and example sentences of the vocabulary word-by-word
- (1) the definitions follow a general structure including three main parts:
- the keyword, that is, the term (word or phrase) to be defined [e.g. a computer]
- the generic term (the class of objects, concepts etc.) to which the keyword belongs [e.g. machine or device]
- the special or differentiating characteristics that distinguish the keyword from the other terms that belong to the same generic term [e.g. (a machine) that can be programmed, that is digital, electronic, automatic, universal etc., that can make calculations or data processing very quickly (at high speed etc.), that can control another machine etc.]
- (2) the example sentences provide a valid context for the selected term, that is, words that come before or after the selected term suggesting what the actual meaning of the term is
- use the test at the end of this page and practise as much as possible
- try to change some sentences by
- adding new linguistic elements, e.g. adjectives, adverbs etc. (tip: use the 'Collocations' sections of the lexicon below)
- replacing selected words with new ones, e.g. synonyms or antonyms, related or contrasted words, narrower or broader terms etc. (tip: use the 'Thesaurus' sections of the lexicon below)
- try to compose short texts around selected keywords using the definitions, the example sentences, the texts of the tutorial or other sources (e.g. Wikipedia entries), and much more (tip: use the 'Related terms' sections of the lexicon below for merging together the well-matching sentences which belong to the same topic)
- and so on :-)
Basic IT concepts
Examples are: ENIAC; EDVAC; IBM 360/370; IBM PC
=
A digital computer is a digital electronic machine that can be programmed to carry out sequences of operations automatically.
Related terms
digital;* electronic; program;* operation;
Thesaurus
machine; device; equipment;
Collocations
digital computer;
Examples are: ENIAC; EDVAC; IBM 360/370; IBM PC
=
A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information or data.⇒
Related terms
data;* information;
Examples are: ENIAC; EDVAC; IBM 360/370; IBM PC
=
A computer is an electronic device designed to accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations at high speed, and display the results of these operations.⇒
Examples are: ENIAC; EDVAC; IBM 360/370; IBM PC
=
A digital computer is a universal electronic data processing equipment.
Examples are: ENIAC; EDVAC; IBM 360/370; IBM PC
=
A computer is an electronic machine that can store and deal with large amounts of information.⇒
Examples are: ENIAC; EDVAC; IBM 360/370; IBM PC
=
A computer is an electronic machine that can quickly make calculations, store, rearrange, and retrieve information, or control another machine.⇒
... how the digital electronic data processing devices this tutorial is about work ...
=
This tutorial will help you understand how computers work and how to use them.⇒
Collocations
computers work; use computers (to do sth)
If you would just like to learn more about how those digital electronic data processing devices this tutorial is dealing with work ...
=
If you are just looking to learn more about how computers work, you will find all of the information you need in this tutorial.⇒
... how to put together the parts (i.e. the case, keyboard, mouse, monitor etc.) of the universal digital electronic equipment we just bought ...
=
We'll talk about how to set up a new computer, the difference between hardware and software, and so on.⇒
Related terms
Thesaurus
set up;* put together; assemble;
C
Examples are: Google Drive, Microsoft 365 (including OneDrive)
=
The cloud is a metaphor for internet-based computing services that allow users to store, access and process data over the Internet instead of using the local computer's resources.
... the popular metaphor for internet-based computing services that allow users to store, access and process data over the Internet instead of using the local computer's resources (e.g. the microprocessor, main memory, hard disk etc.) ...
=
We'll also explore operating systems, applications, the Internet, the cloud, and a whole lot more.⇒
D
Examples are: the content of certain files, e.g. text files, image files, audio or video files, documents, spreadsheets, databases etc.
=
Data is stored information which is usually organized in a structured way.
... pieces or items of information which can be stored, retrieved and processed ...
=
The computer has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data.⇒
... pieces or items of information to be stored in an appropriate storage device (e.g. in a hard disk) ...
=
Data are entered by terminal for immediate processing by the computer.⇒
Related terms
terminal;*
Examples are: 0, 1, ..., 7 in the octal number system; 0, 1, ..., 9 in the decimal number system
=
A digit is any of those one-character symbols of the positional number systems that are used for representing numbers.
... any of those one-character symbols of the positional number systems that are used for representing numbers ...
=
In the binary number system 0 and 1 are binary digits or bits.
