In this module, you will: Le _ Peete esi. 2 ad 6 Capture your favourite image 27 i EJ Po) aes aNe- la hello cae Pe iene EVA Devices for the disabled ce 7 Cer eM Ra a ec identify the different keys on a keyboard and explain their functions. Cuenca ee he ue es learn how to understand the technical specs of digital cameras, printers and display devices. Jearn and use the superlative form of adjectives. eee eo Ca R ee Re ee eng en are learn how to understand and give instructions and advice for the use of computers and monitors. CT ee Rat ac ER ee eee ecu ace Pama Cn eet oes te| Type, click and talk! 1 Interacting with your computer Read the description of input devices and then label the pictures (1-8) with words from the text. Input devices are the pieces of hardware which allow interact with a computer by using one of these: alight us to enter information into the computer. The most pen, a scanner, a trackball, a graphics tablet, a game common are the keyboard and the mouse. We can also controller or a microphone. 2 Describing input devices A Listen to a computer technician desc Write which devices he’s talking about. ing three input devices. 1 2 3 B Listen again and complete these extracts. 1 This device is enter information into the computer. 2... it may also function keys and editing keys special purposes. 3. Thisisa device the cursor and selecting items on the screen. 4 Itusually two buttons and a wheel 5... the user activate icons or select items and text. 6 tt detecting light from the computer screen and is used by pointing it directly at the screen display. it the user answer multiple-choice questions and3 Describing functions and features A Look atthe HELP boxandthenuse FTI ts the notes below to write a description of the Sony PlayStation 3 controller. Sony PlayStation 3 controller Functions © control video games ¢ hold it with both hands, use thumbs to handle directional sticks and face buttons Features © six-axis sensing system (capable of sensing motion in six directions: up, down, left, right, forwards and backwards) © wireless controller (Bluetooth) © USB mini port and cable for and automatic battery charging BE] inpairs, choose one of these input devices and describe its functions and features. Try to guess which device your partner is describing. Describing functions In the listening, the mouse was described using for + gerund This isa device for controlling the cursor and i items on the screen, There are other ways of describing a device's function: © used + to + infinitive Its used to control. ‘© relative pronoun + verb This is a device which controls © relative pronoun + used + to + infinitive Thisis@ device which/that is used to control © work by + gerund Itworks by detecting light fic computer screen. Describing features We can describe features like this: An optical mouse has an optical s eiaiaon a ball underneath, ally features two buttons and a wheel You ean cons ect it to. USB port. A wireless mouse works/operates wit allows the user to answer multiple-choice jons and Webcam Touch screeThe keyboard A, Label the picture of a standard keyboard with the groups of keys (1-5). 1 Cursor control keys include arrow keys that move the insertion point up, down, right and left and keys such as End, Home, Page Up and Page Down, which are used in word processing to move around a long document. Alphanumeric keys represent letters and 3. Function keys appear at the top of the keyboard and can be programmed to do special tasks. Dedicated keys are used to issue commands or to produce alternative characters, eg, the Ctrl key or the Alt key. 5. Anumeric keypad appears to the right of the main keyboard. The Num Lock key is used to switch from numbers to editing writer. E15, as arranged on a type ‘A PC-compatible keyboard B Match the descriptions (1-8) with the names of the keys (a-h). Then find them on the keyboard. 1. Along key at the bottom of the keyboard, Each time itis pressed a arrrowkeys it produces a blank space. b returnventer 2 moves the sort he beyinning of anew ine Its also used Caps Lock to confirm commands. d shift 3. It works in combination with other keys. For example, you press ae this key and C to copy the selected text. ° f space bar 4 It removes the character to the left of the cursor or any selected tail text. 9 backsp: h ctr 5 It produces UPPER CASE characters. 6 It produces UPPER CASE letters, but it does not affe and symbols. 