计算机专业英语Unit02-SectionA-Computer-Hardware

ComputerEnglish

(FourthEdition)Unit2,SectionAComputerHardware2/29ComputerHardware—Introduction3/29ComputerHardware—IntroductionI.IntroductionComputerhardwareistheequipmentinvolvedinthefunctionofacomputerandconsistsofthecomponentsthatcanbephysicallyhandled.Thefunctionofthesecomponentsistypicallydividedintothreemaincategories:input,output,andstorage.Componentsinthesecategoriesconnecttomicroprocessors,specifically,thecomputer’scentralprocessingunit(CPU),theelectroniccircuitrythatprovidesthecomputationalabilityandcontrolofthecomputer,viawiresorcircuitrycalledabus.I.引言

计算机硬件是计算机运行所需要的设备，由可进行物理处理的元件组成。这些元件的功能一般分为3个主要类别：输入、输出和存储。这些类别的元件与微处理器相连接，特别是与计算机的中央处理器相连接，而后者是通过被称之为总线的线路或电路来提供计算能力和对计算机进行控制的电子电路。4/29ComputerHardware—Introduction

Software,ontheotherhand,isthesetofinstructionsacomputerusestomanipulatedata,suchasaword-processingprogramoravideogame.Theseprogramsareusuallystoredandtransferredviathecomputer’shardwaretoandfromtheCPU.Softwarealsogovernshowthehardwareisutilized;forexample,howinformationisretrievedfromastoragedevice.TheinteractionbetweentheinputandoutputhardwareiscontrolledbysoftwarecalledtheBasicInput/OutputSystem(BIOS)software.

另一方面，软件是计算机用来处理数据的一套指令，如文字处理程序或者视频游戏。这些程序通常被存储起来，并由计算机硬件调入和调出中央处理器。软件也控制着硬件如何使用；例如，如何从存储设备中检索信息。输入与输出硬件的交互作用是由基本输入/输出系统（BIOS）软件控制的。5/29ComputerHardware—IntroductionAlthoughmicroprocessorsarestilltechnicallyconsideredtobehardware,portionsoftheirfunctionarealsoassociatedwithcomputersoftware.Sincemicroprocessorshavebothhardwareandsoftwareaspectstheyarethereforeoftenreferredtoasfirmware.尽管微处理器在技术上仍被认为是硬件，其部分功能也与计算机软件有关系。既然微处理器同时具有硬件与软件方面的特征，它们因此经常被称作固件。6/29ComputerHardware—InputHardwareII.InputHardwareInputhardwareconsistsofexternaldevices—thatis,componentsoutsideofthecomputer’sCPU—thatprovideinformationandinstructionstothecomputer.II.输入硬件输入硬件由给计算机提供信息和指令的外部设备——亦即计算机中央处理器以外的元件——组成。Alightpenisastyluswithalightsensitivetipthatisusedtodrawdirectlyonacomputer’svideoscreenortoselectinformationonthescreenbypressingaclipinthelightpenorbypressingthelightpenagainstthesurfaceofthescreen.Thepencontainslightsensorsthatidentifywhichportionofthescreenitispassedover.

光笔是具有光敏端头的输入笔，用来在计算机屏幕上直接写画，或者通过按光笔上的夹子或用光笔接触屏幕来在屏幕上选择信息。这种笔含有光传感器，能够识别屏幕上笔经过的部分。7/29ComputerHardware—InputHardwareII.InputHardwareInputhardwareconsistsofexternaldevices—thatis,componentsoutsideofthecomputer’sCPU—thatprovideinformationandinstructionstothecomputer.II.输入硬件输入硬件由给计算机提供信息和指令的外部设备——亦即计算机中央处理器以外的元件——组成。Alightpenisastyluswithalightsensitivetipthatisusedtodrawdirectlyonacomputer’svideoscreenortoselectinformationonthescreenbypressingaclipinthelightpenorbypressingthelightpenagainstthesurfaceofthescreen.Thepencontainslightsensorsthatidentifywhichportionofthescreenitispassedover.

