U.S.T.H.B / C.E.I.

L Unit 7
Computer science L2 (S2)

1 Your computer screen

 Discuss the following questions.
1 What type of display do you have?
2 What size is the screen?
3 Can you watch TV on your PC monitor?

2 How screen displays work

A Complete these definitions with words from the box.

resolution pixel aspect ratio refresh rate colour depth

video adapter plasma screen dot-pitch

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
4 ………………………………. – 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
7 ………………………………. – the distance between the pixels on the screen
measured in millimetre.
8 ………………………………. – the frequency at which the monitor renews its image,
measured in Hz.

B  Read the text and answer the following questions

1 How is the screen size measured?
2 What technology is used by active-matrix LCDs?
3 Which unit of frequency is used to measure the luminance of a display?
4 What substance produces light and colour when hit by electrons in a CRT monitor?
5 What are the three advantages of OLED displays?

1
How screen displays work
monitor can display. This depends on the
number of bits used to describe the colour of a
Displays, often called monitors or screens, are single pixel. For example, an old VGA monitor
the most-used output device on a computer. with an 8-bit depth can generate 256 colours and
They provide instant feedback by showing you a superVGA with a 24-bit depth can generate
text and graphic images as you work or play. 16.7 million colours. Monitors with 32-bit depth
are used in digital video, animation and video
Most desktop displays use Liquid Crystal games to get certain effects.
Display (LCD) or Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
technology, while nearly all portable computing Display technologies
devices, such as laptops, incorporate LCDs.
Because of their slimmer design and lower An LCD is made of two glass plates with a
energy consumption, LCD monitors (also called liquid crystal material between them. The
flat panel or flat screen displays) are replacing crystals block the light in different quantities to
CRTs. create the image. Active-matrix LCDs use TFT
(thin film transistor) technology, in which each
Basic features pixel has its own switch. The amount of light the
LCD monitor produces is called brightness,
Resolution refers to the number of dots of colour, measured in cd/m2 (candela per square meter).
known as pixels (picture elements), contained in
a display. It is expressed by identifying the number A CRT monitor is similar to a traditional TV set.
of pixels on the horizontal and vertical axes. A It contains millions of tiny red, green and blue
typical resolution is 1024768. phosphor dots that glow when struck by an
electron beam that travels across the screen
Two measurements describe the size of your and create a visible image.
display: the aspect ratio and the screen size.
PCs can be connected to video projectors,
Historically, computer displays, like most
which project the image onto a large screen.
televisions, have had an aspect ratio of 4:3 – the
They are used for presentations and home
width of the screen to the height is four to three.
theatre applications.
For widescreen LCD displays, the aspect ratio is
16:9, very useful for viewing DVD movies, In a plasma screen, images are created by a
playing games and displaying multiple windows plasma discharge which contains noble (non-
side by side. High-definition TV also uses this harmful) gases. Plasma TVs allow for larger
format. The viewable screen size is measured screens and wide viewing angles, making them
diagonally, so a 19” screen measures 19” from ideal for movies.
the top left to the bottom right.
Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLEDs) are
Inside the computer there is a video adapter, or thin-film LED displays that don’t require a
graphics card, which processes images and backlight to function. The material emits light
sends signals to the monitor. CRT monitors use when stimulated by an electrical current, which
a VGA(video graphics adapter) cable, which is known as electroluminescence. They
converts digital signals into analogue signals. consume less energy, produce brighter colours
LCD monitors use a DVI (digital video and are flexible – i.e. they can be bent and
interface) connection. rolled up when they aren’t being used.
Colour depth refers to the number of colours a

2
C Complete the technical specifications of this monitor with words.
Quick specs
The new Paintview XT-85 combines a television and a computer
(1)…………………..in one display.

Type of display Flat panel LCD

(2)………………. …………………… 19 inches
(3)display ……………………………. 1,2801,024 pixels
Dot pitch 0,294mm
(4)………………… …………………. 16.7million colour
Contrast ratio 1,000:1
(5)……………………………………… 450 cd/m²
Built-in TV tuner Yes
Audio Two 3-Watt speakers and a 5-Watt
Subwoofer; headphone jack
The Picture-in-Picture function allows you to watch more than one
program at the same time and lets you adjust the size of each window.

3 Big screens: plasma and projection TVs

I sometimes use a video projector in my
I’ve got a 52-inch plasma display and Geography lessons. I prepare
really enjoy its advantages : high-contrast audiovisual presentations on my laptop
images and bright colours, generated by a and then connect it to a front-screen
plasma discharge which contains noble, projector which displays the images on a
non-harmful gases. Gas-plasma TVs allow distant screen or white wall
for larger screens and wide viewing
angles, perfect for movies!

I use a portable DLP projector for

I am a home cinema enthusiast. I’ve set up my business presentations. This is
a system with a DVD recorder, speakers a digital light-processing device
for surround sound, and a rear projection which creates the image with
TV, which has the video projector and the millions of microscopic mirrors
screen within a large TV box. It’s a real arranged on a silicon chip
cinema experience.

A Complete the following sentences with the appropriate words.

1 If you intend to set up a …………………………, consider getting a very big screen, a
DVD recorder and a good set of speakers.
2 A …………………-……………….. ………………..takes digital images and displays
them on a screen wall.
3 The company announced plans to expand its ……………… ……………….-……………......
(DLP) cinema technology, which has thrilled test audiences with its dazzling colours and pin-
sharp images.
4 The gas mixture in a ………………….. ……………………is not dangerous.
5 In a ……………… ………………. TV, a large box contains both the projector and the screen
built in.

