Read the text and give short answer to each question.

Virtual reality or virtual realities (VR), which can be referred to as immersive multimedia or
computer simulated reality, replicates an environment that simulates a physical presence in
places in the real world or an imagined world, allowing the user to interact in that world.
Virtual realities artificially create sensory experiences, which can include sight, touch,
hearing, and smell. Most up-to-date virtual realities are displayed either on a computer screen
or with an HD VR special stereoscopic displays, and some simulations include additional
sensory information and focus on real sound through speakers or headphones targeted
towards VR users. Some advanced haptic systems now include tactile information, generally
known as force feedback in medical, gaming and military applications. Furthermore, virtual
reality covers remote communication environments which provide virtual presence of users
with the concepts of telepresence and telexistence or a virtual artifact (VA) either through the
use of standard input devices such as a keyboard and mouse, or through multimodal devices
such as a wired glove or omni directional treadmills. The simulated environment can be
similar to the real world in order to create lifelike experience—for example, in simulations
for pilot or combat training—or it can differ significantly from reality, such as in VR games.

1. What does VR stand for? VIRTUAL REALITY

2. What can be referred to as immersive multimedia? VR
3. What replicates an environment that simulates a physical presence in places in the real
world or an imagined world? VR, IMMERSIVE MULTIMEDIA, COMPUTER
SIMULATED REALITY
4. What does computer simulated reality do related to an environment? REPLICATES AN
ENVIRONMENT
5. How does Virtual realities create sensory experiences? ARTIFICALLY
6. What is tactile information known as? FORCE FEEDBACK
7. What provide virtual presence of users with the concepts of telepresence and telexistence
or a virtual artifact (VA)? REMOTE COMMUNICATION ENVIRONMENTS
8. What is omni directional treadmills? MULTIMODAL DEVICES
9. How is simulations for pilot or combat training? SIMILIAR TO THE REAL WORLD
10. How is the simulations in VR games? DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY

Complete the text with the words provided.

images due augmented interaction researcher

reality
displayed virtual graphics seen since been

Augmented Reality

In 1990, Boeing RESEARCHER Tom Caudell first coined the term “augmented reality” to describe a
digital display used by aircraft electricians that blended VIRTUAL GRAPHICS onto a physical reality.
As for the computer science world’s definition of AUGMENTED REALITY (AR) though, it’s more
detailed, but essentially the same: Augmented reality is the INTERACTION of superimposed graphics,
audio and other sense enhancements over a real-world environment that’s DISPLAYED in real-time.
AR is not a new concept either. In fact, we’ve SEEN it in many different ways over the years, but we
just might not have noticed. From the yellow first-down lines sketched over a televised football game
to the movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit—or even examples as basic as where a projector’s been used
to project IMAGES atop a real setting—all are examples of virtual graphics being superimposed upon a
real-life situation.
So what’s with all the recent hype? Well, most AR researchers say there’s BEEN hype for the idea of
augmented reality SINCE the 1930s. But most of its modern enthusiasm has been contained within
the computing community. As for the sudden upsurge in public interest though, the mobile community
has brought on this recent hype DUE to the increasing number of ARsmartphone apps released this
summer and following slew set to appear this fall.

Read this text and fill in the blanks with words in the box

a. than b. removed c. is d. relatively e. expensive

f. electromagnetic g. noticed h. offers i. increasingly j. adjust

Flat Screens

Have you NOTICED how much your computer screen flickers? This may be because your
computer monitor uses CRT technology. This kind of technology OFFERS colour and high-
resolution pictures for RELATIVELY little money but the monitors are large, use a lot of
energy, can flicker and emit ELECTROMAGNETIC radiation.
In recent years flat screens have become INCREASINGLY popular. Users talk of benefits such
as more desk space, how easy they are to ADJUST for tilt and height, clearer images and the total
elimination of screen flicker. It’s like having a different PC, a new window on the
world.
Most flat screens are based on LCD technology which has a lot of benefits over CRT technology.
Among them:
 LCDs are inherently flat, CRT monitors are not, so LCDs require much less space.
 LCDs use less power THAN CRTs.
 LCDs are distortion-free while typical CRTs are curved, which may cause image
distortion.
 Most LCD displays use a TFT system offering a wider angle of vision and high-quality
images.
But there IS one major drawback to flat screens: their cost. They are EXPENSIVE compared
with CRT monitors. Prices are falling, however , and they’ll soon find their way into homes,
schools, and businesses.
Flat screens usually include built-in stereo speakers, headphone connection, and a USB port.
Some models can also be REMOVED from the stand and mounted on the wall. They come with
stylish designs for a variety of applications. LCDs range from small-size PC screens and TVs to a
large-screen projectors.
Read the text to find the italic word that refers to

The first computers were people! That is, electronic computers (and the earlier mechanical computers)
were given this name because they[ELECTRONIC COMPUTERS] performed the work that[THE
WORK] had previously been assigned to people. "Computer" was originally a job title: it
[COMPUTER] was used to describe those human beings (predominantly women) whose [HUMAN
BEINGS] job it was to perform the repetitive calculations required to compute such things as
navigational tables, tide charts, and planetary positions for astronomical almanacs. Imagine you had a
job where hour after hour, day after day, you were to do nothing but compute multiplications.
Boredom would quickly set in, leading to carelessness, leading to mistakes. And even on your best
days you wouldn't be producing answers very fast. Therefore, inventors have been searching for
hundreds of years for a way to mechanize (that is, find a mechanism that [MECHANIZE] can
perform) this task.

The abacus was an early aid for mathematical computations. Its[THE ABACUS] only value is that it
[THE ABACUS] aids the memory of the human performing the calculation. A skilled abacus
operator can work on addition and subtraction problems at the speed of a person equipped with a hand
calculator (multiplication and division are slower). The abacus is often wrongly attributed to China. In
fact, the oldest surviving abacus was used in 300 B.C. by the Babylonians. The abacus is still in use
today, principally in the far east. A modern abacus consists of rings that[RINGS] slide over rods, but
the older one pictured below dates from the time when [THE TIME] pebbles were used for counting
(the word "calculus" comes from the Latin word for pebble).