Unit 6.

Capture your favourite image

1 READING The eyes of your computer
1.1 You can capture your favourite pictures using three different input devices: a scanner, a digital camera, or a camcorder. Read, translate and discuss the text below.

What does a scanner do?

A scanner sees images and converts the printed text or pictures into electronic codes that can be understood by the computer. With a flatbed scanner, the paper with the image is placed face down on a glass screen similar to a photocopier. Beneath the glass are the lighting and measurement devices. Once the scanner is activated, it reads the image as a series of dots and then generates the digitized image that is sent to the computer and stored as a file. A colour scanner operates by using three rotating lamps, each of which has a different coloured filter: red, green and blue. The resulting three separate images are combined into one by appropriate software.

What does a digital camera do?

A digital camera takes photos electronically and converts them into digital data (binary codes made up of Is and Os). It doesn't use the film found in a normal camera; instead it has a special light-sensitive silicon chip. Photographs are stored in the camera's memory before being sent to the computer. Some cameras can be also connected to a printer or a TV set, to make viewing images easier.

What does a camcorder do?

A camcorder, or digital video camera, records moving pictures and converts them into digital data that can be stored and edited by a computer with special video editing software. Digital video cameras are used by home users to create their own movies, or by professionals in computer art and video conferencing. They are also used to send live video images via the Internet. Then they are called Web cameras or webcams. 1.2 Use the information above to answer these questions. 1. Which device is used to input text and graphic images from a printed page? 2. How does a colour scanner work? 3. Do digital cameras use film? How do they store photographs? 4. Which device would you use to take digital video? 5. What kind of software is used to manipulate video clips on the computer? 6. What do you think are the benefits of using scanners and cameras at home and in business? 1.3 Replace words with their synonyms from the text. 1) to turn 2) to put 3) to produce 4) to make pictures

5) same 6) various 7) associate 8) points 1.4 Find international words in the text. 1.5 Find Ukrainian equivalents for the following (See Text). Sees images, the printed text, electronic codes, a flatbed scanner, is placed, the lighting and measurement devices, is activated, a series of dots, digitized image, a file, by using, a different coloured filter, by appropriate software, a digital camera, takes photos, binary codes, doesnt use the film, instead, a special light silicon chip, to make viewing images, a camcorder, records moving pictures, can be stored, edited by a computer, home users, video conferencing live video images. 1.6 Use the right word to complete the sentences. 1) reads images and converts the printed text or pictures into electronic codes. ( A camera/ A computer/ A scanner ) 2) The scanner reads the image as a series of . (movements/ dots/ pictures) 3) A colour scanner operates by using three rotating . (lamps/ tubes/ valves) 4) the glass there are the lighting and measurement devices. (Behind/ Between/ Beneath) 5) A digital camera electronically and convert them digital data. (draws/ monographs/ takes pictures) 6) Some cameras can be connected to a printer or a TV set to make viewing images . (easier/ quicker/ simpler) 7) Digital video cameras are used by to create their own movies. (programmers/ home users/ professionals) 1.7 Give the situations in which the following are used (See Text). to understand, a photocopier, beneath, to generate, to be sent, rotating lamps, to be combined, to convert, easier, memory, moving pictures, art, the Internet. 1.8 Make up combinations of words and translate them into Ukrainian. 1) printed 2) electronic 3) flatbed 4) a glass 5) lighting and measurement 6) digitized 7) rotating 1) a camera 2) a filter 3) the memory 4) the text 5) devices 6) codes 7) screen

