Unit 2 Computer Architecture

Unit 2. Computer Architecture

 

freedigitalphotos.net

I have always wished for a computer that would be as easy to use as my

telephone. My wish came true. I no longer know how to use my telephone.
(Bjarne Stroustrup)
 

Overview
Estos son los objetivos y contenidos de esta unidad

OBJETIVOS

Usar correctamente las estructuras estudiadas en la unidad

Comparar diversos elementos usando la correcta forma del adjetivo
Usar correctamente los sufijos y el vocabulario básico de la unidad
Entender textos sobre las partes de un ordenador
Traducir frases sencillas sobre lo estudiado en la unidad
Entender vídeos acerca de las partes del ordenador

CONTENIDOS
Gramática Vocabulario

Comparación de los adjetivos Palabras compuestas

Partículas interrogativas Partes de un ordenador:
Postmodificación Hardware & Software
Sufijos

Parts of a computer
 

A computer is an electronic machine that manipulates information. It

can store, retrieve, and process data. A
computer takes information (or
inputs), processes it according to a set of instructions (a program),
and gives
back a result (or output).

Although computers come in many different shapes and sizes, they are
all made up of the same basic
components. In fact, all computers are
remarkably similar to each other:

Hardware is any part of your computer that has a physical structure, such as the computer monitor or
keyboard.

Software is any set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do.
It is what guides the hardware and tells
it how to accomplish each
task. Some examples of software are web browsers, games, and word
processors
such as Microsoft Word.

Anything you buy for your computer can be classified as either hardware or software. Once you learn more
about these items, computers are actually not very complicated.
http://recursostic.educacion/
 

Watch this video about computer parts

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Este vídeo no está disponible.

0:00 / 0:00
http://alison.com/courses/ABC-IT

Content 1. Hardware basics

HARDWARE BASICS
Hardware comprises all of the physical parts of the computer

♦ CPU (central processing unit

♦ Memory
♦ Peripherals: Storage devices and Input / Output devices.

The central processing unit is the most essential part of a computer. The CPU
is the brains of the computer where most calculations take place.

Memory refers to the physical devices used to store programs (sequences of

instructions) or data on a temporary or permanent basis.

Peripherals: are the physical units attached to the computer.

Storage devices may hold information, process information, or both.

Input devices send data to the computer
Output devices communicate the results of data processing carried out
http://www.sxc.hu/ by the information processing system

As we have learned above, there are four basic functions of a computer:

1. INPUT- you input data i.e. you provide data; set of instuctions.
2. PROCESSING- the computer processes it i.e. it manipulates the data which is done by the C.P.U
3. OUTPUT- After processing the data the computer displays the result , it gives an output.
4. STORAGE- You can save your data for future use in the CPU itself which is stored in the computer's ROM.

Exercise

What role does each device play in computer processing: Input / Processing / Storage / Output?
 

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http://recursostic.educacion.es/bancoimagenes/web/

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Content 1.1. Assessment

Self-assessment

On the table below you have some words referring to the components of hardware in a computer.

Match the definition with the right word

DEFINITION WORD

Used to produce audio

output
a.FLASH MEMORY CARD READER

Reads CD/DVD disks

b.MODEM

A
small electronic device for storing data or transferring it to or from
c.SPEAKERS

a
computer, etc.

Output device that lets

you see your work while you are doing it
d.HARD DRIVE

Used to type in. It's

the principal input device
e.SYSTEM UNIT

Used to store data and

programs. It's located inside the system unit
f.MOUSE

Used to read flash

memory cards
g.MICROPHONE

Produces printed copies of computer output h.CD/DVD DRIVE

This case contains the CPU, memory, disk drives...and all other
i.MONITOR
hardware that are in an internal format

Pointing device used to make on-screen selections j.PRINTER

Used to get spoken input k.MEMORY STICK

A device for interconverting digital and analogue signals, especially l.KEYBOARD

to enable a computer to be connected to a telephone line

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Submit
  

Exercise

Match the pictures below with the words of the previous exercise

http://recursostic.educacion http://recursostic.educacion

http://recursostic.educacion
http://recursostic.educacion

http://recursostic.educacion http://recursostic.educacion

http://recursostic.educacion http://recursostic.educacion

http://recursostic.educacion http://recursostic.educacion

http://recursostic.educacion http://recursostic.educacion
 

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Exercise

Read this computer advert and answer the questions on the right

1. What is the memory size or the

computer?

