Taking personal health care to the next level
Many people who saw the movie Big Hero 6 immediately fell in love with Baymax. He's a big, friendly robot that takes care of people's health. Imagine a robot like Baymax as a personal health care companion in real life!
He would be especially useful in caring for the growing elderly population. The health of senior citizens needs greater monitoring and care -- as well as a softer touch.
At Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania, scientists are working to make Baymax a reality. Chris Atkeson, a professor in the field of robotics, leads the research. He and his team actually inspired Disney filmmakers to create the soft, lovable robot.
Health care robots aren't quite as advanced as Baymax yet. But people can still personally manage their health at home through convenient apps.
Existing apps can check a person's heart rate and remind them to take their medicine. Some apps can monitor a person's blood pressure and perform other valuable functions. The information collected by the apps can make a diagnosis faster and more accurate. Like Baymax, these apps may end up saving lives.
Language Lab
elderly n. adj.
old or rather old : past middle age
- The restaurant is thoughtfully designed for the elderly.
- Elderly people need companionship with loved ones.
elder adj.
of greater age : older
- My elder sister, Jade lives in the States.
monitor v.
to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time
- The doctor suggested that the patient get his cholesterol monitored periodically.
- The FBI is monitoring the gang's activities.
n. a device that is used for showing, watching, or listening to something: such as a : a device that shows information or images on a screen
- The monitor in the parking lot had been tampered with.
advanced adj.
beyond the basic level
- The engineer used advanced technology to create this virtual reality device.
- The advanced English class only has 15 openings.
diagnosis n.
the act of identifying a disease, illness, or problem by examining someone or something
- The doctor's diagnosis is that the patient has diabetes.
- Early diagnosis can reduce the risk of cancer.
diagnose v.
diagnose with
- The patient was diagnosed with arthritis.
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
The Clothing of the Future is Here (2)
Nanoparticles that block the sun
Nanoparticles of sun-blocking chemicals, when added to fabric, protect it from the sun. The tiny particles scatter the sun's ultraviolet rays, so the person and the garment are safe from the sun.
Antistatic particles
Static electricity can cause clothes to cling, but adding nanoparticles that conduct electricity to the material can prevent static. Nanotechnology is giving clothing manufactures a whole new world of fabrics to work with, resulting in high-tech clothing that previously was found only in science fiction. Some speculate that as more companies use nano-enhanced material, clothing will never be the same again.
Concerns
People like Natalie von Goetz from the Swiss University ETH Zurich are a bit skeptical about the use of nanotechnology in clothing. She explains, "We tested whether nanoparticles are released into sweat under laboratory conditions, because if they are, they might be taken up by the skin." This means that the nanoparticles form clothing could enter the body. Goetz and others feel that more research into potential dangers needs to be carried out. Otherwise, some will be unwilling to take the risk even though the clothing is cool.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Carry Out 執行
What verb can we use with the noun research? Well, there’s always “do”.
But, to say, do research is very informal. You might be telling your friends that you’re doing some kind of research but in professional settings like in an interview, on a resume or introducing a speaker at a symposium we might want to consider using the verb “conduct” or the verb phrase “carry out”.
Conduct and carry out have very similar meanings. But carryout has the added connotation of completing or accomplishing a task.
Right, if research was carried out, it was done, it was completed. Whereas conduct most often means to perform, completion is beside the point.
Of course, there’s always the verb research, a more direct way to say, Dr. Smith conducts research on marine mammals is Dr. Smith researches marine mammals.
Now, carry out has another meaning we should be aware of, when you order food at a restaurant, instead of eating it inside the restaurant, you can take the food away, that’s called carry out. In this usage, carry out is just another expression for “take out” or “to go”.
Language Lab
cling v. [clings; clung /ˈklʌŋ/ ; clinging]
to stick to something or someone
- We got all wet in the rain, and our clothes clung to us.
to hold onto something or someone very tightly
— usually + to or onto
- The politician clung to the power and money behind his position.
speculate v.
/ˈspɛkjəˌleɪt/
to think about something and make guesses about it : to form ideas or theories about something usually when there are many things not known about it
- Many reporters speculated that the resignation of the mayor was forced.
speculation n.
ideas or guesses about something that is not known
- There is a lot of speculation about the change in cabinet members.
有不少內革成員的改組的意願之深
concern n.
a feeling of worry usually shared by many people
- Concern for the safety of females in this neighborhood is growing.
something that is regarded as important
- The high inflation is the main concern of the country.
concern v.
to relate to (something or someone) : to be about (something or someone)
- This matter doesn't concern me at all.
skeptical adj.
/ˈskɛptɪkəl/
having or expressing doubt about something (such as a claim or statement)
- Many people are skeptical about the new tax policy.
- The critics' skeptical reviews of the restaurant affected its business.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151208baa0a80fffd962161aa27cba758fec6820fde9de7492849ac4a46f3fe6aed121bd5.wma
Nanoparticles of sun-blocking chemicals, when added to fabric, protect it from the sun. The tiny particles scatter the sun's ultraviolet rays, so the person and the garment are safe from the sun.
Antistatic particles
Static electricity can cause clothes to cling, but adding nanoparticles that conduct electricity to the material can prevent static. Nanotechnology is giving clothing manufactures a whole new world of fabrics to work with, resulting in high-tech clothing that previously was found only in science fiction. Some speculate that as more companies use nano-enhanced material, clothing will never be the same again.
Concerns
People like Natalie von Goetz from the Swiss University ETH Zurich are a bit skeptical about the use of nanotechnology in clothing. She explains, "We tested whether nanoparticles are released into sweat under laboratory conditions, because if they are, they might be taken up by the skin." This means that the nanoparticles form clothing could enter the body. Goetz and others feel that more research into potential dangers needs to be carried out. Otherwise, some will be unwilling to take the risk even though the clothing is cool.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Carry Out 執行
What verb can we use with the noun research? Well, there’s always “do”.
But, to say, do research is very informal. You might be telling your friends that you’re doing some kind of research but in professional settings like in an interview, on a resume or introducing a speaker at a symposium we might want to consider using the verb “conduct” or the verb phrase “carry out”.
Conduct and carry out have very similar meanings. But carryout has the added connotation of completing or accomplishing a task.
Right, if research was carried out, it was done, it was completed. Whereas conduct most often means to perform, completion is beside the point.
Of course, there’s always the verb research, a more direct way to say, Dr. Smith conducts research on marine mammals is Dr. Smith researches marine mammals.
Now, carry out has another meaning we should be aware of, when you order food at a restaurant, instead of eating it inside the restaurant, you can take the food away, that’s called carry out. In this usage, carry out is just another expression for “take out” or “to go”.
Language Lab
cling v. [clings; clung /ˈklʌŋ/ ; clinging]
to stick to something or someone
- We got all wet in the rain, and our clothes clung to us.
to hold onto something or someone very tightly
— usually + to or onto
- The politician clung to the power and money behind his position.
speculate v.
/ˈspɛkjəˌleɪt/
to think about something and make guesses about it : to form ideas or theories about something usually when there are many things not known about it
- Many reporters speculated that the resignation of the mayor was forced.
speculation n.
ideas or guesses about something that is not known
- There is a lot of speculation about the change in cabinet members.
有不少內革成員的改組的意願之深
concern n.
a feeling of worry usually shared by many people
- Concern for the safety of females in this neighborhood is growing.
something that is regarded as important
- The high inflation is the main concern of the country.
concern v.
to relate to (something or someone) : to be about (something or someone)
- This matter doesn't concern me at all.
skeptical adj.
/ˈskɛptɪkəl/
having or expressing doubt about something (such as a claim or statement)
- Many people are skeptical about the new tax policy.
- The critics' skeptical reviews of the restaurant affected its business.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151208baa0a80fffd962161aa27cba758fec6820fde9de7492849ac4a46f3fe6aed121bd5.wma
Monday, December 7, 2015
The Clothing of the Future is Here (1)
Nanotechnology is changing clothing as we know it
Imagine odorless socks and clothes that respond to the climate. Or what about clothing that washes itself? Sound impossible? Well, futuristic clothing like this is here.
Why nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology has been used in clothing since 1998. And recently, more and more companies have started incorporating nano-enhanced properties into their clothing. Why? The increasing demand for more sophisticated clothing is the driving factor behind using nanotechnology in fabrics.
What's it all about?
Nanotechnology involves adding nanoparticles to fabric. When they add them to material, manufacturers move around the atoms and molecules, which changes the characteristics of the fabric. As a result, clothes using nanotechnology have special features like UV protection, wrinkle resistance and more.
Antibacterial fabrics
Manufacturers are also adding silver nanoparticles to clothing. Why? They kill bacteria that cause clothes to become smelly. In addition, they help the clothes stay soft and last longer.
Silica for water and stain resistance
Some companies are adding nanoparticles of silica into the weave of the fabric. Others are spraying the surface of the material with silica nanoparticles. Both techniques create a waterproof coating that prevents stains.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Climate vs. Weather 教學主題: 氣候與天氣的差別
Many people use climate and weather interchangeably, but there are some differences between these two terms.
The main difference is time; weather is used to refer to the state of the atmosphere and region at the specific point in time, whereas climate is measured over a long period.
And how long, is a long period? Maybe around 30 years, that’s the link of time the US National Weather Service set for researchers to come up with the climate of a given region.
Weather, in contrast, is short term day to day, real time.
If you’re talking to someone faraway on the telephone, you might ask the person, “Hey how’s the weather over there?” meaning the atmosphere or the condition where the person is at that moment.
And you may get the response, “it’s nice and sunny out or it’s pouring.”
But if you’re thinking about moving to a place faraway, you might want to first ask a local resident how’s the climate over there?
And the person might reply “in the winter you can expect to be cold and snowy, and in the summer breathy and mild”.
Right, and here’s a good way to remember the difference between climate and weather. Climate helps you decide what clothes to buy, weather helps you decide what clothes to wear.
Language Lab
enhance v.
to increase or improve (something)
- The charity campaign enhanced the reputation of the enterprise.
- After the coach changed his strategy, the team's performance was greatly enhanced.
sophisticated adj.
having or showing a lot of experience and knowledge about the world and about culture, art, literature, etc.;
attractive to fashionable or sophisticated people
- The bride's wearing a beautiful and sophisticated wedding gown.
- Helen Mirren plays a sophisticated lady in the movie.
highly developed and complex
- a sophisticated security system
antibacterial adj.
able to kill bacteria
- antibacterial hand gel
- antibacterial soaps
antistatic adj.
- antistatic hairbrush
waterproof adj.
designed to prevent water from entering or passing through
- waterproof jacket
resistant adj.
opposed to something : wanting to prevent something from happening — usually + to
- People are often resistant to change.
- water-resistant cloth
- a water-resistant watch
driving factor
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151207baa5d6bfbc551e8f56c5ba5143afce9f2f6edbd299e5de67c07fc6cae564ffa01a7.wma
Imagine odorless socks and clothes that respond to the climate. Or what about clothing that washes itself? Sound impossible? Well, futuristic clothing like this is here.
Why nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology has been used in clothing since 1998. And recently, more and more companies have started incorporating nano-enhanced properties into their clothing. Why? The increasing demand for more sophisticated clothing is the driving factor behind using nanotechnology in fabrics.
What's it all about?
Nanotechnology involves adding nanoparticles to fabric. When they add them to material, manufacturers move around the atoms and molecules, which changes the characteristics of the fabric. As a result, clothes using nanotechnology have special features like UV protection, wrinkle resistance and more.
Antibacterial fabrics
Manufacturers are also adding silver nanoparticles to clothing. Why? They kill bacteria that cause clothes to become smelly. In addition, they help the clothes stay soft and last longer.
Silica for water and stain resistance
Some companies are adding nanoparticles of silica into the weave of the fabric. Others are spraying the surface of the material with silica nanoparticles. Both techniques create a waterproof coating that prevents stains.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Climate vs. Weather 教學主題: 氣候與天氣的差別
Many people use climate and weather interchangeably, but there are some differences between these two terms.
The main difference is time; weather is used to refer to the state of the atmosphere and region at the specific point in time, whereas climate is measured over a long period.
And how long, is a long period? Maybe around 30 years, that’s the link of time the US National Weather Service set for researchers to come up with the climate of a given region.
Weather, in contrast, is short term day to day, real time.
If you’re talking to someone faraway on the telephone, you might ask the person, “Hey how’s the weather over there?” meaning the atmosphere or the condition where the person is at that moment.
And you may get the response, “it’s nice and sunny out or it’s pouring.”
But if you’re thinking about moving to a place faraway, you might want to first ask a local resident how’s the climate over there?
And the person might reply “in the winter you can expect to be cold and snowy, and in the summer breathy and mild”.
