Student's Book page 6
Before you begin
1 Look at the photographs. What can you see? How have these items changed over time?
The pictures might all be machines, but the first one is very old. The second is obviously a computer, but it is very big, and the third is a modern laptop. I think they could all be types of computers.
Calculation - computer chip - floppy disk - PC - program smartphone- World Wide Web
| The word which is a type of computer is PC. |
The History of computers
(Vocabulary)
|
WORD |
ENGLISH MEANING |
|
calculation |
a way of using numbers in order to find out an amount, price or value |
|
Computer chip |
a small piece inside a computer which stores information via an electric current |
|
Floppy disc |
a flexible, removable magnetic disk that stores computer information |
|
PC |
an abbreviation for personal computer, a computer that is used by one person at a time |
|
program |
a set of instructions enabling a computer to function |
|
smartphone |
a mobile phone with advanced computing technology |
|
World wide web |
an information system, known as the Internet, which allows documents to be connected to other documents, and for people to search for information by moving from one document to another |
3 This article is about the history of computers. How old is the world’s oldest computer? Listen and read.
|
THE HISTORY OF COMPUTERS When you are using a computer, think about the technology that is needed for it to work. People have been using types of computers for thousands of years. A metal machine was found on the seabed in Greece that was more than 2,000 years old. It is believed that this was the first-ever computer. In the 1940s, technology had developed enough for inventors to make the first generation of modern computers. One such model was so large that it needed a room that was 167 square metres to accommodate it. During that decade, scientists in England developed the first computer program. It took 25 minutes to complete one calculation. In 1958 CE, the computer chip was developed. The first computer game was produced in 1962 CE, followed two years later by the computer mouse. In 1971 CE, the floppy disk was invented, which meant that information could be shared between computers. The first PC (personal computer) was produced in 1974 CE, so people could buy computers to use at home. In 1983 CE, people could buy a laptop for the first time. Then, in 1990 CE, the British scientist Tim Berners-Lee developed the World Wide Web. It was not until 2007 CE that the first smart phones appeared. Today, most people use their mobile phones every day. What will happen in the future? You can already buy watches which can do the same as mobile phones. Scientists have also developed glasses that are capable of doing even more than this. Life in the future is going to see further changes in computer technology. It is likely that all aspects of everyday life will rely on a computer program, from how we travel to how our homes are heated. |
How old is the world’s oldest computer?
| It could be more than 2,000 years old. |
|
THE HISTORY OF COMPUTERS When you are using a computer, think about the technology that is needed for it to work. People have been using types of computers for thousands of years. A metal machine was found on the seabed in Greece that was more than 2,000 years old. It is believed that this was the first-ever computer. |
Computers are powerful machines and the technology needed for them to work is complicated.
- A metal machine, which was found on the seabed in Greece, is believed to be the first-ever computer.
- The first-ever computer was found on the seabed in Greece.
- The underlined pronoun 'it' in the text above refers to a computer.
- The underlined pronoun 'this' in the text above refers to the metal machine.
|
In the 1940s, technology had developed enough for inventors to make the first generation of modern computers. One such model was so large that it needed a room that was 167 square metres to accommodate it. During that decade, scientists in England developed the first computer program. It took 25 minutes to complete one calculation. In 1958 CE, the computer chip was developed. The first computer game was produced in 1962 CE, followed two years later by the computer mouse. In 1971 CE, the floppy disk was invented, which meant that information could be shared between computers. The first PC (personal computer) was produced in 1974 CE, so people could buy computers to use at home. |
- The first generation of modern computers was developed in the 1940s.
- One model of the first generation was so big that needed a very big room to be put in. (The room was 167 square meters big)
- The first modern computers were very large. A very large room was needed to keep the computers in; the room was 167 square meters.
- The first computer program was developed in the 1940s. The program was too slow compared to nowadays programs. (It took 25 minutes to complete one calculation)
- In 1958 CE, the computer chip was developed.
- In 1962 CE, the first computer game was produced.
- In 1964 CE, the computer mouse was invented.
- In 1971 CE, the floppy disk was invented.
- The invention of the floppy disk was important because it made it possible for people to share information between computers.
- In 1974 CE, the first PC (personal computer) was produced. (people could use computers at home).
- The underlined pronoun 'it' refers to one of the models of the first generation of modern computers. (one such model)
|
In 1983 CE, people could buy a laptop for the first time. Then, in 1990 CE, the British scientist Tim Berners-Lee developed the World Wide Web. It was not until 2007 CE that the first smartphones appeared. Today, most people use their mobile phones every day. |
- Laptops were invented in 1983 CE.
- The World Wide Web ( the Internet) was developed by Tim Berners-Lee in 1990 CE.
- Smartphones appeared in 2007 CE.
- The underlined pronoun their refers to people's.
|
What will happen in the future? You can already buy watches which can do the same as mobile phones. Scientists have also developed glasses that are capable of doing even more than this. Life in the future is going to see further changes in computer technology. It is likely that all aspects of everyday life will rely on a computer program, from how we travel to how our homes are heated. |
- Computer technology will continue to develop and people will depend more and more on computer programs and applications in all aspects of their life whether it was at work or at home.
- the glasses developed by scientists can do more than what phones and watches are capable of.
- The underlined relative pronoun which refers to watches.
- The underlined pronoun 'this' refers to what mobile phones and watches are capable of.
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The inventions that were completed between 1958 CE and 1974 CE are:
The computer chip
The first computer game
The computer mouse
The floppy disk
The first personal computer.
The first computer was so big and the first program was so slow.