An algorithm is a sequence of instructions that tells how to solve a particular problem. Once the problem has been identified, the next step is to select the best method for solving it. If the problem is a familiar one, standardized algorithms may be available from program libraries. But if standard algorithms are not available or suitable, a new algorithm must be written and then added to the program library. An algorithm must be specified exactly, so there can be no doubt about what to do next, and it must have a finite number of steps.

A computer program is an algorithm that is written in a language that a computer can understand, but the same algorithm could be wirtten in several different languages.

VOCABULARY

Once= uma vez

Standardized= padronizados

Added= acrescentado, incorporado

There can be no doubt= não pode haver dúvida

Steps= passos, etapas

Just as there are many human languages, so there are many computer languages. In the early days, people programmed using the computer’s binary code, or what we call “machine language”. When this became difficult, mnemonics were used to make life easier. This is called “assembly language” programming. Finnally, there are the “high-level” languages like BASIC, FORTRAN and ALGOL. These are much more similar to everyday language, and are translated directly or indirectly into the computer’s machine code using the computer’s firmware.

BASIC is the language most often used to introduce programming.

VOCABULARY

In the early days= no princípio, no início

Mnemonics= arte de desenvolver a memória mediante processos auxiliares como a associação; mnemônica

To make easier= tornar mais fácil

High-level= alto nível

BASIC= Beginners All-puspose Symbolic Instruction Code

FORTRAN= FORmula TRANslation

ALGOL= ALGOrithmic Language

Firmware= “software” armazenado em ROM em vez de disco

Read only memory (ROM)– In most computers it is useful to have some of the instructions or whole programs permanently stored inside the computer. There are particular kinds of chips which enable us to do this so that the memory is not lost even when the machine is switched off. These are called ROM chips. ROM stands for “read-only memory”. The word “non-volatile” is often used to describe this kind of memory – meaning that it is not destroyed when the power is switched off.

Random-access memory (RAM)– The other kind of memory found inside computers is called RAM. Another name for it is “read/write memory”. RAM chips are the kind which lose their contents when the power is lost – so this kind of memory is sometimes also described as “volatile”. In the computer, RAM is the working memory.

Back-up memory– The last kind of memory which concerns us is “back-up” memory. This is memory outside the main body of the computer in which programs can be kept for future use or in which data can be kept until the computer is ready to use it. It could be a cassette tape or a magnetic disk.

VOCABULARY

Chip= dispositivo que contém muitos transistores e outros componentes montados sobre uma peça de silício

Enable us= capacita-nos                 

Random Access memory= tipo de memória da qual a informação pode ser instantaneamente copiada, não importando onde ela esteja localizada; memória de acesso randômico ou aleatório

Concern us= diz respeito a nós, concerne a nós

Binary numbers are well suited for use by computers, since many electrical devices have two distinct states: on and off. They are the numbers computers themselves understand. Composed entirely of zeros and ones, they express all values in powers of two.

The advantage of the binary system is that you only need two symbols (0 and 1) to express any number, no matter how big it is. Since computers are basically just large groups of switches, and since these switches can only be either on or off, binary system fits right in; you just define 0 as off and 1 as on and then binary numbers tell the computer which switches to throw.

The table below shows some numbers written in binary and decimal form. Note that writing numbers in binary requires more digits than writing numbers in decimal.

VOCABULARY

Well suited= well appropriate = bem adequados, aprorpiados

In powers= em potências

No matter= não importando

Since= uma vez que

Switches= chaves

Either ... or= ou ... ou

Fits = suits = é adequado, apropriado.

Artificial intelligence is the branch of computer science that deals with using computers to simulate human thinking. It s concerned with building computer programs that can solve problems creatively, rather than simply working through the steps of a solution designed by the programmer.

One of the main problems of artificial intelligence (AI) is how to represent knowledge in the computer in a form such that it can be used rather than merely reproduced. A computer that tells you the call number of a library book is not displaying artificial intelligence; it is merely echoing back what was put into it. Artificial intelligence would come into play if the computer used its knowledge base to make generalizations about the library’s holdings or construct bibliographies on selected subjects.

VOCABULARY

Deals with= trata de…

Rather than= em vez de

Echoing back= devolvendo

Would come into play= entraria em ação

Library’s holdings= arquivos da biblioteca

When we sit down at a computer, we type on a keyboard which is one of the means of inputting data. And when we type on this keyboard, each letter or number is converted into a series of 0s and 1s. This binary language is what the computer understands.

After being converted into 0s and 1s, the data are then changed into electrical impulses which travel over a cable to the computer, where they are stored in memory. Each computer word, called a byte, is assigned a place in a memory cell to await processing. The data, now in the memory cells, are acted upon and processed according to the program being used.

The output, or final result, is then achieved and converted back into numbers and letters, which is displayed on TV screen or printed on paper by a printer.