7 Itmoves the cursor horizontally to the right for a fixed number of spaces (in tabulations and data fields). t number 8 They are used to move the cursor, as an alternative to the mouse.5 Mouse actions Complete this text about the mouse with verbs from the box. click double-click drag grab select. = move —_ control DEES ‘A mouse allows you to (1) the cursor and move around the screen very quickly. Making the same movements with the artow keys on the keyboard would take much longer. As you (2) the mouse on your desk, the pointer on the screen moves in the same direction. The pointer usually looks like an I-bar, an arrow, of a pointing hand, depending on what you are doing, A mouse has one or more buttons to communicate with the computer. For example, if you want to place the insertion point or choose a menu option, you just @ (press and release) on the mouse button, and the option is chosen The mouse is also used to (4) text and items on the screen. You can highlight text to be deleted, copied or edited in some way. The mouse is widely used in graphics and design. When you want to move an image, you position the pointer on the object you want to move, press the mouse button, and (5) the image to a new location on the screen, Similarly, the mouse is used to change the shape of a graphic object. For example, if you want to convert a square into a rectangle, you (6) one corner of the square and stretch it into a rectangle. The mouse is also used to start a program or open a document: you put the pointer on the file name and ” ‘on the name - that is, you rapidly press and release the mouse button twice. Gooo. Now, BAT THE MOUSE OVER THE CAT F000 Dish Icon Jf ANDO DouBle cuck - wwnn.CartoonStock.comSpeech recognition systems A BBS Listen to an interview with Anne Simpson, an expert in voice input technologies and tick () the features she mentions. O nee C1 cantake [J allow you to Dallowy e 7) allow you tos fl alow yout a mic B ten again and answer these questions. 1 eee ta 2 from speech recognition soft 3 at rate of accuracy with the softwa 4H "an you train the software to be more accurate: 5 Whatkir ords aren't in the dictionary? C Eh ingroups, discuss these questions. 1 What are the ben 2 W useful for? 3 senefit most from ton technolog 4 Whats the future ofthis k 1 think it omputerCapture your favourite image 1 The eyes of your computer A EX) inpairs, discuss how many ways there are of capturing an image on a computer. oueRwNn=A ow The eyes of your computer What does a scanner do? Ascanner‘sees'images and converts the printed text or pictures into electronic codes that can be understood by the computer. With a flatbed colour scanner, the paper with the image is placed face down on a glass screen, as with 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. The 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? Adigital camera takes photos electronically and converts them into digital data (binary codes made up of 1s and 105). It doesn't use the film found in a traditional camera; instead it has a special light-sensitive silicon chip. Read the text and see how many things from your Read the text again and answer these questions. Which device is used to input text and graphic images from a printed page? How does a scanner send information to the computer? How do digital cameras store photographs? What feature allows mobile phone users to take pictures? Which device would you use to take digital vide What kind of software is used to manipulate video clips on the computer? st are mentioned. Photographs are stored in the camera's memory card before being sent to the computer. Some cameras can also be connected to a printer oraTV set to make viewing images easier This is usually the case with camera phones = mobile phones with a built-in camera 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 omn movies, or by professionals it computer art and video conferencing They are also used to send live video images via the Internet. In this case they are called web cameras, or webcams,2 Scanners Listen toa conversation between Vicky Cameron, an Information Technology (IT) lecturer, and one of her students, and complete the student's notes. | The Lechnology used in scanners is similar Lo Lhak used in a 2 “The scanned image is sent Lo the + where you can manipulate ik. B To secon Lext, you need special softisare called A handheld scanner for scanning text, barcodes and A handwritten numbers o ne z S Slide seomers ore used Lo scan — © Hondheld sconners ove used For copkuring oF film negatives. Aslide scanner 3 Facts and opinions A What is the difference between facts and opinions? Complete these definitions. 1 are real, objective information. 2 usually include emotive words and subjective statements, B Read these advertisements and underline the facts and@irclathe opinions. ColourScan from The ColourScan XR from Sunrise is a flatbed scanner with 1,200 dots per inch (dpi) of resolution and 9°x15" of scanning area, Just think of the possibilities. You can enter data and graphic images directly into your applications (word processors or databases). You an get crisp, clean scans for colour compositions, video and animation work The ColourScan XR comes complete with its own image-capture software, which allows for colour and grey retouching. And its easy to use. What more could you want for only £79? tt couldn't be cheaper. In the field of flatbeds, the ColourScan XR is the clear winner. ‘The ScanPress DF is a self-calibrating. flatbed scanner with 2,400 dpi of resolution, You can scan everything from black and white to 24-bit colour. ‘The package includes a hardware accelerator for JPEG compression and decompression. JPEG technology saves disk space by compressing images by up to 50t0 1. In creating the ScanPress DE, we have chosen the most advanced technology to give you the best scans with the least effort. It produces images with high colour definition and sharpness. And it comes with OCR software and Adobe Photoshop, so you can manipulate all the images you capture. The ScanPress DF is a fantastic machine that you will love working with. And at only £309, an excellent investment.RSS Insmall groups, compare your answers and decide about the following. 