TASK 1
Which one of these definitions is the most effective? What makes the others less effective?

a)    An mp3 player is used when playing mp3 files.

b)    A media player is used to store, transfer, and play back digital media.

c)    A media player is a device which can be used to store, transfer, and play back digital
       media, such as mp3 files and various video clips.

d)    A media player is an electronic device. It can be used to store, transfer, and play back
       digital media. For example, it can be used to play mp3 files and various video clips.

e)     The media player is the device that can be used in storing, transferring, and playing
        back digital media, such as mp3 files and various video clips.

TASK 2 Extended definitions
Take a look at the excerpts taken from extended definitions. Which method of amplification (1-8) has been used in each?

  1. Analysis of parts             (What are its parts? What types/categories are there?)
  2. Operating principle        (How does it work?)
  3. Applications/examples   (How/Where/By whom is it used or applied?)
  4. Analogy / Comparison   (Is it similar to something already familiar?)
  5. History                            (What is its origin and background?)
  6. Advantages/disadvantages  (Its strengths or benefits? Weaknesses?)
  7. Requirements                 (Materials or conditions needed to make it work?)
  8. Physical appearance/ features 
                          (What does it look like? What are its characteristic features?)

A.  The term RADAR was coined in 1941 as an acronym for Radio Detection and Ranging. The term has since entered the English language as a standard word, radar, losing the capitalization. Radar was originally called RDF (Radio Direction Finder) in the United Kingdom.

B. The technique of holography can also be used to optically store, retrieve, and process information. While holography is commonly used to display static 3-D pictures, it is not yet possible to generate arbitrary scenes by a holographic volumetric display.

C. A fuel cell is an electrochemical conversion device. It produces electricity from fuel (on the anode side) and an oxidant (on the cathode side), which react in the presence of an electrolyte. The reactants flow into the cell, and the reaction products flow out of it, while the electrolyte remains within it. Fuel cells can operate virtually continuously as long as the necessary flows are maintained.  

D. Fuel cells differ from electrochemical cell batteries in that they consume reactant, which must be replenished, whereas batteries store electrical energy chemically in a closed system. Additionally, while the electrodes within a battery react and change as a battery is charged or discharged, a fuel cell's electrodes are catalytic and relatively stable.

E. A lighter is a portable device used to create a flame. It consists of a metal or plastic container filled with lighter fluid (usually naphtha or liquid butane under pressure), as well as a means of ignition and some provision for extinguishing the flame, by depriving it of either air or fuel.

F. LEDs are widely used as indicator lights on electronic devices and increasingly in higher power applications such as flashlights and area lighting. In addition to lighting, interesting applications include using UV-LEDs for sterilization of water and disinfection of devices,[4] and as a grow light to enhance photosynthesis in plants.[5]

TASK 3 Extended definitions 
Which amplification methods have been used in this extended definition of a 3D scanner. Start by underlining the sentence definition, then mark in the margin which sentences focus on each type of defining information about 3D scanners.

1 A 3D scanner is a device that analyses a real world object or environment to collect

data on its shape and possibly its appearance (e.g. colour) which can be used to construct

digital three dimensional models. 2 Many different technologies can be used to build these

3D scanning devices; however, each techno logy comes with its own limitations, advantages

and costs. 3 Many limitations in the kind of objects that can be digitised are still present;

for example, optical technologies encounter many difficulties with shiny, mirroring or

transparent objects. 4 The collected 3D data is useful for a wide variety of applications.

5 These devices are used extensively by the entertainment industry in the production of

movies and video games. 6 Other common applications of this technology include

industrial design, orthotics and prosthetics, reverse engineering and prototyping, quality

control/inspection and documentation of cultural artefacts. 7 The purpose of a 3D scanner

is usually to create a point c l oud of geometric samples on the surface of the subject.

8 These point s can then be used to extrapolate the shape of the subject (a process called

reconstruction). 9 If colour information is collected at each point, it is also possible to

determine the colours on the surface of the subject . 10 3D scanners share several traits

with cameras. 11 Similarly to cameras, they have a cone like field of view, and they can

only collect information about surfaces that are not obscured. 12 While a camera collects

colour information about surfaces within its field of view, a 3D scanner collects distance

information about surfaces within its field of view. 13 The "picture" produced by a 3D

scanner describes the distance to a surface at each point in the picture. 14 This allows the

three dimensional position of each point in the picture to be identified.

3D scanner. Wikipedia. Available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_scanner


Viimeksi muutettu: tiistaina 14. maaliskuuta 2023, 15.09