Right, and here’s a good way to remember the difference between climate and weather. Climate helps you decide what clothes to buy, weather helps you decide what clothes to wear.
Language Lab
enhance v.
to increase or improve (something)
- The charity campaign enhanced the reputation of the enterprise.
- After the coach changed his strategy, the team's performance was greatly enhanced.
sophisticated adj.
having or showing a lot of experience and knowledge about the world and about culture, art, literature, etc.;
attractive to fashionable or sophisticated people
- The bride's wearing a beautiful and sophisticated wedding gown.
- Helen Mirren plays a sophisticated lady in the movie.
highly developed and complex
- a sophisticated security system
antibacterial adj.
able to kill bacteria
- antibacterial hand gel
- antibacterial soaps
antistatic adj.
- antistatic hairbrush
waterproof adj.
designed to prevent water from entering or passing through
- waterproof jacket
resistant adj.
opposed to something : wanting to prevent something from happening — usually + to
- People are often resistant to change.
- water-resistant cloth
- a water-resistant watch
driving factor
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151207baa5d6bfbc551e8f56c5ba5143afce9f2f6edbd299e5de67c07fc6cae564ffa01a7.wma
Monday, November 30, 2015
The Nerdalize E-radiator
A few nerds cutting a lot of costs
When their thermostat stopped working, and they crowded around a computer for warmth, some Dutch startup founders were inspired.
Nerdalize does double duty
Nerdalize, a young Dutch company, hires out the computing power of its servers to groups in need of research calculations. But don’t look for the servers within Nerdalize headquarters – they are spread around private homes providing free heat! These sleek servers are hung on the wall, silently giving off heat produced while running numbers, perhaps for medical research. The cost of any energy used by these “e-radiators” is even covered by Nerdalize.
Everyone wins
Nerdalize heaters present a benefit to home owners with a cheaper heating bill, but the company insists they are a win for all involved. While some companies have their own data center, Nerdalize claims its clients pay 55 percent less per computing job.
Nerdalize itself avoids expenses to cool their servers, and the whole process serves the environment by using the same energy to compute and to heat. Though Nerdalize’s e-radiators are currently in a trial phase in only five homes, their startup and energy provider partner Eneco is hopeful of success and expansion.
Info Cloud
Hello, friends! What do you call the place you live in? Is it a house or a home?
Well, most people live in houses, but they don’t all live in a home, which is a place one is attached to emotionally.
In America, the word home has been turned into a euphemism. Realtors no longer sell houses instead they sell more cozy homes does making a house more attractive to potential buyers.
And once someone buys a house, he or she becomes a home owner.
Other examples of home used as a euphemism can be found in retirement home or nursing home, these are not really homes in the traditional sense. A retirement home is really retirement setter. A nursing home is basically a nursing hospital for the elderly, but the word home is used to make these places sound more like warm places and therefore more attractive to people.
And when Christmas comes around many people go home for Christmas, they go back to where their family is.
Right. Have you notice we say home sweet home, and not house sweet house?
Yes, you know when I have guests over, I always say to them make yourself at home, in other words, deal free to act just as you would in your own home, even if that means putting your feet up on the coffee table or helping yourself to whatever is in your refrigerator.
Language Lab
radiator n.
/ˈreɪdiˌeɪtɚ/
a large, metal device that is next to the wall in a room and that becomes hot and provides heat for the room when hot water passes through it
- Each hotel room is equipped with a radiator.
- The car's radiator needs to be replaced.
radiate v.
- The sun radiates heat.
startup n.
a new business
- Startups need to have people with creative ideas and a steady cash flow to survive.
- Thousands of startups have poured into the app market.
adj.
- You need a loan to cover the startup cost.
thermostat n.
/ˈθɚməˌstæt/
a device that automatically adjusts the temperature in a room to a desired level
- I set the thermostat to 68 degrees.
thermometer n.
/θɚˈmɑːmətɚ/
- an instrument used for measuring temperature
win v.
to achieve victory in a fight, contest, game, etc.
- Our team won its second state championship.
win n.
an act of achieving victory especially in a game or contest
- The football team has had nine wins in a row.
- The process of the game is actually a win for all contestants.
phase n.
/ˈfeɪz/
a part or step in a process : one part in a series of related events or actions
- The subjects' reactions to the treatment were carefully recorded during the trial phase.
- Editing is a crucial phase of movies production.
crucial adj.
/ˈkruːʃəl/
extremely important
- Eggs are a crucial [=essential] ingredient in this recipe.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151130baada925d7e5f5c9a0b715a48bc42be82d8da190b380aac18e1850fa35768a33a2c.wma
When their thermostat stopped working, and they crowded around a computer for warmth, some Dutch startup founders were inspired.
Nerdalize does double duty
Nerdalize, a young Dutch company, hires out the computing power of its servers to groups in need of research calculations. But don’t look for the servers within Nerdalize headquarters – they are spread around private homes providing free heat! These sleek servers are hung on the wall, silently giving off heat produced while running numbers, perhaps for medical research. The cost of any energy used by these “e-radiators” is even covered by Nerdalize.
Everyone wins
Nerdalize heaters present a benefit to home owners with a cheaper heating bill, but the company insists they are a win for all involved. While some companies have their own data center, Nerdalize claims its clients pay 55 percent less per computing job.
Nerdalize itself avoids expenses to cool their servers, and the whole process serves the environment by using the same energy to compute and to heat. Though Nerdalize’s e-radiators are currently in a trial phase in only five homes, their startup and energy provider partner Eneco is hopeful of success and expansion.
Info Cloud
Hello, friends! What do you call the place you live in? Is it a house or a home?
Well, most people live in houses, but they don’t all live in a home, which is a place one is attached to emotionally.
In America, the word home has been turned into a euphemism. Realtors no longer sell houses instead they sell more cozy homes does making a house more attractive to potential buyers.
And once someone buys a house, he or she becomes a home owner.
Other examples of home used as a euphemism can be found in retirement home or nursing home, these are not really homes in the traditional sense. A retirement home is really retirement setter. A nursing home is basically a nursing hospital for the elderly, but the word home is used to make these places sound more like warm places and therefore more attractive to people.
And when Christmas comes around many people go home for Christmas, they go back to where their family is.
Right. Have you notice we say home sweet home, and not house sweet house?
Yes, you know when I have guests over, I always say to them make yourself at home, in other words, deal free to act just as you would in your own home, even if that means putting your feet up on the coffee table or helping yourself to whatever is in your refrigerator.
Language Lab
radiator n.
/ˈreɪdiˌeɪtɚ/
a large, metal device that is next to the wall in a room and that becomes hot and provides heat for the room when hot water passes through it
- Each hotel room is equipped with a radiator.
- The car's radiator needs to be replaced.
radiate v.
- The sun radiates heat.
startup n.
a new business
- Startups need to have people with creative ideas and a steady cash flow to survive.
- Thousands of startups have poured into the app market.
adj.
- You need a loan to cover the startup cost.
thermostat n.
/ˈθɚməˌstæt/
a device that automatically adjusts the temperature in a room to a desired level
- I set the thermostat to 68 degrees.
thermometer n.
/θɚˈmɑːmətɚ/
- an instrument used for measuring temperature
win v.
to achieve victory in a fight, contest, game, etc.
- Our team won its second state championship.
win n.
an act of achieving victory especially in a game or contest
- The football team has had nine wins in a row.
- The process of the game is actually a win for all contestants.
phase n.
/ˈfeɪz/
a part or step in a process : one part in a series of related events or actions
- The subjects' reactions to the treatment were carefully recorded during the trial phase.
- Editing is a crucial phase of movies production.
crucial adj.
/ˈkruːʃəl/
extremely important
- Eggs are a crucial [=essential] ingredient in this recipe.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20151130baada925d7e5f5c9a0b715a48bc42be82d8da190b380aac18e1850fa35768a33a2c.wma
Sunday, November 1, 2015
[Advanced] Pass Codes You Can’t Forget (2014-11-01)
Are user-friendly passwords on the horizon?
Imagine a whole new type of password -- one that lets you dispense with all those numbers, letters and symbols, but is still impenetrable to attackers.
Researchers have created a new password system that could one day allow users to access their bank accounts, phones or favorite websites simply by picking out a familiar face from a grid of nine faces, four times in a row.
They call the system Facelock, and according to a new study, it is teeming with benefits.
Facial Recognition
[With] Facelock, the images in the system are always changing -- even the image of the familiar face.
The research team explains that people do not recognize all faces equally. We have no trouble identifying a familiar face across a series of different images that range in quality. On the other hand, when a face is not familiar to us, we are likely to think that different images of the same person are actually images of different people.
This well-studied psychological phenomenon can be frustrating to police when they ask a witness to identify a person caught in a fuzzy security camera tape, but in the case of Facelock, the researchers were able to exploit it for the good of frustrated password users.
The Success Rate
The researchers looked at how vulnerable the Facelock system is to attack by strangers, as well as people who are close to the users, such as a spouse or other family member.
Facelock was found to be essentially impermeable to people who don't know the users. Even people who were very close to the users were only able to get through all four grids successfully 6.6% of the time.
"Taken together the success rates of account holders (97.5 percent), random zero-acquaintance attackers (less than 1 percent), and nominated high-acquaintance attackers (6.6 percent) strike us as a promising starting point," the researchers [wrote].
Specialized Terms
grid n.
a pattern of horizontal and vertical lines that cross each other to make a set of squares
impermeable adj.
/ɪmˈpɚmijəbəl/
not allowing entrance or passage
Vocabulary Focus
on the horizon (idiom)
likely to happen or exist soon
dispense with (something) (phr v)
to get rid of or stop using something that you do not need
impenetrable adj.
/ɪmˈpɛnətrəbəl/
impossible to enter or go through
penetrable adj.
allowing someone or something to pass through or enter : able to be penetrated
- an easily penetrable border
teem with (something) (phr v)
to contain a large amount of something
exploit v.
/ɪkˈsploɪt/
to use or develop something for your advantage
vulnerable adj.
easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally
- a vulnerable young woman
- He was very vulnerable after his divorce.
acquaintance n.
/əˈkweɪntn̩s/
someone who is known but who is not a close friend
- Is he an acquaintance of yours? [=have you met him?]
- She ran into an old acquaintance at the grocery store.
- My wife and I met through a mutual acquaintance. [=a friend introduced us to each other]
the state of knowing someone in a personal or social way : the state of knowing someone as an acquaintance
- It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. [=(less formally) it's nice to meet you]
Imagine a whole new type of password -- one that lets you dispense with all those numbers, letters and symbols, but is still impenetrable to attackers.
Researchers have created a new password system that could one day allow users to access their bank accounts, phones or favorite websites simply by picking out a familiar face from a grid of nine faces, four times in a row.
They call the system Facelock, and according to a new study, it is teeming with benefits.
Facial Recognition
[With] Facelock, the images in the system are always changing -- even the image of the familiar face.
The research team explains that people do not recognize all faces equally. We have no trouble identifying a familiar face across a series of different images that range in quality. On the other hand, when a face is not familiar to us, we are likely to think that different images of the same person are actually images of different people.
This well-studied psychological phenomenon can be frustrating to police when they ask a witness to identify a person caught in a fuzzy security camera tape, but in the case of Facelock, the researchers were able to exploit it for the good of frustrated password users.
The Success Rate
The researchers looked at how vulnerable the Facelock system is to attack by strangers, as well as people who are close to the users, such as a spouse or other family member.
Facelock was found to be essentially impermeable to people who don't know the users. Even people who were very close to the users were only able to get through all four grids successfully 6.6% of the time.
"Taken together the success rates of account holders (97.5 percent), random zero-acquaintance attackers (less than 1 percent), and nominated high-acquaintance attackers (6.6 percent) strike us as a promising starting point," the researchers [wrote].
Specialized Terms
grid n.
a pattern of horizontal and vertical lines that cross each other to make a set of squares
impermeable adj.
/ɪmˈpɚmijəbəl/
not allowing entrance or passage
Vocabulary Focus
on the horizon (idiom)
likely to happen or exist soon
dispense with (something) (phr v)
to get rid of or stop using something that you do not need
impenetrable adj.
/ɪmˈpɛnətrəbəl/
impossible to enter or go through
penetrable adj.
allowing someone or something to pass through or enter : able to be penetrated
- an easily penetrable border
teem with (something) (phr v)
to contain a large amount of something
exploit v.
/ɪkˈsploɪt/
to use or develop something for your advantage
vulnerable adj.
easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally
- a vulnerable young woman
- He was very vulnerable after his divorce.
acquaintance n.
/əˈkweɪntn̩s/
someone who is known but who is not a close friend
- Is he an acquaintance of yours? [=have you met him?]
- She ran into an old acquaintance at the grocery store.