8) coloured 9) appropriate 10) digital 11) cameras 12) home 13) video

8) users 9) a scanner 10) the image 11) conferencing 12) lamps 13) software

1.9 Make an outline of the text in the form of questions (10-15).

2 VOCABULARY: INPUT DEVICES

A Scanners Input devices such as scanners and cameras allow you to capture and copy images into a computer. A scanner is a peripheral that reads images and converts them into electronic codes which can be understood by a computer. There are different types. A flatbed is built like a photocopier and is for use on a desktop; it can capture text, colour images and even small 3D objects. A film scanner is used to scan film negatives or 35 mm slides pictures on photographic film. Mounted in a frame. A hand-held scanner is small and T-shaped, ideal to capture small pictures and logos. A pen scanner looks like a pen; you can scan texts, figures, barcodes and handwritten numbers. Barcode scanners read barcodes on the products sold in shops and send the price to the computer in the cash register. Barcodes consist of series of black and white stripes used to give products a unique identification number. The resolution of a scanner is measured in dpi or dots per inch. For example, a 1,200 dpi scanner gives clearer more detailed images than a 300 dpi scanner. Most scanners come with Optical Character Recognition software. OCR allows you to scan pages of text and save them into your word processor; they can then be edited. B Digital Cameras A digital camera doesn't use film. Photos are stored as digital data (bits made up of Is and 0s), usually on a tiny storage device known as a flash memory card. You can connect the camera or memory card to a PC and then alter the images using a program like Adobe Photoshop, or you can view the images on a TV set. Many printers have a special socket so that you can print images directly from a memory card or camera. C Digital Video Cameras and Webcams Webcams (short for Web cameras) let you send and receive live video pictures through the Internet. They're primarily used for video conferences - video calls - but they can be used to record photos and video onto your hard disk. The resolution of webcams is expressed in megapixels (million pixels). Webcams connect to the PC via a USB (universal serial bus) or Fire Wire port; they display video at 24 to 30 frames (pictures) per second. Some include a headset with a microphone and earpiece.

EXERCISES 2.1 Complete with words from section A. 1. Scanners and cameras are .devices used to transfer images into a format that can be understood by computers. 2. A ..lets you copy photos and printed documents into your PC. 3. It has become one of lifes most familiar sounds the beep of the supermarket till whenever a . is scanned. 4. If you need to scan 35 mm you should go for a dedicated 35 mm film scanner which concentrated all its dots into a tiny area. 5. This scanner has a resolution of 300 x 600 6. A ..scanner is small enough to hold in your hand. 7. A ..scanner is used to capture lines of text, barcodes and numbers. 8. Most digital cameras use flashcards to store photos. 9. scanners have a flat surface and take at least A4-sized documents. 10. To scan photographic negatives or slides you will need a ..scanner. 2.2 Decide if these sentences are True or False. If they are false, correct them. 1. The details detected by a scanner are not determined by its resolution. 2. A barcode scanner is a computer peripheral for reading barcode labels printed on products. 3. Scanners cannot handle optical character recognition. 4. A digital camera uses a light sensitive film instead of a memory card for storing the images. 5. A digital video (DV) camera is used to take still photographs. 6. Video editing software allows you to manipulate video clips on the computer. 2.3 Complete this advertisement with words from the webcam of section C. Having (1).with friends and family has never been easier or more enjoyable. You get the highest-quality audio and video, no matter which chatting solution you use. With the WebCam Live! Ultra, its CCD image sensor with 640 x 480 (VGA) resolution produces rich, vibrant colours. Combined with its (2)..2.0 Hi-Speed connection, the result is top quality, full-motion video at 30(3)..per second for all your web conversations, even in dimly-lit rooms. The WebCam Live! Ultra lets you do more. Let your voice be heard clearer than ever before with the included (4)unlike the built-in microphones in most other (5).. . Take still pictures at up 1,3 (6) resolution (interpolated) and enjoy the many great features that accompany the bundied award-winning WebCam Center software, such as motion detection, remote security monitoring, timelapse video capture and much more.

2.4 Translate into English. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

2.5 Advertisement: A digital camera Some words have been left out of this persuasive advertisement. Read it and complete it with words from the box. vivid easy-to-use faster fashionable wide shots

If you want great pictures from an (1) .............. digital camera, you want the Kodak DC215. Now you can capture life's memories in style with this sleek and (2).digital camera. The camera's 2X (29 mm-58 mm) optical zoom lens lets you get close up and personal without sacrificing image detail or quality while the (3)..angle lens design helps you capture more in each shot. With one million (1152 x 864) pixels, you'll have enough detail to generate crisp, (4)realistic photos up to 5" x 7". The 1.8" colour LCD lets you preview and review your pictures so you get only the (5)..you want, and lets you delete those you don't. With the included USB COMPACTFLASH Card Reader, you can download pictures up to ten times (6)than with serial connections for faster image sharing.

