ieee ‘The term user interface refers to the standard procedures that the user follows in order to interact. with a computer In the late 1970s and early 80s, the way users accessed computer systems was very complex They had to memorize and type a lot of Commands just to see the contents of a disk, to copy files or to respond toa single prompt. In fact, it was only experts who used computers 50 there was no need fora user-friendly interface. In 1984, Apple produced the Macintosh, the frst computer with a mouse and a graphical user interface (GUI). Macs were designed with one clear aim to facilitate interaction with the computer. A few years later, Microsoft launched Windows, another ‘operating system based on graphics and intuitive tools. Nowadays, computers are used by al kinds of people, and asa result there is a growing emphasis ‘on accessibility and user-friendly systems. ‘AGUL makes use of a WIMP environment: windows, Icons, menus and pointer. The background of the screen is called the desktop, which contains labelled pictures called leans. These icons represent files or folders. Double-clicking a folder opens a window which contains programs, documents, or more nested folders. When you are in a folder, you can launch a program or document by double-clicking the icon, or you can drag it to another location. When, you un a program, your PC opens a window that lets ‘you work with diferent tools. ll the programs have a high level of consistency, with similar toolbars, menu bars, buttons and dialog boxes. A modern 0S aso provides access to networks and allows multitasking, Which means you can run several programs and do various tasks ~ atthe same time. The most popular operating systems are: ‘= The Windows family ~ designed by Microsoft and used on most PCs. The most recent version is Windows Vista. Mac OS ~ created by Apple and used on Macintosh computers. Unix - a multi-user system, found on mainframes and workstations in corporate installations. Linux — open-source software developed under the GNU General Public License. This means anybody can copy its source code, change it and distribute it. [tis used in computers, appliances ~ and small devices. Windows Mobile - used on most PDAS and smartphones (PDAS incorporating mobile phones) Palm OS - used on Palm handheld devices. RIM — used on BlackBerry communication devices. Developed by Research In Motion. = The Symbian OS - used by some phone makers, including Nokia and Siemens. ‘These computer platforms differ in areas such as device installation, network connectivity or ‘compatibility with application software. D Translate these terms and expressions into your own language. Use a dictionary or the Internet to help you. 1 user interface (ine 1) procedures ine 2) commands (line 6). tools (line 16). desktop (line 21) nested folders (line 25). launch a program fine 26) source code (line 45) evausunB BBS Listen again and complete this fact file. Home Premium isfor advanced home computing and (2) The Business edition is ideal for (3) The Ultimate edition isthe most complete. offers support for the latest technologies, from DVD creation to 6 Windows Vista editions | Other features Internet and security ‘Windows programs 0 is | The user interface has been [Internet Explorer is more | The most popular is stil designed for users with basic | redesigned with new icons _| reliable and secure ® needs, such asemailand | anda new a suite that includes the The Security Centre include internet access @ sours es lig) an(6) program called Windows Defender, and a firewall that protects your computer from a Word; an email program; the Excel spreadsheet program; and the (10) program, PowerPoint. ror 4 Language work: countable and uncountable nouns ‘A Look at the HELP box and decide if these nouns from the fact file in 3B are countable, uncountable or either, depending on the context. Write C, U, or Cand U. user email, computing edition entertainment interface icon technology security spyware Countable and uncountable nouns Countable nouns are people or things that we can count. They have a singular and a plural form (e.. fle, program, system, application), Uncountable nouns are things that we can't count. They have no plural form (eg, software, music, robotics, multimedia, networking, storage), Alot of software these days is open-source, Not: A lot of softwares these days are open-source: Some words are countable in many languages but uncountable in English, and are used with a singular vetb (@.9. advice, damage, equipment, furniture, research, news, progress, homework), The advice he gave me was very useful Countable nouns must havea determiner (a, the, my, this, etc) in the singular, athough this is not necessary in the plural ‘deleted the fle yesterday ‘ost more than 300 files when my computer crashed. We use a before a consonant sound and an before a ‘vowel. The definite article the means you know which ‘one/ones mean, An icon isa small graphic. The icons on the toolbar are used to @ We don't use a/an with uncountable nouns. Not: