English for computer science

2023-2024
Lecture 6
Dr. Marwa Mostafa
 Module 2 Input/Output devices
•Unit 7 Display screen and ergonomics
•Topics
• How screen displays work.
• Health and safety with computers.
 Learning Objectives
•To understand how a computer display works.
•To recommend the most suitable display for
particular people.
•To write a list of guides to make your school or
office more ergonomic.
•To understand instructions and advice for the use
of computers and monitors.
 Language
• Grammar: Instructions and advice: imperatives,
should, shouldn’t
• Vocabulary: pixel, resolution, phosphor, electron
beam, ergonomics, aspect ratio, colour depth, video
adapter, plasma screen, inch, video, projector, home
cinema
• Abbreviations: Examples: CRT, LCD
 Skills
•Listening: Listening for specific information in order to
complete sentences.
•Speaking: Describing a computer screen.
• Discussing which display devices one would like to own.
• Reading:
• Understanding specific information and technical specs.
•Writing: Writing a description from information in a table
• Writing a list of recommendations for an ergonomic school or
office.
 2. How screen displays work
• Complete these definitions with words from the box. Then
read
1. ------ the smallest unit on a display screen or bit mapped
image (usually a coloured dot).
2. ------ an expansion card that generates the video signal sent
to a computer display.
3. ------ the width of the screen in proportion to its height.

• 1- pixel 2- video adapter 3- aspect ratio

 2. How screen displays work
4. ------ also called gas discharge display.
5. ------ the number of pixels contained in a display,
horizontally and vertically.
6. ------ the number of bits used to hold a colour pixel; this
determines the maximum number of colours that can be
displayed.

• 4- plasma screen 5- resolution 6- colour depth

 2. How screen displays work
• Displays, often called monitors or screens, are the most-used
output device on a computer. They provide instant feedback
by showing you text and graphic images as you work or play.
• Most desktop displays use Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) technology, while nearly all portable
computing devices, such as laptops, Incorporate LCDs.
Because of their slimmer design and lower energy
consumption, LCD monitors (also called flat panel or flat
screen displays) are replacing CRTs.
 2. How screen displays work
• Basic features
• Resolution refers to the number of dots of colour, known as
pixels (picture elements), contained in a display. It is
expressed by identifying the number of pixels on the
horizontal and vertical axes. A typical resolution is 1024x768.

CRT Monitor
 2. How screen displays work
• Two measurements describe the size of your display: the
aspect ratio and the screen size. Historically, computer
displays, like most televisions, have had an aspect ratio of 4:3-
the width of the screen to the height is four to three. For
widescreen LCD displays, the aspect ratio is 16:9, very useful
for viewing DVD movies, playing games and displaying
multiple windows side by side. High definition TV also uses
this format. The viewable screen size is measured diagonally,
so a 19" screen measures 19" from the top left to the bottom
right.
 2. How screen displays work
• Inside the computer there is a video adapter, or graphics
card, which processes images and sends signals to the
monitor. CRT monitors use a VGA (video graphics adapter)
cable, which converts digital signals into analogue signals.
LCD monitors use a DVI (digital video interface) connection.

Digital Video Interface (DVI) Cable

 2. How screen displays work
• Colour depth refers to the number of colours a monitor can
display. This depends on the number of bits used to describe
the colour of a single pixel. For example, an old VGA monitor
with an 8-bit depth can generate 256 colours and a Super
VGA with a 24-bit depth can generate 16.7 million colours.
Monitors with a 32-bit depth are used in digital video,
animation and video games to get certain effects.
 2. How screen displays work
• A CRT monitor is similar to a traditional TV set. It contains
millions of tiny red, green and blue phosphor dots that glow
when struck by an electron beam that travels across the
screen and create a visible image.
• PCs can be connected to video projectors, which project the
image onto a large screen. They are used for presentations
and home theatre applications.
• In a plasma screen, images are created by a plasma discharge
which contains noble (non-harmful) gases. Plasma TVs allow
for larger screens and wide viewing angles, making them ideal
for movies
2. How screen displays work