4 Language work: compound and complex sentences

 Select from the text compound and complex sentences.

3
Help box

1 Compound sentences 7 Neither a desktop PC nor a laptop

 A compound sentence has two or more could be as complex as a mainframe.
clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions:
and, but, for, so, etc. 2 Complex sentences
E.g. The viewable screen size is measured  We create a complex sentence by joining
diagonally, so a 19”screen measures… two or more clauses with subordinating
E.g. …an old VGA monitor with an 8-bit conjunctions such as because, since, after,
depth can generate 256 colours and a although, or when.
superVGA with a 24-bit... E.g. The material emits light when it is
simulated by an electrical current…
 We usually leave out the same subject (1),  Complex sentences contain relative
the same subject+verb (2) or the same clauses (1), noun clauses (2), and adverbial
subject+auxiliary (3). clauses(3). We can put adverbial clauses
1 They provide …as you work or play. followed by a comma at the beginning of
2 CRTs are cheap, but heavy. complex sentences.
3 LCDs offer better quality and take up 1 CRT monitors use a VGA cable, which
less space, so replacing CRTs. converts digital signals into analogue
signals.
 We can emphasize the relationship 2 If a monitor has a refresh rate of 75Hz, it
between two clauses in compound means that the screen is scanned 75
sentences by using different combinations of times per second.
conjunctions. They can express an addition 3 When OLEDs aren’t being used, they
(4), a combination (5), an alternative (6), or a can be bent or rolled up.
combination of negatives (7).
4 LCDs not only require much space but 3 Compound-complex sentences
also use less power than CRTs.
 We form compound-complex sentences
5 In a rear projection TV, a large box with three or more clauses joined by both
contains both the projector and the coordinating and subordinating conjunctions.
screen built-in. E.g. Inside the computer, there is a video
6 The output can be displayed either on card which processes images and sends
the screen or printed onto paper.
signals to the monitor.

A Identify the type of sentences: complex, simple or compound.

1 The characters and pictures that we see on the screen are made up of dots.
2 What we can see on the screen is created and stored in an area of RAM.
3 LCD uses a grid of crystals and polarizing filters to show the image.
4 CRT technology offers colours and high resolution pictures but the monitors are
large and use a lot of energy.
5 Brightness and contrast buttons let you alter the image.
6 When choosing a monitor, you have to take into account a few basics.
7 The images shown on a monitor are generated by the video card.
8 The size of the screen is measured horizontally.
9 Phosphors are materials that emit light and produce colours when they are
activated by an electron beam.

4
5 Ergonomics

A There are a number of health and safety problems that may result from continuous use of
computers.
 Typing constantly at high speed may provoke repetitive strain injury or RSL, causing
pain in the neck, arms, wrists, hands and fingers. (1) & (2)
 If you work in bad postures and sit in uncomfortable chairs, backache and stress may be
caused. (3)
 When looking at the screen for long periods of time, and lights reflecting off the screen,
headaches and eye strain, pain and fatigue of the eyes, may occur. (4)
 Cathode Ray Tube monitors can emit electromagnetic radiation which can be dangerous
to health.
The study of how people interact safely and efficiently with machines and their work conditions
is called ergonomics. In computing, ergonomics is about designing computer facilities so they
are safe and comfortable.

 Find the missing words in the following tips on how to interact safely and efficiently with
your computer.

1 Get an ……………… ………………. so you change its height and angle.

2 Make sure you have enough ……………… ……………….under the desk, and your
………………rest completely on the floor or on a foot rest.
3 Put the monitor at ……………. ……………..or just below.
4 Position the keyboard at the same height as your …………….., with your
……………parallel to the work surface. Try to keep your …………… straight and flat
when typing.
5 Use a document ……………….in line with the screen to reduce neck and eye
movements between the document and screen.
6 Take regular ………………….from the computer and look away from the ………………at
regular intervals.

5
7 language work: Cause and effect
Help box
In addition to the use of conjunctions covered in the previous unit, we can express
the relationship between cause and effect in many different ways, before looking at
some of these ways, note carefully this important distinction:

 A B
cause effect A results in B; A causes B
E.g. Continuous use of computers causes a number of health and safety problems.
 B A
effect cause B results from A; B is caused by A
E.g. A number of health and safety problems may result from continuous use of
computers .

1 Often the choice of verbs in a sentence will indicate a cause-effect relationship.

The following verbs are used to link a cause with an effect. (1)

2 We can also use –ing to link a cause and effect. (2)

result be caused by cause be produced by produce

results in allow result from prevent bring about enable

3 Another way of showing causal relationship is by introducing the cause by IF, and both
the cause clause and the effect clause verbs are in the present tense. (3)
4 when clause often indicates cause and effect. (4)
Note: Not all when clauses indicate a cause and effect relationship. Some are simple
time relationship.
E.g. when I switch on my computer, I check for emails.

Link the following sentences showing the cause/effect relationship.

1 The user wants to log on.

2 He speaks to the computer.
3 It matches his voice to a database of voice patterns.
4 The user has a cold or sore throat.
5 He can use the system.
6 Stress and intonation patterns remain the same.

Start like this:

Voice –activated computers without keyboard will become more common…………