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Is there an End to the Computer Race?
Today the word electronics» is in general usage. Millions of people have electron watches. There are a lot of various radio and TV sets, video cassette recorders and CD players in our houses In factories and plants we are surrounded with electronically con- trolled machines and instruments, we are carried by airplanes, ships, trains and cars with built-in electronic devices, and satellites circle the globe. In other words, we are living in an electronic world.
And the center of this world is a tiny silicon platel of a few square millimetres, an integrated circuit², or a chip³, as it is more commonly known. The integrated circuit is undoubtedly one of the most sophisticated inventions of man, science and technology. It is in the heart of every electronic device and the more cassette re- corders, TV sets and computers we need, the more integrated cir- cuits are required.
When we speak about a further development of computers we mean not only quantity, but also high technology and high speed. As the operation of an integrated circuit depends on microscopic <<components», the purity of all materials and the cleanness at the plant they are produced at must be of the highest quality. A con- tinuous search is going on in laboratories throughout the world for more perfect, reliable and high speed electronic circuits.
In the past it took scientists and researchers a whole lifetime to make a few thousand calculations, whereas for a modern computer this task is a matter of a few seconds. At present computers capable of performing billions of operations a second are required. Super- computers are different from ordinary computers. The ordinary computer does the computations operation by operation, while thesupercomputer operates like a brain: all operations are being done simultaneously.
In the next few years engineers will complete the work on com- puters of above 2 billion operations a second. It will take a few more years to produce a 10-billion operations computer. The fifth-generation computers performing 100 billion operations a second will become available in the near future. Is there an end to this race?
According to some researchers, we are close to what can be re- garded as a true physical limit. But other specialists think that pho- tons will make the operation a thousand times faster. This means that in the future it will be possible to expect the appearance of photon computers and that computations will be done by means of light. Light has several advantages over electronics: light beams are faster, travel in parallel lines and can pass through one another without interference?. Already, the optical equivalent of a transis- tor has been produced, and intensive research on optical-electronic computers is being carried out in a number of countries around the world. In a few decades a new age of light may replace the still youthful electronic age. The race is going on.
Ответы
Ответ:
The title "Is there an End to the Computer Race?" reflects the main idea of the text but also leaves room for discussion. The author considers the rapid technological progress of computers and the possibility of replacing electronics with light.
The text presents facts that confirm the continuous development of computers and electronics. It is stated that the integrated circuit is the heart of any electronic device and that further advancement requires higher technologies and speed. Current achievements are described: while in the past, scientists needed a whole lifetime for a thousand calculations, modern computers can perform this task in just a few seconds. Additionally, work is underway to create computers capable of performing billions of operations per second.
The author also explores the possibility of using photons instead of electronics. This might lead to the emergence of photon computers, where calculations would occur using light. Such computers would have advantages over electronics, particularly in the speed of light beams' movement and their ability to pass through each other without interference. Intensive research on optoelectronic computers is already taking place worldwide, potentially paving the way for a transition from the electronic age to a light-based era.
Thus, the title accurately captures the main idea but also keeps open questions regarding the future development of technologies.
Перевод
Заголовок "Есть ли конец гонке за компьютерами?" отражает основную идею текста, но также оставляет место для дискуссии. Автор рассматривает скоростной и технологический прогресс компьютеров и возможность замены электроники светом.
В тексте приведены факты, подтверждающие непрерывное развитие компьютеров и электроники. Утверждается, что интегральная схема является сердцем любого электронного устройства и для дальнейшего развития необходимы более высокие технологии и скорость. Описываются текущие достижения: если в прошлом ученым требовалась целая жизнь для тысячи вычислений, то современному компьютеру на это требуется всего несколько секунд. Также отмечается, что уже идет работа над созданием компьютеров, способных выполнять миллиарды операций в секунду.
Автор также рассматривает возможность будущего использования фотонов вместо электроники. Это может привести к появлению фотонных компьютеров, где вычисления будут происходить с помощью света. Такие компьютеры будут иметь преимущества перед электроникой, в частности, скорость перемещения световых лучей и их способность проходить один сквозь другой без помех. В мире уже ведутся интенсивные исследования оптико-электронных компьютеров, что в будущем может привести к замене эпохи электроники на эпоху света.
Таким образом, заголовок правильно отражает основную мысль, но также оставляет открытыми вопросы относительно будущего развития технологий.
Объяснение: ...