Vocabulary

Keyboard= teclado

Binary language= linguagem que o computador entende, composta de zeros e uns; linguagem binária.

Travel= passam de um ponto para outro

Byte= oito dígitos binários; oito “bis”

Assigned= given = indicado, especificado

Achieved= accomplished = alcançado

Printer= máquina que imprime; impressora

 In general we might say that all the files that make up the data processing system of a company form their database.

However, the term database is now used in a much broader and more comprehensive sense. To appreciate this let us contrast a conventional data processing system and a database system.

A conventional data processing system consists of one or more separate files for each application; in a database system a single large collection of data serves all applications.

If we were to survey the software market today, we would find a large number of database systems available.

VOCABULARY

Database= databank = banco de dados

Files= arquivos

Make up= formam

Broader= larger, wider = mais amplo

Sense= sentido, significado

To survey= to examine = examiner, pesquisar

Software market= Mercado de software, isto é, de programas

Magnetic tape– it is one of the principal input/output recording media used with computers and is mainly used for storing intermediate results of computations and for compact storing of large amounts of data, in an ordered sequence. It is much cheaper to store information on tape than in the computer main memory or on a disk memory device, but it takes longer to locate a paritucular data item if it is stored on tape: data must be stored and accessed sequentially.

Magnetic disk– it consists of a series of concentric paths or tracks each capable of storing data in magnetically coded form. It looks like a phonograph record and a series of disks is mounted on a vertical shaft. One or more access arms move into the disk to read or write the data stored on it. Disks may be hard (made out of aluminum) or floppy (made out of plastic). Disks may be permanently attached to the drive unit or they may be made up as removable disk packs. Disks may be made even more efficient by using laser beam to read and write data.

VOCABULARY

Media= pl. of medium (Latin word) = meios

Large amounts= great quantities = grandes quantidades

Cheaper= more inexpensive = mais barato

It takes longer= leva mais tempo

Accessed= reached = alcançados, acessados

Paths or tracks= trilhas

It looks like= parece com, é semelhante a

Shaft= eixo

Drive unit= dispositivo impulsor

Packs= packages = vários discos presos por um eixo

Laser beam= raio laser

Assembly language is a programming language that talks fairly directly to the computer. Unlike machine language, which is what the computer understands, assembly language is mnemonic, so that it can be understood and remembered more easily by a human being; in fact, assembly language is really just machine language in mnemonic form.

Assembly languages are specific to a given CPU chip and are named after it (e.g., 8080 assembly language, 6809 assembly language etc.). They are harder to program than a high-level language, but they produce programs that are more efficient and run faster.

VOCABULARY

Fairly= quase

Unlike= ao contrário de, diferente de

Just= apenas, justamente

CPU= Central Processing Unit = Unidade Central de Processamento

Are named= recebem o nome

After it= de acordo com ele (chip)

Harder= mais trabalhosas

Run faster= rodam mais rápido

A mainframe computer is a large computer system comprised of a large central processing unit, separate memory banks, multiple data-storage devices and peripherals. It is found in computer installations which process immense amounts of data. This powerful machine has a larger repertoire of more complex instructions which can be executed more quickly.

A minicomputer is much smaller than the mainframe computer. It was developed to perform limited functions in scientific environments with less computing capacity. It became possible to reduce the size of the computer with the replacement of vacuum tubes by transistors and the development of multicircuit “chips”.

A microcomputer is the smallest of the three sizes of computers. The central processor of a micro, called the microprocessor, is built as a single semiconductor device, that is, all the elements necessary to perform all the logical and arithmetic functions are manufactured as a single chip. The microprocessor literally contains a computer on a chip that can pass through the eye of a needle.

VOCABULARY            

Comprised of= including = incluindo, compreendendo, composto de

Multiple= tendo muitas partes; múltiplo

Repertoire= repertório, conjunto

Enveironments= surroundings = ambientes

Alguns termos em Inglês, essenciais para quem trabalha ou usa constantemente a ferramenta da informática. 

Access Rules    Regras de Acesso

Actual Real    Verdadeiro

Ascertain    Obter

 An except condition is raised     Uma condição de exceção será detectada

An completion condition is raised     Uma condição de conclusão será detectada

Assertion   Asserção

Assignable     Assinalável, Atribuível

Assignement     Atribuição

Base tables     Tabelas base

Braces     Chaves

Binding    manter o termo em inglês entre aspas

Binding style    Estilo de "binding"

Bit string   Cadeia de bits

Cast   manter o termo em inglês entre aspas

Catalog    Catálogo

Change    Modificar

Character    Caractere

Character string    Cadeia de caracteres

Check conditions    Condições de verificação

Cluster    manter o termo em inglês entre aspas

Coercibility     Coercibilidade (obrigatoriedade)