... any of those one-character symbols of the positional number systems that are used for representing numbers ...
=
In the hexadecimal number system 0, 1, ..., 9 and A, B, ..., F are hexadecimal digits.
Examples are: an electronic watch; a modern computer
=
A digital device uses sequences of digits to represent data that are used during its operation.
... a computer which uses binary digits to represent data ...
=
A modern computer is a digital electronic machine that can be programmed to carry out sequences of operations automatically.
H
Examples are: microprocessor, memory, hard disk, monitor, keyboard, mouse
=
Computer hardware is the physical portion of the computer system including any part of the computer that has a physical structure.
... the physical portion of the computer system including any part of the computer that has a physical structure ...
=
The hardware of a personal computer includes all of the computer's internal parts and external components, such as the motherboard, processor, main memory etc., and the monitor, keyboard, mouse etc., respectively.
P
Examples are: Total Commander, IrfanView, VLC Media Player, Notepad, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome
=
A computer program consists of a given set of instructions or statements that can be executed by a computer in order to carry out a clearly defined task.
... distinct parts of the software each of which consists of a given set of instructions that can be executed by a computer in order to carry out a clearly defined task ...
=
Examples of application programs are web browsers, computer games, word processors, spreadsheet applications, various kinds of presentation software, and so on.
R
Everything ... will depend on both hardware and software.
=
Everything you do on your computer will rely on both hardware and software.⇒
Thesaurus
rely on; depend on;
be based on;
need; require;
S
... to put together the computer system by connecting the main devices (e.g. the keyboard, mouse, monitor etc.) to the computer so that it is ready for use ...
=
After we have bought a new computer, the first thing we have to do is to set up and configure it.
Collocations
set up a computer; configure a computer;
Thesaurus
set up; put together; assemble;
Examples are: Windows 10, various utilities (Notepad, Calculator, Media Player etc.), application programs (e.g. MS Office, web browsers)
=
Computer software is the intangible portion of the computer system consisting of all the programs that can be executed by the computer in order to produce a desired behaviour from the computer.
Related terms
program;*
... the system of cooperating programs currently running on the computer ...
=
Computer software tells the hardware what to do and how to do it by giving detailed and precise instructions to the hardware units concerned.
hardware;*
... the intangible portion of the computer system including all programs that can be executed by the computer ...
=
The software of a computer includes a set of cooperating programs that control the operation of the computer hardware, such as the operating system, drivers, utilities, application programs etc.
Examples are: Excel tables (stored usually in files with 'xls' or 'xlsx' extension)
=
Spreadsheets are interactive tables containing selected pieces of information in their cells. Those tables can be manipulated by special application programs which store the data in files with dedicated extensions.
... interactive tables that can be displayed as simulated worksheets, that is, interactive tables containing selected pieces of information in their cells ...
=
You can use a computer to type documents, send emails, play games, browse the Web, create and edit spreadsheets, presentations, and even videos.⇒
T
Examples are: teletype devices (e.g. IBM 2741 from 1965; DEC VT100 family introduced in 1978)
=
A computer terminal is a simple data input and/or output device that is connected to a usually remote computer.
... a simple data input and/or output device that is connected to the remote computer ...
=
Using a terminal, the user can control a remote computer interactively by typing commands through a text-based interface to the computer.
U
... an equipment, machine etc. which can be applied almost everywhere and in all cases to perform a certain task (e.g. to compute a mathematical function, to calculate the value of sth, to analyse and process massive amounts of data etc.) ...
=
A digital computer is a universal electronic data processing equipment.
W
Examples are: MS Word, WordPad, LibreOffice Writer
=
A word processor is a program that enables its users to manipulate electronic documents with maximum flexibility so that they can easily compose, format, edit, store, or even print their documents.
... a program that enables its users to create and manipulate electronic documents with maximum flexibility ...
=
MS Word is a versatile and widely used word processor which is very popular nowadays in many workplaces, e.g. in schools, colleges, universities, and offices.
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Collins COBUILD English Dictionary. London: HarperCollins Publishers. 1997.
GFC Global: Computer Basics.
Computer Basics - Tutorial (2023-02-14)
Illingworth, Valerie – Pyle, Ian 1996. A Dictionary of Computing. Oxford – New York etc.: Oxford University Press.
Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary. New York: Random House Reference, 2009.