2. Which operating system does it

Intel Core i7, 3.4 GHz
use?
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
Memory: 16 GB 3. What size is the screen?
Hard drive: 1Tb
Intel GMA graphics card 1 GB 4. What capacity does the hard drive

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HDMI and VGA inputs have?

DVD-RW drive
20" flat panel (1600 x 900) Monitor 5. How fast is the processor?
Product available for home delivery
Available to Collect@Store in 1 hour 6. Can you have the computer
3 years Whatever Happens Care Plan from delivered?
120€
Made in EU 7. Does it provide any kind of
http://www.sxc.hu/ guarantee?

8. Where is it from?

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Question Words

Revise

On the previous page you had to answer some questions about an advertisement of a PC.
Remember the question words.

WHAT WHEN WHERE WHO

WHOSE WHICH WHY HOW

WHAT can be used with nouns:

WHAT CAPACITY does the hard drive have?

WHAT SIZE is the screen in your computer?
WHAT IMPORTANCE does a storage device have?
WHAT COLOUR is the background?
WHAT KIND of printer do you have?

HOW can be used with any adjective or adverb. The most common combinations are:

HOW MUCH HOW MANY HOW OFTEN HOW FAR HOW LONG HOW OLD

But we can ask about anything

HOW FAST is the processor?

HOW MODERN is this mouse?
HOW POWERFUL is the laptop?
HOW COMPATIBLE is this equipment?

Remember
that when there is a combination of preposition + question (in Spanish), in English you have to place the question word at the
beginning and the preposition at the end.

WHERE is the laptop FROM?

WHO are you working WITH?
WHAT is the screen made OF?
WHAT is the web site ABOUT?
WHO was that novel written BY?

Exercise

Provide a suitable question word(s) for each answer:

since May

too much  

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Hong Kong  

for about two hours  

by Steve Jobs  

next summer  

Peter  

Peter's  

21"  

3GHz  

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Content 1.2. Storage devices

freedigitalphotos.net
Storage and memory
are important concepts to acquire in Information Technology. The two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, so it is important to
understand some differences.

Computer memory has to be quick. It is constantly feeding the CPU with data to process; but it also needs to
save some data for long term use. This is where
storage gets in. Memory
is rather more expensive per KB than storage because it needs to be much faster.

Consequently, computer storage is usually cheaper, slower, and more plentiful than computer memory.
A computer storage device is any type of hardware that stores data. Storage comes in many different types such as:

magnetic storage
optical storage, and
flash memory

Recommendation

We have just compared computer memory and computer storage by using some adjectives in the comparative form: cheaper, slower, more plentiful ...

Revise the comparison of adjectives in English:

Comparative And Superlative Adjectives 1201593353419688 2

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 1 of 12 

Comparative And Superlative Adjectives - Documento local

Content 1.2.1. Kinds of storage devices

A step ahead

Remember: storage comes in different types such as

Magnetic storage
Optical storage
Flash memory

Magnetic Storage

Internal hard disk External hard disk

freedigitalphotos.net
The most important type of magnetic storage today is the hard disk drive.
It consists of one or more rigid rapidly rotating discs (platters) coated with
magnetic material, and with magnetic heads to store data. Hard disk drives can store a lot of data very reliably with relatively quick access times.
Today's computers typically come with a hard disk that contains several billion bytes (gigabytes) of storage. Most hard disks live inside your computer
(internal hard disk) and talk to the rest of your system through an IDE or SCSI connection.
Some hard disks live outside a computer (external or portable hard drive),
and are attached by USB or firewire. These hard disks are very useful for
carrying data between computers. Some very small hard disks are being developed for use in other machines such as cameras.

Optical Storage
 

An optical storage device is an electro-mechanical unit that can save and retrieve (write and read) information on a special disc medium using
a laser
light. Optical drives are designed to work with several types of media:

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 freedigitalphotos.net  
CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, Blu-ray
• CD-R (or CD-ROM) is a read-only-memory optical disc which can be written to only once.
• CD-RW (or "re-writable") can be written to many times, similar to a VHS videotape.
• The same designation is used for read-only DVDs (DVD-R or DVD-ROM) and re-writable DVDs (DVD-RW).
• The next generation of optical discs includes a format known as Blu-ray discs,
which can store more information in the same physical space. These
are useful for storing such content as High Definition movies.