3 LANGUAGE WORK: COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

Making comparisons 1. You form the comparative of one-syllable adjectives with -er and the superlative with -est. slow slower the slowest high higher the highest Ink-jet printers are slower than laser printers. Image setters produce the highest resolution. Adjectives with one vowel followed by one consonant double the consonant. big bigger the biggest

Than is used after comparatives. Don't use that. After superlatives, we do not use of with a singular word for a place or group.

This is the fastest chip in the world. NOT ... of the world BUT ... the fastest chip of all. 2. Adjectives with three or more syllables form the comparative with more/less and the superlative with most/least. accurate more accurate the most accurate Flatbed scanners are more accurate than handheld scanners. 3. Two-syllable adjectives usually take more/less. more modern more advanced But those adjectives ending in -y (e.g. happy, easy) take -er and -est, and the 'y' changes

to 'i'. Impact printers are noisier than non-impact printers. 4. Note the irregular forms: good better the best bad worse the worst little less the least 5. You can make comparisons in different ways. e.g. CD-ROMs are cheaper than DVDs. or DVDs are more expensive than CD-ROMs. or CD-ROMs are not as/so expensive as DVDs. or CD-ROMs are less expensive than DVDs. We use as... as to compare things that are equal. My digital camera is as good as yours. EXERCISES 3.1 Translate into English, give the comparative and superlative forms. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (2), , , . e.g. small smaller the smallest

3.2 Make up sentences, using the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives in Exercise 1. e.g. A laptop is smaller than a desktop PC. 3.3 Fill in the blanks with the correct comparative and superlative forms. e.g. hard harder the hardest 1 long .. 2 boring ............................................... 3 wet .. 4 good . .......................... 5 attractive ............................................ 6 pretty 7 modern ............................................. 8 exciting ........................................... 3.4 Apart from catchy slogans and other persuasive techniques, advertisements often use the comparatives and superlatives of adjectives and adverbs. Read the following examples from advertisements. What can you say from these examples about how comparatives and superlatives are formed? 1. ... only ten times faster. 2. It couldn't be cheaper. 3. The manufacturers have chosen the highest technology ... 4. The cleverest personal scanner ...

5. The most revolutionary computer peripheral ... 6. The best scans with the least effort ... 7. Flatbed scanners are more accurate than ... 8. Now you can edit your documents more easily than ever, and they'll look better than ever too with ...

3.5 A Read the advertisements below and underline what you think are facts and circle the opinions. Then write them in the table. Facts are 'real' objective information. Opinions usually include emotive words, positive/negative phrases and subjective (persuasive) statements. HELP box dpi: dots per inch JPEG: - a standard format in image compression.

ColourScan XR Facts flatbed scanner with 6OO dpi of resolution

ScanPress 800 The ScanPress 800 is a selfcalibrating, flatbed scanner

Opinions

You can get crisp, clean scans

The highest technology

In small groups, compare facts from the table using the comparative forms and decide: 1. Which text has got more persuasive language? 2. Which text is more factual or objective?

3.6 Use the adjectives and write comparisons as in the example. e.g. comfortable expensive fast big

A car is more comfortable than a motorbike. A motorbike is less expensive than a car. A car is faster than a motorbike. A motorbike isnt as big as a car. big powerful heavy fast

A desktop PC is A laptop is 3.7 Write your own comparison of printer types. Type Dot-matrix Speed Slow to medium Medium to fast Medium to very fast Text quality Fair to good Graphics Capability Limited Colour quality Fair if you add a colour option Good to very good Good in colour laser printers Cost Low

Ink-Jet Laser

Good to excellent Excellent

Good to excellent Good to excellent

Low to high Medium to high