光笔是具有光敏端头的输入笔，用来在计算机屏幕上直接写画，或者通过按光笔上的夹子或用光笔接触屏幕来在屏幕上选择信息。这种笔含有光传感器，能够识别屏幕上笔经过的部分。stylus:n.铁笔用来刻画、雕刻的细长而尖利的工具；留声机的唱针tip:n.尖端，技巧the~ofafinger指尖~s小贴士，小技巧Photoofthe

HypertextEditingSystem

(HES)consoleinuseat

BrownUniversity,circaOctober1969.ThephotoshowsHESonanIBM2250Mod4displaystation,includinglightpenandprogrammedfunctionkeyboard,channelcoupledtoBrown's

IBM360mainframe.8/29ComputerHardware—InputHardwareAmouseisapointingdevicedesignedtobegrippedbyonehand.Ithasadetectiondevice(usuallyaball)onthebottomthatenablestheusertocontrolthemotionofanon-screenpointer,orcursor,bymovingthemouseonaflatsurface.Asthedevicemovesacrossthesurface,thecursormovesacrossthescreen.Toselectitemsorchoosecommandsonthescreen,theuserpressesabuttononthemouse.鼠标是为一只手抓握而设计的指示设备。它在底部有一个检测装置（通常是一个圆球），使用户通过在一个平面上移动鼠标能够控制屏幕上指针或光标的运动。当鼠标滑过平面的时候，光标随着在屏幕上移动。要在屏幕上选择项目或命令，用户就点击鼠标上的按钮。9/29ComputerHardware—InputHardwareAmouseisapointingdevicedesignedtobegrippedbyonehand.Ithasadetectiondevice(usuallyaball)onthebottomthatenablestheusertocontrolthemotionofanon-screenpointer,orcursor,bymovingthemouseonaflatsurface.Asthedevicemovesacrossthesurface,thecursormovesacrossthescreen.Toselectitemsorchoosecommandsonthescreen,theuserpressesabuttononthemouse.鼠标是为一只手抓握而设计的指示设备。它在底部有一个检测装置（通常是一个圆球），使用户通过在一个平面上移动鼠标能够控制屏幕上指针或光标的运动。当鼠标滑过平面的时候，光标随着在屏幕上移动。要在屏幕上选择项目或命令，用户就点击鼠标上的按钮。Mechanicalmouse;Opticalmouse;Wirelessmouse;Bluetoothmouse.Operatinganmechanicalmouse.movingthemouseturnstheball.XandYrollersgriptheballandtransfermovementOpticalencodingdisksincludelightholes.InfraredLEDsshinethroughthedisks.SensorsgatherlightpulsestoconverttoXandYvectors.10/29ComputerHardware—InputHardwareAjoystickisapointingdevicecomposedofaleverthatmovesinmultipledirectionstonavigateacursororothergraphicalobjectonacomputerscreen.操纵杆是由一根杆子组成的指示设备，该杆以向多个方向移动来操纵计算机屏幕上的光标或者其他图形对象。

11/29ComputerHardware—InputHardwareAjoystickisapointingdevicecomposedofaleverthatmovesinmultipledirectionstonavigateacursororothergraphicalobjectonacomputerscreen.操纵杆是由一根杆子组成的指示设备，该杆以向多个方向移动来操纵计算机屏幕上的光标或者其他图形对象。

lever:n.杆，控制杆leverprinciple杠杆原理Givemeaplacetostand,andIwillmovetheworld.(给我一个支点，我将撬动地球。)Videogamejoystickelements:#1Stick;#2Base;#3Trigger;#4Extrabuttons;#5Autofireswitch;#6Throttle;#7HatSwitch(POVHat);#8SuctionCup12/29ComputerHardware—InputHardwareAkeyboardisatypewriter-likedevicethatallowstheusertotypeintextandcommandstothecomputer.Somekeyboardshavespecialfunctionkeysorintegratedpointingdevices,suchasatrackballortouch-sensitiveregionsthatlettheuser’sfingermotionsmoveanon-screencursor.键盘是一个像打字机的设备，它使用户得以向计算机键入文本和命令。有些键盘有特殊功能键或集成的指示设备，如轨迹球或者可以让用户通过手指的移动来移动屏幕上光标的触敏区。