• Optical discs are used to store audio, video and computer data (which can be information or computer programs).
Music CDs are now the
medium of choice for distribution of music albums. CD players are found in home stereo systems, car audio systems, and personal
computers. Similarly, DVDs have become standard for movie distribution, containing both audio and video

Flash Memory

This is the newest kind of memory. It uses the very latest technology.
Because there are no moving
parts as there are with hard disks, data
stored on flash memory is much harder to destroy. Flash
memory is not
only used in your computer, but also in your PDA - personal digital
organizer - your
mobile phone and many other gadgets like music
players. Most computers need a reader attached to a
USB port to read
flash memory.

freedigitalphotos.net   
 

Practice

Exercise

Answer the following questions about the texts you have just read.

1- How many types of hard disks can you name?

2- What can an optical storage device do with information?

3- What are optical disks mainly used for?

4- Which is the most up-to-date type of memory?

5- What kind of storage device do cameras and MP3 use?

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Self-assessment

Which device would you advise in each case?

1. The programs in your computer

2. A bilingual English-Spanish dictionary

 

3. Your favourite music

4. A movie

5. The files you have been working on

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6. Back up of large quantities of data

Submit
  

Exercise

Compare the following items using the adjective in brackets

 

Example: Hard disk / Portable hard disk (fast) → A hard disk is faster than a portable hard disk

expensive

hard disk portable hard disk

cheap

CD hard disk

slow

flash drive hard disk

modern

Pioneer Blu-ray Polaroid Blu-ray

innovative

Apple iPod 32GB Apple iPod 8GB

high definition

Canon EOS SLR Nikon CoolPix

functional

Apple iPad 16GB Blackberry 7"Tablet

sleek

Apple iPhone Samsung Nexus

Smartphone Android phone
freedigitalphotos.net

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Content 2. Software
We would not be able to use our computers, if it was not for computer software.

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Software enables a computer to perform specific tasks, as opposed to the physical components of the system
(hardware).

Practical computer systems divide software into three major classes: system software, programming software
and application software, although the distinction is arbitrary, and often confusing.

System software helps run the computer hardware and computer system. It includes operating systems, device
drivers, servers, utilities and more.

Programming software usually provides tools

to assist a programmer in writing computer programs and software
using different programming languages in a more convenient way. The tools include text editors, compilers,
interpreters, linkers, and so on.

Application software allows users to accomplish one or more specific tasks. Typical applications include
business software, educational software, medical software, databases, and computer games. Almost every field
of human activity now uses some form of application software. It is used to automate all sorts of functions.

Adapted from Wikipedia

Author:Golftheman. Wikimedia Commons

Exercise

Read the text about computer software and do the exercises:

A.- Answer these questions:

1. What is the difference between system software and application software?

2. What can you do with an application software?

B.- Find a synonym in the text of the following words

a. make possible

b. carry out

c. subjective

d. execute

e. support

f. instrument

g. suitable

h. permit

i. achieve

j. chore

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Content 2.1. Suffixes

A step ahead

The suffix -ware is used to make words like hardware and software.

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Study the table below and learn the most important suffixes related to IT

www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net  

SUFFIXES
In contrast to prefixes, suffixes don't usually change the meaning of the word; they usually change the type of word, though:
SLOW (adjective) → SLOWLY (adverb). You have to focus on the root word to infer the meaning of the word.
The most useful suffixes for you are:

SUFFIX EXPLANATION EXAMPLE

-er / -or the person who / a thing that user, operator
-ee person to whom something is done employee
-ful with the quality of (the root word) useful
-ish like something foolish
-ly in the manner of logically
-en to form verbs (from the root word) shorten
-less without useless
-mate do the same activity as classmate
-y having the quality of handy
-ward(s) / wise direction, way clockwise / backwards
-friendly in harmony with / adapted to user-friendly
-ware denoting a kind of software
-literate expert about, that knows about computer-literate
 

Other suffixes such as: -dom, -hood, -ness, -ship, simply form abstract nouns from the root word: for example: freedom, kingdom, readiness,
partnership.

There are more suffixes in English, but they won't be a problem for
you because they are very similar to those in your language, for
example:compilation, analyst, interactive, edition, etc.

Self-assessment

Translate these words. They may have a prefix, a suffix or both.

