Текст к моему , по которому нада составить две колонки: a computer is a device that processes data according to a set of instructions known as a program. the equipment is known as the hardware and the programs and data are the software. a special set of programs, called an operating system, provides an interface for the user and allows applications programs to communicate with the hardware. common applications programs include word processors for creating and editing texts, spreadsheets for calculating mathematical formulae and databases for storing data in a way that allows the data to be sorted and searched. anti-virus programs are used to detect and remove viruses (harmful programs that can reproduce themselves and attach themselves to other programs). some operating systems have graphical (user) interfaces that allow the computer user to select items from menus (lists of choices) and to start programs using an input device called a mouse. this is done by pressing a button on the mouse i.e. clicking the mouse. the main device for inputting the data is a typewriterstyle keyboard and the output is commonly displayed on a monitor screen that looks like a small television screen. there is a range of sizes and types of computer. those designed for use by one person at a time are known as personal computers (pcs) although the term pc is usually only applied to personal computers that are compatible with the standards laid down by the company known as ibm (international business machines). personal computers include desktop computers (for use on an office desk) and handheld computers that can be carried around by the user. electronics can be added to desktop computers by plugging in expansion cards (electronic circuit boards that can be plugged into special sockets called expansion slots). it is also possible to build all the main parts of a computer into one electronic integrated circuit packaged as a single electronic chip (the common name for a microchip; an electronic integrated circuit in a small package) i.e. the ‘computer on a chip’. this enables computers to be built into other devices including household devices such as washing machines and fridges and to be incorporated into plastic cards i.e. smart cards, which are able to store information such as health records, drivers’ licences, bank balances, etc. devices that include a computer circuit are commonly referred to as smart devices. a multimedia computer can process different forms of data including text, graphics, audio (sound), animation and video. this enables computer systems to be used fora combination of education and entertainment, sometimes referred to as edutainment. unlike most machines, computers do not have a fixed purpose. they are multi-purpose tools. they can be used in a very wide variety of situations and are found in a wide range of systems including security systems, cars and phones. advanced systems, known as expert systems, enable computers to ‘think’ like experts. medical expert systems, for example, can help doctors diagnose an illness and decide on the best treatment. as computer systems are developed, they are becoming more common and are gradually being used for more and more purposes. how they are developed, and for what purposes they are actually used in the future, can be influenced by computer users. a variety of devices known as peripherals can be added externally to a computer. one of the most common peripherals is a printer used for printing the computer output (the processed data or signals that come out of a computer system) on paper. a digital camera allows photographs to be input to a computer for editing.
