About Computers A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information, or data. It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data. You may already know that you can use a computer to type documents, send email, play games, and browse the Web. You can also use it to edit or create spreadsheets, presentations, and even videos. Everything you do on your computer will rely on both hardware and software. For example, right now you may be viewing this lesson in a web browser (software) and using your mouse (hardware) to click from page to page. As you learn about different types of computers, ask yourself about the differences in their hardware. As you progress through this tutorial, you'll see that different types of computers also often use different types of software. When most people hear the word computer, they think of a personal computer such as a desktop or laptop. However, computers come in many shapes and sizes, and they perform many different functions in our daily lives. When you withdraw cash from an ATM, scan groceries at the store, or use a calculator, you're using a type of computer. Many people use desktop computers at work, home, and school. Desktop computers are designed to be placed on a desk, and they're typically made up of a few different parts, including the computer case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Many of today's electronics are basically specialized computers, though we don't always think of them that way. Here are a few common examples. Smartphones: Many cell phones can do a lot of things computers can do, including browsing the Internet and playing games. They are often called smartphones. Wearables: Wearable technology is a general term for a group of devices—including fitness trackers and smartwatches—that are designed to be worn throughout the day. These devices are often called wearables for short. Game consoles: A game console is a specialized type of computer that is used for playing video games on your TV. TVs: Many TVs now include applications—or apps—that let you access various types of online content. For example, you can stream video from the Internet directly onto your TV. Mass Media Mass media in written, spoken, or broadcast forms has a significant impact on the masses. Commercials on TV, billboards, and social media platforms allow brands to build brand awareness. Companies search for the most effective ways to convey their message when it comes to branding, including sites, social media channels, blogs, and forums. When they find the right type of mass media channel for their businesses, they can communicate their ideas and conduct branding campaigns. Mass media informs, educates, and entertains people in a wide variety of ways. Brands can educate users to get the most out of their products. The majority of companies now use social media platforms, create blog posts on their sites, and launch commercials on YouTube to describe their best features, the problems their products can solve, and provide step-by-step guides. Now that we have cleared that up, it’s time to explore the characteristics. Over the years, the impact of mass communication has increased drastically because of the improvements made. Hence, it’s crucial to know the main characteristics of mass media, and they are as follows: it can appeal to a wide target audience; it communicates a public message; there’s a distance between a source of information and those who obtain it; it can be transmitted through various channels, such as TV, the internet, radio, and newspapers; it has a heterogeneous audience; news or information communicated through TV, radio, and print media can’t receive feedback. It’s essential not only to know these features but also to be aware of mass media types, so let’s jump into the next section. Famous People of the World The Rock Dwayne Johnson, known as The Rock, is the most famous person in the world. He became popular during his days as a WWE champion wrestler until he moved on to become a Hollywood movie star. In 2017, he was the second highest-paid actor in the biz! His Instagram is full of workout videos, diet tips, and funny posts that keep him connected with fans of all ages. Will Smith Will Smith has been on everyone’s radar since The Fresh Prince, but his launch to superstardom really began when he starred in big budget blockbusters like Independence Day and Men in Black. Donald Trump Donald Trump was elected President of the United States in 2017 after the 8-year term of Barack Obama. But before he tried to make America great again, he was already one of the richest and most famous men in the world! Whether you like him or not, he has the biggest net worth on the list. You may know Trump from The Apprentice, but he’s also famous for his billion-dollar real estate companies and his controversial tweets. Michael Jackson Michael Jackson tragically passed away 12 years ago, but his legacy lives on! He is undoubtedly part of music royalty and is often hailed as one of the best singers and performers in history. From child star to King of Pop, his albums topped the charts with hits like ‘Thriller’, ‘Beat It’, and ‘Billie Jean’. Another big contribution to his fame is the controversy surrounding his sexual abuse allegations. Famous Scientists of Uzbekistan Soviet, Uzbek scientist, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Research Professor at the Institute of Nanotechnology and Associate Professor at the Physics Department of the School of Science and Mathematics at the University of Texas at Dallas. In 2011, he was named "Inventor of the Year" by Time magazine. Arifov Atanazar Uzbek Soviet experimental physicist. Author and editor of many scientific papers. Created a method for determining the anisotropy time of liquids. This method was later used to study solutes in liquids, especially in solvents and dyes. Karimov Abdulazis Vakhitovich. Soviet Uzbek scientist, physicist, doctor of physical and mathematical sciences, professor. In particular, he worked on semiconductors and physical and mathematical research. Author of more than 450 articles and up to 40 inventions. One of the patents is a method for epitaxial growth of semiconductor materials by mixing melt solutions. Usmanov Timurbek Bekmuradovich. Uzbek physicist, academician of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan. 400 scientific articles, 16 patents. Scientist in the field of laser physics and technology, nonlinear optics and spectroscopy. He was one of the first to obtain an effective harmonic of laser radiation and a high level of light generation. Further, Timurbek Bekmuradovich created laser systems, which are widely used in many areas. Turakulov Yalkin Khalmatovich. Scientist biologist, laureate of the Lenin Prize in 1964. He created and managed several Uzbek institutes, mainly medical ones. Great Inventions 1.The electric furnace (1889) It was “the only means for commercially producing Carborundum (the hardest of all manufactured substances).” The electric furnace also converted aluminum “from a merely precious to very useful metal” (by reducing it’s price 98 percent), and was “radically transforming the steel industry.” 