1 Which text uses more persuasive language? 2 Which text is more factual or objective? Language work: superlatives A Apart from catchy slogans and other HELP box persuasive techniques, advertisements often use the superlative form of adjectives and adverbs. Read the following examples from advertisements for input devices. What can you say from these examples about how superlatives are formed? Look at the HELP box to check your answers. 1 We have chosen the most advanced technology 2. The fastest personal scanner 3. The most revolutionary computer peripheral 4 The best scans with the least effort B Complete these sentences with the superlative form of the adjectives in brackets. 1 Always buy the (fast) scanner with the (high) resolution you can afford. 2. They have created the (revolutionary) ‘camera to date, 3. FotoFinish is the (easy) photo editing software for your digital camera. 4 This scanner gives you the (good) scans with the (ite) effort. 5. Ouruniversity has bought the (modern) computer equipment. Tr inpairs, discuss who or what you think is: the most difficult computer game you've ever played the most exciting film you've ever seen. the funniest programme on TV. the most dangerous computer virus. the best blogger or webmaster on the Web. the most popular web browser anrwnagLanguage work: suffixes A Look at the HELP box and then use suitable suffixes to make adjectives or nouns from these words. In some cases, you can make more than one word. Use a dictionary to help you. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 innovate unde Complete these sentences with the word in brackets and one of these noun suffixes: -tion, -er, -ing, -logy, -ness. Use a dictionary to help you. 1 Kodak isa (manufacture) pment 2 Toavoid red eyes, use the cameras red eye (reduce) ture 3 a pho you don't ne 4 The (sharp) ofa and acutance - the ability to represent clear edg 5. Digital (techno ave a resolution of 12 megapixels ~ that’s graph means cutting is evolving so re Inge th mple, b ffix al, the noun di into the adjective digital. Suffixes can help you tell fa word is a noun, an adjective or a vert Common adjectival suffixes a -able, ible, -ive,-al, -ed, -ful,-ic -less, ing Common noun suffixes are: -er, -or, -ion, -tion, -ation, -ment,-ness, ity, ant, - logy, -ing,-y, -ure,-sion © When using jour dictionary change any other letter ou nee scan —> scanner (double n) of photographic and imaging he parts of an oh is a combination of resolution lly that6 Press release: a digital camera Complete the press release with words from the box. colour megapixels. shot video optical_-—brighter_—_reduction Kodak has introduced the EasyShare M753 digital camera, with 7.0 qa) resolution, a huge 2.5-inch LCD screen, and a professional 3x (2) zoom lens. It is the first camera to incorporate proprietary Kodak Perfect Touch Technology. - At the touch of a button, this innovative feature creates better, (3) pictures by bringing out detail in shadows without affecting lighter areas. I's ideal for underexposed pictures caused by shooting beyond the flash range or in adverse lighting conditions. ‘The M753 uses the exclusive Kodak Colour Science chip for phenomenal image quality with rich (4) and accurate skin tones. Seventeen programmed scene modes (e.g. party, fireworks, children) and five colour modes (high, low, natural, sepia, and black and white) help capture the best (5) with the least effort. Other features include cropping, auto picture rotation, digital red-eye ©) , and blurry picture alert. For capturing more than just still pictures, the camera also features high-quality (VGA) (7) capture and playback. 7 Describing a camera [in pairs, describe your digital camera, webcam or video camera. Think about these questions. ¢ What do you use the device for? Why did you buy that particular make/model? What are your favourite functions? What improvements would you make to the device? .Display screens and ergonomics Your computer screen in pairs, discuss these questions. 11 What type of display do you have: a cathode ray tube or an LCD flat screen? What size is the screen? 3 How can you change the picture using the controls? 