WORD TRANSLATION WORD TRANSLATION WORD TRANSLATION

trainee analyst legally

computerize
harden
carelessly

simplify
relationship
freedom

fashionable

aggressiveness addresser

addressee brotherhood
unrecognizable

wireless
illiterate
spyware

Submit
  

Practice

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Exercise

Match these words related to software to their definitions

cross-
a. computer programs or files that are damaged and do not operate correctly
platform

WYSIWYG b. not acceptable as a computer instruction or operation

fatal c. peer to peer: this software allows computers to communicate directly with each other without going through a server

corrupt d. a system, method or piece of software that is easy to use because the process of operating it is very obvious

case-
e. a language that is a machine code used for writing computer programs
sensitive

P2P f. software or computer equipment immediately ready for use when it is connected to a computer

down g. available for more than one type of computer or operating system

off line h. created by computers, or appearing on computers or the Internet

intuitive i. an error which is one that stops a program from working correctly

j. a computer program that is able to recognize the difference between the large forms of letters, A, B, C etc and their and small forms,
low-level
a, b, c etc

invalid k. not directly connected to a computer

l. what you see is what you get: used for describing systems in which what you see on the computer screen is exactly what will
userID
appear when you print it on paper

plug-and-
m. a name or password that allows a user to use a computer system
play

virtual n. a computer system that is not working

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Translation

Translate these sentences:

 

1. The Peer-to-Peer Networking Model

Peer-to-peer networking, sometimes referred to as a workgroup, is a low-cost, easily implemented network solution generally used in small network
environments that need to share a few files and maybe some hardware, such as printers. As its name suggests, on a peer-to-peer network all systems are
equal, or peers. Each system can share hardware or files and access the same resources on other systems.

2. A software requirements specification (SRS) is a complete description

of the behavior of a system to be developed and may include a set of use cases
that describe interactions the users will have with the software. In addition to a description of the software functions, the SRS also contains non-functional
requirements. Non-functional requirements impose constraints on the design or implementation (such as
quality standards, or design constraints).

3. Computer software is generally divided into two primary categories such as system software and application software. System software is related to
computer programs which are intended to work with computer hardware and provide a working base for application software to run. On the other hand,
application software are programs which enable users to carry out specific tasks like record keeping, image creation, video editing, playing media files, and
other entertainment requirements.

Click here

Content 2.2. Comparison

A step ahead

Read this comparative table and do the exercise below

  HARDWARE SOFTWARE

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Set of instructions that enables a user to interact with the

Definition Devices required to store and execute the software computer,
and also enables a computer to perform a
specific task.

QuickBooks, Adobe Acrobat, Internet Explorer, Microsoft

Examples CD-ROM, monitor, printer, video card, scanner, router, modem
Word, Microsoft Excel, ...

System software, programming software, and application

Types Input, storage, processing, control and output devices
software.

Interdependency To deliver its set of

instructions, Software is installed on
Hardware starts
functioning once software is loaded
hardware

It
is the delivery system for software solutions. It is infrequently To perform the specific
task you need to complete.
changed, in comparison with software and data, which are "soft" in the Hardware doesn't normally need software to perform
its
Function
sense that they are readily created, modified, or erased on the basic level tasks such as turning on and responding to
computer input

Reliability Hardware stays reliable

at useful life Software needs constant
testing

Hardware failure is
random. It has increasing failure at the last stage of Software failure is
systematic and it does not have an
Failure
lifetime increasing failure rate

Fault Hardware faults are physical Software faults are not physical

Lifetime Hardware decays with

time Software doesn't decay
with time
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Hardware_vs_Software (adapted from)
 

Exercise

Choose the right option (X) for each definition: Hardware or Software

Definition HARDWARE SOFTWARE

a.Performs the specific

task by giving the ordered set of instructions

b.It is something that

you're able to touch and see

c.With technological
development, which changes take place faster?

d.It is installed inside

the computer to set the programs in action

e.It is not needed to do

basic tasks

f.It wears out with time

g.Checking is always
necessary

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Translation

Translate the following text about free software

 

The
Free Software Foundation (FSF) is a non-profit corporation founded by
Richard Stallman on 4 October 1985 to support the free software
movement, a
copyleft-based movement which aims to promote the universal
freedom to create, distribute and modify computer software. The FSF is
incorporated in
Massachusetts, USA.
From its founding until the mid-1990s, FSF's funds were mostly used to
employ software developers to write free software for the GNU Project.
Since the
mid-1990s, the FSF's employees and volunteers have mostly
worked on legal and structural issues for the free software movement
and the free software
community. Consistent with its goals, only free
software is used on FSF's computers.