2. The steam turbine, invented by Charles Parsons in 1884 and commercially introduced over the next 10 years. A huge improvement in powering ships, the more far-reaching use of this invention was to drive generators that produced electricity. 3. The gasoline-powered automobile. Many inventors worked toward the goal of a “self-propelled” vehicle in the 19th century. Wyman gave the honor specifically to Gottleib Daimler for his 1889 engine, arguing: “a century's insistent but unsuccessful endeavor to provide a practical self-propelled car proves that the success of any type that once answered requirements would be immediate. Such success did come with the advent of the Daimler motor, and not before.” 4. The moving picture. Entertainment always will be important to people. “The moving picture has transformed the amusements of the multitude.” The technical pioneer he cited was Thomas Edison. 5. The airplane. For “the Realization of an age-long dream” he gave the laurels of success to the Wright brothers, but apart from its military use reserved judgment on the utility of the invention: “It presents the least commercial utility of all the inventions considered.” Who is the Greatest Teacher in History? Jaime Escalante refused low expectations for his students Jaime Escalante was a Bolivian-American teacher who taught AP calculus at a high school in LA from 1974-91. When Escalante arrived at the school, it was low-performing and expectations for student success were minimal, but he refused to accept the status quo. He promised students that if they learned math they would be able to control their futures, and began teaching AP Calculus. School administrators initially opposed Escalante’s techniques and he was almost fired, but a change in management meant he could continue his experiment. Before long the results started to show: During his first year teaching calculus in 1978, two students passed the AP exam. Five years later 30 students passed, and by the time Escalante left the school in 1991 the maths enrichment program had grown to 400 students. He was awarded the Presidential Medal for Excellence in Education in 1998. Escalante said of his time as a teacher: “The key to my success with youngsters is a very simple and time-honored tradition: hard work for teacher and student alike.” Anne Sullivan raised the bar for disability education Anne Sullivan was best known for being the teacher of author and lecturer Helen Keller, who was blind and deaf. Sullivan was partially sighted herself and learned to read and write at a school for the blind. When she became Keller’s teacher aged 20, she had her first breakthrough when she taught Keller the word ‘water’ by running water on one of her hands while tracing the letters of the word on her other hand. Within six months Keller had learned 575 words, basic multiplication, and Braille, completely transforming her ability to communicate. Sullivan’s pioneering teaching success brought her national attention. She continued to support Keller throughout her college education by spelling out class lectures and communicating information from textbooks. These efforts saw her student become the first deaf-blind person to graduate from college in the US, creating a new milestone for disability education. Famous Brands Nestle Nestle is a Swiss transnational food and drink company that has its headquarters in Vevey, Vaud, Switzerland. Nestle is the largest company food in the world, and it ranked number 64 on the Fortune Global 500 back in 2017. This company produces baby food, medical food, bottled water, breakfast cereals, coffee and tea, dairy products, and many more. If you know that you are a Kit Kat lover, then you might want to thank Nestle. And there is no doubt we always see products from Nestle in the food section every time we go to the mart or supermarket. Coca-Cola Everybody knows Coca-Cola, and this soft drink company started in the late 19th century patented as patent medicine. The name comes from its original ingredients: coca leaves and kola nuts. The fascinating fact about the company is that very few people know the real formula of this world-famous soft drink. Today, there are over 900 plants in more than 100 countries that produce billions of the beverages every day. Pepsi So Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is manufactured by PepsiCo.; which was known at first as Pepsi-Cola. The company then change its name to just Pepsi in 1961. Pepsi has always been a success since the very beginning, and it has been selling its products in more than 100 countries worldwide. But no matter how successful it had been, there was a bankruptcy in 1931 which was the result of World War I. Cultures and Traditions 1. Choose the Flowers You Give to a Russian If you have Russian business associates or friends, be careful of the flowers you give them. Avoid flowers with yellow colors as they represent a break-up of a relationship or deceit. Red carnations are taboo as well because these are flowers presented to veterans who survived the war and on the graves of those who have left this earth. 