Learning English

Floppy disks control US weapons 

The US nuclear force still relies on technology from the 1970s

Language challenge

Which is the correct spelling?

a) a kasette
b) a casete
c) a cassette

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The story

The US government Accountability Office says it's concerned that many federal activities, including the country's nuclear arsenal, urgently need to upgrade outdated technologies.

It said Pentagon systems helping to coordinate the strategic deterrent, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear bombers rely on 40-year-old computers and floppy disks.

Gary O'Donoghue, BBC News:

You may have thought the floppy disk was now a historical artefact. But it turns out it is alive and well within the US Defence Department and used to store data in the system that communicates with the different parts of America's nuclear deterrent.

The 1970s technology is so limited that you need about 3m of them to approach the storage capacity of a $10 USB memory stick.

But the Pentagon isn't alone. US social security systems are written in a computer language dating from the late 1950s which fewer and fewer people are familiar with.

On the floppy disks, the Pentagon says they'll be gone by the end of next year though the 40-year-old computers that use them may take a little longer to reach the museum.

Key words and phrases

arsenal
collection of weapons

upgrade
improve the quality of something

deterrent
something that prevents people doing something

phase out
stop doing something gradually

nukes
slang word for nuclear weapons

ancient
very old (humorous)

To do

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Downloads

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Language challenge - answer

The answer is: c) a cassette

End of Session 2

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