Click here

Types of computer

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A Step Ahead

Read the text about types of computer

 

Terms to describe computers are various. Many of them have to do with

the size, use or capability of the computer. The term
computer refers
to a device that has a microprocessor in it- but most people think of a
computer as a device that receives input
from a user through a mouse
and keyboard, processes it and displays the result on a screen.

Here you have different types of computers.

1.- PC
It is computer designed for general use by a single person. Most people
relate the term with the Windows operating system , although a Mac is a
PC too.
PCs were first known as microcomputers because they were a
complete computer but built on a smaller scale than the huge systems in
use by most
businesses.

2.- Desktop
A desktop computer is a PC that is not designed for portability. You are expected to set the computer up in a permanent location. Most desktops provide
more power, storage and versatility for less cost than their portable brethren.

3.- Laptop
Also called notebooks, laptops are portable computers that integrate
the display, keyboard, a pointing device, processor, memory and hard
drive in a
battery-operated package. Sometimes it just slightly bigger
than an average hardcover book.

4.- Netbook
Netbooks are smaller than traditional laptops.
They are ultra-portable Also, they're cheaper than almost any laptop ,.
However, their internal components
are less powerful than the ones you normally find in laptops.

5.- PDA
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) are integrated computers that, for
storage ,often use flash memory instead of a hard drive. They do not
usually have a
keyboard but rely on a touchscreen for user input. PDAs
are typically, very light and with a reasonable battery life.

6.- Workstation
A
workstation is simply a desktop computer that has a more powerful processor, additional memory and more capabilities for performing a special group of
task, such as 3D Graphics or game development

7.- Server
It is a computer that has been optimized to provide services to other
computers over a network. Servers normally have very powerful
processors, much
more memory and bigger hard drives.

8.- Mainframe
The term mainframe has fallen out of use in favor of enterprise server. This
term is used to describe huge machines processing millions of transactions
every day .The size of computers has diminished while the power has increased, but even so this type of computer can fill an entire room.

9.- Supercomputers
Most
supercomputers are composed of multiple high performance computers working in parallel as a single system. The best known supercomputers are
built by Cray Supercomputers and can cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.

10.- Wearable Computer

This is the latest trend in computing. Common computer applications (e-mail, database, multimedia...) are integrated into watches, cell phones, visors and
even clothing. They are a step ahead PDAs

(Photo above=freedigitalphotos.net)

Exercise

What type of computer does each sentence refer to?

1. Although they are becoming smaller, they are enormous machines

2. PCs designed to portability  

3. They are more and more sophisticated each day. They are said to be the future.  

4. They don't have a hard disk to store data  

5. They are meant to be super-portable despite losing power  

6. They are very powerful computers that supply tasks to other computers over a network.  

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Self-assessment

Match the picture with one of the types of computers described above

www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net      
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Content 1. Compounds
You have just read the text about types of computers. And many of the words used to define these computers are compound words.

Compound words are very common in IT English. You will have to infer the final meaning by adding the meaning of both words. But you have to bear in
mind that many of these words are
currently used in English (they don't have a translation).

For example: KEYBOARD (TECLA + TABLERO = TECLADO) - FIREWALL (FUEGO + MURO = CORTAFUEGOS in General/Standard English)

Some more examples:

COMPOUND TRANSLATION (if any)

joystick joystick
network network / red
spreadsheet hoja de cálculo
notebook cuaderno
mailbox buzón de correo
hotspot hotspot / zona interactiva
setup instalción
desktop escritorio / ordenador
laptop portátil
highlight resaltar
smartphone smartphone / teléfono inteligente
backup copia de seguridad
 

Self-assessment

Infer the meaning and translate these words if possible

WORD TRANSLATION WORD TRANSLATION WORD TRANSLATION

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videoconference keypad
password

screensaver
worksheet


toolbar

mainframe
troubleshooting
dropbox

workstation backache eyesight

soundcard shortcut backslash

(/)

pathname

filename clipboard

newsgroup

bookmark
guestbook

motherboard
layout scrollbar

nickname webquest
whiteboard

bandwidth

barcode username

webmaster taskbar feedback

Submit
  

Content 2. Postmodification
B. POSTMODICATION
B. Postmodification. We are talking about qualifying sentences that are placed after the noun.

B.1. Participles. Actually, they form part of a relative sentence whose subject (a relative pronoun) and/or auxiliary verb are omitted, which can make
these sentences somehow difficult to understand.