A pixel is a combination of red, green and blue subpixels

3. Choosing the right display device
3. Choosing the right display device
3. Choosing the right display device
3. Choosing the right display device
 4. Ergonomics
• Script
• Tony: There are a number of health and safety problems that
may result from the continuous use of computers. Anyone
spending more than four hours a day working on a PC may
start to suffer from aching hands, neck or shoulders,
occasional headaches, and eyestrain.
• Worker one: Is there anything we can do to avoid it?
• Tony: Yes, there's a lot you can do. For example, if you take
the trouble to position your computer properly, you can avoid
backache. Get a good chair, one that supports your lower
back and is adjustable so you can change its height and angle.
 4. Ergonomics
• Script
Make sure your feet rest firmly on the floor or position the
keyboard at the same height as your elbows, with your arms
parallel to the work surface, and position the monitor at or
just below eye level. You should look down at it slightly, not
up. Don't put your monitor in front of a window, and make
sure there isn't a lamp shining directly into your eyes or
reflecting off the screen. You should sit at arm's length from
the front of the monitor - about 50 to 70 centimeters away. It's
a good idea to have a monitor with a tilt-and-swivel stand.
Does anyone know what that is?
 4. Ergonomics
• Script
• Worker two: Yes. I think it's a kind of stand that lets you move
the monitor up or around, so you can use it at the correct
angle and height.
• Tony: That's right. Now, do you know of any health problems
caused by using a computer?
• Worker three: I've heard of something called RSI. But I'm not
exactly sure what it is.
• Tony: RSI stands for repetitive strain injury, and it causes pain
in the upper arms and back. People who type constantly at
high speed often suffer from it.
 4. Ergonomics
• Script
• Worker four: My eyes often feel really sore and tired after
I've been using the computer for hours. How do I stop that
from happening?
• Tony: Well, as a general rule, you shouldn't use a monitors
that's fuzzy or that distorts the image. Give your eyes a rest.
Look away from the monitor from time to time out of the
window or across the room.
 4.C Ergonomics
• Match the extracts above (1-6) with the correct parts of the diagram
(a-f).

Ergonomics - the study of

how people interact safely
and efficiently with machines
and their work conditions
4. Ergonomics
 5. Language work: instructions and advice
•HELP box
• Instructions and advice
• We use the imperative to give instructions.
• Get an adjustable chair.
• Don't put your monitor in front of a window
• We use should and shouldn't + infinitive to give advice
or to talk about what we think is a good o bad idea.
• You should look down at the monitor, not up.
• You shouldn't use monitor that's fuzzy or distorts the
image.
 5. Language work: instructions and advice
• HELP box
• We can also give advice by using set phrases like It's a good
idea to or It's a bad idea to +Infinitive.
• It's a good idea to have a monitor with a tilt-and-swivel
stand.
 5.A Language work: instructions and advice
• HELP box Look at the HELP box and then complete these
health and safety guidelines with should/shouldn't.
1. If you type a lot at your computer each day, you --------- buy an
ergonomic keyboard; it can help reduce the risk of repetitive strain
injury.
2. You --------- place your mouse within easy reach and support your
arm.
3. If you decide to build your own PC protect yourself from electric
shocks. You --------- touch any components unnecessarily.

• 1. should 2. should 3. shouldn't

 5.A Language work: instructions and advice
• HELP box Look at the HELP box and then complete these
health and safety guidelines with should/shouldn't.
4. You --------- always use a copyholder if you are working from
documents. The best position is between the screen and the
keyboard, or at the same height as the screen; this can reduce neck,
back and eyestrain.
5. Irresponsible disposal of electronic waste can cause severe
environmental and health problems. You --------- just throw your
old monitor or video system into the bin.
• 4. should
• 5. shouldn't
 5.B Language work: instructions and advice
• In pairs, practice giving advice about how to use a monitor
safely using should/shouldn't or It's a good/bad idea to.
Look at these guidelines for help.
1. Don't open the monitor. It's dangerous.
2. Don't stare at the screen for long periods of time.
3. Position the monitor at eye level or just below.
4. leave enough space behind the monitor for unobstructed
movement.
5. Don't sit near the sides or back of CRT monitors. Use LCD screens
instead - they're free from radiation.
6. Keep the screen clean to prevent distorting shadows.
 Answers:
1.You shouldn't open the monitor. It's dangerous.
2. You shouldn’t / It’s a bad idea to stare at the screen for long periods
of time ..
3. You should / It's a good idea to position the monitor at eye level or
just below.
4. You should / It's a good idea to leave enough space behind the
monitor for unobstructed movement.
5. You shouldn’t / It's a bad idea to sit near the sides or back of CRT
monitors. You should I It's a good idea to use LCD screens instead -
they're free from radiation.
6. You should I It's a good idea to keep the screen clean to prevent
distorting shadows.
End of Lecture 6