1.1. Technology in our recent history
Para comenzar, nos familiarizaremos con palabras y expresiones relacionadas con el mundo tecnológico.
Tecnología es 'el conjunto de conocimientos técnicos, ordenados científicamente, que permiten diseñar y crear bienes y servicios que facilitan la adaptación al medio ambiente y satisfacer tanto las necesidades esenciales como los deseos de las personas. Es una palabra de origen griego, τεχνολογία, formada por téchnē (τέχνη, arte, técnica u oficio, que puede ser traducido como destreza) y logía (λογία, el estudio de algo)'.
Ahora bien, los avances más modernos y relevantes e innovadores son conocidos como "tecnologías emergentes" o "altas tecnologías", que aprenderemos en esta sección del tema.
Hoy en día, es usual ver muchos avances tecnológicos en nuestra vida cotidiana, objetos que eran impensables ¡hace sólo unos pocos años!. Instrumentos tales como el ordenador, el robot de cocina, el teléfono móvil, el navegador GPS, el coche... han cambiado nuestra forma de vivir, y se han creado para desarrollar nuevas y mejores formas de vida y de trabajo.
Comencemos con algunos de los desarrollos tecnológicos más importantes de la historia moderna.
Actividad de Lectura
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| Imagen en Wikimedia Commons de Bill Bertram bajo CC |
In April 1982 a British company, headed by Sir Clive Sinclair, launched the ZX Spectrum computer on the market and sparked an IT revolution.
The tiny black computer with its rubber keys set off the home computer age both in the UK and elsewhere, which led to a boom in computer manufacturing and trained software programmers whose talent is still evident today.
The ZX Spectrum was the brainchild of the entrepreneur Clive Sinclair, who had previously developed one of the first cheap and slim pocket calculators. The Spectrum was Sinclair's fourth computer, but was by far the most successful.
For many people, the ZX Spectrum was their first experience of using a computer and it soon gained a loyal following. In fact, it would not be a great exaggeration to credit Clive Sinclair and his ZX Spectrum with creating the IT industry in the UK, where they provide the first learning tools for the programmers who shape today's video games and information technology.
Even today, there are programs which are written for the Spectrum, though it has not been made for years. The computer was so successful that there are many nostalgic users all over the world, who look back on this machine with great affection.
Pregunta Verdadero-Falso
Decide si las siguientes afirmaciones son verdaderas o falsas:
1. The ZX Spectrum had an ordinary keyboard.
2. The computer had a great impact only in the UK.
3. The impact of the computer is still noticeable today.
4. Clive Sinclair had not worked in electronics before making the computer.
5. He only made computers.
6. A lot of people had not used a computer before they bought the ZX Spectrum.
7. The IT industry in the UK owes a lot to Clive Sinclair.
8. The computer was influential in the area of video games.
9. People are writing programs for it because the computer is still on the market.
10. Many people have fond memories of this computer.
Caso de estudio
Ahora que has comprendido el texto, tradúcelo al castellano.
Actividad
Mira las siguientes frases extraídas del texto anterior:
...for the programmers who shape today´s video games and information technology
Even today, there are programs which are written for the Spectrum
...the IT industry in the UK, where they provide the first learning tools...
Los pronombres y adverbios de relativo se refieren a antecedentes (normalmente sustantivos), para añadir información sobre ellos.
programmers who (persona)
programs which (cosa)
UK, where (lugar)
Actividad
| Función/Antecedente | persona |
cosa/animal | lugar |
tiempo | razón |
| Sujeto | who / that ('que') | which / that ('que') |
|||
| Objeto | who / whom ('que') | which / that ('que') | where ('donde') |
when ('cuando, en el/la que') | why ('por lo que') |
| Posesión | whose ('cuyo') |
whose ('cuyo') |
Actividad de rellenar huecos
Completa las siguientes frases, utilizando el pronombre o adverbio correspondiente. Seguidamente, traduce las frases al castellano, con la ayuda de la información dada en la anterior tabla.
1. Ana is the student / has got the best marks.
2. Friday will be the day my cousins arrive.
3. Honolulu is the city Obama was born.
4. These are the sunglasses / I´m looking for!
5. Mario is the man wife is a lawyer.
6. It´s not a good explanation you don´t play with us.
7. My uncle, I helped to install the computer, forgot his password.