English for AVT specialists. Английский для специалистов в сфере аудиовизуальных технологий. Сборник текстов и упражнений по английскому языку

9. In the following sentences, change the present continuous to the present perfect. Translate the sentences into Russian.

Example:

The scientists are conducting research to determine optimum speaker placement.

The scientists have conducted research to determine optimum speaker placement.

1) In the experiment, the researchers are describing the component as «effects» or «ambience» part only.

2) Gradually, manufacturers are accepting this recommendation as a de facto industry standard.

3) Usage of this audio digital format is becoming a commonplace.

4) Some of these technological advances are obviously maturing into meaningful improvements.

5) The laboratory engineers are making a focus on incorporating the invention into the digital audio systems.

6) The new generation audio systems are growing in number successfully.

7) Modern surround sound tools are certainly whetting the consumer’s appetite for adding extra units to their home listening environments.

8) The new device is also finding its way into gaming consoles.

Vocabulary work

10. Write a list of key words for text 3. Compare your list with the classmates’ key words. Use them in your own sentences.

TALKING AND DISCUSSING POINT

11. Explain these words and expressions from the text. Paraphrase them; give synonyms or/and antonyms to them where possible.

Conduct research, industry standard, equally important, proliferation of digital audio systems, become a commonplace, gradually, nascent industry, whet appetite, professional studio, integral part, enable.

12. Write a list of five questions to the text. Exchange your list with your classmate and answer their questions.

13. Think of a plan to the article. Make a summary of the article according to your plan.

14. What information about audio systems today would you add to the article?

15. Talk to your classmate. Express your attitude to the following quotation:

Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.

Christian Lous Lange

Report your idea to the class. Discuss, compare and contrast your points of view.

WRITING

16. You want to enter a short story competition. The rules say that your story must start or end with the words: «There is music everywhere…» The story should contain 120—180 words (FCE Writing).

17. Make a report, do an electronic presentation or a project on one of the topics:

– The International Telecommunications Union

– Development and usage of digital audio systems

– High Definition Television (HDTV)

– Home theater (home cinema). History and later development

– DVD format

– Audio systems today

CHECK POINT

18. What have you learnt from the text in Unit 1, Part 3 about the following?

– The document «Recommendation for Multichannel Stereophonic Sound System With and Without Accompanying Picture»

– Achievements in the audio and video practices throughout the 1990s

– Surround sound systems in common use today

Unit 2

The history of Dolby Laboratories

Text 4. Dolby Laboratories. Historical events and personalities

PRE-READING

1. Name some words and expressions related to the subject.

2. What do you know about Dolby Laboratories? Can you answer these questions?

1) When and where was the company founded?

2) Who started it?

3) What does Dolby Labs do?

4) Name some of the company’s most significant achievements.

5) What Dolby formats do you know and use?

Dolby Laboratories (often called Dolby Labs for short) is an American company which specializes in audio encoding/compression and audio noise reduction. Dolby Labs was founded by an American Ray Dolby in London in 1965. In 1976, it was moved to San Francisco, the USA. The first issue it manufactured was a simple compander, Type A Dolby Noise Reduction. The compander was distinguished from the others of the kind by capability to process only the quiet sounds that would be veiled by tape noise. Henry Kloss (a prominent American engineer and businessman) persuaded Ray Dolby to produce a consumer version of his noise reduction. In 1968, Dolby Company made an introduction of a compounding system Type B.