Example: A search followed by another search can be misleading

                    
(which is followed)

An analyst employed at that company is sure to be well-paid

           (who is employed)

B.2. -Ing Forms. Actually, they form part of a relative sentence whose subject (a relative pronoun) and/or auxiliary verb are omitted, which can make
these sentences somehow difficult to understand.

Example: A program containing error messages can damage your hard disk
                       
(which contains)

Users developing new strategies can become better computer-literate

   (who are developing)

Exercise

Translate these sentences.

Pay attention to the underlined words; they are examples of postmodification

1-While using an application, the operating system handles the underlying computer activity

2-Supercomputerss used for professional purposes only, are made up of several parallel or sequential processing units.

3. If using your computer for word processing mainly, don't choose a portable one because key spacing can be a real problem

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4- 20-inch screens suited for professional applications provide a large working surface.

5- When deleting files, however, you must supply the entire filename, including any extension.

6- When working with a spreadsheet, two major sections are displayed on the screen: a worksheet and a control panel.

7- The main processing chip called a "Pentium 4" designed and manufactured by the Intel Corporation.

8. Particular attention must be paid to the computer hardware needed for management of the databases and the website allowing public access to them.

9. The procedures described in this section assume knowledge of computers and experience working with hardware.

10. The panel mount supplied with the necessary hardware to install the transmitter.

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Content 3. Buying a computer

A step ahead

Are you buying a new computer?

 

But should you get a Mac or a PC? Laptop or desktop? What difference does
having an AMD or Intel processor
make? And if you're planning on getting a laptop,
how do you make sense
of the alphabet soup that is Wi-Fi (802.11a, b, g, n)?

Have a look at some of the most important things to consider when choosing your
new computer

freedigitalphotos.net

Recommendation

MAC OR PC - it's the constant debate for anyone who wants to buy a new computer. Passionate and valid points exist in both alternatives, but it
ultimately depends on your personal tastes, needs, and budget.

LAPTOP OR DESKTOP? Decide if you want a laptop, which you can carry around with you,
or a desktop model. If you need to work from anywhere
except the computer desk in your home, a laptop is clearly the way to go -- many portables are as or more powerful than many desktops. But if you
plan on
using your computer for your music, movies, and online entertainment, then getting a PC or Mac is the best choice you can make.

OPERATING SYSTEM. Windows, Mac OSX, or Lynux?

Macs are smart and eye-catching , but can you run all the applications you need on them?
Windows is the standard, but can be a security nightmare. Then there is always the possibility of Linux, which is known
for being difficult to use and
there is less support if you have a problem.

TECHNICAL ASPECTS. This is the really thorny stuff. AMD or Intel processors? What speed? How much RAM (random access memory)? The
most important thing to look for is RAM,
which has the most impact on the speed of your computer. Accept no less
than 2-gigabytes (GB), but if you
have a larger budget, get 3- or 4-gigabytes (GB), just to be safe.

EXTRAS (HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE). Select peripherals and additional hardware

such as modems, sound cards, video cards and speakers.
Decide how many extra internal card slots and disk-drive bays you'll need in order to allow room for future expansion. Determine what pre-installed
software
you want or need. Get at least an operating system, such as Windows, an
anti-virus program, and programs for word processing,
spreadsheets, databases and keeping your checkbook.

Think about

Based on the ideas above, write a short text about what kind of computer you would buy and why

Curiosities

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Unit 2 Computer Architecture

A step ahead

Copyleft is a play on the word copyright

to describe the practice of using copyright law to offer the right to distribute
copies and modified versions of a work and requiring that the
same rights be preserved in modified versions of the work.
In other words, copyleft is a general method for making a program (or other work)
free (libre), and requiring all modified
and extended versions of the program to be free as well. Under copyleft, an author may give every person who receives a
copy of a work permission to reproduce, adapt or distribute it and require that any resulting copies or adaptations are also
bound by the same licensing agreement.Most copylefted software is issued under the GNU General Public License
(GPL), which was the first copyleft license and by far the most commonly used license for free software. Free software is
software whose source code is freely available to anyone to use for any purpose, including studying, copying,
modifying,
extending and giving away.
Adapted from Wikipedia

Listen to Richard Stallman talking about free software:

 

How Richard M. Stallman, leader of the Free Software Foundation uses the open internet

AmericasGotNet2010
 

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