Scientific English for Information Management

(SE4IM)

Spring, 2014Instructor: Shu-Yen Wan

Reading: Why your computer is be-coming more like your phone (1/IV)

By Pete Cashmore, CNN on February 21, 2012 7:56 a.m. EST

(CNN)-- Apple released Mountain Lion to developers last week, a new operating system that will make your desktop computer work more like your

phone than ever before. The trend is clear: The desktop operating system will merge with the mobile OS in the coming years. The question is: Why? Let's start with the trend itself. First off, Apple is integrating cloud services much more deeply in Mountain Lion

than any previous operating system. That means your music, photos, calendars, contacts, emails and more can now stay in sync across your phone, tablet and Mac. Apple has also unified your messages across your devices: The Message app (formerly iMessages) will replace iChat on the Mac. That's not all: Mountain Lion also gets a notification center that works just like the notifications you receive on your phone. Games Center is coming to the Mac as well, allowing you to play games against your friends who own iPhones and iPads.

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Apps like Reminders, Notes and Contacts are also all getting desktop versions – and of course these sync with your mobile devices so your data is always up to date. Most notable of all: Apple is now pushing software updates through the Mac App Store, hinting that the App Store may become the only way to get software on your Mac in the future. So what are the advantages of your desktop computer merging with your phone's functionality? And are there any downsides? Simplicity

The main reason Apple wants to make Macs work like the iPhone and iPad is simple. Or rather, simplicity. Despite decades of innovation and the invention of the graphical user interface, computers remain too confusing and complex for the majority of people.

While more powerful software with complex functionality will continue to exist for highly technical users, most consumers want a device that's easy to use and intuitive.

The rise of the iPad and iPhone prove that there's huge demand for such simplicity, and that desktops too will need to become more streamlined.

The downside of simplicity? Simple systems are often less "open" and provide less freedom to try new things: Tasks are either easy to complete (because the developers thought of that use case) or not possible at all.

Reading: Why your computer is be-coming more like your phone (II/IV)

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Security Mobile operating systems could potentially be more secure

than their desktop counterparts. In particular, if Apple makes the App Store the only way to download apps to your Mac, it would become more difficult for users to install malware (since Apple manually approves every app in the store).

What's more, mobile features like tracking the location of your devices or wiping them remotely will make consumer desktops more secure.

There are downsides to app stores, however. Not only would devices become less open – the makers of

operating systems become gatekeepers – but you could argue that Apple and its rivals simply want to force the use of app stores so that they make more money for themselves.

Reading: Why your computer is be-coming more like your phone (III/IV)

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Syncing Perhaps the most obvious benefit of making desktops work more like

phones is unity between all your devices. With a similar (or single) operating system on all your gadgets, syncing

apps, contacts and calendars between them all becomes effortless. There's a downside for users, however: Competing operating systems

tend not to work well together, and using one operating system across all devices means uses are "locked in" more than ever before.

So there you have it: Your desktop computer is becoming more and more like your phone -- and in fact the line between the two will one day disappear.

If you think it's just Apple's devices that are headed toward a simpler operating system, however, you'd be mistaken – Apple is merely in the news because Mountain Lion became available to developers last week.

In fact, Microsoft's Windows 8 takes its cues from Windows Phone, meaning that the two major desktop operating systems will mimic your mobile devices very soon.

Reading: Why your computer is be-coming more like your phone (IV/IV)

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English is important All of us know ever since we were kids – parents and

teachers’ sayings, better job acquisition, higher payroll expectation

Scientific English is important as a computer and information professional The article we read, the terminology we use, the

potential people we meet are mostly English involved However, English is hardly a convenient language

for us We “try” very hard to avoid practicing English

Escape from the scene when “speaking English” comes to us Use Chinese version of the textbook

Little desire to make more improvement

Why Scientific English for Information Management?

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The objective of the course is to equip the students with fundamental terminology and English vocabulary in information technology, which may enhance their competence in studies of various information management topics.

Besides lectures, this course will be supplemented with numerous listening, viewing of information technology clips from various sources, reading of information management related articles, and in-class discussions that will be the man vehicles to develop the students’ English proficiency for information management.

The course will, for most part, be conveyed in English. The students are required to communicate in English in class.

Course Objectives

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Textbook Infotech: English for Computer Users (Student’s Book),

4th Ed., Cambridge University Press, The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge, UK. (2008) ( 華泰文化 )

TA: Kai-Lun Tu ( 凃凱倫 ) and Wan-Ting Chen ( 王君玲 ) Course FTP: ftp://163.25.117.117/sywan/Scientific

English for IM Grading policy

In-class assignments/homework/class presentation: 40%

In-class participation: 20% Mid-term: 20% Final Exam: 20%

Syllabus

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Social Interactivity Capabilities Problem Solving Capabilities System Implementation Capabilities Information Management Capabilities Inter-disciplinary Learning

Course Mapping to Department Core Competence

CPCourse

Social Interactivity

Problem Solving

System Implementation

Information Management

Inter-disciplinary Learning

SE4IM 1.0

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(For each unit) Listening Reading Speaking Writing Language Work Vocabulary

Learning Approach Across Modules

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Module 1: Computers today Module 2: Input / Output devices Module 3: Storage devices Module 4: Basic software Module 5: Faces of the internet Module 6: Creative software Module 7: Programming / Jobs in ICT Module 8: Computers tomorrow

Textbook Outline

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Unit 1: Living in a digital age Unit 2: Computer essentials Unit 3: Inside the system Unit 4: Buying a computer

Module 1: Computer Today

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Unit 5: Type, click and talk! Unit 6: Capture your favorite image Unit 7: Display screens and ergonomics Unit 8: Choosing a printer Unit 9: Devices for the disabled

Module 2: Input/Output Devices

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Unit 10: Magnetic storage Unit 11: Optical storage Unit 12: Flash memory

Module 3: Storage Devices

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Unit 13: The operating system (OS) Unit 14: Word processing (WP) Unit 15: Spreadsheets and databases

Module 4: Basic Software

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Unit 16: The internet and e-mail Unit 17: The web Unit 18: Chat and conferencing Unit 19: Internet security

Module 5: Faces of the Internet

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Unit 20: Graphics and design Unit 21: Desktop publishing Unit 22: Multimedia Unit 23: Web design

Module 6: Creative software

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ICT: Information Communications Technology

Unit 24: Program design and computer languages

Unit 25: JavaTM

Unit 26: Jobs in ICT

Module 7: Programming / Jobs in ICT

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Unit 27: Communication systems Unit 28: Networks Unit 29: Video games Unit 30: New technologies

Module 8: Computers Tomorrow

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4- or 5-people groups Group members can have different grades,

depending on how an individual performs when interacting with the instructor.

Each group is required to raise his/her hand at least once on class. Bonus will be awarded according to the student’s English proficiency, willing to share ideas, bold enough to take the challenges the instructor proposes, etc.

Grouping

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Class representative to order textbook 華泰文化 - 莊學智 (0933-120-167 or 02-

21621217 ext. 152) ISBN: 978-0-521-70299-7

Grouping When we come back..

Student Interaction

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Due on March 5th, 2014 Turn in your group and member description

in A4-sized pages, electronically. Each group must have its own name,

mascot, and a group photo Each member has its own CV (Curriculum

Vitae) of at least one page. Sample CV… Submit your homework via e-mail to the TA

Homework

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