aroboties We don't use the in generalizations with uncountable nouns or plural countable nouns. ike music. Not: ke the music, Computer programs are expensive Not: Fhe computer programs are expensive. Countable and uncountable nouns take different determiners. Many, few, a few only go with countable nouns. There are many versions of Windows Vista. ‘Much little, a little, a great deal of only go with uncountable nouns, have a little time free this afternoon if you want to meet.nit24 Program design and computer languages 1 Programming o 3 a age main AE) in pairs, discuss what you think programming is. B Look at the definition of programming in the Past good momiaaly), Glossary. Is it similar to yours? } 2 Steps in programming ‘A Match the words (1-5) with the definitions (a-e). 1 flowchart 2. source code 3 compiler 4 machine code 5 debugging a Program instructions written in a particular computer language b The techniques of detecting and correcting errors (or bugs) which may occur in programs ¢ Adiagram representing the successive logical steps of the program d_Aspecial program which converts the source program into machine code ~ the only language understood by the processor @ The basic instructions understood by computers; it consists of 1s and Os (binary code) B BBS Listen to Andrea Finch, a software developer, talking to a group of students on a training course about how a program is written and check your answers to A. C BBS histen again and put these steps into the correct order. Write instructions ina programming language Prepare documentation Understand the problem and pian a solution Compile the program (to turn it into machine code) Test and debug the program Listen again and make detailed notes. In pairs, use your notes to write a o a oO C1 Make a flowchart of the program oO o D short explanation of what each step in C means.3 > Computer languages A Read the text. How many high-level computer languages are mentioned? Computer languages Unfortunately for us, computers can't understand spoken English or any other natural language. The only language they can understand directly is machine code, which consists of 1s and 0s (binary code). Machine code is too difficult to write. For this reason, we use symbolic languages to communicate instructions to the computer. For example, assembly languages use abbreviations such as ADD, SUB, MPY to represent instructions. The program is then translated into machine code by a piece of software called an assembler. Machine code and assembly languages are called low-level languages because they are closer to the hardware. They are quite complex and restricted to particular machines. To make the programs easier to write, and to overcome the problem of intercommunication between different types of computer, software developers designed high-level languages, which are closer to the English language. Here are some examples: = FORTRAN was developed by IBM in 1954 and is still used for scientific and engineering applications. = COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language) was developed in 1959 and is mainly used for business applications = BASIC was developed in the 1960s and was widely used in microcomputer programming because it was easy to learn. Visual BASIC is a modern version of the old BASIC language, used to build graphical elements such as buttons and windows in Windows programs. = PASCAL was created in 1971. Itis used in universities to teach the fundamentals of programming = Cwas developed in the 1980s at AT&T. It is used to write system software, graphics and commercial applications. C+ is a version of C which incorporates object-oriented programming; the programmer concentrates on particular things (@ piece of text, a graphic or a table, etc) and gives each object functions which can be altered without changing the entire program. For example, to add a new graphics format, the programmer needs to rework just the graphics object. This makes programs easier to modify. t= Java was designed by Sun in 1995 to run on the Web. Java applets provide animation and interactive features ‘on web pages. (See Unit 25) Programs written in high-level languages must be translated into machine code by @ compiler or an interpreter. A compiler translates the source code into object code - that is, it converts the entire program into machine code in one go. On the other hand, an interpreter translates the source code line by line as the program is running, Machine code (binary) itis important not to confuse programming languages with markup languages, used to create web documents, Markup languages use instructions, known as markup tags, to format and link text files. Some examples include: = HTML, which allows us to describe how information willbe displayed on web pages. = XML, which stands for Extensible Markup Language. While HTML uses pre-defined tags, XML enables us to define our own tags; itis not limited by a fixed set of tags. = VoiceXML, which makes Web content accessible Via voice and phone. VoiceXML is used to