Technical Toys for the Busy IT Exec.

1. What is it: Technology that converts spoken word to written word.

Who makes it: Multiple vendors

Price: About $200

Mike Fecek, vice president of tech services for Virtual Services Inc., of Troy, Mich., says the software is "a great tool for first-pass typing of medium to long documents, including e-mails, proposals, contracts and manuals, due to its speed and convenience." Setup takes about an hour. The equipment needed: a PC and a headset with microphone. To operate the software, place the cursor into any application, turn on the microphone and speak normally. The more the system is used, Fecek says, the more accurate it becomes.

 

2. What is it: Portable computer storage device

Who makes it: Multiple vendors

Price: About $10 to $320, depending on capacity

Forget lugging around a briefcase full of files or even a heavy laptop. For on-the-go professionals, this handy device quickly stores information or transfers data between computers. It is as small as a finger, weighs less than an ounce and is available in storage sizes of up to 4 gigabytes. “They’re incredibly convenient,” says Fecek of Virtual Services. “Plug them into a standard USB port, and they automatically appear and work like another hard drive.” When you’re finished, just unplug it and store it for later use, or plug it into another computer to transfer additional files.”

 

3. What is it: MP3 player

Who makes it: Apple Computers Inc., Cupertino, Calif.

Price: The new small iPod Nano ranges from about $199 to $249; the iPod shuffle is $100 to $130

First came 500-song downloads, then iPods with capability to handle 25,000 photos as well as podcasts. Now you can get an iPod that plays 150 hours of video. It comes with a 1.5-inch color LCD screen and weighs only 1.5 ounces.

Martin Jerresand, a chief information officer with the Volvo Group in Gothenburg, Sweden, doesn’t use his iPod strictly for entertainment. “I mainly listen to podcasts such as The Wall Street Journal online but also like to listen to good music,” he says.

 

4. What is it: Device that lets your computer receive an Internet signal without cables

Who makes it: Various vendors

Price: About $40 and up

Imagine being able to conduct all your Internet business without having to plug in to a cable port or telephone jack. All you need is to make sure your laptop or PC has the ability to plug in such a card and that the place where you’re working offers wireless access. The cards are lightweight and small – about the size of a thick credit card. Joyce Vonada, vice president of information technology services for AutoNation Inc., says being able to connect to the Internet “anytime, anywhere … can be a lifesaver.” While Vonada did not specify a particular card, Drouin of TRW is a fan of the Sierra Wireless AirCard 580. He says: “Finally, a broadband wireless card that delivers on its performance promises. I can work almost as efficiently as being in my office, even when stuck for hours on the highway.”

5. What are they: Headphones that reduce unwanted noise

Who makes them: Bose Corp., Framingham, Mass.

Price: $299

If you do a lot of flying or just need to tune out for a minute, try these. “There is such a thing as being too connected, and these help me find at least a few much-needed minutes of peace and quiet in a busy airport or on a plane,” says Joe Drouin, chief information office for TRW Automotive in Livonia, Mich.

(From Automotive News, 1/16/2006)

Notes: 1 inch = 2.54 cm, 1 ounce = 28.3 g

Task 3. Answer these questions about the text.

1) What is the voice recognition software used for?

2) Can you handle photos using iPod? What else can you handle?

3) What does a podcast mean?

4) Which of these gadgets do you possess? Which one would you like to have? Explain why.

 

Task 4. Decide  if  the  statement  is  true,  false  or  there  is  no  information

in the text.

1) It takes a few minutes to set up voice recognition software.

2) iPod is produced by multiple vendors.

3) QuietComfort-2 headphones reduce unwanted noise.

4) The weight of a wireless connection card is about 50 g.

 

Task 5. Using the paragraph number references given, look back in the text and find words that have a similar meaning to.

1) instrument (1)

2) precise (1)

3) convenient (2)

4) amusement (3)

5) brings (4)

 

Task 6. Using the paragraph number references given, look back in the text and find the reference for the words in italics.

1) … due to its speed and convenience (1)

2) Plug them into a standard USB port (2)

3) It comes with a 1.5-inch color LCD screen (3)

4) … your laptop or PC has the ability to plug in such a card (4)

5) … that delivers on its performance promises (4)

6) … these help me find at least a few much-needed minutes of peace and quiet (5)

Task 7. Read this passage, fill in the gaps using the words below, and translate into Russian.