- My wife and I met through a mutual acquaintance. [=a friend introduced us to each other]
the state of knowing someone in a personal or social way : the state of knowing someone as an acquaintance
- It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. [=(less formally) it's nice to meet you]
Monday, August 10, 2015
2015-08-10 Limbitless Solutions Gives Kids a Hand
- Limbitless Solutions
- Albert Manero
- The Collective Project
Students chase their ideas for hope
For Christmas last year, 6-year-old Alex Pring received a gift. He called it a "robo-arm." But it was no toy. It was a bionic limb to be used over Alex's underdeveloped right arm.
Albert Manero
Engineering student Albert Manero designed the arm, which moves by electrical muscle commands. The design was then produced by a 3-D printer for about $350. Compared to the $40,000 spent on similar items, this design is an important development.
Manero believes "no one should profit from a child in need of an arm." He and his volunteer group, Limbitless Solutions, funded the arm with their "coffee money." The group is building a variety of different arm designs, including Alex's Transformers arm.
The Collective Project
Manero's team has been featured by The Collective Project, supported by Microsoft's note-taking app, OneNote. This project features students contributing hope to the world with their ideas. Last year's International Children's Peace Prize winner, Neha Gupta, puts their desire into words. She said, "Throw your heart out in front of you and run ahead to catch it."
Editor's Summay
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Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: How to Write “No One”教學主題: No One 的寫法
.
Language Lab
bionic adj.
/baɪˈɑːnɪk/
made stronger or more capable by special electronic devices — usually used figuratively a pitcher with a bionic arm [=a pitcher who throws extremely fast]
- The bionic arm can move just like a real arm.
- A new bionic eye enabled this girl to see her parents for the first time in her life.
limb n.
/ˈlɪm/ b不發音
a leg or arm
- The limbs of the dogs were injured during the fire.
- I need to stretch my cramped limbs after sitting for such a long time.
fund n.
an amount of money that is used for a special purpose
- We don't have sufficient funds to keep this program running.
fund v.
to provide money for (something)
- The school is privately funded by an international corporation.
- Tina's parents agreed to fund her college tuition.
variety n.
the quality or state of having or including many different things
- The work here is dull and lacks variety.
a number or collection of different things or people — usually + of
- The cafeteria serves a wide variety of food.
- The town has a variety of shops and restaurants.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20150810baa934bfc029052f45f46a3b93091a5bfa262e8f26aa3b516213511b34e5fae7930.wma
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
The Computer Gets Personal (2) 3/6
Meetings weren't formal but were held in a spirit of fun and discovery. The meetings were loosely divided into a few sections. One part was for sharing and discussing while another part was for giving computer demonstrations. The people in the group didn't care about making money. Their goal was to share their ideas -- and computer parts -- freely. The hoped that their efforts would make low-cost home computers a reality for average people.
Computers -- built by hand!
When the group first started, only six had built computer systems that could run. But several had placed orders for a new computer called the Altair 8800. The computer usually came as a kit that had to be built by hand. Once finished, it looked like a box with several lights and switches. There wasn't any keyboard, let alone a monitor. But the computer worked, allowing club members to develop their computer-building and programming skills.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Useful Spirit Expressions教學主題: 與Spirit相關的片語
spirit 指靈魂也有其他用法,
1. 如果一個朋友邀請你去party,
你可以說我不能去但是 I will be there in spirit. (精神與你同在)
2. team spirit 團隊精神
3. 也指氣氛 the Christmas spirit
或朋友說快點容入氣氛呀 Get into the spirit!
等你做到了, 也許你會聽到 Now that's the spirit! [通常是肯定用法, 贊同用法]
4. kindred spirit 志氣相同的人
Closer Look
let alone = not to mention
There wasn't any keyboard, let alone a monitor.
- The young child can't write his name, let alone the first three letters of the alphabet.
- Florence can't even talk, let alone sing.
Language Lab
discovery n. [dis-離開, 去掉/ cover 蓋子]
a fact or thing that someone finds
- The news of the discovery of the ancient underwater city shook the whole world.
- The doctor's discovery contributed to a major leap in modern medicine.
demonstration n.
an act of explaining and showing how to do something or how something works
- Many housewives were attracted by the wok demonstration at the mall.
demonstrate v.
to show or prove something clearly:
- The science teacher demonstrated how to mix the two chemicals.
monitor n.
a television or part of a computer with a screen, on which you can see pictures or information
- The burglars tampered with the monitors at the entrance.
- The monitor shows the patient's vital signs.
monitor v.
- Conversations among inmates are monitored by the prison guards.
programming n.
the activity of writing programs for computers, or something written by a programmer:
- The team is developing a high-level programming language.
- The class teachers the basics of computer programming.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20150306baa8c5183cc331a5674f704def8ed7dd5f46be9ce745247c7f3f2449a0f58c64bae.wma
Computers -- built by hand!
When the group first started, only six had built computer systems that could run. But several had placed orders for a new computer called the Altair 8800. The computer usually came as a kit that had to be built by hand. Once finished, it looked like a box with several lights and switches. There wasn't any keyboard, let alone a monitor. But the computer worked, allowing club members to develop their computer-building and programming skills.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Useful Spirit Expressions教學主題: 與Spirit相關的片語
spirit 指靈魂也有其他用法,
1. 如果一個朋友邀請你去party,
你可以說我不能去但是 I will be there in spirit. (精神與你同在)
2. team spirit 團隊精神
3. 也指氣氛 the Christmas spirit
或朋友說快點容入氣氛呀 Get into the spirit!
等你做到了, 也許你會聽到 Now that's the spirit! [通常是肯定用法, 贊同用法]
4. kindred spirit 志氣相同的人
Closer Look
let alone = not to mention
There wasn't any keyboard, let alone a monitor.
- The young child can't write his name, let alone the first three letters of the alphabet.
- Florence can't even talk, let alone sing.
Language Lab
discovery n. [dis-離開, 去掉/ cover 蓋子]
a fact or thing that someone finds
- The news of the discovery of the ancient underwater city shook the whole world.
- The doctor's discovery contributed to a major leap in modern medicine.
demonstration n.
an act of explaining and showing how to do something or how something works
- Many housewives were attracted by the wok demonstration at the mall.
demonstrate v.
to show or prove something clearly:
- The science teacher demonstrated how to mix the two chemicals.
monitor n.
a television or part of a computer with a screen, on which you can see pictures or information
- The burglars tampered with the monitors at the entrance.
- The monitor shows the patient's vital signs.
monitor v.
- Conversations among inmates are monitored by the prison guards.
programming n.
the activity of writing programs for computers, or something written by a programmer:
- The team is developing a high-level programming language.
- The class teachers the basics of computer programming.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20150306baa8c5183cc331a5674f704def8ed7dd5f46be9ce745247c7f3f2449a0f58c64bae.wma
Friday, October 17, 2014
Virtual Reality (2)
The applications
Potential uses for this kind of virtual reality are both fun and practical. Full-immersion video games would make the player's experience more realistic and exciting.
Virtual reality can also be used in education. Astronomy students, for example, could explore 3-D models of outer space. Medical students could study the human body and even practice surgery using digital models. This would let them improve their skills without endangering real patients.
Doctors might use virtual reality to guide robots to perform surgery. This could make the surgery both faster and safer. Doctors could even perform surgery from a different location.
Ordinary people's ideas may also change because of virtual reality. Participants in one study played a virtual-reality game being represented by an image of a person of a different race. The studies suggested that this experience reduced prejudice. This new technology reminds people that we may look different on the outside, but we are all the same inside.
As virtual-reality technology continues to develop, virtual worlds might just transform life in the real one.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Attend vs. Participate (不同的參加方式)
attend/ participate 都表示參加, 但有很大的差別
attend 指出席, 靜態被動的參加,
例如: attend class 上課, 只有坐在那裡聽課或聽演講
participate 指主動積極的參與,
例如: participate in class 除了出席之外, 還會參與討論發言
participant 參與者
attendee 參與者
attendant 服務員
Grammar Gym
As virtual-reality technology continues to develop, virtual worlds might just transform life in the real one.
Language Lab
application n.
[uncountable and countable] practical purpose for which a machine, idea etc can be used, or a situation when this is used
- This invention will have a great application in the field of biotechnology.
apply v.
[transitive] to use something such as a method, idea, or law in a particular situation, activity, or process
- During their internship, students will apply what they learned in this class in business situations.
endanger v.
to put someone or something in danger of being hurt, damaged, or destroyed:
- The security leak may endanger the safety of the president.
endangered adj.
one that soon may no longer exist
- The panda is an endangered species.
prejudice n.
an unreasonable dislike and distrust of people who are different from you in some way, especially because of their race, sex, religion etc - used to show disapproval:
prejudice against
- Helen has a deep prejudice against males because her father abandoned her.
transform v.
to completely change the appearance, form, or character of something or someone, especially in a way that improves it:
- The make-up artist successfully transformed a common girl into a supermodel.
- The warehouse was transformed into a chic studio.
chic adj.
very fashionable and expensive, and showing good judgement of what is attractive and good style
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141017baad2d02a18bc6e34f4215a83bf2e28a94da4f50121e4aa5a8889036a4cdae98179.wma
Potential uses for this kind of virtual reality are both fun and practical. Full-immersion video games would make the player's experience more realistic and exciting.
Virtual reality can also be used in education. Astronomy students, for example, could explore 3-D models of outer space. Medical students could study the human body and even practice surgery using digital models. This would let them improve their skills without endangering real patients.
Doctors might use virtual reality to guide robots to perform surgery. This could make the surgery both faster and safer. Doctors could even perform surgery from a different location.
Ordinary people's ideas may also change because of virtual reality. Participants in one study played a virtual-reality game being represented by an image of a person of a different race. The studies suggested that this experience reduced prejudice. This new technology reminds people that we may look different on the outside, but we are all the same inside.
As virtual-reality technology continues to develop, virtual worlds might just transform life in the real one.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Attend vs. Participate (不同的參加方式)
attend/ participate 都表示參加, 但有很大的差別
attend 指出席, 靜態被動的參加,
例如: attend class 上課, 只有坐在那裡聽課或聽演講
participate 指主動積極的參與,
例如: participate in class 除了出席之外, 還會參與討論發言
participant 參與者
attendee 參與者
attendant 服務員
Grammar Gym
As virtual-reality technology continues to develop, virtual worlds might just transform life in the real one.
As [something] continues to [verb 1], [something] might just [verb 2].
- As Sarah continues to treat her rude neighbors kindly, her neighbors might just learn to respect her.
- As the church continues to clean the neighborhood every weekend, the rest of the community might just follow along and do the same thing.
Language Lab
application n.
[uncountable and countable] practical purpose for which a machine, idea etc can be used, or a situation when this is used
- This invention will have a great application in the field of biotechnology.
apply v.
[transitive] to use something such as a method, idea, or law in a particular situation, activity, or process
- During their internship, students will apply what they learned in this class in business situations.
endanger v.
to put someone or something in danger of being hurt, damaged, or destroyed:
- The security leak may endanger the safety of the president.
endangered adj.
one that soon may no longer exist
- The panda is an endangered species.
prejudice n.
an unreasonable dislike and distrust of people who are different from you in some way, especially because of their race, sex, religion etc - used to show disapproval:
prejudice against
- Helen has a deep prejudice against males because her father abandoned her.
transform v.
to completely change the appearance, form, or character of something or someone, especially in a way that improves it:
- The make-up artist successfully transformed a common girl into a supermodel.
- The warehouse was transformed into a chic studio.
chic adj.
very fashionable and expensive, and showing good judgement of what is attractive and good style
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141017baad2d02a18bc6e34f4215a83bf2e28a94da4f50121e4aa5a8889036a4cdae98179.wma
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Virtual Reality (1)
Creating new worlds with technology
虛擬實境應用無限寬廣 以科技創造新世界
Technology companies are working around the clock. Their goal: to use computers to create a 3-D environment that people can interact with. Virtual reality is working to let people go deeper and deeper into a world that exists only inside a computer.
The display
For users to be fully immersed in this virtual world, watching it on a screen is not enough. The virtual world must be all they see. To make that happen, companies are developing virtual-reality headsets with two screens, one in front of each eye. The screens display slightly different pictures, which makes objects appear in 3-D.
The input
Companies have developed several systems to let users influence the different virtual worlds they create. Some controllers resemble the ones used for video games. Others called data gloves detect hand motions, letting people interact naturally with the virtual environment.
One company, Motion Analysis, developed a suit with markers that let off light, allowing nearby cameras to track the wearer's motions. The cameras create a computer model of the person, which copies the user's motions in the virtual world.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Around the Clock, 24/7 (日以繼夜)
1. around the clock 日夜不停, 持續不斷的在做
2. 24/7 也指日以繼夜, 但比 around the clock 還要口語
Grammar Gym
For users to be fully immersed in this virtual world, watching it on a screen is not enough. The virtual world must be all they see.
