Module 8.
DSP technology is nowadays commonplace in such devices as mobile phones, multimedia computers, video recorders, CD players, hard disc drive controllers and modems, and will soon replace analog circuitry in TV sets and telephones. An important application of DSP is in signal compression and decompression. In CD systems, for example, the music recorded on the CD is in a compressed form (to increase storage capacity) and must be decompressed for the recorded signal to be reproduced. Signal compression is used in digital cellular phones to allow a greater number of calls to be handled simultaneously within each local "cell". DSP signal compression technology allows people not only to talk to one another by telephone but also to see one another on the screens of their PCs, using small video cameras mounted on the computer monitors, with only a conventional telephone line linking them together. Although the mathematical theory underlying DSP techniques such as Fast Fourier and Hilbert Transforms, digital filter design and signal compression can be fairly complex, the numerical operations required to implement these techniques are in fact very simple, consisting mainly of operations that could be done on a cheap four-function calculator. The architecture of a DSP chip is designed to carry out such operations incredibly fast, processing up to tens of millions of samples per second, to provide real-time performance: that is, the ability to process a signal "live" as it is sampled and then output the processed signal, for example to a loudspeaker or video display. All of the practical examples of DSP applications mentioned earlier, such as hard disc drives and mobile phones, demand real-time operation. The major electronics manufacturers have invested heavily in DSP technology. Because they now find application in mass-market products, DSP chips account for a substantial proportion of the world market for electronic devices. Sales amount to billions of dollars annually, and seem likely to continue to increase rapidly.
Introduction to DSP Most DSP applications deal with analog signals.
The analog signal - a continuous variable defined with infinite precision - is converted to a discrete sequence of measured values which are represented digitally. Information is lost in converting from analogue to digital, due to:
These effects are called quantization errors.
The continuous analog signal has to be held before it can be sampled. Otherwise, the signal would be changing during the measurement.
Only after it has been held can the signal be measured, and the measurement converted to a digital value.
The sampling results in a discrete set of digital numbers that represent measurements of the signal - usually taken at equal intervals of time. Note that the sampling takes place after the hold. This means that we can sometimes use a slower Analogue to Digital Converter (ADC) than might seem required at first sight. The hold circuit must act fast - fast enough that the signal is not changing during the time the circuit is acquiring the signal value - but the ADC has all the time that the signal is held to make its conversion. We don't know what we don't measure. In the process of measuring the signal, some information is lost.
Sometimes we may have some a priori knowledge of the signal, or be able to make some assumptions that will let us reconstruct the lost information.
Module 8.
Task 1 (in pairs) Read the following definitions of sociology and decide in what format they can be given (define the speaker, his characteristics (sex, age, education level, status), the place and time, the addressee, the conditions of the situation). What words used in the definitions made you think so? a) Sociology (from Latin: socius, "companion"; and the suffix -ology, "the study of", from Greek λόγος, lógos, "knowledge") is the scientific or systematic study of society, including patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and culture. b) Sociology involves the systematic examination of human social activity, from everyday face-to-face encounters to the movements of civilizations throughout history. c) Sociology is the study of group life. d) Sociology is the study of human social interaction. e) Sociology is the study of human behaviors as they are affected by social interactions within groups, organizations, societies, and the planet. Which of these definitions is closer to the way sociology was defined at your University classes?
Task 2 Before you read the texts given in this unit, study the following words.
(See the theory on dealing with unfamiliar words, p8 from “English for Psychologists”)
Task 3 When approaching a text, you should first understand the purpose of your reading. This purpose will help you formulate the way you are going to deal with it. Read Text 1 and answer the following questions: - What do sociologists study in society? - How is the way they study society different from other approaches? - What tools do sociologists use in their research?
Text 1. What Is Sociology? Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.
Sociology is the study of human behavior in society. Sociologists are interested in the study of people and have learned a fundamental lesson: All human behavior occurs in a societal context. That context—the institutions and culture that surround us—shapes what people do and think. Sociology is a scientific way of thinking about society and its influence on human groups. Observation, reasoning, and logical analysis are the tools of the sociologist, coupled with knowledge of the large body of theoretical and analytical work done by previous sociologists and others. Sociology is inspired by the fascination people have for the thoughts and actions of other people, but it goes far beyond casual observations. It attempts to build on observations that are objective and accurate to create analyses that are reliable and that can be validated by others. Every day, the media in their various forms (television, film, video, and print) bombard us with social commentary. Media commentarors provide endless opinion about the various and sometimes bizarre forms of behavior in our society. Sociology is different. Sociologists may study the same subjects that the media examine—such as domestic violence, religious cults, and interracial dating. Many sociologists make appearances on the media, but sociologists use specific research techniques and well-tested theories tо explain social issues. Indeed, sociology can provide the tools for testing whether the things we hear about society are actually true. Much of what one hears in the media and elsewhere about society, delivered as it may be with perfect earnestness and sincerity, is misstated and sometimes completely wrong.