13/29ComputerHardware—InputHardwareAnopticalscanneruseslight-sensingequipmenttoconvertimagessuchasapictureortextintoelectronicsignalsthatcanbemanipulatedbyacomputer.Forexample,aphotographcanbescannedintoacomputerandthenincludedinatextdocumentcreatedonthatcomputer.Thetwomostcommonscannertypesaretheflatbedscanner,whichissimilartoanofficephotocopier,andthehand-heldscanner,whichispassedmanuallyacrosstheimagetobeprocessed.光扫描仪利用光感应设备将图片或文本等形式的图像转换成计算机能够处理的电子信号。例如，一张照片能够被扫入一台计算机，然后包括在该计算机建立的文本文件中。最常见的两种扫描仪类型是平板式扫描仪和手持式扫描仪，前者类似一台办公复印机，后者用手动的方式从要处理的图像上扫过。14/29ComputerHardware—InputHardwareAnopticalscanneruseslight-sensingequipmenttoconvertimagessuchasapictureortextintoelectronicsignalsthatcanbemanipulatedbyacomputer.Forexample,aphotographcanbescannedintoacomputerandthenincludedinatextdocumentcreatedonthatcomputer.Thetwomostcommonscannertypesaretheflatbedscanner,whichissimilartoanofficephotocopier,andthehand-heldscanner,whichispassedmanuallyacrosstheimagetobeprocessed.光扫描仪利用光感应设备将图片或文本等形式的图像转换成计算机能够处理的电子信号。例如，一张照片能够被扫入一台计算机，然后包括在该计算机建立的文本文件中。最常见的两种扫描仪类型是平板式扫描仪和手持式扫描仪，前者类似一台办公复印机，后者用手动的方式从要处理的图像上扫过。optical:adj.光学的，视力的~instruments光学设备an~defect视力缺陷15/29ComputerHardware—InputHardwareAmicrophoneisadeviceforconvertingsoundintosignalsthatcanthenbestored,manipulated,andplayedbackbythecomputer.Avoicerecognitionmoduleisadevicethatconvertsspokenwordsintoinformationthatthecomputercanrecognizeandprocess.麦克风是将声音转换成可被计算机存储、处理和回放的信号的设备。语音识别模块是将说的话转换成计算机能够识别和处理的信号的设备。

16/29ComputerHardware—InputHardwareAmodem,whichstandsfor

modulator-demodulator,isadevicethatconnectsacomputertoatelephonelineandallowsinformationtobetransmittedtoorreceivedfromanothercomputer.Eachcomputerthatsendsorreceivesinformationmustbeconnectedtoamodem.调制解调器代表调制器―解调器，是将计算机与电话线连接、允许信息传给或接自另一台计算机的设备。每台发送或接收信息的计算机都必须与调制解调器相连接。17/29ComputerHardware—InputHardwareTheinformationsentfromonecomputerisconvertedbythemodemintoanaudiosignal,whichisthentransmittedbytelephonelinestothereceivingmodem,whichconvertsthesignalintoinformationthatthereceivingcomputercanunderstand.计算机发送的信息由调制解调器转换成音频信号，然后通过电话线传送到接收调制解调器上，由其将信号转换成接收计算机能够理解的信息。18/29ComputerHardware—OutputHardwareIII.OutputHardware

Outputhardwareconsistsofexternaldevicesthattransferinformationfromthecomputer’sCPUtothecomputeruser.III.输出硬件输出硬件由将信息从计算机中央处理器传给计算机用户的外部设备构成。