For [someone] to be [involved in a situation], [verb 1-ing] is not enough. [Something else] must be [happening].
- For a student to be accepted by this university, getting good grades is not enough. The student must be involved in a wide variety of activities or clubs.
- For a person to be given a job in this company, just passing one interview is not enough. All candidates must be interviewed three times.
Language Lab
interact v.
if people interact with each other, they talk to each other, work together etc
- The class was designed for students to interact in English in a natural surrounding.
interaction n.
a process by which two or more things affect each other
- The interaction between the actors and the audience was fun.
immerse v.
to put someone or something deep into a liquid so that they are completely covered
- Immerse the cloth in the dye completely for two hours.
- The playwright immersed herself in stories of medieval times when she was writing the script.
input n.
information that is put into a computer
- The computer system can't handle that much input at one time.
- Jackson didn't have much input regarding this project.
output n.
the information produced by a computer
- We'll check the output after running the software to make the necessary improvements.
resemble v.
to look like or be similar to someone or something:
- This piece of art resembles one I saw in Chicago last week.
resemblance n.
if there is a resemblance between two people or things, they are similar, especially in the way they look [similarity]
- There's a striking resemblance between the two sisters.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141016baa26d992b43ac21db5e634118373ec7171dac4d8779b30d5f11ba1096f59f607eb.wma
虛擬實境應用無限寬廣 以科技創造新世界
Technology companies are working around the clock. Their goal: to use computers to create a 3-D environment that people can interact with. Virtual reality is working to let people go deeper and deeper into a world that exists only inside a computer.
The display
For users to be fully immersed in this virtual world, watching it on a screen is not enough. The virtual world must be all they see. To make that happen, companies are developing virtual-reality headsets with two screens, one in front of each eye. The screens display slightly different pictures, which makes objects appear in 3-D.
The input
Companies have developed several systems to let users influence the different virtual worlds they create. Some controllers resemble the ones used for video games. Others called data gloves detect hand motions, letting people interact naturally with the virtual environment.
One company, Motion Analysis, developed a suit with markers that let off light, allowing nearby cameras to track the wearer's motions. The cameras create a computer model of the person, which copies the user's motions in the virtual world.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Around the Clock, 24/7 (日以繼夜)
1. around the clock 日夜不停, 持續不斷的在做
2. 24/7 也指日以繼夜, 但比 around the clock 還要口語
Grammar Gym
For users to be fully immersed in this virtual world, watching it on a screen is not enough. The virtual world must be all they see.
For [someone] to be [involved in a situation], [verb 1-ing] is not enough. [Something else] must be [happening].
- For a student to be accepted by this university, getting good grades is not enough. The student must be involved in a wide variety of activities or clubs.
- For a person to be given a job in this company, just passing one interview is not enough. All candidates must be interviewed three times.
Language Lab
interact v.
if people interact with each other, they talk to each other, work together etc
- The class was designed for students to interact in English in a natural surrounding.
interaction n.
a process by which two or more things affect each other
- The interaction between the actors and the audience was fun.
immerse v.
to put someone or something deep into a liquid so that they are completely covered
- Immerse the cloth in the dye completely for two hours.
- The playwright immersed herself in stories of medieval times when she was writing the script.
input n.
information that is put into a computer
- The computer system can't handle that much input at one time.
- Jackson didn't have much input regarding this project.
output n.
the information produced by a computer
- We'll check the output after running the software to make the necessary improvements.
resemble v.
to look like or be similar to someone or something:
- This piece of art resembles one I saw in Chicago last week.
resemblance n.
if there is a resemblance between two people or things, they are similar, especially in the way they look [similarity]
- There's a striking resemblance between the two sisters.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20141016baa26d992b43ac21db5e634118373ec7171dac4d8779b30d5f11ba1096f59f607eb.wma
Saturday, September 13, 2014
It’s All Connected! (2)
Some Fears
Some critics fear that the IoT could end up being a fad that people lose interest in over time. Having Twitter feeds on refrigerator doors may sound cool at first, but the attraction could fade as quickly as the excitement over last year's smartphone! Other critics are doubtful that companies making Internet-connected appliances will provide long-term software updates. If that happens, a refrigerator or washing machine that should last 10 years or more could last two or three due to software that's outdated.
A Positive Example
Early this year, owners of the Tesla Model S electric car received a recall notice alerting them to a charger plug needing to be fixed. Amazingly, owners of the Model S sat back while the company performed an "over the air" wireless update. Customers confirmed the update by tapping on the car's touchscreen console to see that the Model S was running the latest software version. No trip to the dealer was required!
Perhaps Tesla's remote fix is a sign of things to come. Someday soon, people's lives might become a lot more efficient and convenient thanks to the IoT.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Suprafixed Verbs 超音綴
超音綴
英文裡頭有很多動詞是可以當名詞或形容詞用的,
但是要注意同一個字詞性不一樣時發音也會不一樣,
例如: record, permit, present, perfect
Grammar Gym
Having Twitter feeds on refrigerator doors may sound cool at first, but the attraction could fade as quickly as the excitement over last year's smartphone!
[Something] may sound [adjective] at first, but the attraction could [verb] as quickly as [situation].
Language Lab
fad n.
something that people like or do for a short time, or that is fashionable for a short time:
- Johnson's interest in piano is only a passing fad.
- There was a fad of people wearing neon-colored clothes a few years ago.
feed v.
feed on something phrasal verb
if an animal feeds on a particular food, it usually eats that food:
- Squirrels feed on nuts.
- Sheep feed on grass or plants.
feed on 以某個東西為能源
if a feeling or process feeds on something, it becomes stronger because of it:
- The device feeds on computers.
wireless adj.
not using wires to send and receive electronic signals: sending and receiving electronic signals by using radio waves
- a wireless telephone
- Wireless networking makes communication easier and faster than before.
- The singer used her own wireless microphone.
console n.
a flat board that contains the controls for a machine, piece of electrical equipment, computer etc
- You can control the air conditioning, audio systems and central locks from the car's console panel.
console v.
to make someone feel better when they are feeling sad or disappointed
- I tried to console the little girl with some candy, but didn't succeed.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140913baa33cc6e4d3844d8dfae89f29dc52f1265f416154e842e649c5858ec167ee1a3b1.wma
Some critics fear that the IoT could end up being a fad that people lose interest in over time. Having Twitter feeds on refrigerator doors may sound cool at first, but the attraction could fade as quickly as the excitement over last year's smartphone! Other critics are doubtful that companies making Internet-connected appliances will provide long-term software updates. If that happens, a refrigerator or washing machine that should last 10 years or more could last two or three due to software that's outdated.
A Positive Example
Early this year, owners of the Tesla Model S electric car received a recall notice alerting them to a charger plug needing to be fixed. Amazingly, owners of the Model S sat back while the company performed an "over the air" wireless update. Customers confirmed the update by tapping on the car's touchscreen console to see that the Model S was running the latest software version. No trip to the dealer was required!
Perhaps Tesla's remote fix is a sign of things to come. Someday soon, people's lives might become a lot more efficient and convenient thanks to the IoT.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Suprafixed Verbs 超音綴
超音綴
英文裡頭有很多動詞是可以當名詞或形容詞用的,
但是要注意同一個字詞性不一樣時發音也會不一樣,
例如: record, permit, present, perfect
Grammar Gym
Having Twitter feeds on refrigerator doors may sound cool at first, but the attraction could fade as quickly as the excitement over last year's smartphone!
[Something] may sound [adjective] at first, but the attraction could [verb] as quickly as [situation].
- Riding in an old wagon may sound fun at first, but the attraction could go away as quickly as a leaf in the wind.
- Being sick and staying at home may sound great at first, but the attraction could wear off as quickly as a pair of paper slippers.Language Lab
fad n.
something that people like or do for a short time, or that is fashionable for a short time:
- Johnson's interest in piano is only a passing fad.
- There was a fad of people wearing neon-colored clothes a few years ago.
feed v.
feed on something phrasal verb
if an animal feeds on a particular food, it usually eats that food:
- Squirrels feed on nuts.
- Sheep feed on grass or plants.
feed on 以某個東西為能源
if a feeling or process feeds on something, it becomes stronger because of it:
- The device feeds on computers.
wireless adj.
not using wires to send and receive electronic signals: sending and receiving electronic signals by using radio waves
- a wireless telephone
- Wireless networking makes communication easier and faster than before.
- The singer used her own wireless microphone.
console n.
a flat board that contains the controls for a machine, piece of electrical equipment, computer etc
- You can control the air conditioning, audio systems and central locks from the car's console panel.
console v.
to make someone feel better when they are feeling sad or disappointed
- I tried to console the little girl with some candy, but didn't succeed.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140913baa33cc6e4d3844d8dfae89f29dc52f1265f416154e842e649c5858ec167ee1a3b1.wma
Friday, September 12, 2014
It’s All Connected! (1)
How the Internet of Things will get everything talking to the Internet
The Internet of Things (IoT) aims to get everything and everyone talking. Attaching sensors to "things" such as cows, cars and refrigerators, and then assigning them unique IP address, allows them to "talk" to the Internet. Of course, the IoT will involve much more than a handful of sensors. Networking company Cisco estimates that 50 billion Internet-connected devices and objects will be transmitting data by 2020.
But getting back to those cows, cars and refrigerators, what types of data might they actually send? Cows might transmit their locations or physical conditions. Cars might communicate low oil levels and automatically schedule their own maintenance. And refrigerators might send owners text messages reminding them it's time to buy milk and eggs.
Specific Benefits
The IoT will allow people to track things and processes like never before. Airplane manufacturers will be able to continuously track the condition of airplane parts, allowing them to do preventive maintenance and avoid costly downtime. Consumers could install smart meters in their homes to monitor energy usage and observe energy price changes in real time. That would allow people to adjust their habits and use electrical appliances during lower-priced hours.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Clipped Words ( 截短詞)
1. app=application
/ˈæp/
app是一個單字, 要讀/ˈæp/, 不要讀成A-P-P, 他不是縮寫, 原形是application
2. gas= gasoline
3. exam=examination
4. telephone=phone
5. airplane=plane
6. refrigerator= fridge
7. influenza=flu
Grammar Gym
But getting back to those cows, cars and refrigerators, what types of data might they actually send?
getting back to: returning to a subject that was mentioned earlier
- I know we're busy right now, but getting back to what we were talking about an hour ago, is it possible to take tomorrow off?
- Getting back to our discussion on holiday plans, when would you like to reserve your plane tickets?
Language Lab
sensor n.
a piece of equipment used for discovering the presence of light, heat, movement etc
- The heat sensor detects all temperature changes in the lab.
- Motion sensors were connected to the light switches, so when people move around, the lights will turn on automatically.
maintenance n.
[uncountable] the repairs, painting etc that are necessary to keep something in good condition:
- My car is in the garage for routine maintenance.
- The ground staff needs to conduct maintenance checks before the airplanes take off.
maintain v.
to make something continue in the same way or at the same standard as before:
- The device helps maintain a person's heart rate.
preventive adj.
intended to stop something you do not want to happen, such as illness, from happening:
- The police took preventive measures to ensure a peaceful protest.
- The pharmaceutical company is developing many types of preventive medicine.
real time n.
deals with information as fast as it receives it:
- The viewers can watch the candidate's debate in real time.
- Umpires need to make judgments in real time.
real-time adj.
happening or shown at the speed at which a computer receives and processes information
- There's real-time language translation during each session of the conference.
umpire n.
the person who makes sure that the players obey the rules in sports such as tennis, baseball, and cricket [↪ referee]
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140912baaf1fab14723e3096f08c5de74dbd945d337e647b9c603fff23be0ee69023b0487.wma
The Internet of Things (IoT) aims to get everything and everyone talking. Attaching sensors to "things" such as cows, cars and refrigerators, and then assigning them unique IP address, allows them to "talk" to the Internet. Of course, the IoT will involve much more than a handful of sensors. Networking company Cisco estimates that 50 billion Internet-connected devices and objects will be transmitting data by 2020.
But getting back to those cows, cars and refrigerators, what types of data might they actually send? Cows might transmit their locations or physical conditions. Cars might communicate low oil levels and automatically schedule their own maintenance. And refrigerators might send owners text messages reminding them it's time to buy milk and eggs.