4 Can you watch TV on your PC monitor? ‘An Apple Mac flat screen monitor How screen displays work A. Complete these definitions with words from the box. Then read the text on page 33 and check your answers. [resolution pixel —aspectratio colourdepth video adapter _plasma screen 1 — the smallest unit on a display screen or bitmapped image (usually a coloured dot) 2 —an expansion card that generates the video signal sent to a computer display 3 ~ the width of the screen in proportion to its height ~ also called gas discharge display 5 ~ the number of pixels contained in a display, horizontally and vertically 6 the number of bits used to hold a colour pixel; this determines the maximum number of colours that can be displayed Read the text again and answer these questions. What do CRT and LCD stand for? How is the screen size measured? What technology is used by active-matrix LCDs? Which unit of frequency is used to measure the brightness of a display? What substance produces light and colour when hit by electrons in a CRT monitor? What are the three advantages of OLED displays? aurwnagHow screen displays work Displays, often called monitors or screens, are the most-used output device on a computer. They provide instant feedback by showing you text and graphic images as you work or play. Most desktop displays use Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) technology, while nearly all portable computing devices, such as laptops, incorporate LCDs. Because of their slimmer design and lower energy consumption, LCD monitors (also called flat panel or flat screen displays) are replacing CRTs. Basic features Resolution refers to the number of dots of colour, known as pixels (picture elements), contained in a display. It is expressed by identifying the number of pixels on the horizontal and vertical axes. A typical resolution is 1024x768. Apixelis a combination of red, green and blue subpivels Two measurements describe the size of your display: the aspect ratio and the screen size. Historically, computer displays, ike most televisions, have had an aspect ratio of 43 — the width of the screen to the height is four to three. For widescreen LCD displays, the aspect ratio is 169, very useful for viewing DVD movies, playing games and displaying multiple windows side by side. High- definition TV also uses this format. The viewable screen size is measured diagonally, so a 19" screen measures 19” from the top left to the bottom right. Inside the computer there is a video adapter, or graphics card, which processes images and sends signals to the monitor. CRT monitors use a VGA (video graphics adapter) cable, which converts digital signals, into analogue signals. LCD monitors use a DVI (digital video interface) connection Colour depth refers to the number of colours a monitor can display. This depends on the number of bits used to describe the colour of a single pixel. For example, an old VGA monitor with an 8-bit depth can generate 256 colours and a SuperVGA with a 24-bit depth can generate 16.7 million colours. Monitors with a 32-bit depth are used in digital video, animation and video games to get certain effects. play technologies ‘An LED is made of two glass plates with a liquid crystal material between them. The crystals block the light in different quantities to create the image. Active-matrix LCDs use TFT (thin film transistor) technology, in which each pixel has its own switch. The amount of light the LCD monitor produces is called brightness or luminance, measured in cd/m? (candela per square metre). A CRT monitor is similar to a traditional TV set. It contains millions of tiny red, green and blue phosphor dots that, glow when struck by an electron beam that travels across the screen and create a visible image. PCs can be connected to video projectors, wihich project the image onto a large screen, They are used for presentations and home theatre applications. Ina plasma screen, images are created by a plasma discharge which contains noble (non-harmful) gases. Plasma TVs allow for larger screens and wide viewing angles, making them ideal for movies. Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) are thin-film LED displays that don't require a backlight to function. The material emits ight when stimulated by an electrical current, which is known as electroluminescence. They consume less energy, produce brighter colours and are flexible — ie. they can be bent and rolled up when they're not being used.3 Choosing the right display device A [BSD Listen to five customers in a computer shop describing their display device needs. Which device (ae) would you recommend to each person? In pairs, discuss your choices and give reasons for them. Speaker 1 Speaker 4 Speaker 2 Speaker 5 Speaker 3 NEC MultiSyn LCD Dell UltraSharp LCD 9 Monitor monitor Screen size: 17 Widescreen 24’ flat panel Resolution: 1280x1024 (SXGA) Resolution: 1920x1200 Colour support: 16.7 million Aspect ratio: 5:4 Multiple vi card slots Jeo inputs, flash Brightness: 400 cd/m: USB ports Cambridge- Pioneer 50” Plasma Hitachi interactive Ww whiteboard tion: 1280x768 nteraction with cor Bluray Disc recorder 5.1 surround sound system (Five audio channels plus one subwoofer) oard onnected to the PC B Pointing cordless pen Portable projector OL? (Digital ° B [2 inpairs, discuss which of the display devices you would most like to own. Give reasons for your choice.Ergonomics ~ the study of how people interact safely and efficiently with machines and their work conditions Ergonomics A IBS) Listen to Tony Clark, an expert in computer ergonomics, talking to some office workers about health and safety. What health problems associated with computer use do the office workers mention? B Listen again and complete these extracts. 