Avideodisplay,orscreen,convertsinformationgeneratedbythecomputerintovisualinformation.视频显示器或屏幕将计算机生成的信息转换成可视信息。

19/29ComputerHardware—OutputHardwareDisplayscommonlytakeoneoftwoforms:avideoscreenwithacathoderaytube(CRT)oravideoscreenwithaliquidcrystaldisplay(LCD).显示器一般有两种形式：阴极射线管视频屏幕和液晶显示视频屏幕。

ACRT-basedscreen,ormonitor,lookssimilartoatelevisionset.InformationfromtheCPUisdisplayedusingabeamofelectronsthatscansaphosphorescentsurfacethatemitslightandcreatesimages.基于阴极射线管的屏幕或监视器看起来就像一台电视机。从中央处理器输出的信息，使用电子束显示出来，其过程是电子束扫描荧光屏，而荧光屏则发出光并产生图像。

20/29ComputerHardware—OutputHardwareAnLCD-basedscreendisplaysvisualinformationonaflatterandsmallerscreenthanaCRT-basedvideomonitor.LCDsarefrequentlyusedinlaptopcomputers.基于液晶显示器的屏幕将可视信息显示在比基于阴极射线管的视频监视器更平、更小的屏幕上。液晶显示器常常用于膝上型计算机。

21/29ComputerHardware—OutputHardwarePrinterstaketextandimagefromacomputerandprintthemonpaper.Dot-matrixprintersusetinywirestoimpactuponaninkedribbontoformcharacters.Laserprintersemploybeamsoflighttodrawimagesonadrumthatthenpicksupfineblackparticlescalledtoner.Thetonerisfusedtoapagetoproduceanimage.Inkjetprintersfiredropletsofinkontoapagetoformcharactersandpictures.打印机将计算机输出的文本和图像打印在纸上。点阵打印机使用细小的金属丝打击色带，从而形成字符。激光打印机使用光束在磁鼓上画图像，然后由磁鼓吸起被称之为色粉的微小黑粒。色粉熔凝到纸上，形成图像。喷墨打印机将小墨滴喷射到纸上，形成字符和图像。22/29ComputerHardware—OutputHardwarePrinterstaketextandimagefromacomputerandprintthemonpaper.Dot-matrixprintersusetinywirestoimpactuponaninkedribbontoformcharacters.Laserprintersemploybeamsoflighttodrawimagesonadrumthatthenpicksupfineblackparticlescalledtoner.Thetonerisfusedtoapagetoproduceanimage.Inkjetprintersfiredropletsofinkontoapagetoformcharactersandpictures.打印机将计算机输出的文本和图像打印在纸上。点阵打印机使用细小的金属丝打击色带，从而形成字符。激光打印机使用光束在磁鼓上画图像，然后由磁鼓吸起被称之为色粉的微小黑粒。色粉熔凝到纸上，形成图像。喷墨打印机将小墨滴喷射到纸上，形成字符和图像。fine:adj.美好的，精细的a~day美好的一天~hairs纤细的头发abladewith~edge有锋利边沿的刀锋23/29ComputerHardware—StorageHardwareIV.Storagehardware

Storagehardwareprovidespermanentstorageofinformationandprogramsforretrievalbythecomputer.Thetwomaintypesofstoragedevicesaredisk

drivesandmemory.Thereareseveraltypesofdiskdrives:hard,floppy,magneto-optical,andcompact.IV.存储硬件存储硬件为计算机检索提供信息和程序的永久性存储。两种主要的存储设备是磁盘驱动器和存储器。磁盘驱动器有几种类型：硬盘、软盘、磁光盘和光盘(紧密)。8-inch,5¼-inch,and3½-inchfloppydisks24/29ComputerHardware—StorageHardwareIV.Storagehardware

