Hardware, Software and Firmware

The units that are visible in any computer are the physical components of a data processing system, or hardware. Thus, the input, storage, processing and control devices are hardware. Not visible is the software – the set of computer programs, procedures, and associated documentation that make possible the effective operation of the computer system. Software programs are of two types: systems software and applications software.

Systems software is the programs designed to control the operation of a computer system. They do not solve specific problems. They are written to assist people in the use of the computer system by performing tasks, such as controlling all of the operations required, to move data into and out of a computer and all of the steps in executing an application program. The person who prepares systems software is referred to as a systems programmer. Systems programmers are highly trained specialists and important members of the architectural team.

Applications software is the programs written to solve specific problems (applications), such as payroll, inventory control, and investment analysis. The word program usually refers to an application program, and the word programmer is usually a person who prepares applications software.

Often programs, particularly systems software, are stored in an area of memory not used for applications software. These protected programs are stored in an area of memory called read-only memory (ROM), which can be read from but not written.

Firmware is a term that is commonly used to describe certain programs that are stored in ROM. Firmware often refers to a sequence of instructions (software) that is substituted for hardware. For example, in an instance where cost is more important than performance, the computer system architect might decide not to use special electronic circuits (hardware) to multiply two numbers, but instead write instructions (software) to cause the machine to accomplish the same function by repeated use of circuits already designed to perform addition.

Вариант 4

 

1. Перепишите предложения, подчеркните сказуемое и определите его видовременную форму. Письменно переведите предложения на русский язык.

 

1. Other parts of the operating system are kept on disk and loaded into primary storage only when needed.

2. When a computer is first turned on, one of the systems programs is booted or loaded into the computer memory.

3. After the system software has been loaded, the applications software can be brought in.

4. System programs are called drivers and coordinate peripheral hardware and computer activities.

5. The information was stored on a smart card for transfer to the police computer.

 

2 .Перепишите предложения и поставьте глаголы в скобках в нужную видовременную форму. Письменно переведите предложения на русский язык.

 

1. FORTRAN (to design) at IBM for scientific computing in 1957.

2. It is interesting to note that a COBOL program (to build) in a way similar to an essay.

3. Some novel concepts (to implement) in ALGOL.

4. Programs for changing the state of the computer in a particular sequence usually (to write) in high-level programming languages.

5. Software thus encompasses a wide array of products that may (to develop) using different techniques.

 

3. Перепишите предложения и передайте их смысл в форме пассивного залога. Переведите предложения на русский язык.

Например:

 

Many new computers include dual Dual core processors are included into

core processors. many new computers.

 

1. Every year the DOS developers release a new version.

2. A company named Microsoft developed DOS.

3. System software controls standard internal computer activities.

4. Software determines the order in which the operations are performed.

5. The developers of application software rely mostly on marketing research strategies.

 

 

4. Перепишите предложения и письменно переведите их на русский язык, обратив внимание на перевод определительных конструкций.

 

1. People have talked of a “computer revolution” ever since the electronic industry used in 1970s silicon chips instead of transistors.

2. System software controls standard internal computer activities.

3. Software may also be written in an assembly language, essentially, a mnemonic representation of a machine language using a natural language alphabet.

4. If away from the radar, the waves will reflect with a slightly longer wavelength.

5. The additional program instructions for working with hardware devices were very complex and time-consuming.

 

5. Перепишите и письменно переведите текст.