Computers in Daily Life
FoundationComputers are everywhere: cash machines, Octopus readers and shop tills are all computers. They work by input, processing and output. Sit properly, take breaks and use them in moderation — be the master of the computer, not its servant.
- Computers live inside cash machines, tills and automatic doors.
- A computer works in three steps: input, processing, output.
- Hardware includes the main unit, screen, keyboard and mouse.
文體小知識：生活常識說明文把電腦知識與日常生活連結，學會善用電腦也保護自己。
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1A computer is not only the machine with a screen on the desk. A bank's cash machine, a supermarket till, an Octopus reader — even the control chips inside washing machines and air-conditioners — are computers. They calculate quickly, remember data and control operations, making life convenient.
2A computer works in three steps: input, processing, output. Take an automatic door: the sensor inputs the signal that someone is near, the chip processes the signal and decides, and the motor outputs the action of opening the door. A computer's hardware includes the main unit, screen, keyboard and mouse: keyboard and mouse handle input, the main unit processes, and the screen and speaker output.
3Good habits matter when using a computer: sit upright with your eyes fifty to seventy centimetres from the screen; rest five minutes after every thirty minutes of use, looking into the distance to relax your eyes; keep the light bright but not glaring, and let your fingers rest naturally on the keyboard.
4Computers help us learn and search for information, but long use tires the eyes, aches the neck and back, and cuts into exercise and family time. Set a usage timetable and finish homework first; be the master of the computer, not dragged along by it.
1Summary 重點摘要
Computers are everywhere: cash machines, Octopus readers and shop tills are all computers. They work by input, processing and output. Sit properly, take breaks and use them in moderation — be the master of the computer, not its servant.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
The parts of a computer we can see and touch, such as the main unit, screen and keyboard.
The computer's core part, which processes data.
The part used to type words and commands.
The part that moves the cursor and clicks choices on screen.
The step of sending data and commands into the computer, such as typing.
The computer showing or playing its results, such as the picture on screen.
A part that detects light, temperature or movement, such as an automatic door's sensor.
The way the body is held while using a computer; it should be upright and natural.
How long we use screen devices; it should be kept moderate.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Find the computers around youComputers are not only in classrooms and homes — shopping centres are full of them. Walk through a shopping centre and spot the cash machine, the till, the Octopus reader and the automatic doors; count how many computers are serving you: cash machines handle deposits and withdrawals, card readers work out the fare. Learning to observe shows that computers have entered every corner of life. At home, the TV set-top box, a smart watch and a game console also carry computer chips inside, each with its own function.
- Step 2: Learn the main partsA computer is made of several parts, each with its own job. Point to your own computer and name the main unit, screen, keyboard and mouse: the main unit is the computer's brain, doing the thinking and remembering; the screen shows the pictures; the keyboard and mouse carry our instructions. Knowing the parts and their jobs makes using a computer much easier. Headphones, speakers and printers take the processed information and output it as sound or on paper.
- Step 3: Understand input, processing, outputA computer works in three steps: input, processing and output. Type 2+3 on the keyboard — that is input; the main unit works out the sum — that is processing; the screen shows 5 — that is output, all in one smooth flow. Understanding this flow helps you see how information moves between parts when you use scanners, printers and other devices. Take an automatic door: the sensor inputs the signal, the chip processes it and decides, and the motor outputs the action of opening the door.
- Step 4: Sit properlyGood posture while using a computer protects your bones and eyesight. Keep your back against the chair, both feet flat on the floor, and your eyes fifty to seventy centimetres from the screen; rest your wrists naturally, neither hanging nor bent. Sitting properly, you can use the computer longer without a sore neck or back, and your eyes tire less. It is ideal for the top of the screen to be level with your eyes, and the screen should be angled to avoid glare, so the eyes stay comfortable.
- Step 5: Rest your eyes on timeEyes grow tired and dry after staring at a screen, so rest them on time. Set a thirty-minute timer; when it rings, stand up and look at something far away out of the window for five minutes to relax the eye muscles, take a sip of water, and stretch your shoulders and neck. After the break you return fresher and work better. When your eyes feel dry, blink a few times or close them for a moment; if it is serious, tell your parents to arrange an eyesight check.
- Step 6: Agree a usage timetableUsing the computer with restraint works best with a timetable agreed with your parents. Promise them no more than thirty minutes on school days, and only after homework is finished; weekend time is planned by your parents, exercise first and fun later. With a timetable faithfully kept, you enjoy the computer without hurting your studies or health. Stick the timetable beside the computer and glance at it before each start-up, reminding yourself to keep the promise.
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
Example: during the holidays Kit played computer games for four hours straight, and afterwards his eyes were dry and his neck and back ached. Point out three problems and suggest improvements.
- Problem one: the session was far too long, so his eyes never got a rest.
- Problem two: he sat close to the screen while playing, too near for comfort.
- Problem three: he sat without moving for hours, with no stretching or outdoor exercise.
- Improvements: rest five minutes every thirty minutes, keep proper distance, finish homework first and limit screen time, and play outdoors often in free time.
- Answer: Kit's problems were over-long use, sitting too close to the screen, and lack of movement; he should rest every thirty minutes, keep good posture and distance, limit screen time and exercise outdoors often, protecting both his eyesight and his bones.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What are some everyday examples of computers?
Q2What are the three steps of a computer's work?
Q3How far should your eyes be from the screen?
Q4How often should we rest while using a computer?
Q5How can we be the master of the computer?
8Recap Recap
- Computers live inside cash machines, tills and automatic doors.
- A computer works in three steps: input, processing, output.
- Hardware includes the main unit, screen, keyboard and mouse.
- Sit upright, keep fifty to seventy centimetres, rest every thirty minutes.
- Homework first, screen time limited — be the master of the computer.