Specific Benefits
The IoT will allow people to track things and processes like never before. Airplane manufacturers will be able to continuously track the condition of airplane parts, allowing them to do preventive maintenance and avoid costly downtime. Consumers could install smart meters in their homes to monitor energy usage and observe energy price changes in real time. That would allow people to adjust their habits and use electrical appliances during lower-priced hours.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Clipped Words ( 截短詞)
1. app=application
/ˈæp/
app是一個單字, 要讀/ˈæp/, 不要讀成A-P-P, 他不是縮寫, 原形是application
2. gas= gasoline
3. exam=examination
4. telephone=phone
5. airplane=plane
6. refrigerator= fridge
7. influenza=flu
Grammar Gym
But getting back to those cows, cars and refrigerators, what types of data might they actually send?
getting back to: returning to a subject that was mentioned earlier
- I know we're busy right now, but getting back to what we were talking about an hour ago, is it possible to take tomorrow off?
- Getting back to our discussion on holiday plans, when would you like to reserve your plane tickets?
Language Lab
sensor n.
a piece of equipment used for discovering the presence of light, heat, movement etc
- The heat sensor detects all temperature changes in the lab.
- Motion sensors were connected to the light switches, so when people move around, the lights will turn on automatically.
maintenance n.
[uncountable] the repairs, painting etc that are necessary to keep something in good condition:
- My car is in the garage for routine maintenance.
- The ground staff needs to conduct maintenance checks before the airplanes take off.
maintain v.
to make something continue in the same way or at the same standard as before:
- The device helps maintain a person's heart rate.
preventive adj.
intended to stop something you do not want to happen, such as illness, from happening:
- The police took preventive measures to ensure a peaceful protest.
- The pharmaceutical company is developing many types of preventive medicine.
real time n.
deals with information as fast as it receives it:
- The viewers can watch the candidate's debate in real time.
- Umpires need to make judgments in real time.
real-time adj.
happening or shown at the speed at which a computer receives and processes information
- There's real-time language translation during each session of the conference.
umpire n.
the person who makes sure that the players obey the rules in sports such as tennis, baseball, and cricket [↪ referee]
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140912baaf1fab14723e3096f08c5de74dbd945d337e647b9c603fff23be0ee69023b0487.wma
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Dealing With E-waste (2)
Possible e-waste solutions
Owners can prolong the life of their gadgets by upgrading less frequently and by repairing the devices instead of replacing them. Owners might also choose to sell their old gadgets to a company like Gazelle that prepares them for resale overseas. That way, owners can earn money while preventing these devices from ending up in a garbage dump. Similarly, owners could send their used electronics to Atteor, a company that specializes in extracting the valuable metals in used gadgets.
Some waste-management experts are promoting green chemistry. Green chemistry attempts to stop e-waste by designing safer chemicals to replace the hazardous ones currently used in making electronic products.
And green chemistry aims to design products that degrade easily, as opposed to plastic ones that take hundreds of years to break down.
Another creative solution to the e-waste problem has been found in Togo, West Africa, where members of WoeLab built a 3-D printer from scraps of e-waste. And in Ghana, a company called FairPhone is making phones using recycled materials. While such creative efforts won't completely solve the e-waste problem, they do offer a ray of hope.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Language Purists and Realists (語言的純粹主義者與現實主義者)
美國的小學老師, 最愛糾正小朋友的一件事,
就是當小朋友問:
Can I go to the bathroom?
老師會反問:
I don't know. Can you?
因為嚴格的來說, 小朋友應該說:
May I go to the bathroom?
英文文法來說:
Can I ....是指我有沒有這個能力,
但一般人不會在乎正確的用法,
因為事實是語言不斷的在改變演化,
語言的 purist 力求文法語言的正確使用,
但是 realist 現實主義者, 注重可以溝通可以使用即可
Grammar Gym
And green chemistry aims to design products that degrade easily, as opposed to plastic ones that take hundreds of years to break down.
- The church's aim is to provide a safe place for kids to go to after school, as opposed to being out in the streets where it's dangerous.
Language Lab
prolong v.
to deliberately make something such as a feeling or activity last longer [= lengthen]:
- We decided to prolong our stay in Paris to enjoy the city a bit more.
- The canned food was specially processed to prolong its shelf life.
hazardous adj.
dangerous
- Passive smoking is hazardous to people's health, so it's now illegal to smoke indoors.
- Slippery roads and darkness are hazardous for driving.
hazard n.
something that may be dangerous, or cause accidents or problems
- Being overweight is a health hazard.
degrade v.
to treat someone without respect and make them lose respect for themselves:
- Jacob feels it is degrading to tell lies.
if a substance, chemical etc degrades, or if something degrades it, it changes to a simpler form
- This kind of packaging degrades easily in soil.
scrap n.
a small piece of paper, cloth etc
- I wrote down the phone number on a scrap of paper.
- The quilt was made from scraps of cloth I collected from my friends.
a small amount of information, truth etc
- I need every scrap of information to finish my news report.
ray of hope
something that provides a small amount of hope or happiness in a difficult situation
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140828baa4ea10728f100e5028289e6be459f828140db6a79d91218b86ea13fc0f7b65ee7.wma
Owners can prolong the life of their gadgets by upgrading less frequently and by repairing the devices instead of replacing them. Owners might also choose to sell their old gadgets to a company like Gazelle that prepares them for resale overseas. That way, owners can earn money while preventing these devices from ending up in a garbage dump. Similarly, owners could send their used electronics to Atteor, a company that specializes in extracting the valuable metals in used gadgets.
Some waste-management experts are promoting green chemistry. Green chemistry attempts to stop e-waste by designing safer chemicals to replace the hazardous ones currently used in making electronic products.
And green chemistry aims to design products that degrade easily, as opposed to plastic ones that take hundreds of years to break down.
Another creative solution to the e-waste problem has been found in Togo, West Africa, where members of WoeLab built a 3-D printer from scraps of e-waste. And in Ghana, a company called FairPhone is making phones using recycled materials. While such creative efforts won't completely solve the e-waste problem, they do offer a ray of hope.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Language Purists and Realists (語言的純粹主義者與現實主義者)
美國的小學老師, 最愛糾正小朋友的一件事,
就是當小朋友問:
Can I go to the bathroom?
老師會反問:
I don't know. Can you?
因為嚴格的來說, 小朋友應該說:
May I go to the bathroom?
英文文法來說:
Can I ....是指我有沒有這個能力,
但一般人不會在乎正確的用法,
因為事實是語言不斷的在改變演化,
語言的 purist 力求文法語言的正確使用,
但是 realist 現實主義者, 注重可以溝通可以使用即可
Grammar Gym
And green chemistry aims to design products that degrade easily, as opposed to plastic ones that take hundreds of years to break down.
[Subject] aims to..., as opposed to...
- Our aim is to complete this project on our own in one month, as opposed to sending it out to another company and waiting two months for them to finish.- The church's aim is to provide a safe place for kids to go to after school, as opposed to being out in the streets where it's dangerous.
Language Lab
prolong v.
to deliberately make something such as a feeling or activity last longer [= lengthen]:
- We decided to prolong our stay in Paris to enjoy the city a bit more.
- The canned food was specially processed to prolong its shelf life.
hazardous adj.
dangerous
- Passive smoking is hazardous to people's health, so it's now illegal to smoke indoors.
- Slippery roads and darkness are hazardous for driving.
hazard n.
something that may be dangerous, or cause accidents or problems
- Being overweight is a health hazard.
degrade v.
to treat someone without respect and make them lose respect for themselves:
- Jacob feels it is degrading to tell lies.
if a substance, chemical etc degrades, or if something degrades it, it changes to a simpler form
- This kind of packaging degrades easily in soil.
scrap n.
a small piece of paper, cloth etc
- I wrote down the phone number on a scrap of paper.
- The quilt was made from scraps of cloth I collected from my friends.
a small amount of information, truth etc
- I need every scrap of information to finish my news report.
ray of hope
something that provides a small amount of hope or happiness in a difficult situation
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140828baa4ea10728f100e5028289e6be459f828140db6a79d91218b86ea13fc0f7b65ee7.wma
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Dealing With E-waste (1)
Keeping used gadgets out of the garbage
Gadgets don't seem to last long these days. There's pressure to upgrade everything from TVs to computers to smartphones on a frequent basis. Having cutting-edge gadgets is fine, but the question remains: What happens to all of the old devices?
Unfortunately, a lot of them end up as e-waste, with up to 50 million tons of e-waste filling garbage dumps around the world each year. But a new industry is focusing on recycling such gadgets and offers two benefits.
First, recycling electronic gadgets keeps them out of garbage dumps. Second, new recycling techniques can extract several kinds of precious metals contained in gadgets.
The dangers of e-waste
One of the main concerns with e-waste is that most electronic devices contain toxic substances such as lead or mercury.
Computer monitors, for example, may contain around 6 percent lead by weight. If monitors are left in a dump, these substances could eventually leak into the ground or water supply. Equally troubling, large amounts of e-waste are illegally transported to Third-World countries, where poor youths risk their health to extract the precious metals found within.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: First World Problems (第一世界的問題)
Third World countries 第三世界國家, 指的是未開發的國家,
First World countries 第一世界國家, 生活水平高的國家,
現在有一個新的詞 First World problems 第一世界的問題,
指的是在第一世界好命的人所發的牢騷,
其中的問題大多都是芝麻綠豆的小事,
例如:
- Where's the remote? I had to get off the couch to change channels!
- My wallet won't close; there's too much money in it.
Grammar Gym
Having cutting-edge gadgets is fine, but the question remains: What happens to all of the old devices?
the question remains: we still haven't answered or solved this problem
- The billionaire's sons will inherit his money, but the question remains: Who will take over the billionaire's company?
- The lab results show that the man's death was not an accident, but the question remains: Who killed him?
Language Lab
upgrade v.
to make a computer, machine, or piece of software better and able to do more things;
to give someone a better seat on a plane or a better room in a hotel than the one they paid for
- The bank's computer system needs to be upgraded for better security.
- The airline upgraded my seat from economy to business class free of charge.
extract v.
to carefully remove a substance from something which contains it, using a machine, chemical process etc
- The oil was extracted from premium olives in Spain.
- The traditional ways of extracting coal are no longer used.
toxic adj.
- Lots of toxic waste was found in this rural area.
- These workers were unknowingly exposed to toxic substances over a long period of time.
illegally adv.
- Jim was accused of illegally accessing confidential data.
legal
- This house legally belongs to me.
illegal adj.
- It's illegal to sublet your apartment. You must get permission from your landlord.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140827baa0f67dd170029756bcd456376beecde056d64ec75389fc1e57fd89ccea2dff514.wma
Gadgets don't seem to last long these days. There's pressure to upgrade everything from TVs to computers to smartphones on a frequent basis. Having cutting-edge gadgets is fine, but the question remains: What happens to all of the old devices?
Unfortunately, a lot of them end up as e-waste, with up to 50 million tons of e-waste filling garbage dumps around the world each year. But a new industry is focusing on recycling such gadgets and offers two benefits.
First, recycling electronic gadgets keeps them out of garbage dumps. Second, new recycling techniques can extract several kinds of precious metals contained in gadgets.
The dangers of e-waste
One of the main concerns with e-waste is that most electronic devices contain toxic substances such as lead or mercury.
Computer monitors, for example, may contain around 6 percent lead by weight. If monitors are left in a dump, these substances could eventually leak into the ground or water supply. Equally troubling, large amounts of e-waste are illegally transported to Third-World countries, where poor youths risk their health to extract the precious metals found within.
Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: First World Problems (第一世界的問題)
Third World countries 第三世界國家, 指的是未開發的國家,
First World countries 第一世界國家, 生活水平高的國家,
現在有一個新的詞 First World problems 第一世界的問題,
指的是在第一世界好命的人所發的牢騷,
其中的問題大多都是芝麻綠豆的小事,
例如:
- Where's the remote? I had to get off the couch to change channels!
- My wallet won't close; there's too much money in it.
Grammar Gym
Having cutting-edge gadgets is fine, but the question remains: What happens to all of the old devices?
the question remains: we still haven't answered or solved this problem
- The billionaire's sons will inherit his money, but the question remains: Who will take over the billionaire's company?
- The lab results show that the man's death was not an accident, but the question remains: Who killed him?
Language Lab
upgrade v.
to make a computer, machine, or piece of software better and able to do more things;
to give someone a better seat on a plane or a better room in a hotel than the one they paid for
- The bank's computer system needs to be upgraded for better security.
- The airline upgraded my seat from economy to business class free of charge.
extract v.
to carefully remove a substance from something which contains it, using a machine, chemical process etc
- The oil was extracted from premium olives in Spain.
- The traditional ways of extracting coal are no longer used.
toxic adj.
- Lots of toxic waste was found in this rural area.
- These workers were unknowingly exposed to toxic substances over a long period of time.
illegally adv.
- Jim was accused of illegally accessing confidential data.
legal
- This house legally belongs to me.
illegal adj.