Collates     Possui valor de comparação

Collating sequence     Sequência para comparação pendente

Collation     Método de ordenação pendente

Column     Coluna

Completion     Conclusão

Conforming     Em conformidade com esta norma Padrão

Conforming Entry SQL language     Linguagem em conformidade com SQL

Connection     Relação

Constraint     Restrição

Contained     Contido

Containing     Que contém

Containment     Escopo

Conversely     Por outro lado

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)     manter o termo em inglês entre aspas

Correlation name      Nome de correlação

Cursor     manter o termo em inglês entre aspas

Deallocate      Liberar

Data string      Cadeia de dados

Datetime      Data/hora

Database      Base de dados

Default      manter o termo em inglês entre aspas

Deferrable      Adiável Postergável

Delete      Eliminar

Deletes     Eliminação

Depth      Nível de profundidade

Denote     Indicar

Direct result of executing an SQL-statement     Resultado direto da execução de uma instrução SQL

Detected      Constatado

Duplicate rows     Linhas duplicadas

Earlier     Antes

Effectively       (termo)Efetivamente

Embedded     Embutido

Enabled     Habilitados

Enabling     Habilitadores

Enhancement      De aprimoramento

Entry SQL     SQL básico

Escape character      Caractere de escape

Evaluation      Avaliação no sentido de valorar

Fall       Classificam-se

Feature      Característica

Fixed-length coding       Codificação de tamanho fixo

Flagger      Sinalizador

Form-of-use     Forma de uso

Former     Primeiro

Full SQL      SQL Completo

General Rules     Regras Gerais

Generally underling table      Tabelas gerais

Given row       Linha dada

Grant option      Opção de concessão

Grantable     Concessível

Granted      Cessionário

Grantor      Concessor

Grouping column      Coluna de agrupamento

Host language      Linguagem hospedeira

Ideograph      Ideógrafo

Implementation-defined       Definido pela implementação

Implementation-dependent     Dependente de implementação

Implementor      Produtor

Implied       Implícito, Subentendido

Incidental      Acidental

Inessential        Não essencial

Information Schema      Esquema de Informação traduzir somente quando em minúsculo

Innermost       Mais interno

Instance        Ocorrência

Intermediate SQL           SQL Intermediário

International Standard          Norma Brasileira

Intervening            Intercalado

Known           Conhecido, Reconhecido

Later           Depois

Latter            Segundo

Leaf generally underling                table Tabela geral folha

Leaf underling table              Tabelas folhas

Length         Tamanho

Leveling Rules           Regras de Nivelamento

Matching rows           Comparação de linhas

Mixing     Combinação

Monadic           Monádico

Multiset         Conjunto múltiplo

Named table          Tabela nominada

N-adic              N-ádico

No data        Nenhum dado

Non-conforming               Sem conformidade com esta norma

Not deferrable             Inadiável

Nullability            Anulabilidade capacidade de receber valor nulo

Nullable        Anulável

Object column        Coluna objeto

Object row           Linha objeto

Octet            Octeto (seqüência de 8 bits)

Outermost          Mais externo

Overflow         manter o termo em inglês entre aspas

Overlap          Sobreposição

Pad character         Caractere de preenchimento

Pair-wise        Par a par

Pattern       Modelo

Pattern-match         Correspondência de padrões

Parse-tree        Árvore sintática Glossário de Informática

Phanton        Ilusão

Portion        Parte

Production Rule         Regra de Produção

Provided           Fornecida

Purpose         Propósito, fim, objetivo

Raised         Detectada

Range Intervalo Read-write          Leitura e gravação

Read-only        Somente para leitura

Recovery         Restauração

Rollback         Desfeito

Roman           Tipo romano

Row Linha Run time          Em tempo de execução Schema Esquema SQL refere-se ao Esquema SQL

Search           Pesquisa

Search condition          Condição de pesquisa Glossário de Informática

Serializability          Serialização pendente

Set           Estabelecido

Set operations         Operações de conjunto

Shall         Deverá

Simply underling table           Tabelas diretas

SQL-data         Dados SQL

SQL-implementation           Implementação SQL

SQL-session          Sessão SQL

SQL-transaction           Transação SQL

SQL-statement             Instrução SQL

Square brackets           Colchetes

Statement Instrução (pode ser declarativa ou procedural)

Status         De estado

String         manter o temo em inglês entre aspas

Sub-rule          Sub-regra

Substring         manter o termo em inglês entre aspas

Sucessfull        Com sucesso

Syntax Rules        Regras de Sintaxe

Target         Alvo

The following restrictions apply for ...            As seguintes restrições se aplicam .. Regras de nivelamento

Therefore        Portanto

Time zone         Zona de fuso horário

Timestamp          Marca de tempo

Triadic         Triádico

Underlying       Básica

Underlying columns          Colunas base

Underling tables         Tabelas de origem

Unique            Unicidade

Unknown            Indeterminado

Usage             Uso, utilização

Variable-length coding              Codificação de tamanho variável

View           Visão

Viewed-tables         Visões de tabelas