Storagehardwareprovidespermanentstorageofinformationandprogramsforretrievalbythecomputer.Thetwomaintypesofstoragedevicesaredisk

drivesandmemory.Thereareseveraltypesofdiskdrives:hard,floppy,magneto-optical,andcompact.IV.存储硬件存储硬件为计算机检索提供信息和程序的永久性存储。两种主要的存储设备是磁盘驱动器和存储器。磁盘驱动器有几种类型：硬盘、软盘、磁光盘和光盘(紧密)。8-inch,5¼-inch,and3½-inchfloppydisks25/29ComputerHardware—StorageHardwareHarddiskdrivesstoreinformationinmagneticparticlesembeddedinadisk.Usuallyapermanentpartofthecomputer,harddiskdrivescanstorelargeamountsofinformationandretrievethatinformationveryquickly.硬盘驱动器将信息存储在盘中嵌入的磁性颗粒中。硬盘驱动器通常是计算机的固定部分，能存储大量的信息并对其进行快速的检索。

26/29ComputerHardware—StorageHardwareFloppydiskdrivesalsostoreinformationinmagneticparticlesembeddedinremovabledisksthatmaybefloppyorrigid.Floppydisksstorelessinformationthanaharddiskdriveandretrievetheinformationatamuchslowerrate.软盘驱动器也将信息存储在磁性颗粒中，但这些颗粒是嵌入在可移动的盘中，而这些盘既可能是软的也可能是硬的。软盘比硬盘存储的信息少，检索该信息的速度也慢得多。

27/29ComputerHardware—StorageHardwareFloppydiskdrivesalsostoreinformationinmagneticparticlesembeddedinremovabledisksthatmaybefloppyorrigid.Floppydisksstorelessinformationthanaharddiskdriveandretrievetheinformationatamuchslowerrate.软盘驱动器也将信息存储在磁性颗粒中，但这些颗粒是嵌入在可移动的盘中，而这些盘既可能是软的也可能是硬的。软盘比硬盘存储的信息少，检索该信息的速度也慢得多。

floppy:adj.懒散的，松软的~materials松软的材料rigid:adj.刚硬的，严格的~inone’sview意志坚定28/29ComputerHardware—StorageHardwareMagneto-opticaldiscdrivesstoreinformationonremovablediscsthataresensitivetobothlaserlightandmagneticfields.Theycantypicallystoreasmuchinformationasharddisksbuthaveslightlyslowerretrievalspeeds.磁光盘驱动器将信息存储在对激光和磁场都敏感的可移动盘上。它们可存储的信息通常与硬盘一样多，但检索速度稍微慢一点。29/29ComputerHardware—StorageHardwareCompactdiscdrives(CD-ROM)storeinformationonpitsburnedintothesurfaceofadiscofreflectivematerial.Theinformationstoredon

CD-ROMscannotbeerasedoroverwrittenwithnewinformation.Theycanstoreaboutasmuchinformationasaharddrivebuthaveaslowerrateofinformationretrieval.由反射材料制成的光盘，其表面烧蚀出凹陷区。光驱（CD-ROM）就是将信息存储于此。存储在光盘上的信息不能擦除或用新信息改写。它们能够存储和硬盘差不多的信息量，但信息检索速度比其慢。30/29ComputerHardware—StorageHardwareMemoryreferstothecomputerchipsthatstoreinformationforquickretrievalbytheCPU.存储器是指存储信息供中央处理器快速检索的计算机芯片。Randomaccessmemory(RAM)isusedtostoretheinformationandinstructionsthatoperatethecomputer’sprograms.Typically,programsaretransferredfromstorageonadiskdrivetoRAM.RAMisalsoknownasvolatilememorybecausetheinformationwithinthecomputerchipsislostwhenpowertothecomputeristurnedoff.随机访问存储器（RAM）用来存储操作计算机程序的信息和指令。通常，程序由磁盘驱动器的存储区调到随机访问存储器中。随机访问存储器也称作易失性存储器，因为当计算机的电源关闭时，计算机芯片中的信息随着丢失。31/29ComputerHardware—StorageHardwareRead-onlymemory(ROM)containscriticalinformationandsoftwarethatmustbepermanentlyavailableforcomputeroperation,suchastheoperatingsystemthatdirectsthecomputer’sactionsfromstartuptoshutdown.ROMiscallednonvolatilememorybecausethememorychipsdonotlosetheirinformationwhenpowertothecomputeristurnedoff.只读存储器（ROM）包含必须永久可供计算机操作使用的关键信息和软件，如从开机到关机一直指挥计算机的运行的操作系统。只读存储器称之为非易失性存储器，因为当计算机的电源关闭时，存储芯片中的信息不会丢失。