1. Get a good chair, one that your lower back and is 2 Make sure your feet rest firmly or on a footrest. 3. Position the keyboard your elbows, with your arms the work surface position the monitor at, or just below, 5. You should sit at from the front of the monitor, about 50 to 70 centimetres away. 6 a kind of stand that lets you move the monitor sO you can use it at the correct angle and height. C Match the extracts above (1-6) with the correct parts of the diagram (a-f).EI Language work: Trees instructions and advice A Look at the HELP box and then complete these health and safety guidelines with should/shouldn’t. 1. Ifyou type a lot at your computer each day, you buy an ergonomic keyboard; it can help reduce the risk of repetitive strain injury. 2 You place your mouse within easy reach and support your forearm. 3 Ifyou decide to build your own PC, protect yourself from electric shocks. You touch any components unnecessarily 4 You always use a copyholder if you are working from documents. The best position is between the screen and the keyboard, or at the same height as the screen; this can reduce neck, back and eyestrain, 5. Irresponsible disposal of electronic waste can cause severe envitonmental and health problems, You just throw your old monitor or video system into the bin. B [Ey inpairs, practise giving advice about how to use a monitor safely using should/shouldn't or It’s a good/bad idea to. Look at these guidelines for help. 1 Don't open the monitor. I's dangerous. Dont stare atthe screen for long periods of time. Position the monitor at eye level or just below, Leave enough space behind the monitor for unobstructed movement. Dont sit near the sides or back of CRT monitors. Use LCD screens instead ~ they'e free from radiation. . 6 Keep the screen clean to prevent distorting shadows, wan An ergonomic school or office You have been asked to write a list of guidelines for making your school or office more ergonomic. Look at the definition of ergonomics at the bottom of page 35 and then write an email to your teacher/manager explaining your guidelines. Consider 1-8 below. Physical layout of the work site: desk areas, computer equipment, fling cabinets, etc. Lighting (overhead lights, desk lamps), glare and ventilation Computer and office furniture: ergonomic chairs and desks User-friendly and ergonomic devices: keyboards, mice, monitors, wrist rests, copyholders, etc Location and features of telephones Layout of cables and switches for a wired network Wireless internet access and wireless network Maintenance and technical repairs oN anewneChoosing a printer Types of printer A How many types of printer can you think of? Make a list. 5 Read the article on page 38 and then label the types of printer (1-5). Which types of printer aren't pictured? ink _| printhead The quality (resolution) of the images goes up to 2,400 dots per inch (dpi) 1 ides high quality output: resolution The resolution depends on the number of pins 200-2,400 dpi 3 Provides high quality for linework (lines and curv 4 538 WHICH TYPE OF PRINTER SHOULD I BUY? Printing is the final stage in creating a document Since the results you can obtain with different types of printer will vary substantially, here is a guide to help you decide which one is most suitable for your needs. To begin with, you should take into account that printers vary in cost, speed, print quality, and other factors such as noise or printing method. Technology is evolving so quickly that there is aways a printer for every application or need. Dot-matrix printers use pins to print the dots required to shape a character. They can print text and graphics; however, they produce relatively low resolution output — 72 to 180 dots per inch (dpi). They are used ¢o print multi-part forms, self-copying paper and continuous-form labels. They are slower than laser princers (see below) but much cheaper. Inkjet printers operate by projecting small ink droplets onto paper to form the required image. Colour and hues are created by the precise mixing of cyan, magenta, yellow and black inks. Inkjets are fairly fast, quiet, and not as expensive as laser printers. Nevertheless, you can still expect high quality results because there are some inkjet printers on the market with a resolution of 2,400 dpi. Laser printers produce output at great speed and with avery high resolution of 1,200-2,400 dpi They sean the image with a laser beam and transfer it to paper with a special ink powder called toner. ‘They are constantly being improved. In terms of speed and image quality, laser printers are preferred by experts for various reasons; for instance, they