Mobile Phone networks

In Britain there are several mobile phone __(1)__ including Vodaphone, O2, T-mobile and Orange. There are also ___(2)___ like Virgin Mobile who use the network of another company. When you buy a cell phone, you have a choice of ___(3)___. The most popular is “____(4)____”, with customers paying for their calls in advance. They can ____(5)____ their accounts in shops, over the Internet, and at cash machines. Heavy __(6)__ may prefer a ___(7)_____. They pay a fixed amount every month, but the calls are much cheaper than they are for pay-as-you-go customers. Mobile phones usually come with a ____(8)____ already ____(9)___. If you take the phone abroad, you may be able to use it on a local network. This is called “____(10)____”. It can be expensive, and it may be cheaper to buy a foreign SIM card.

contract                   installed               operators       top up

pay-as-you-go        SIM card            roaming

tariffs                       networks               users

 

Task 8. Choose the correct words.

1. A laptop computer with a screen you can write on is called a _______ .

    A. tablet PC            B. table PC             C. flat screen PC

2. An image on TV or computer screen is made up of thousands of ____.

    A. points                  B. pixels                  C. bits

3. You can draw directly onto a computer screen with a __________.

    A. bright pen           B. light pen                       C. pixel pen

4. A camera connected directly to the Internet is called _________.

    A. an Internet camera B. a web watcher   C. a webcam

5. After 6 pm, calls cost 20 p __________ minute

    A. for one          B. per                 C. each

6. You can't use a mobile in a cave because there's no __________.

    A. network         B. connection     C. power

7. I need to charge up my mobile phone battery. Have you seen my ______?

    A. charger         B. recharger      C. charging machine

8. When you send a text message, the __________ function can help your write it more quickly.

    A. predicting text             B. predictive text              C. text predictor

9. In the car, it's safer to use a __________ phone.

    A. handless            B. no hands            C. hands-free

10. If you don't want to dial a number by mistake, turn on the __________.

    A. keypad locker              B. keypad lock        C. locker of keypad

11. Which network has the lowest __________?

    A. call charges       B. call costs            C. call expenses

12. My pay-as-you-go account __________ is about £7.

    A. balance              B. level                    C. amount

13. My average call __________ is about two minutes.

    A. time                     B. length                 C. duration

 

Task 9. Which is NOT possible to complete the sentence?

1. I'll call her on my…

    A. mobile phone                       B. cell phone

    C. moving phone                               D. cellular phone

2. A mobile phone can't work without a…

    A. SIM card                               B. sim card

    C. sim chip                                          D. similar card

3. Don't forget to send me…

    A. a text message                    B. a text

    C. an SMS                                 D. a phone message

4. When I arrive, I'll…

    A. text you                                 B. textualise you

    C. send you an SMS                D. send you a text

 

Task 10. Read the text and choose the correct words.

Electronic payments

EPOS (electronic point of sale) terminals are (1) cash / money registers found in retail (2) openings / outlets such as shops and restaurants. They are connected to a (3) central / centre computer, and data about (4) objects / goods and services sold is entered into the terminals via keyboards, barcode readers, (5) touch / finger screens etc. They are useful for stock management, and can produce itemized bills and (6) receipts / recipes.

EFTPOS (electronic funds transfer point of sale) can also transfer (7) cash / funds directly from the customer's bank account via a (8) debit / paying card. They are now more common than EPOS terminals.

 

Task 11. Match the plastic cards of different types with the phrases.

1. credit card                            A. Buy now, pay now.

2. debit card                             B. Buy now, pay the bank later.

3. cash card                             C. Buy now, pay the shop later.

4. loyalty card                          D. Spend, and get some money or goods

                                                    back from the shop.

5. store card                             E. Take money out of a cash machine.

 

Task 12. Explain the meanings of the abbreviations from Units 1 and 2.

1. DTP 2. CD-ROM 3. MS-DOS

4. GUI 5. MHz 6. SMS

7. CV 8. CD-RW 9. IT

10. ATM 11. LCD 12. SIM

Task 13. Choose the correct word to complete each sentence. You may change some words if necessary.

    electron, electronic, electronics, electronically

1. An _______ pen is one example of input devices.

2. An _______ is a subatomic particle that carries a negative electric charge.

3. The door opens _______ .

4. He studied _______ in the college.

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