create voice applications that run on the phone, whereas HTML is used to create visual applications (for example, web pages) < name> Andrea Finch << homework Write a paragraph describing the C language In this XML example we have created two new tags: and B Read the text again and answer these questions. Do computers understand human languages? Why? / Why not? What is the function of an assembler? Why did software developers design high-level languages? Which language is used to teach programming techniques? What is the difference between a compiler and an interpreter? Why are HTML and VoiceXML called markup languages? aurasune C Complete these sentences with a computer language from the text. 1 allows us to create our own tags to describe our data better, We aren't constrained by a pre-defined set of tags the way we are with HTML. 2. IBM developed in the 1950s. It was the first high-level language in data processing. 3 applets are small programs that run automatically on web pages and let you watch animated characters, play games, etc. 4 is the HTML of the voice web. Instead of using a web browser and a keyboard, you interact with a voice browser by listening to pre-recorded audio output and sending audio input through a telephone. 5 This language is widely used in the business community, For example, the statement ADD VAT to NET-PRICE could be used in a program. Word building Look at the words in the boxes. Are they nouns, verbs or adjectives? Write n, v or adj next to each word. There may be more than one possible answer. Complete the sentences with words from the boxes. Program __programmers Programming _programmable __ 1 is the process of writing a program using a computer language. 2 Acomputer is.a set of instructions that tells the computer how to do a specific task. 3° Most computer make a plan of the program before they write it. 4A keyboard allows the user to configure the layout and meaning of the keys compile. compiler____ compilation ___ 5 Programs written in a high-level language require ~ that is, translation into machine code, the language understood by the processor. 6 A source program is converted into machine code by software called a Programmers usually their programs to generate an object program and diagnose possible errors. bug debug debugger debugging ___ 8 Anyerror or malfunction of a computer program is known asa 9 A_____isa program used to test and ____ other programs. 10 The process of going through the code to identify the cause of errors and fixing them is called xLanguage work: the infinitive A Look at the HELP box and then make sentences using these prompts. 1 not easy / write instructions in COBOL Its not easy to write instructions in COBOL. 2 expensive / set up a data-processing area 3 advisable / test the programs under different conditions 4 unusual / write a program that works correctly the first time it’s tested 5 important / use a good debugger to fix errors 6 easy / learn Visual BASIC B Choose the correct words (a-c) to complete these sentences. 1 We use high-level languages because machine code is too difficult , understand and debug. a read b reading ¢€ toread 2 | went on the course to be a better programmer. how a learn b tolearn ¢ fortolearn 3 Imnot interested in that computer language. aleam b learning ¢ toleam 4 Herefuses the project with me, ado bdoing ¢ todo 5 The engineers warned the employees not the cables. a touch b touching _€ totouch 6 They may not tothe conference. acome b coming ¢ tocome 7 Spyware can make your PC a perform —b performing 8 This program is too slow ado b todo ¢ fordoing The infinitive The infinitive with tois used in the following ways: © Toexpress purpose We use symbolic languages to communicate instructions to the computer. (=in order to communicate ...) Not:... for 0 communicate © After adjectives BASIC was widely used in the past because it was easy to learn, Machine code is too difficult to write. (= not easy enough to write) © After certain verbs (eg. afford, demand, plan, agree, expect, promise, appear, hope, refuse, arrange, learn, try, decide, manage) A lot of companies are now trying to develop voice applications for web access. After the object of certain verbs (e.g. advise, encourage, allow, expect, tell, ask, invite, want, enable, order, warn) HTML allows us to describe how information will be displayed on web pages. The bare infinitive (without fo) is used in the following ways: © After modal verbs (e.g. can, could, may, might, will, would, must, should) Unfortunately, computers can’t understand spoken English. High-level languages must be translated into machine code. After the object with the verbs make and let Programs make computers perform specific tasks. more slowly. ¢ toperform the simulation.unit25 Java 1 Java applets A Match the examples of Java programs, known as applets, (a-e) with the descriptions (1-5). 