have a ‘wider range of scalable fonts than inkjets, ean emulate different language systems, and can produce high~ quality graphics; however, they are still expensive for home users. ‘Thermal transfer printers are used to produce colour images by transferring a wax-based ink onto the paper. They are popular for printing bar codes, labels and medium-resolution graphics. Imagesetters produce very high-resolution output (up to 3,540 dpi) on paper or on the actual film for making the printing plates. In addition, they are extremely fast. Imagesetters are most often used in desktop publishing (DTP). Although they produce the highest quality ouput, they have one important disadvantage: they are too expensive for homes or somal offices. In modern lithographic printing, images are created on a DTP computer and then output directly to the printing plates, without requiring film as an intermediate step. This technology is called computer to plate, or CTP, and the machine used is called a platesetter Finally, we have plotters. Plotters use ink and fine pens held in a carriage to draw very detailed designs on paper. They are used for construction plans, {neering drawings and other technical illustrations. Nowadays, traditional plotters are being replaced with wide-format inkjets weunag (lines 30-35) o Find words in the article with the following meanings. designs and images used in magazines, books, etc. lines 10-15) _ output quality, measured in dots per inch (lines 10-15) a particular colour within the colour spectrum (lines 15-20) an ink powder used in laser printers and copiers (lines 25-30) set of characters that can be resized (enlarged or reduced) without introducing distortion read by a computer system (lines 35-40) 7 surface that carries a reproduction of the image, from which the pages are printed (lines 45-50) 8 in-between; middle (lines 50-55) 35 45 a rectangular pattern of black lines of magnetic ink printed on an object so that its details can beLanguage work: connectors 1 AA Look at the HELP box and then put the words in italics from the article on Page 38 into the correct column of the table. Giving examples Listing/Sequencing Giving reason/cause | i B Try to add some more connectors to each column. How do you say these connectors in your language? C [EX Write a paragraph describing the printer(s) you use at home or at work. Try to use some connectors. Think about these aspects: type, speed, resolution, print quality, memory, cost, print consumables (ink cartridges etc). Choosing the right printer A A) inpairs, choose the most suitable pri reasons for your choices. 1. You want to print documents, web pages and occasional photographs at home. ter for each of these situations. Give 2. Asmall company needs a printer which will be shared by various users on a local area network (aN), 3. professional team of architects and engineers need to create accurate representations of objects in technical drawings and CAD. 4 Agraphic arts business needs a printer to produce catalogues, brochures and other publications. B EE) inpairs, describe the features of your ideal printer.Multi-function printers A [Bo Listen to an extract from a consumer technology podcast about multi-function printers. What two disadvantages of multi-function printers are mentioned? B [BS Listen again and answer these questions. 1 What is a multi-function printer? Why are multi-function printers so popular? awn Apart from sheets of paper, what other things can multi-function printers print? 5 What software do you usually get when you buy a multi-funetion printer? 6 What advice does Mr Kelly give on ink cartridges? 7 What type of device does he recommend for home users? 8 What type of device does he recommend for businesses? Language work: comparatives Look at the HELP box and then complete these sentences using the comparative form of the adjective in brackets. 1. Alaser printer is generally (quiet) than a low-cost inkjet printer 2. Multi-function printers are now only slightly (expensive) than conventional printers, and offer much (great) versatility. 3. The print quality of this network printer is noticeably (good) than any inkjet, and as (good) as similar laser printers 4 The Agfa platesetteris reliable) and (easy) to.use than most printers ofits type, 5 Your printers only as (good) as the paper you use. 6 The final result is always (accurate) than the original image. 7 Animagesetteris (heavy) than a laser printer What is the main advantage of PictBridge technology? rar ‘Comparatives We form the comparative of one- syllable adjectives by adding -er. slow —> slower Inkjet printers are slower than laser printers, but much cheaper. Two-syllable adjectives usually take more/less. modern —» more modern Theyte designing a more modern version at the moment. ‘Adjectives ending in -y (for example, noisy) take -er and the y changes toi Dot-matrix printers are noisier than inkjet. We form the comparative of adjectives with three or more syllables by adding moredless. versatile —r more versatile theyte cheaper and more versatile than standalone products. Note the regular forms: good —» better bad —» worse litle > less Ifyou want better results, you'l need specialized software. Equality is expressed by using as ... as. Difference can be shown by using not as... as This is as fast as many other printers in its class. Inkjets are not as expensive as laser printers6 Reading quiz - printer adverts A In pairs, read the adverts and then answer these questions. See who in your class can finish first. 