UNIT SIX

INFORMATION SYSTEMS

F Softcopy output devices

F Monochrome monitor

F Flat screen technologies

F Probability and prediction

F Cybernetics and its connections

 UNIT SIX

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

ü Developing your listening skills

ü Understanding the main points

ü Note-taking and summarising

ü Developing your information technology vocabulary

ü Reading figures and practising numbers

 182 Communicate in Business

9 Activity I
You will hear a person describing one of the softcopy output devices.
Below is a text referring to cathode–ray tubes (CRTs). While listening to the tape, select
words and expressions and fill in the blanks:
Perhaps the most popular softcopy …1… (two words), is the cathode–ray tube (CRT). It is
indispensable to …2… connected to large computer systems, but its most regular use is as a …3…
for microcomputer systems. This is in fact, a video …4… screen which allows the operator …5…
data entry and computer …6… . Some monitors display only letters, numbers and special characters.
They are called …7… monitors. These screens display …8… characters per line, with …9 … lines
…10… at one time. Screens that can display both alphanumeric data and graphics are called
graphics monitors or graphics …11….
The CRT’s screen display is made up of small picture elements, called …12… . The pixels
are small when a great number of points can be illuminated on the screen. So the smaller the
pixels, the better the image …13…, or resolution. There are fixed locations on the screen where a
…14… character can be placed. A screen can display 80 characters of …15… horizontally and 25
lines …16… We can find the number of character …17… that the CRT’s electron …18… can
target, by multiplyng the two numbers. It means …19… (two words) characters. The more pixels
that …20… into a character box, the higher the resolution of the …21… image.

9 Activity II
Figure M1 is explained in the text on the which is about monochrome monitors. Now, using
information from Figure M1 and from the tape you will be listening to, identify the elements of the
RGB monitor shown in Figure M2, and write their names on the lines:

Electron gun

Electron beam
Shadow mask
Yoke

Phosphor-coated screen

Figure M1. Monochrome CRT monitor.

 Section A – Listening activities 183

The CRT’s electron gun emits a beam of electrons that moves across the interior of the
phosphor–coated screen under the control of the yoke’s magnetic field. The phosphors hit by the
electrons emit light which makes up the image on the screen. The distance between the points of
light is fixed by the shadow mask, a shield whith holes in it that is used to prevent the dispersion of
the electron beam.

1
2
3

Figure M2. RGB color monitor.

9 Activity III
You will hear a person speaking about Flat Screen Technologies. Listen carefully and answer
the following questions:
a. What are the most important advantages of the traditional CRTs?
b. What computer type has benefited from flat screen technology?
c. Mention three advantages of laptop computers.
d. What do researchers want to achieve when they develop new screen technologies?
e. In what fields have researchers achieved the best results so far?
f. What is the working principle in LCDs?
g. What are the main advantages and disadvantages of LCDs?
h. How is a pixel formed in case of El displays?
i. What are the advantages and disadvantages of El displays?
j. What is the gas plasma display based on?
k. What does the color in gas plasma display depend on?
l. What good and weak points do gas plasma displays have:
184 Communicate in Business

9 Activity IV
Listen to the cassette and decide whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE
1. the role of probability in our lives is rather unimportant q q
2. our decisions usually lead to pretty certain results q q
3. probability helps us make our choice q q
4. probability is a mathematical concept q q
5. our predictions based on probability are unfailing q q
6. there is no possible error in calculations made by computers q q
7. a lorry fleet needs a certain number of spare parts per year q q
8. right predictions are possible under any conditions q q
9. the probabilistic method of investigation is a statistical tool q q

9 Activity V
Using your own knowledge try to explain the following concepts:
1. FREQUENCY
..................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................

2. STATISTICAL PROBABILITY
..................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................

3. STABILISATION FREQUENCY
..................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................

9 Activity VI
Now remake the text using the cues below. Then listen to the cassette and check your answers.
1. statistic, frequency, ratio, number, occurrences, event
2. frequency, event, series, repetitions, probability
3. to repeat, to level out, to approach, to be called

Activity VII
Listen to the tape and decide whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE
TRUE FALSE
1. Every age has offered its own knowledge. q q
2. Knowledge derives from beliefs. q q
3. Every body of knowledge consists of trustworthy information. q q
4. Knowledge has always been a synthesis of those items of
knowledge accurately conforming to reality. q q
 Section A – Listening activities 185

TRUE FALSE
5. Our age has produced the most integrated synthesis of such
items of knowledge. q q
6. The diversification of knowledge led to its dilution. q q
7. At present scientific truths (knowledge) are (is) widely used. q q
8. Our knowledge is rigorous within the limit of certain
definite domains. q q
9. Knowledge is quite effective nowadays. q q
10. Much knowledge is equivalent with confusion. q q
11. It is surprising that the growth of knowledge has
brought about much disorder in man’s environment. q q
12. It is evident that the disorder may grow into disaster
if we do not focus the knowledge acquired. q q

9 Activity VIII
Listen attentively to the tape. Then (1-3) try to answer the questions below and (4) rewrite the
text using given cues:

1) What do control processes consist in?

.........................................……………………………………………………………………..
2) What is an “ordered whole”?
.........................................……………………………………………………………………..
3) What is feedback?
.........................................……………………………………………………………………..
4) “system-cybernetics”, control processes, functional analysis, state description, process
relationship, “ordered whole”, environment, feedback.
.........................................……………………………………………………………………..

9 Activity IX
1) Think about the advantages and disadvantages of using technology in all fields of human
existence. Write a few notes under the form of pros and cons (for and against) in the space provided.
.........................................……………………………………………………………………..
.........................................……………………………………………………………………..
.........................................……………………………………………………………………..
.........................................……………………………………………………………………..
.........................................……………………………………………………………………..
.........................................……………………………………………………………………..

9 2) Now listen to the tape and compare your answers with the opinions expressed by the
authors.