- It's illegal to sublet your apartment. You must get permission from your landlord.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140827baa0f67dd170029756bcd456376beecde056d64ec75389fc1e57fd89ccea2dff514.wma
Saturday, August 2, 2014
[Advanced] Wise Words From a Tech Expert (2)
Q: You tend to like Apple’s products and their simplicity. Is anyone doing it like them?
A: Microsoft's Windows Phone OS is very nice, very simple, uncluttered. This idea of simple and polished is everywhere in the industry right now. The winner is not the guy who invents the product, the winner is the guy who polishes it.
Q: You suggested there’s a gap between the way adults and kids are using technology – what is causing that?
A: It’s always having a screen with you and always being online. Those are two things society never had before. For the under 18-year-olds, they’ve never known a world without the Internet. The ones who are 10 have never known a world without a screen you can pick up and hold in your lap.
Q: What do you think is going to be big this century?
A: Nobody can predict what’s going to be the next hit. The only one who ever knew that is Steve Jobs. I can definitely point to the areas where I feel like we’re just at the beginning of the road. You look at ‘big data’ being collected by the big companies. If somebody could find a way to take all the data about what we eat, what medicines we take and where we live and our genetic biology, [we could] figure out disease. The data is sitting there, it just has yet to be parsed.
Q: Does there need to be a more cautious approach to new technology adoption?
A: Society course corrects. Whatever gets out of whack, we swing back. Privacy – the NSA thing – we realized we were going off the tracks and now we’re going to fix it. The tendency to predict the doom of society because of new technology goes back forever. It’s unknown and therefore frightening, but it always becomes known and we always come around. Always.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140802adaac63fcfce6388a80c64b98a2f00fc7be808b450cb0f2ce4cc8e48f9aa8355bfa.wma
A: Microsoft's Windows Phone OS is very nice, very simple, uncluttered. This idea of simple and polished is everywhere in the industry right now. The winner is not the guy who invents the product, the winner is the guy who polishes it.
Q: You suggested there’s a gap between the way adults and kids are using technology – what is causing that?
A: It’s always having a screen with you and always being online. Those are two things society never had before. For the under 18-year-olds, they’ve never known a world without the Internet. The ones who are 10 have never known a world without a screen you can pick up and hold in your lap.
Q: What do you think is going to be big this century?
A: Nobody can predict what’s going to be the next hit. The only one who ever knew that is Steve Jobs. I can definitely point to the areas where I feel like we’re just at the beginning of the road. You look at ‘big data’ being collected by the big companies. If somebody could find a way to take all the data about what we eat, what medicines we take and where we live and our genetic biology, [we could] figure out disease. The data is sitting there, it just has yet to be parsed.
Q: Does there need to be a more cautious approach to new technology adoption?
A: Society course corrects. Whatever gets out of whack, we swing back. Privacy – the NSA thing – we realized we were going off the tracks and now we’re going to fix it. The tendency to predict the doom of society because of new technology goes back forever. It’s unknown and therefore frightening, but it always becomes known and we always come around. Always.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140802adaac63fcfce6388a80c64b98a2f00fc7be808b450cb0f2ce4cc8e48f9aa8355bfa.wma
Friday, August 1, 2014
[Advanced] Wise Words From a Tech Expert (1)
An interview with columnist David Pogue about the future of technology
Standing on a stage, David Pogue pulls out a phone and opens an app that shows him the temperature inside his Connecticut home.
The 50-year-old technology writer decides his kids have the thermostat too high, so he casually turns it down, puts the phone away and moves on with his presentation about how technology is changing our lives.
The Nest Labs technology he demonstrated was bought by Google for $3.2 billion recently – a prime example of how Silicon Valley titans are pushing into uncharted territory.
Pogue is heading into new areas, too. With the New York Times as a platform for his advice, he became one of the most well-known personalities helping people figure out which gadgets to buy. But he left that position to launch a new tech information venture at Yahoo. He sat down with the Orange Country Register to answer questions about what’s in store in technology.
Question: Why’d you leave the New York Times for Yahoo?
Answer: I’ve never built anything in my life. I’ve always been hired by an existing organization and plugged into it. But Yahoo is telling me, ‘whatever you want to do, we’re there, we’re gonna fund it – and they have never let me down. Whereas newspapers are an industry desperately trying to figure out how to stop shrinking, Yahoo never stops thinking about how to grow and how to build. That’s just an intoxicating approach to a fundamentally creative guy like me.
Question: A number of new tech information sites have launched. What makes Yahoo Tech different?
Answer: The others are all vying for technologists. People who care what processor is in the phone. Most people don’t care about any of that stuff. The people who are just struggling everyday with making their existing gadgets work are underserved. That is what Yahoo Tech is about.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140801adad7fc62461cf071880300c2ce33bf4234d2db4798ea81ed588036558b2bc8bbcf.wma
Standing on a stage, David Pogue pulls out a phone and opens an app that shows him the temperature inside his Connecticut home.
The 50-year-old technology writer decides his kids have the thermostat too high, so he casually turns it down, puts the phone away and moves on with his presentation about how technology is changing our lives.
The Nest Labs technology he demonstrated was bought by Google for $3.2 billion recently – a prime example of how Silicon Valley titans are pushing into uncharted territory.
Pogue is heading into new areas, too. With the New York Times as a platform for his advice, he became one of the most well-known personalities helping people figure out which gadgets to buy. But he left that position to launch a new tech information venture at Yahoo. He sat down with the Orange Country Register to answer questions about what’s in store in technology.
Question: Why’d you leave the New York Times for Yahoo?
Answer: I’ve never built anything in my life. I’ve always been hired by an existing organization and plugged into it. But Yahoo is telling me, ‘whatever you want to do, we’re there, we’re gonna fund it – and they have never let me down. Whereas newspapers are an industry desperately trying to figure out how to stop shrinking, Yahoo never stops thinking about how to grow and how to build. That’s just an intoxicating approach to a fundamentally creative guy like me.
Question: A number of new tech information sites have launched. What makes Yahoo Tech different?
Answer: The others are all vying for technologists. People who care what processor is in the phone. Most people don’t care about any of that stuff. The people who are just struggling everyday with making their existing gadgets work are underserved. That is what Yahoo Tech is about.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140801adad7fc62461cf071880300c2ce33bf4234d2db4798ea81ed588036558b2bc8bbcf.wma
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Google Glass is a Promising Innovation (2)
Putting the Internet right before your eyes
Where Glass begin
Glass originated as a special project at Google X, Google's top-secret research lab. The first prototype for Glass was a 10-pound, head-mounted display. Later versions looked like swimming goggles with cellphones connected to them.The current version is a slim visor that weighs about the same as a pair of sunglasses.
First impressions
The first group of Glass testers, called Explorers, shared their experiences with Google this past spring. Several users enjoyed using Glass to take hands-free pictures and hear turn-by-turn directions while walking. Negative experiences included low battery life and the awkward feeling of talking to Glass in public.
Major concerns
Despite the hype surrounding Glass many are worried that the device's video recording function could endanger privacy. In response, a handful of U.S. lawmakers requested Google CEO Larry Page to disclose how Google will add privacy protection functions to Glass.
Info Cloud
the public 公眾、大眾
public (集合名詞)
1. 和單數動詞一起(美式英文)
- The public is not allowed in. 禁止一般民眾進入
2. 和複數動詞一起(英式英文)
- The public are not allowed in. in public在公共場所
- ....awkward feeling of talking to Glass in public.
Grammar Gym
[something] + not[verb] beyond what [something else] + [verb]
- Supporters of Glass respond by saying that Glass can't do anything beyond what smartphones can already do.
- It's useless asking the nurse about the test results, she doesn't know anything beyond what we already know.
- This hotel isn't any better than the last one, it doesn't provide any free services beyond what the previous hotel can provide.
Language Lab
originate v.源自、來自 origin n.起源
o begin to exist : to be produced or created
- This disease originated in Africa, but is soon spread to other countries.
這種病源自非洲，但很快的就散布到其他國家
That idea did not originate with him. [=he was not the first person to have that idea]
- The idea of the movie didn't originate with the writer, but with the producer.
這部電影的概念不是來自作家而是製作人
visor n.護目鏡；(汽車)遮陽板
a piece on the front of a helmet that you can pull down to protect your face
a flat, stiff piece of material on the inside of a car above the windshield that you can pull down to keep sunlight from shining in your eyes
- The motorcycle rider raised the visor of his helmet while he stopped at the red light.
這位摩托車騎士在紅燈停下來時，把安全帽上的護目鏡拉開
- I put down the visor because the sunlight was too bright.
因為陽光太強，烈所以我把遮陽板放下
hype n.大肆宣傳、天花亂墜的公開宣傳
talk or writing that is intended to make people excited about or interested in something or someone
- The pop star created a media hype while touring in Asia.
這位流行音樂明星在亞洲巡迴演出時，創造大量媒體炒作
- A lot of viewers went to see the movie because of the hype.
許多觀眾是因為大量廣告炒作的關係去看這部電影
disclose v.公開、揭露、使暴露
to make (something) known to the public
- The agent disclosed to the press the signing of the pitcher's new contract.
經紀人向媒體透露這位投手的新合約
- The police refused to disclose the details of the case.
警方拒絕透露這個案子的細節
Where Glass begin
Glass originated as a special project at Google X, Google's top-secret research lab. The first prototype for Glass was a 10-pound, head-mounted display. Later versions looked like swimming goggles with cellphones connected to them.The current version is a slim visor that weighs about the same as a pair of sunglasses.
First impressions
The first group of Glass testers, called Explorers, shared their experiences with Google this past spring. Several users enjoyed using Glass to take hands-free pictures and hear turn-by-turn directions while walking. Negative experiences included low battery life and the awkward feeling of talking to Glass in public.
Major concerns
Despite the hype surrounding Glass many are worried that the device's video recording function could endanger privacy. In response, a handful of U.S. lawmakers requested Google CEO Larry Page to disclose how Google will add privacy protection functions to Glass.
Info Cloud
the public 公眾、大眾
public (集合名詞)
1. 和單數動詞一起(美式英文)
- The public is not allowed in. 禁止一般民眾進入
2. 和複數動詞一起(英式英文)
- The public are not allowed in. in public在公共場所
- ....awkward feeling of talking to Glass in public.
Grammar Gym
[something] + not[verb] beyond what [something else] + [verb]
- Supporters of Glass respond by saying that Glass can't do anything beyond what smartphones can already do.
- It's useless asking the nurse about the test results, she doesn't know anything beyond what we already know.
- This hotel isn't any better than the last one, it doesn't provide any free services beyond what the previous hotel can provide.
Language Lab
originate v.源自、來自 origin n.起源
o begin to exist : to be produced or created
- This disease originated in Africa, but is soon spread to other countries.
這種病源自非洲，但很快的就散布到其他國家
That idea did not originate with him. [=he was not the first person to have that idea]
- The idea of the movie didn't originate with the writer, but with the producer.
這部電影的概念不是來自作家而是製作人
visor n.護目鏡；(汽車)遮陽板
a piece on the front of a helmet that you can pull down to protect your face
a flat, stiff piece of material on the inside of a car above the windshield that you can pull down to keep sunlight from shining in your eyes
- The motorcycle rider raised the visor of his helmet while he stopped at the red light.
這位摩托車騎士在紅燈停下來時，把安全帽上的護目鏡拉開
- I put down the visor because the sunlight was too bright.
因為陽光太強，烈所以我把遮陽板放下
hype n.大肆宣傳、天花亂墜的公開宣傳
talk or writing that is intended to make people excited about or interested in something or someone
- The pop star created a media hype while touring in Asia.
這位流行音樂明星在亞洲巡迴演出時，創造大量媒體炒作
- A lot of viewers went to see the movie because of the hype.
許多觀眾是因為大量廣告炒作的關係去看這部電影
disclose v.公開、揭露、使暴露
to make (something) known to the public
- The agent disclosed to the press the signing of the pitcher's new contract.
經紀人向媒體透露這位投手的新合約
- The police refused to disclose the details of the case.
警方拒絕透露這個案子的細節
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Google Glass is a Promising Innovation (1)
Putting the Internet right before your eyes
With the arrival of smartphones, our computers moved from our desktops into our pockets. Now, tech giant Google is betting that people will warm up to the idea of wearing computers on their faces in the form of Internet-connected eyewear. This new device, called Glass, looks like a pair of sunglasses from a science-fiction movie, minus the lenses.
The computer that powers Glass is built into the arm of the glasses frame, which also contains a touch pad, microphone and front-facing camera. Glass connects to the Internet via Wi-Fi or to the user's smartphone by means of a Bluetooth@link.