1 How many inkjet printers are advertised? 2. Which printer would you recommend to someone who wants to print advertising graphics? 3. Ifyou have the wide-format printer from Vutek, what kinds of material can you print on? 4 Which technology lets you print directly from your digital camera without needing a compute’ in between? A page description language, or POL, describes how to print the text and pictures on the pi Can you find two laser printer languages? What is the resolution of the Brother HL. Network Colour Laser Printer? How fast is the Brother HL Network Colour Laser Printer? No ‘The Vutek UltraVu I! 5330 provides the ultimate combination of highest print speed and best print quality in a five-metre printer. Canon Compact Photo © Wide format professional inkjet printer Printer SELPHY CP750 ‘© Prints ona wide variety of substrates, ining vinyl, and pressure- Photo Printer ‘sensitive paper, mesh and textiles An inkjet photo printer with ‘© VUTEK Low Friction Kit allows for dificult materials tobe run more easly a 2.4” colour LCD for easy © Prints up to 164fet (5 metres) wide viewing, editing and printing of ‘© Upto 330 dpi resolution produces images that perfect borderless photos. With ate sharp, csp and consistent PictBridge, you can print directly ‘© Prints up to 2,230 square feet from digital cameras, memory (207 square metres) per hour cards or camera phones (via © Applications banners, IrDA or optional Bluetooth unit) cahiition graphics bus without connecting to a PC. ar eat Resolution: 300x300 dpi Software: Easy-PhotoPrint Brother HL Network Print Speed: up to 31 ppm Dimensions: 179x127.1x63 mm Colour Laser Printer {pages per minute) mono, 8 eight: 9603 The HL-4O40CN delivers the PPM colour (Aa) ; perfect balance of quality, Compatibility: PCL and workgroup, colour 4 laser PostScript languages printing. Paper tray capacity: 250 sheets It boasts outstanding colour Memory size: 64MB output: 2,400 dpi class colour igh-speed USB printing with exceptionally crisp, high-resolution text and graphics driven by Brother's aa’, exclusive printing enhancement technologies. A friend has emailed you asking for advice about which printer to buy, the Canon SELPHY CP750 or the Brother HL Network Colour Laser Printer. Write an ‘email to your friend comparing the two printers. Use the HELP box on page 40 to. help you.> oiry- Lelie) Assistive technology A (2 in pairs, look at the words in the box and use as many of them as you can to describe the photos. You will not need all the words.B oO In pairs, discuss these questions. 1 What sort of difficul or mobility? do you think are experienced by computer users with limitations of vision 2. What types of device could be helpful to blind users? 3 How cana person with mobility limitati 1s communicate with a computer? 2 Computers for the disabled A Read the text and find the following. 1. the laws which ensure equal opportunities for peop with disabilities in the USA and the UK how the blind student in the photo interacts with the machine the systems which type on the screen what is being said in meetings the type of software which reads printed material, eecognizes the text and isittot the system which is activated by the user's eye movements the switch which can be used by someone with quadriplegia Nauswn the function of voice recognition devices Computers for the disabled Computers have taken a dominant role in our society, meaning most jobs now require access to computers and the Internet. But what happens if a person is blind, d motor-disabled? They needn't worry. The latest as technology is designed to help them use computers and do thelr jobs in the office, learn at school, or interact with their families at home. In addition, new laws oblige companies to adapt the workplace to accommodate disabled people. For example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the UK's Disability Discrimination Act make it illegal for employers to discriminate against people with disabilities. To work effectively, most bind users need to have their Computers adapted with technologies such as Braille, screen magnifiers, speech synthesis and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) AA speech synthesis system is used to read aloud the work on the computer. It has a speech synthesizer, which produces the audio output, and a screen reader ~ the program which reads aloud text and menus from word processors, databases and the Web. A Braille embosser prints a hard copy ofa text document in Bralle Braille keyboards have Braille lettering on