FROM THE HISTORY OF THE ASSEMBLY LINE
Though prototypes of the assembly line can be traced to antiquity, the true ancestor of this industrial technique was the 19th-century meat-packing industry in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in Chicago, where overhead trolleys were employed to convey carcasses from worker to worker. When these trolleys were connected with chains and power was used to move the carcasses past the workers at a steady pace, they formed a true assembly line (or in effect a “disassembly” line in the case of meat cutters). Stationary workers concentrated on one task, performing it at a pace dictated by the machine, minimizing unnecessary movement, and dramatically increasing productivity.
TEXT 16
HENRY FORD’S ASSEMBLY LINE
The American automobile manufacturer Henry Ford designed an assembly line that began operating in 1913. The result was a remarkable reduction of manufacturing time for magneto flywheels from 20 minutes to five minutes. This success stimulated Ford to apply the technique to chassis assembly. Under the old system, by which parts were carried to a stationary assembly point, 12 1/2man-hours were required for each chassis. Using a rope to pull the chassis past stockpiles of components, Ford cut labour time to six man-hours. With improvements - a chain drive to power assembly-line movement, stationary locations for the workmen, and work stations designed for convenience and comfort - assembly time fell to 93 man-minutes by the end of April, 1914. Ford’s methods drastically reduced the price of a private automobile, bringing it within the reach of the common man.
PART II
UNIT 1
HARDWARE
Task 1. Read the text and answer the questions after the text.
What is hardware? Webster's dictionary gives us the following definition of the hardware - the mechanical, magnetic, electronic, and electrical device composing a computer system.
Computer hardware can be divided into four categories:
1. input hardware
2. processing hardware
3. storage hardware
4. output hardware, input hardware
The purpose of the input hardware is to collect data and convert it into a form suitable for computer processing. The most common input device is a keyboard. It looks very much like a typewriter. The mouse is a hand held device connected to the computer by a small cable. As the mouse it is rolled across the mouse pad, the cursor moves across the screen. When the cursor reaches the desired location, the user usually pushes a button on the mouse once or twice to signal a menu selection or a command to the computer.
The light pen uses a light sensitive photoelectric cell to signal screen position to the computer. Another type of input hardware is an optic-electronic scanner that is used to input graphics as well as typeset characters.
Microphone and video camera can be also used to input data into the computer. Electronic cameras are becoming very popular among the consumers for their relatively low price and convenience.
Processing hardware. The purpose of processing hardware is to retrieve, interpret and direct the execution of software instructions provided to the computer. The most common components of processing hardware are the Central Processing Unit and Main memory.
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the brain of the computer. It reads and interprets software instructions and coordinates the processing activities that must take place. The design of the CPU affects the processing power and the speed of the computer, as well as the amount of main memory it can use effectively. With a well-designed CPU in your computer, you can perform highly sophisticated task in a very short time.
Memory is the system of the component of the computer in which information is stored. There are two types of computer memory: RAM and ROM.
RAM (random access memory) is the volatile computer memory, used for creating, loading, and running programs and for manipulating and temporary storing ROM (read only memory) is the nonvolatile, non-modifiable computer memory, used to hold programmed instructions to the system.
The more memory you have in your computer, the more operations you can perform.
Storage hardware. The purpose of storage hardware is to store computer instructions and data in a form that is relatively permanent and retrieve when needed for processing.
Storage hardware serves the same basic functions as do office filing systems except that it stores data as electromagnetic signals. The most common ways of storing data are Hard disk, Floppy disk and CD-ROM.
Hard disk is a rigid disk, for storing programs and relatively large amounts of data.
CD-ROM (compact disc read only memory) is a compact disc on which a large amount of digitized read-only data can be stored.
Output hardware. The purpose of output hardware is to provide the user with the means to view information produced by the computer system. Information is output in either hardcopy or softcopy form. Hardcopy output can be held in your hand, such as paper with text or graphics printed on it. Softcopy output is displayed on a monitor.
Monitor is a component with a display screen for viewing computer data, television programs, etc.
Printer is a computer output device that produces a paper copy of data or graphics.
Modem is an example of communication hardware - an electronic device that makes possible the transmission of data to or from computer via telephone or other communication lines.
Hardware comes in many configurations, depending on what the computer system is designed to do. Hardware can fill several floors of a large office building or can fit on your lap.
1. What is the Webster's dictionary definition of the hardware?
2. What groups of hardware could be defined?
3. What is input hardware? What are the examples of input hardware?
4. What is a mouse designed for? What is a light pen?
5. What is processing hardware? What are the basic types of memory used in a PC?
6. Can a PC-user change the ROM? Who records the information in ROM?
Дата добавления: 2018-08-06; просмотров: 81; Мы поможем в написании вашей работы! |
Мы поможем в написании ваших работ!