1 This Land Rove 2 The Pythagoras theorem applet gives the proof of the Pythagorean theorem without wi allows you to manipulate triangles and go through the steps of the geon applet allows you to change the look of the vehicle, cds. tt etrical proof 3. The Jman for Java applet permits medical researchers to view sequential MRI (Magnetic Resonance Images) of the brain 4 Ananalogue clock applet displays the time according to the web user's computer and lets you set the colours and style of the hands and numbers. 5 Abanner applet displays graphic images on websites in order to advertise products or services B Match the terms (1-5) with the definitions (a-e). 1 Java 2 applet 3. plugin 4. platforn-independent 5 object-oriented programming an auxiliary program that enables web browsers to support —— new content, for example animation a software that can run on any operating system — © anisland in Indonesia, coffee (in American slang), and a —__ programming language for internet applications da computer programming technique that allows the creation ™ foundation of others; used to create graphical user interfaces @ a small Java application, usually designed to run automatically within a web page The Java logo spd2 TheJava language A These statements about Java are all false. Read the text and correct them. 1 Java was invented by Microsoft Java has no competitors. Flash files are called animations. 2 3 4 5 6 SUPER Ure l el Java is a programming language developed by Sun Microsystems, specially designed to run on the Web. Java programs (called applets) let you watch animated characters and moving text, play music, and interact with information on the screen (for example, control animations and select options). Characteristics of the Java language Java is an object-oriented language, similar to C++, but more dynamic and simplified to eliminate possible programming errors. A Java program is both compiled and interpreted (see Unit 24). First, the source code (a file with a Java extension) is compiled and converted into 2 format called bytecode (a file with a .class extension), which can then be executed by a Java interpreter (see Fig, 1). Compiled Java code can run on most computers, because there are Java interpreters, known as Java Virtual Machines, for most operating systems. Java is multi-threaded, meaning a Java program can have multiple threads (parts) - that is, many different things processing independently and continuously. This enables the program to make the best use of available CPU power. With the interpreter, a program is first converted into Java bytecodes. Java is not compatible with most computing platforms. The Java language is single-threaded, one part executing ata time. Why is Java popular? Most programmers like Java because it allows them to write applets which make web pages more interactive and attractive. They can create graphical objects (for example, bar charts and diagrams) and new controls (for ‘example, check boxes and push buttons with special properties). A web page that uses Java can have sounds that play in real time, music that plays in the background, cartoon-style animations, real-time video and interactive games. The Java Micro Edition platform Java ME) is used in mobile devices. It provides flexible tools to create applications that run on mobile phones, PDAs, TV set top boxes and printers. Nowadays, most phones are configured to use Java games. Alternatives to Java One alternative to Java is Microsoft's C&, pronounced ‘Csharp, a .NET language based on C++ with elements from Visual Basic and Java. There are no substantial differences between Ci and Java, When software developers do measurements on pieces of code, sometimes Java is faster, sometimes Cé is. Another competitor is Adobe Flash technology, which supports graphics, a scripting language called ‘ActionScript, and the streaming of audio and video. Flash is used to create animation and advertisements, 10 integrate video into web pages, and to develop rich internet applications such as portals. Flash files, traditionally called flash movies, have a swf fle extension. They may be an object on a web page or be played in the stand-alone Flash Player.HELP box B Match the words (1-6) with the words (a-f) to make technical terms from the text. 1 Java 4 web @ applet system 2. operating 5 source b page e object 3. programming 6 graphical € code f language C Complete the sentences with words from the box. interpreted animated configured used pronounced object-oriented compiled 1 Javalets you watch characters on web pages. 2 Javaisan language, similar to C++ but more dynamic. 3. First, the source code of a Java program is into an intermediate format called bytecode. This is then by any system possessing a Java interpreter. 4. The Java ME platform is widely in mobile devices. Nowadays, most mobile phones are to use Java games, 6 Microsoft's Ck is a simplified version of C and C++ for the Web. It's ‘C sharp! Language work: the -ed form A Look at the HELP box and then put these verbs into the correct column. stopped asked AL fol hd) described decided produced called watched executed published object-oriented Programmed persuaded configured converted arranged designed