Users view Glass's display by glancing up at a small prism in the upper right corner of their field of vision. The prism displays the user's timeline, which appears as a row of cards featuring such things as current time, calendar appointments or email notifications. Users communicate with Glass by using voice commands or by tapping the touch pad. All voice commands begin with the phrase "OK, Glass" followed by specific instructions such as "Take a picture," or "Get directions to Gino's Pizza." Thanks to the use of bone conduction, users can hear Glass giving turn-by-turn directions or reading emails to them.
Info Cloud
mail n.郵件(集合名詞)
1. 複數不可加s，如果要數有幾件郵件需用piece.
- I received seven pieces of mail today.
2. 涵蓋所有的郵件，包括：letters, bills, junk mail..etc.
email n.電子郵件(可數名詞，因為email是email message的簡寫)
- Users can hear Glass giving turn-by-turn directions or reading emails to them.
- I have 45 email messages. = I have 45 emails.
letter n.信件(可數名詞)
1. 僅限於私人信函，所以seven pieces of mail≠seven letters
Language Lab
innovation n.新發明；改革、創新
- The microwaving was an innovation that changed the way people prepare food.
微波爐是一項改變人們預備食物的新發明
- We provide a working environment that promotes creativity and innovation.
我們提供一個鼓勵創意和改革的工作環境
warm up to (somebody/something) =to begin to like or enjoy someone or something
- After a couple of days at the camp, the kids warmed up to each other.
在營隊相處兩三天後，孩子們開始熟絡起來
- Many people have warmed up to the idea of shopping online, but some still can't accept it.
許多人已經開始喜歡網路購物的方式，但是仍然有些人不能接受
field of vision 視野、視線範圍
- A rabbit hopped into the hunter's field of vision.
一隻兔子跳進獵人的視線
- Our field of vision was blocked by the tall guy in front of us.
我們的視線被前面這位高個子的人擋住了
- Traveling can widen one's field of vision.
旅行可以擴展一個人的視野
notification n.(正式的)通知、發布 notify v.
- Theo received a written notification that this application was accepted.
Theo收到他的申請被接受的書信通知
- Henry was notified that he needed to report to his superior at the base.
Henry被通知必須到基地向他的上級報到
With the arrival of smartphones, our computers moved from our desktops into our pockets. Now, tech giant Google is betting that people will warm up to the idea of wearing computers on their faces in the form of Internet-connected eyewear. This new device, called Glass, looks like a pair of sunglasses from a science-fiction movie, minus the lenses.
The computer that powers Glass is built into the arm of the glasses frame, which also contains a touch pad, microphone and front-facing camera. Glass connects to the Internet via Wi-Fi or to the user's smartphone by means of a Bluetooth@link.
Users view Glass's display by glancing up at a small prism in the upper right corner of their field of vision. The prism displays the user's timeline, which appears as a row of cards featuring such things as current time, calendar appointments or email notifications. Users communicate with Glass by using voice commands or by tapping the touch pad. All voice commands begin with the phrase "OK, Glass" followed by specific instructions such as "Take a picture," or "Get directions to Gino's Pizza." Thanks to the use of bone conduction, users can hear Glass giving turn-by-turn directions or reading emails to them.
Info Cloud
mail n.郵件(集合名詞)
1. 複數不可加s，如果要數有幾件郵件需用piece.
- I received seven pieces of mail today.
2. 涵蓋所有的郵件，包括：letters, bills, junk mail..etc.
email n.電子郵件(可數名詞，因為email是email message的簡寫)
- Users can hear Glass giving turn-by-turn directions or reading emails to them.
- I have 45 email messages. = I have 45 emails.
letter n.信件(可數名詞)
1. 僅限於私人信函，所以seven pieces of mail≠seven letters
Language Lab
innovation n.新發明；改革、創新
- The microwaving was an innovation that changed the way people prepare food.
微波爐是一項改變人們預備食物的新發明
- We provide a working environment that promotes creativity and innovation.
我們提供一個鼓勵創意和改革的工作環境
warm up to (somebody/something) =to begin to like or enjoy someone or something
- After a couple of days at the camp, the kids warmed up to each other.
在營隊相處兩三天後，孩子們開始熟絡起來
- Many people have warmed up to the idea of shopping online, but some still can't accept it.
許多人已經開始喜歡網路購物的方式，但是仍然有些人不能接受
field of vision 視野、視線範圍
- A rabbit hopped into the hunter's field of vision.
一隻兔子跳進獵人的視線
- Our field of vision was blocked by the tall guy in front of us.
我們的視線被前面這位高個子的人擋住了
- Traveling can widen one's field of vision.
旅行可以擴展一個人的視野
notification n.(正式的)通知、發布 notify v.
- Theo received a written notification that this application was accepted.
Theo收到他的申請被接受的書信通知
- Henry was notified that he needed to report to his superior at the base.
Henry被通知必須到基地向他的上級報到
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
New Ways to Shop for Clothes (1) (2)
Some retailers are creating new in-store experiences
More and more shoppers are buying things online these days, allowing them to avoid aggressive salespeople and long lines at checkout counters. In spite of online convenience, however, there are some items - like clothes - that customers prefer to examine before buying. In light of this, two companies are finding ways to modernize stores and bridge the gap between online and in-store retail.
A software company that also happens to sell designer jeans, Hointer has created a fast and painless shopping experience for its customers. The company is led by Dr. Nadia Shouraboura, a former tech executive at Amazon.
Shoppers walk into a Hointer store and select one of the many pairs of jeans hanging down from bars. Then they point their smartphones of the tag and activate the Hointer app, after which they select the size and press "try on." The app then directs them to a specific dressing room. German-made robots retrieve the desired jeans and deliver them through a chute to the dressing room in about 30 seconds immediately after unwanted pairs of jeans are dropped through another chute, the "outbox," they disappear from the list in the app.
-----
Purchases at Hointer are made with a swipe of a credit card. And interacting with a salesperson is optional! This allows Hointer to hire fewer people and focus on their ultimate goal: developing technology that supports a retail revolution.
Men's clothing retailer Bonobos has come up with a more personalized shopping experience. Although it is -in fact - an online retailer, Bonobos has decided to open a handful of brick-and-mortar stores called Guideshops. Shoppers make an appointment online before arriving at a Guideshop, where they receive one-on-one attention from a fitting guide.
Because these shops have limited inventories, shoppers aren't able to take home the outfits they select. But guides help shoppers make online purchases before they leave, after which the items will be delivered to customers in one or two days. Following the purchase, the Bonobos customer service database keeps a record of each shopper's size, making future online purchases easier.
While Hointer focuses on convenience, Bonobos Guideshops focus on customer service. But both efforts have one thing in common: giving clothing retailers a new look for the 21st century.
Info Cloud (1)
Teaching Topic: The Art of Lining Up
You know, one thing in life that I absolutely hate is waiting in line.
Or as the British would say, "waiting in a queue."
Me too. Either a line or a queue, it's no fun to wait in one.
And what's even worse than waiting in line, seeing someone "cut in line" or as the British would say, "jump the queue."
Line cutting is considered rude and selfish.
If you cut in line, you'll be regarded as having no manners.
We also need to be aware of how people line up.
Sometimes in a bank, post office, pharmacy, or airport, there might be several service points for customers.
But instead of forming a separate line in front of each of the service points, everyone just waits in one single line.
And then, when a service point opens up, the next person in line can leave the line and go to that service point.
That's right. In places like airport immigration or check-in counters, there's often a sign that says, "Please wait here for the next available agent."
And, that's where you should wait.
When a service point opens up, the agent would either call you out, or wave for you to go up to him or her.
Info Cloud (2)
Teaching Topic: Less vs. Fewer
Yesterday, we talked about how people line up in America.
And, one place that you'll often see lines of people is in the supermarket.
Hmm huh...
Now, there is a way to move faster than others in the supermarket checkout lines.
Use the express lane.
Grocery stores often have a sign to identify this lane, and it reads, "Ten items or less."
But, that's just wrong.
At least from a grammatical standpoint.
The sign should say, "Ten items or fewer."
Why is that Steve?
Because items are individual things.
They're countable things.
And when we deal with countable nouns, like apples, frozen chickens, soda bottles, and carrots, we should use the word "fewer", not "less."
And, when we deal with uncountable mass nouns like, water, heat, (and) money, we should use "less."
I have less money than you.
But I have fewer bills in my billfold than you.
So, as you can see friends, the words "fewer" and "less" are commonly confused in English, even to native English speakers.
But we hope you'll be less confused and make fewer mistakes after today's lesson.
Grammar Gym
in light of: considering : because of
- In light of this, two companies are finding ways to modernize stores....
- In light of the investigation, witnesses have been asked not to say anything to the media.
- In light of the recent discoveries in the laboratory, scientists are positive they can find a cure for the rare disease.
Language Lab
modernize 使現代化
to make (something) modern and more suited to present styles or needs
- The bank did a great modernizing its customer service system.
這家銀行在課服系統的現代化上有很好的成效
- The company needs to modernize if it wants to stay competitive.
如果這家公司想要保持競爭力，就必須現代化
bridge the gap (idiom)消除隔閡或分歧
- The policy was designed to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.
這個政策是要設計來彌補富人與窮人之間的差異
- The book talks about ways to bridge the generation gap.
這本書討論如何消除代溝
activate v.啟動
to make (something) active or more active: such as a : to cause (a device) to start working
b chemistry : to cause (a chemical reaction or natural process) to begin
- The security system has already been activated.
保全系統已經啟動了
- You need to enter your PIN code in order to activate your credit card.
你必須輸入個人密碼，才能將信用卡開卡
chute n.陡坡道斜槽滑道
/ˈʃu:t/
a narrow tube or passage that things and people go down or through
- There is a chute in the building for the residents to throw away their garbage.
公寓中，有個讓住戶丟垃圾的滑道
- One of the emergency chutes on the air plane was jammed.
飛機的其中一個緊急滑道卡住了
- The laundry chute in the hotel goes directly down to the laundry room.
旅館的衣物滑道直接通到洗衣房
swipe n.刷信用卡的動作
to pass (a credit card, ATM card, etc.) through a machine that reads information from it
- We just one swipe of my credit card, half a month's salary was gone.
我的信用卡輕輕一刷，半個月的薪水就沒了
- Swipe your card for authorization, and then your can enter the office.
刷卡經過認證後，就可以進入辦公室了
brick-and-mortar adj.實體的
used to describe a traditional store or business that is in a building instead of on the Internet
- Some customers still insist on shopping in brick-and-mortar stores.
有些顧客還是堅持在實體的店購物
- The online stores gradually lured customers away from brick-and-mortar retailers.
網路商店逐漸吸引顧客離開實體的零售商
inventory n.存貨、存貨清單
all the goods in a shop [= stock]
- The store has a large inventory of canned food.
這家商店的罐頭食品存貨非常充裕
- The inventory of unsold cars can last at least three months.
未售出車輛的總數，至少可以再賣三個月
a list of all the things in a place;
- The manager asked me to make an inventory of supplies at our office.
經理要我列出我們辦公室補給品清單
database n.資料庫、數據庫
a collection of pieces of information that is organized and used on a computer
- The sales department spent weeks building a database of our customers' preferences.
銷售部門花了幾個禮拜時間，建立了我們顧客偏好的資料庫
More and more shoppers are buying things online these days, allowing them to avoid aggressive salespeople and long lines at checkout counters. In spite of online convenience, however, there are some items - like clothes - that customers prefer to examine before buying. In light of this, two companies are finding ways to modernize stores and bridge the gap between online and in-store retail.
A software company that also happens to sell designer jeans, Hointer has created a fast and painless shopping experience for its customers. The company is led by Dr. Nadia Shouraboura, a former tech executive at Amazon.
Shoppers walk into a Hointer store and select one of the many pairs of jeans hanging down from bars. Then they point their smartphones of the tag and activate the Hointer app, after which they select the size and press "try on." The app then directs them to a specific dressing room. German-made robots retrieve the desired jeans and deliver them through a chute to the dressing room in about 30 seconds immediately after unwanted pairs of jeans are dropped through another chute, the "outbox," they disappear from the list in the app.
-----
Purchases at Hointer are made with a swipe of a credit card. And interacting with a salesperson is optional! This allows Hointer to hire fewer people and focus on their ultimate goal: developing technology that supports a retail revolution.
Men's clothing retailer Bonobos has come up with a more personalized shopping experience. Although it is -in fact - an online retailer, Bonobos has decided to open a handful of brick-and-mortar stores called Guideshops. Shoppers make an appointment online before arriving at a Guideshop, where they receive one-on-one attention from a fitting guide.
Because these shops have limited inventories, shoppers aren't able to take home the outfits they select. But guides help shoppers make online purchases before they leave, after which the items will be delivered to customers in one or two days. Following the purchase, the Bonobos customer service database keeps a record of each shopper's size, making future online purchases easier.
