EXPLORATIONS - Information Age, Part 2

EXPLORATIONS - October 23, 2002: Information Age, Part 2

By Paul Thompson

VOICE ONE:

This is Mary Tillotson.

VOICE TWO:

And this is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English program, EXPLORATIONS. Today we present the
second part of our series about communications. We tell how computers are linking many millions of people
around the world.

(THEME)

VOICE ONE:

Last week we told about the history of the communication of information. We
described how the telegraph¹ was the first important device² that could move
information quickly from one place to another. And we discussed the beginning of
satellite communications.

About six years after the first communications satellite was placed in orbit³, the
American Department of Defense⁴ began developing a new project. It began linking
major research universities across the United States. The project began in the early nineteen-seventies.

VOICE TWO:

Professors at many American universities do research work for the United States Government. The Department
of Defense wanted to link the universities together to help the professors cooperate⁵ in their work. Department of
Defense officials decided⁶ to try to link these universities by computer. The officials believed the computer would
make it easier for researchers to send large amounts of information from research center to research center. They
believed they could link computers at these universities by telephone.

VOICE ONE:

They were right. It became very easy to pass information from one university to another. University researchers
working on the same project could share large amounts of information very quickly. They no longer had to wait
several days for the mail to bring a copy of the research reports.

VOICE TWO:

This is how the system works⁷. The computer is linked to a telephone by a device called a modem⁸. The modem
changes computer information into electronic messages that are sounds. These messages pass through the
telephone equipment to the modem at the other end of the telephone line. This receiving modem changes the
sound messages back into information the computer can use. The first modern electronic communication device,
the telegraph, sent only one letter of the alphabet at a time. A computer can send thousands of words in a very
few seconds.

VOICE ONE:

The link between universities quickly grew to include most research centers and colleges in the United States.
These links became a major network. Two or more computers that are linked together form a small network.
They may be linked by a wire from one computer to another, or by telephone. A network can grow to almost any
size.

(Photo -NASA)

For example, let us start with two computers in the same room at a university. They are linked to each other by a
wire. In another part of the university, two other computers also are linked using the same method. Then the four
are connected with modems⁹ and a telephone line used only by the computers. This represents a small local
network of four computers.

Now, suppose this local network is linked by its modem through telephone lines to another university that has
four computers. Then you have a network of eight computers. The other university can be anywhere, even
thousands of kilometers away. These computers now can send any kind of information that can be received by a
computer - messages, reports, drawings, pictures, sound recordings¹⁰. And, the information is exchanged
immediately.

VOICE TWO:

Some experts have said it is easier to understand this network of computers if you think of streets in a city. The
streets make it possible to travel from one place in the city to another. Major streets called highways connect
cities. They make it possible to travel from one city to another.

Computers communicate information in much the same way. Local networks are like the city streets. And
communication links between distant local networks are like the major highways. These highways make
communication possible between networks in different areas of the world.

VOICE ONE:

In nineteen-eighty-one this communication system linked only two-hundred-thirteen computers. Only nine years
later, it linked more than three-hundred-fifty-thousand computers. Today experts say there are hundreds of
millions of computers connected to networks that provide links with computers around the world.

The experts say it is no longer possible to tell how many computers are linked to the information highway. The
experts also say the system of computer networks is continuing to grow.

VOICE TWO:

This system of computer networks has had several different names since it began. It is now called the Internet.
Almost every major university in the world is part of the Internet. So are smaller colleges and many public and
private schools. Magazines, newspapers, libraries, businesses, government agencies¹¹, and people in their homes
also are part of the Internet.

VOICE ONE:

Computer experts began to greatly expand the Internet system in the last years of the nineteen-eighties. This
expansion¹² was called the World Wide Web. It permits computer users¹⁴ to find and exchange written material and
pictures much quicker than the older Internet system. How fast is the World Wide Web part of the Internet
system? Here is an example. A computer user¹³ in London, England is seeking information about the volcanoes¹⁶ in
the American state of Hawaii.

She types in the words “Hawaii” and “volcano¹⁵” in a World Wide Web search program. Within seconds the
computer produces a list. She chooses to examine information from the National Park Service’s headquarters¹⁷ at
the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The Park Service computer in Hawaii provides information about the huge
volcanoes there, and how they were formed. It also has other useful information.

The researcher in London looks at the information. Then she has her computer print a copy of it. Within seconds
she has a paper copy of the National Park information including pictures. It has taken her less than five minutes
to complete this research.