2. Be Careful of What you Give to Chinese Colleagues While China has opened its doors to the West, the cultural traditions of the Chinese will never be erased. They are one of the oldest civilizations in the world, so you have to understand that their cultural traditions were developed for millennia and handed down from generation to generation. The majority of the Chinese are superstitious as well and attach meanings to various things. When presenting your Chinese friends with flowers, avoid using white, which they associate with ghosts and death. In the United States, white flowers symbolize innocence and purity. Likewise, avoid flowers with thorny stems. Other things that are not good gifts for the Chinese are: Clock. Its name in Chinese (sòng zhōng, meaning send clock) sounds like sòng zhōng or funeral rite. It is also taken to mean that time is running out, or life and relationship can end. 3. Handkerchief .–In Chinese, it sounds like a farewell greeting. Umbrella. Offering or giving your Chinese friend or colleague an umbrella is a subtle hint of ending a relationship. You can share your umbrella but you have to take it back with you. Gifts that come in sets of four. The number 4 is associated with death. Straw sandals, shoes. It is also taken to mean that you want to part ways. Green hat. Green is considered lucky by other people because it is the color of money. For the Chinese however, a green hat means that the wife is being unfaithful. Don’t Ask for Salt When Dining in Egypt In many cultures, like the United States, it is all right to ask for salt to add to your food. But if you are dining with friends and colleagues in Egypt, keep in mind to avoid asking for salt. It is taken as an insult to the host, as Egyptians take it to mean that you are repulsed by the taste of the meal served to you. 4. A Question of Being Punctual The value of being on time depends on the country. In Venezuela, it is actually a norm to arrive about 10 to 15 minutes late for a dinner invitation. Being early for the Venezuelans means the person is either overly eager or greedy. Americans are a stickler for punctuality, just like the Germans, South Koreans and the Japanese. It’s incredible how in Malaysia, being five minutes late (which can actually extend to 60 minutes) is acceptable and you do not need to apologize, too. What’s extreme is how meeting at the exact time is immaterial in Morocco, where it is totally all right to be late for an hour or an entire day! It’s fine for the Chinese if you are late for 10 minutes while Mexicans and Greeks will excuse you if you arrive 30 minutes after the appointed time. The Role of Internet in our Life The term internet, spelled with a lower case “i,” has always meant a large network made up of smaller networks. Today, the term mostly refers to the global Internet, properly spelled with an upper case “I” but increasingly written as lower case. The global Internet comprises a billion Web, email and related servers in more than 100 countries. Originally developed for the U.S. military, it became widely used for academic and commercial research with access to unpublished data and journals on many subjects. As of 2019, more than three billion people use the Internet, and it has become indispensable to the world economy.Not only is the “Net” the largest source of information on every subject known to humankind, it is also the greatest source of misinformation (unintentional) and disinformation (intentional falsehoods). The highest volume on the Internet is video traffic followed by everything else, including websites and Web apps, email, voice, chat, backup, app updating and machine-to-machine. There are numerous benefits of the internet in our daily lives. In this article, you will learn some of the importance of the internet in daily life; 1. It saves time: It is evident that most of our daily activities would be difficult and time consuming without the use of the internet, from shopping online to money transfer which could take hours can all be done within a few minutes through the use of the internet. 2. It is useful for research and personal development: Any information you need for any form of research or self development can be found on the internet which makes it easier for everyone to learn online and also become a better person. 3. It makes remote work easier: Freelancers and business owners are able to network and communicate with each other conveniently through the use of the internet since they do not have to meet physically before they can all get their work done online. Differences between School and University ONE: University is way bigger! Your university campus is likely to be much bigger than your school with multiple buildings spread out over different locations for up to 40,000 students to use. You will notice this the most when trying to find your lectures so it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with your new campus during your welcome week and don’t be afraid to ask a fellow student for directions if you get lost! TWO: your timetable will be different No more 9am-3.30pm days; universities operate on a much more dynamic timetable. Some days you may have lectures all day and other days may be completely free for your own independent study. This means that you need to know when your lectures are and plan accordingly but it also gives you the freedom to manage your free time however suits you! THREE: you will only study a subject that you like Speaking of timetables, you will no longer have to dread those subjects you don’t like. At university you pick your course. This could be a traditional subject such as Geography or English or something unusual such as Ethical Hacking, Surf Science or even Circus Studies! If you have a passion that you want to turn in to your career, chances are there is a course that will let you do that! FOUR: you will have modules Your university course is split up in to ‘mini subjects’ called modules – some of which are compulsory and some optional – on top of your course choice you will also have to choose some of these optional modules. This means you can tailor your course to your interests and you can even study modules from other departments such as learning a language even if you’re not studying one. FIVE: you’ll have lecturers instead of teachers Teaching staff at university are called lecturers. They will be experts in whatever specific subject you chose to study. Your relationship with your lecturers is a lot less formal than your teachers at school – you don’t need to call them sir or miss! They’re all friendly and passionate about their subjects, happy to answer any questions you may have about your course.