Task 4 (see the theory on academic definitions, pp 46-49 from “English for Psychologists”) (individually) Using the patterns from the boxes “Structure and vocabulary aid” (p.49) write down the definitions of sociology. Take into accont the following formats: a) define sociology to your friend who is majoring in medicine and wants to know about your major; b) define sociology to your granny who is happy to know that you are a 1-year student and wants to know about your major; c) define sociology to another sociology student who is american and wants to know how this science’s scope is understood in Belarus.
(in pairs) Compare your definitions with those of your group-mates. In which way are they similar? Why? Text 2. Sociology and Social Sciences A definition is no proof.
Task 1 Read the next passage to learn about the differences between sociology and its adjacent sciences. Work in pairs and draw the picture map of the subject-matters of sociology and its adjacent sciences.
The subject matter of sociology is everywhere. Social behavior and social change—these are the topics of sociological study. Psychologists, anthropologists, political scientists, economists, social workers, and others also study social behavior and social change. Along with sociologists, these disciplines make up what are called the social sciences. Psychology analyzes individual behavior. Sociologists share the interest of psychologists in individuals, but the unit of analysis for psychology is the individual, whereas for sociologists, it is the whole of society. Anthropology is the study of human cultures. Anthropology sees culture as the basis for society and tries to see how different human societies have evolved and changed. Sociologists also see culture as a piece of a complex configuration of other social systems that together compose society. Generally, anthropologists tend to study cultures other than their own, whereas sociologists are more likely to study a society of which they are a part. Political science and economics are the other pillars of the social sciences. Political science is the study of polities, including political behavior, political philosophy, and the organization of government and political patties. Economics studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Social work andsociology are closely allied, but they are not the same. Social work is an applied field that makes use of the lessons of all the social sciences to serve people in need. Studying sociology is a good way to prepare for a career in social work because it delivers a perspective that will help the social worker better understand the plight of various individuals and how they are influenced by society.
Task 2 (in small groups) Look through the list of empirical facts and decide the discipline in terms of which they can be studied. Prove your supposition with the description of the subject-matter of the chosen science. a) Abama’s presidential campaign;
c) memory for faces; d) sleep and academic performance; e) marriage customs in India; f) ageing; g) smoking among teenagers.
Task 3 (individually) Understanding the scope of sociology as a science, now you can try to figure out what qualities a good sociologist should have. Read the list of qualities and tick those that you belive are important for a professional in sociology.
Work in small groups (3-4). Compare your list with those of your group-mates. Make one list for the group, be ready to explain your choice.
You can use the hints given in the chart, matching the word combinations from the columns and developing them with further examples.
Task 4 (home task, individually)Read an abstract from Wikipedia and fill in the gaps with some missing words/word combinations that you can borrow from the box below.
The sociological perspective is a particular way of approaching a phenomena common in sociology. It involves maintaining _____________, not by divesting oneself of values, but by critically evaluating and testing ideas, and accepting what may be surprising or even displeasing based on the __________. The sociological perspective often assumes that “official” explanations are incomplete or self-serving. It involves a conscious effort to go beyond the obvious and question what is accepted as true or ________. This is important because common sense _____________ are usually based on very limited ___________. Moreover, the premises on which common sense assumptions are based are seldom examined. While sociological research might confirm common sense observation, its broader observation base and theoretical rational provide a stronger basis for conclusions.
The sociological perspective helps us to see general __________ in the behaviour of particular individuals and offers insights about the social world that extend far beyond explanations that rely on individual quirks and personalities. Essential to the sociological perspective is the __________. This term, attributed to C. Wright Mills, means “...the vivid awareness of the relationship between experience and the wider society. ” It means going beyond the individual and understanding how structural forces shape _________ and their action.
The sociological perspective, as a broad way of approaching phenomena, is different to a ____________, which is a specific set of assumptions that frame a sociologist's theories and findings. Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociological_perspective New Words: To divest smbd of smth – лишать, отнимать Premis - посылка (в логике) quirks - причуды, остроты
Where do you think you might come across this text? In your opinion, who is it addressed to? In which way will this text be different, if it were addressed to: a) high school pupils interested in social sciences? b) 3-year students of philosophy?
Task 5 (in written form) Look through the list you have worked out together with your groupmates (in Task 4). Which of these qualities you already have and which of them you are going to study in the course of your University studies? How are you planning to do that?
Look through the list of activities below. Which of them might help you develop the qualities that you mentioned?
Make a plan of the development of the qualities important for you as a professional in sociology.
Text 3. Benefits of the Sociological Perspective Task 1 Jogn J. Macionis and Linda M. Gerber suppose that applying the sociological perspective in our daily lives benefits us in a number of ways. Read the text from the book “Sociology” (Pearson. Prentice Hall, Toronto) and find the ways you believe sociological persective might benefit you personally. Applying the sociological perspective in our daily lives benefits us in four ways:
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b) green consumption;