keyboard (Overlays, allowing the blind user to easily identify each key For output, there are printers, called Braille embossers, that produce tactile Balle symbols on both sides of a page at Bi speed OCR uses a flatbed scanner and specialized OCR software to read printed material and send the text to the computer. The PC can then produce a copy of the text in Braille, a magnified py, oF version that can be read aloud by a speech synthesis system, For someone with limited but usable vision, a screen Magnifier may be appropriate. This type of software can text and images appearing on the screen by up toDeaf computer users can overcome many communication difficulties with the aid of visual alerts, electronic notetakers arid textphones. Visual alerts are indicators that alert the deaf user when they receive new mail or when there is a system error. So instead of hearing a sound, the user is alerted by a blinking menu bar or by a message on the screen. Electronic notetakers use software that types a summary of what s said in meetings onto the computer screen Textphones allow the deaf to type and read phone conversations, They are also called TDDs (Telephone Devices for the Deaf) or TTYs (TeleTypewriters) They can be used in combination with relay services, where an operator says what the text user types, and types, what a voice phone user says. Deaf people can also communicate via SMS and instant messaging Atextphone Motor-impaired workers unable to type on a standard keyboard can employ expanded or ergonomic keyboards, on-screen keyboards, adaptive switches and voice recognition systems. aaageaaeeo [) A specialized keyboard for children with physical disabilities On-screen keyboards ate software images of a keyboard that appear on the screen and may be activated with a trackball, touch screen, screen-pointing device, or eye movernents. In an eyegaze system, the keys on the Virtual keyboard are activated by the user's eyes when they pause on a key for two or three seconds. LED video camera Eyegaze technology consists ofa video camera and image processing software, which determines the eyes gazepoint on the screen Switches come in many shapes and sizes. They are operated by muscle movements or breath control For example, 2 pneumatic switch ~ known as a sip and puff — allows someone with quadriplegia to control the PC by puffing and sipping air through a pneumatic tube. People with quadriplegia can also use sip and puff joysticks. Finally, there’s voice recognition, which allows the ‘computer to interpret human speech, transforming thé words into digitized text or instructionsB Complete the crossword with words from the text on pages 43-44. ACROSS 2 An keyboard presents a graphic representation of a keyboard on 7 the desktop screen and allows people with mobility impairments to type data using a Joystick or a pointing device. 4 Visual allow deaf users to be notified of incoming mail or error messages without hearing a tone. F 6 Ascreen makes the computer screen more readable for users with poor vision. 7 Asystem of reading and writing using raised i dots, which enables blind people to read by LI touch. DOWN . 1. Unlike a standard telephone, a hasa small screen and a keyboard that transcribes a spoken [gL uaLsbedss voice as text. It is used for text communication via a telephone line, ideal for people who have hearing or speech difficulties. 3 ABraille is an impact printer that prints text as Braille, by punching dots onto paper. 5. Aspeech synthesizer is used in conjunction with a screen to convert screen contents into spoken words. Language work: noun phrases AA Look at the HELP box and then the noun phrases 1-6. Decide what type of modifier (a-d) is placed before the ‘head’ in each case. 1. disabled worker a. adjective 2 rehabilitation engineer b present participle 3. employee’ abilities © Sgenitive 4 adapted keyboard d_ noun 5 voice-activated computer 6 pointing device B Explain the noun phrases in A. Example: disabled worker = a worker who is disabled eS4 Assistive technologies for the blind A Listen to an interview with Mike Hartley, the director of the Assistive Technology Project for the Blind in Washington DC. Make notes about these topics. 1 The work Lhak Mike is currently involved in: 2. Ascislive Lechrologies for bind users: ABrail keyboard B The difference bebiveen voice recognition and speech synthesis: 4 “The gpal of the Web Accessibikky Initiokive S Companies developing assistive Lechnology products: ‘Sriail Micro, w In pairs, help each other to improve your notes and then listen again to make sure you have included all of the important information. 5 Investing in assistive technologies Your school/company has decided to invest some of its annual IT budget in assistive technology. Write an email to your director of studies / manager, summarizing the different technologies available and the kind of people they can help. If possible, use the Internet to find suppliers of these technologies in your country. BB now visit www.cambridge.org/elt/ict for an online task.