(MUSIC BRIDGE)

VOICE TWO:

The Internet and the World Wide Web have become vehicles for speedy information exchange for most people
who can use a computer. Much of the information on the Internet is very valuable. As a research tool, the Internet


has no equal.
Suppose you want a copy of this Special English program, EXPLORATIONS. You can find the information by
looking for the Voice of America and Special English on the World Wide Web. The electronic address is www

dot voa special english dot com. (www.voaspecialenglish.com) You can find written copies of most of our
programs and print them for your own use.
Almost any kind of information can be found through the Internet. There are electronic magazines for poetry or

children’s stories.
There are areas within this electronic world where you can play games or discuss politics or science. You can

find valuable medical information, read history, learn about new farming methods or just about anything that
interests you. You can look at and collect the beautiful color pictures taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.
You can watch musicians perform their latest songs. You can even join a group that meets electronically to

discuss the music of their favorite rock and roll music group.
VOICE ONE:
Who pays for the Internet? That is not easy to explain. Each network, small or large, pays for itself. Networks

decide how much their members will pay for their part of the cost of the local service connecting time.

Then all of the large networks decide how much each will pay to be part of the larger network that covers a major
area of the country. The area network in turn pays the national network for the service it needs.
Each person who has a computer at home pays a company that lets the computer connect to the Internet. These

companies are called Internet service providers. Most charge less than twenty dollars a month for this service.
VOICE TWO:
Next week the EXPLORATIONS program will examine the future of the Internet and the World Wide Web. We

will tell about modern technology that lets networks link with telephones that do not need wires.
(THEME)
VOICE ONE:
This Special English program, EXPLORATIONS, was written by Paul Thompson. It was produced by Caty

Weaver¹⁸. This is Mary Tillotson.
VOICE TWO:
And this is Steve Ember. Listen again next week to the Voice of America for the last part of this series about the

Information Age.

 

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1 telegraph   

n.电报，电报机；v.打电报，显示

参考例句：

• A new telegraph line has been set up between the two cities.那两个城市之间架设了一条新的电报线。
• Telegraph communication was broken off.电讯中断了。

2 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。

3 orbit   

n.轨道；vt.使沿轨道运行；使进入轨道运行；vi.沿轨道运行，环行

参考例句：

• The space rocket was launched and went into orbit.宇宙火箭发射后进入轨道。
• We can draw the earth's orbit round the sun.我们可以画出地球绕太阳运行的轨迹。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 cooperate   

vi.合作，协作，相配合

参考例句：

• We hope we can cooperate even more closely in the future.希望我们今后能更加密切地合作。
• I hope you can cooperate on this matter.我希望你在这件事上能给予合作。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

8 modem   

n.调制解调器

参考例句：

• Does your computer have a modem?你的电脑有调制解调器吗？
• Provides a connection to your computer via a modem.通过调制解调器连接到计算机上。

9 modems   

n.调制解调器( modem的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Yes, floppy day, as did 9600 baud dial up modems. 是的，当时软件是最主要的工具，还有9600波特拨号调制解调器。 来自互联网
• Extra settings for configuring BAD modems that cannot identify proper disconnect tone. 额外的设置，配置不好的调制解调器不能确定适当的断开的语调。 来自互联网

10 recordings   

n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片

参考例句：

• a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
• old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐

11 agencies   

n.代理( agency的名词复数 )；服务机构；（政府的）专门机构；代理（或经销）业务（或关系）

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations. 联合国有许多专门机构。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The project is funded by the World Bank and other multilateral agencies. 这项计划由世界银行和其他多国机构资助。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 expansion   

n.扩张，扩充；扩大；扩充物；扩展部

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The plan will give an impulse to industrial expansion.这个计划将促进工业的扩展。

13 user   

n.用户，使用者

参考例句：

• The company is the biggest user of oil.该公司是最大的石油用户。
• The umbrella keeps the rains off the user.雨伞使撑伞人免受雨淋。

14 users   

用户，使用者( user的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The new software will prove a boon to Internet users. 这种新软件将会对互联网用户大有益处。
• Ramps should be provided for wheelchair users. 应该给轮椅使用者提供坡道。

15 volcano   

n.火山

参考例句：

• The volcano unexpectedly blew up early in the morning.火山一早突然爆发了。
• It is most risky to go and examine an active volcano.去探察活火山是非常危险的。

16 volcanoes   

n.火山( volcano的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Volcanoes and geysers erupt. 火山和间歇喷泉均能喷发。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He has been able to tell us more about active volcanoes than any man alive. 他现在比任何人都能更多地向我们讲述有关活火山的情况。 来自《用法词典》

17 headquarters   

n.司令部，指挥部；总部，总店

参考例句：

• Several great guns from the headquarters are coming to see us today.总部的几个大人物今天要来看我们。
• The bank has its headquarters in Pairs.这家银行的总行在巴黎。

18 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。