While Hointer focuses on convenience, Bonobos Guideshops focus on customer service. But both efforts have one thing in common: giving clothing retailers a new look for the 21st century.
Info Cloud (1)
Teaching Topic: The Art of Lining Up
You know, one thing in life that I absolutely hate is waiting in line.
Or as the British would say, "waiting in a queue."
Me too. Either a line or a queue, it's no fun to wait in one.
And what's even worse than waiting in line, seeing someone "cut in line" or as the British would say, "jump the queue."
Line cutting is considered rude and selfish.
If you cut in line, you'll be regarded as having no manners.
We also need to be aware of how people line up.
Sometimes in a bank, post office, pharmacy, or airport, there might be several service points for customers.
But instead of forming a separate line in front of each of the service points, everyone just waits in one single line.
And then, when a service point opens up, the next person in line can leave the line and go to that service point.
That's right. In places like airport immigration or check-in counters, there's often a sign that says, "Please wait here for the next available agent."
And, that's where you should wait.
When a service point opens up, the agent would either call you out, or wave for you to go up to him or her.
Info Cloud (2)
Teaching Topic: Less vs. Fewer
Yesterday, we talked about how people line up in America.
And, one place that you'll often see lines of people is in the supermarket.
Hmm huh...
Now, there is a way to move faster than others in the supermarket checkout lines.
Use the express lane.
Grocery stores often have a sign to identify this lane, and it reads, "Ten items or less."
But, that's just wrong.
At least from a grammatical standpoint.
The sign should say, "Ten items or fewer."
Why is that Steve?
Because items are individual things.
They're countable things.
And when we deal with countable nouns, like apples, frozen chickens, soda bottles, and carrots, we should use the word "fewer", not "less."
And, when we deal with uncountable mass nouns like, water, heat, (and) money, we should use "less."
I have less money than you.
But I have fewer bills in my billfold than you.
So, as you can see friends, the words "fewer" and "less" are commonly confused in English, even to native English speakers.
But we hope you'll be less confused and make fewer mistakes after today's lesson.
Grammar Gym
in light of: considering : because of
- In light of this, two companies are finding ways to modernize stores....
- In light of the investigation, witnesses have been asked not to say anything to the media.
- In light of the recent discoveries in the laboratory, scientists are positive they can find a cure for the rare disease.
Language Lab
modernize 使現代化
to make (something) modern and more suited to present styles or needs
- The bank did a great modernizing its customer service system.
這家銀行在課服系統的現代化上有很好的成效
- The company needs to modernize if it wants to stay competitive.
如果這家公司想要保持競爭力，就必須現代化
bridge the gap (idiom)消除隔閡或分歧
- The policy was designed to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.
這個政策是要設計來彌補富人與窮人之間的差異
- The book talks about ways to bridge the generation gap.
這本書討論如何消除代溝
activate v.啟動
to make (something) active or more active: such as a : to cause (a device) to start working
b chemistry : to cause (a chemical reaction or natural process) to begin
- The security system has already been activated.
保全系統已經啟動了
- You need to enter your PIN code in order to activate your credit card.
你必須輸入個人密碼，才能將信用卡開卡
chute n.陡坡道斜槽滑道
/ˈʃu:t/
a narrow tube or passage that things and people go down or through
- There is a chute in the building for the residents to throw away their garbage.
公寓中，有個讓住戶丟垃圾的滑道
- One of the emergency chutes on the air plane was jammed.
飛機的其中一個緊急滑道卡住了
- The laundry chute in the hotel goes directly down to the laundry room.
旅館的衣物滑道直接通到洗衣房
swipe n.刷信用卡的動作
to pass (a credit card, ATM card, etc.) through a machine that reads information from it
- We just one swipe of my credit card, half a month's salary was gone.
我的信用卡輕輕一刷，半個月的薪水就沒了
- Swipe your card for authorization, and then your can enter the office.
刷卡經過認證後，就可以進入辦公室了
brick-and-mortar adj.實體的
used to describe a traditional store or business that is in a building instead of on the Internet
- Some customers still insist on shopping in brick-and-mortar stores.
有些顧客還是堅持在實體的店購物
- The online stores gradually lured customers away from brick-and-mortar retailers.
網路商店逐漸吸引顧客離開實體的零售商
inventory n.存貨、存貨清單
all the goods in a shop [= stock]
- The store has a large inventory of canned food.
這家商店的罐頭食品存貨非常充裕
- The inventory of unsold cars can last at least three months.
未售出車輛的總數，至少可以再賣三個月
a list of all the things in a place;
- The manager asked me to make an inventory of supplies at our office.
經理要我列出我們辦公室補給品清單
database n.資料庫、數據庫
a collection of pieces of information that is organized and used on a computer
- The sales department spent weeks building a database of our customers' preferences.
銷售部門花了幾個禮拜時間，建立了我們顧客偏好的資料庫
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Drawings Come to Life With 3Doodler
Turning doodles into 3-D objects
In their spare time millions enjoy doodling, which, up till now, has usually involved drawing on paper. But now, folks can try doodling in the air, thanks to 3Doodler, the world's first 3-D printing pen! As one draws, hot plastic comes out of the pen, cools and becomes a solid strand.
Would-be artists can draw flat forms or separate parts and then join them together. Lifting the pen up into the air adds a strand that can stand on its own! Created by toy and robotics company WobbleWorks, this pen is quite different from a 3-D printer.
For example, this pen requires no computers or image files, and it can be used to create anything a person can dream up. How about a bicycle or a bird? Or what about a miniature Eiffel Tower? The 3Doodler website features these and other examples of 3Doodles!
Initial interest in 3Doodler has been extraordinary. In the first 30 hours of the 3Doodler Kickstarter campaign, WobbleWorks raised more than US$500,000 to make the product a reality! Now, with more than US$2 million in support, WobbleWorks plans on shipping the finished version of 3Doodler in late 2013. Get your drawing hand ready!
Grammar Gym
But now, folks can try doodling in the air...
folks: people
- Everybody, may I have your attention please?
= Folks, may I have your attention please?
- The folks in my neighborhood like to come out in the evenings and hang out.
Info Cloud
would-be 形容詞, 指有淺力成為什麼的
a would-be author 有淺力成為作家的人
a would-be actor 主修戲劇的人
a would-be artists 想成為藝術家的人
would-be 也可指想成為什麼, 但未達成的
a would-be assassin 刺客沒有達成目的
wannabe= want to be 希望可以成為什麼的人 (比較有負面的意思)
You're such a wannabe.
Language Lab
doodle v.
to draw something without thinking about what you are doing
- Kate loves to doodle on her textbooks during class.
doodle n. plural doodles [count]
- No one could have known that the artist's doodle would one day be displayed in a museum.
strand n.
/ˈstrænd/
a thin piece of thread, wire, hair, etc.
- The police found a strand of hair at the crime scene and took it to the lab.
- The elegant lady wore a strand of pearls to go with her dress.
dream up [phrasal verb]
to think of or invent (something) in your mind
- The college kids were always dreaming up different practical jokes to play on their friends.
- You can continue dreaming up different excuses for your tardiness.
miniature adj.
/ˈmɪnijəˌtʃuɚ/
: very small : tiny
- The miniature golf course is a popular dating place.
- The doll comes with cute miniature furniture.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130822_9f0ed.wmv
In their spare time millions enjoy doodling, which, up till now, has usually involved drawing on paper. But now, folks can try doodling in the air, thanks to 3Doodler, the world's first 3-D printing pen! As one draws, hot plastic comes out of the pen, cools and becomes a solid strand.
Would-be artists can draw flat forms or separate parts and then join them together. Lifting the pen up into the air adds a strand that can stand on its own! Created by toy and robotics company WobbleWorks, this pen is quite different from a 3-D printer.
For example, this pen requires no computers or image files, and it can be used to create anything a person can dream up. How about a bicycle or a bird? Or what about a miniature Eiffel Tower? The 3Doodler website features these and other examples of 3Doodles!
Initial interest in 3Doodler has been extraordinary. In the first 30 hours of the 3Doodler Kickstarter campaign, WobbleWorks raised more than US$500,000 to make the product a reality! Now, with more than US$2 million in support, WobbleWorks plans on shipping the finished version of 3Doodler in late 2013. Get your drawing hand ready!
Grammar Gym
But now, folks can try doodling in the air...
folks: people
- Everybody, may I have your attention please?
= Folks, may I have your attention please?
- The folks in my neighborhood like to come out in the evenings and hang out.
Info Cloud
would-be 形容詞, 指有淺力成為什麼的
a would-be author 有淺力成為作家的人
a would-be actor 主修戲劇的人
a would-be artists 想成為藝術家的人
would-be 也可指想成為什麼, 但未達成的
a would-be assassin 刺客沒有達成目的
wannabe= want to be 希望可以成為什麼的人 (比較有負面的意思)
You're such a wannabe.
Language Lab
doodle v.
to draw something without thinking about what you are doing
- Kate loves to doodle on her textbooks during class.
doodle n. plural doodles [count]
- No one could have known that the artist's doodle would one day be displayed in a museum.
strand n.
/ˈstrænd/
a thin piece of thread, wire, hair, etc.
- The police found a strand of hair at the crime scene and took it to the lab.
- The elegant lady wore a strand of pearls to go with her dress.
dream up [phrasal verb]
to think of or invent (something) in your mind
- The college kids were always dreaming up different practical jokes to play on their friends.
- You can continue dreaming up different excuses for your tardiness.
miniature adj.
/ˈmɪnijəˌtʃuɚ/
: very small : tiny
- The miniature golf course is a popular dating place.
- The doll comes with cute miniature furniture.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130822_9f0ed.wmv
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
[Advanced] Fashion of the Future (3)
California company Martian Watches has already beat Apple in the smartwatch race with its voice-command Martian Watch, which it showed off at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last month.
The Martian Watch connects to Siri or other smartphone voice-recognition services via Bluetooth. Users can listen and respond to text messages, be notified of incoming calls and access other information from their watches.
Hong Kong company Faze in Limited also showed off its smartwatches at CES. The $150 EZIO watch will alert you when your smartphone receives a call or text; it also protects against loss, warning you if you get too far from your phone. Faze in Limited is working on jewelry versions and also makes a wearable tech jacket that heats up in 15 seconds for use in cold weather.
If clothing companies join tech firms in developing wearables, it could be a boon to the retail industry, which is generally cyclical when it comes to trends as opposed to groundbreaking.
Already, brands such as Uniqlo have been dabbling in tech-enhanced clothing, such as the retailer's Heattech tops and leggings made from material that turns moisture evaporating from the body into heat.
Although wearables are still a ways from widespread, mass-market adoption, analysts say they could one day replace smartphones altogether. Some have hinted that wearables are the gateway to implantable technology, such as microchips and sensors lodged under the skin.
But with tech worn all over the body, and perhaps one day within the body, some wonder whether the clothes and accessories are truly simplifying life or just making it even more complicated.
"There's always the risk of over-complicating things," Intel's Booth said. "There are a lot of good ideas out there and things that people might want to do with this advanced technology, but if you try to do too many of them at one time, the complexity sinks in."
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130814ada14fbf94df2617ab87727866b12caa0126de43996edbeed66acaeafac6f527f19.wma
The Martian Watch connects to Siri or other smartphone voice-recognition services via Bluetooth. Users can listen and respond to text messages, be notified of incoming calls and access other information from their watches.
Hong Kong company Faze in Limited also showed off its smartwatches at CES. The $150 EZIO watch will alert you when your smartphone receives a call or text; it also protects against loss, warning you if you get too far from your phone. Faze in Limited is working on jewelry versions and also makes a wearable tech jacket that heats up in 15 seconds for use in cold weather.
If clothing companies join tech firms in developing wearables, it could be a boon to the retail industry, which is generally cyclical when it comes to trends as opposed to groundbreaking.
Already, brands such as Uniqlo have been dabbling in tech-enhanced clothing, such as the retailer's Heattech tops and leggings made from material that turns moisture evaporating from the body into heat.
Although wearables are still a ways from widespread, mass-market adoption, analysts say they could one day replace smartphones altogether. Some have hinted that wearables are the gateway to implantable technology, such as microchips and sensors lodged under the skin.
But with tech worn all over the body, and perhaps one day within the body, some wonder whether the clothes and accessories are truly simplifying life or just making it even more complicated.
"There's always the risk of over-complicating things," Intel's Booth said. "There are a lot of good ideas out there and things that people might want to do with this advanced technology, but if you try to do too many of them at one time, the complexity sinks in."
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130814ada14fbf94df2617ab87727866b12caa0126de43996edbeed66acaeafac6f527f19.wma
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