32/29ComputerHardware—StorageHardwareSomedevicesservemorethanonepurpose.Forexample,floppydisksmayalsobeusedasinputdevicesiftheycontaininformationtobeusedandprocessedbythecomputeruser.Inaddition,theycanbeusedasoutputdevicesiftheuserwantstostoretheresultsofcomputationsonthem.有些设备有不止一种用途。例如，软盘也可用作输入设备，如果它们含有计算机用户要使用和处理的信息的话。此外，它们也可用作输出设备，如果用户想将计算结果存储在它们上面的话。33/29ComputerHardware—HardwareConnectionsV.HardwareConnections

Tofunction,hardwarerequiresphysicalconnectionsthatallowcomponentstocommunicateandinteract.Abusprovidesacommoninterconnectedsystemcomposedofagroupofwiresorcircuitrythatcoordinatesandmovesinformationbetweentheinternalpartsofacomputer.V.硬件连接要想运转，硬件需要物理连接，使元件之间能够交流和相互作用。总线提供了一种常见的互连系统，它由一组导线或电路组成，在计算机的内部组成部分之间协调和移动信息。34/29ComputerHardware—HardwareConnectionsV.HardwareConnections

Tofunction,hardwarerequiresphysicalconnectionsthatallowcomponentstocommunicateandinteract.Abusprovidesacommoninterconnectedsystemcomposedofagroupofwiresorcircuitrythatcoordinatesandmovesinformationbetweentheinternalpartsofacomputer.V.硬件连接要想运转，硬件需要物理连接，使元件之间能够交流和相互作用。总线提供了一种常见的互连系统，它由一组导线或电路组成，在计算机的内部组成部分之间协调和移动信息。function:n.功能，函数v.运行，行使职责the~ofachairmen主席的作用~edasateamlead行使小组长的职责35/29ComputerHardware—HardwareConnectionsAcomputerbusconsistsoftwochannels:onethattheCPUusestolocatedata,calledtheaddressbus,andanothertosendthedatatothataddress,calledthedatabus.Abusischaracterizedbytwofeatures:howmuchinformationitcanmanipulateatonetime,calledthebuswidth,andhowquicklyitcantransferthesedata.计算机总线由两条通道组成：一条由中央处理器用来给数据定位，叫做地址总线；另一条用来将该数据送往那个地址，叫做数据总线。总线可用两个特征来描述：一次可处理的信息量，称为总线宽度，和传送这些数据的速度。36/29ComputerHardware—HardwareConnectionsAserialconnectionisawireorsetofwiresusedtotransferinformationfromtheCPUtoanexternaldevicesuchasamouse,keyboard,modem,scanner,andsometypesofprinters.Thistypeofconnectiontransfersonlyonepieceofdataatatime,andisthereforeslow.Theadvantagetousingaserialconnectionisthatitprovideseffectiveconnectionsoverlongdistances.串行连接是一根或一组导线，用于将信息从中央处理器传送到外部设备，如鼠标、键盘、调制解调器、扫描仪和一些类型的打印机。这种连接一次只能传送一段数据，因此很慢。使用串行连接的好处在于它能提供远距离的有效连接。37/29ComputerHardware—HardwareConnectionsApa