Computers in business

Computers are used to help businesses automate the collection and processing of data, and the production and distribu­tion of information. Of course, these tasks can be accomplished manually, but factors such as increased complexity of the business environment, rapid growth, increased competition, the value of information, and even social pressure have encouraged businesses to adopt computers as solutions to many problems.

ACCOUNTING AND BOOKKEEPING One of the earliest applications for com­puters was accounting and bookkeep­ing, activities that are concerned with recording and processing the basic busi­ness transactions of an organization. An order entrysystem accepts customer orders, checks the customer's credit sta­tus, and verifies that the ordered items are in stock. An accounts receivablesys­tem keeps track of money received or owed by customers. An accounts pay­ablesystem keeps track of money owed to suppliers. In a business that produces goods, an inventorysystem keeps track of the goods on hand for sale or ship­ment to customers. A payrollsystem calculates employee pay checks and keeps track of withholding taxes, em­ployee benefits, insurance, and dues. A general ledgersystem summarizes all of the basic transactions and is used to produce the information concerning the fi­nancial status of the business, such as the chart of accounts, income state­ments, and balance sheets.

Once business transaction have been entered, or input, into the computer and processed, business people can receive the computer’s output or information. Because the computer is such a versatile tool, it can produce information in the form of reports, charts diagrams tables illustrations and videos, all of which help us to interpret and understand a complex and dynamic business environment.

OFFICE AUTOMATION Office automation is technology that reduces the amount of human effort necessary to perform tasks in the office. Today’s businesses have a wide variety of office automation technology at their disposal. The list includes telephones, fax machines, and computers; word pro­cessing, spreadsheet, and database programs; and two-way cable and satellite communication systems. Each of these compo­nents is intended to automate a task or function that is performed manually.

EXPERT SYSTEMS An expert system is a computer system that solves specialized problems at the level of a human expert. Expert systems are a practical application of artificial intelligence (AI), the branch of com­puter science that attempts to (1) un­derstand the nature of intelligence and (2) produce new classes of intelligent computer systems by programming computers to perform tasks that require humanlike qualities, such as reasoning and perception.

In finance and insurance companies, expert systems are applied to granting loans, mortgages, and insurance policies. In these applications, business procedures are usually governed by formal rules, and the expert system can replace some of the tedium of applying the rules.

There is still debate whether comput­ers will ever exhibit intelligence equiva­lent to that of a human being. Certainly, few would argue that computers are good at manipulating data and arith­metic, often exceeding human capabili­ties when solving specific problems in these areas. However, computers that can exhibit intuition, understanding, insight, or common sense are still far in the future.

2.4 Give English equivalents of the following words and word-combinations.

Перевищувати здібності людини, здоровий глузд, спеціалізовані проблеми, автоматизація діловодства, ділова операція, утримувати податки, штучний інтелект, у розпорядженні, на рівні, людини, галузь комп’ютерної науки, значення (цінність) інформації, збір даних, продуктивний спосіб, розвиток, виконувати завдання, вирішувати специфічні проблеми

2.5 Put the verb into the correct form.

1. Computers __________ in business since the 1960s. (use)

2. Scientists __________ still, if computers ____ ever intelligence equivalent to that of a human being. (debate, exhibit)

3. Accounting and bookkeeping ______with recording and processing the basic business transactions of an organization. (concern)

4. As a result, office automation ______ the amount of human effort necessary to perform tasks in the office. (reduce)

5. Increased complexity of the business environment _______ computer application in office automation. (make for)

2.6 Answer the questions.

1. What factors promoted a wide computer application in businesses?

2. In what business spheres were computers first applied?

3. What does the term “office automation” mean?

4. What components of office automation are at the disposal of today’s businesses?

5. Are modern computers able to solve any problems at the level of human expert?

6. In what cases do computers exceed human capabilities?

7. Can you give the examples of applying expert systems?

3.1 Translate the following word-combinations from English into Ukrainian.

Meet the pressure of competition, the flow of goods, change the structure, computer-based devices, examine a pattern, reduce labour costs, handle customer service, deal with customers, needs and wants, make accessible, apply computers, a human teller, mundane tasks, place more emphasis, eliminate misreading.

3.2 Learn key words and word-combinations.

accessible (adj) - доступний

automatic teller machine (ATM) – банкомат

bar code – штриховий код

collect data – збирати дані

computer screen – екран комп’ютера

computer-based device – автоматизований пристрій

convert (v) - перетворювати

eliminate(v) – усувати

flow/stream of information – потік інформації

information system – інформаційна система

input device – пристрій уведення

leverage technology – використовувати технологію

mundane (adj) - повсякденний

pattern(n) – зразок; зображення; графічний шаблон

point-of-sail system – система для касових розрахунків

reader(n) – пристрій читання

representation(n) – подання; зображення

retrieve(v) – шукати, знаходити

scanner(n) – пристрій сканування; сканер

touch screen – сенсорний екран

3.3 Read and translate the text.

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