Video calls are a common occurrence, but have you imagined being able to touch the person on the other end of the line? Scientists are making this a reality.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales, Australia, have invented a soft skin stretch device (SSD), a haptic (触觉的) device that can recreate the sense of touch. Haptic technology mimics (模仿) the experience of touch by stimulating small areas of the skin in ways that are similar to what is felt in the real world, through force, vibration (震动) or motion.
Vibration is the most common haptic technology today and has been built into many electronic devices, such as one attached to the back of a trackpad (触控板) in laptops, which mimics a button clicking. However, haptic feedback with vibration becomes less sensitive when used continuously. The existing technology also has great difficulty recreating the sense of touch with objects in virtual environments or located remotely, according to Mai Thanh Thai, lead author of the study.
The new technology overcomes issues with existing haptic devices. The research team introduced a novel method to recreate the sense of touch through soft, artificial “muscles”.
“Our three-way directional skin stretch device, built into the fingertips of the wearable haptic glove we also created, is like wearing a second skin — it’s soft, stretchable and mimics the sense of touch — and will enable new forms of haptic communication to enhance everyday activities,” said Thanh Nho Do, senior author of the study.
It works like this: Imagine you are at home and you call your friend who is in Australia. You wear a haptic glove with the SSDs and your friend also wears a glove with integrated (集成的) 3D force sensors. If your friend picks up an object, it will physically press against your friend’s fingers. And his/her glove with 3D force sensors will measure these interactions. The force signals can be sent to your glove so your device will generate the same 3D forces, making you experience the same sense of touch as your friend.
The haptic devices could be applied in various scenarios, allowing users to feel objects inside a virtual world or at a distance. This could be especially beneficial during such times like the COVID-19 pandemic when people rely on video calls to stay connected with loved ones. Or it could be used in medical practices. Doctors can feel a patient’s organ tissues with surgical tools without touching them.
1. What’s the main purpose of the text?| A．To encourage the use of a new product. |
| B．To inform readers of a new invention. |
| C．To compare different haptic devices. |
| D．To introduce the development of haptic technology. |
| A．It mimics the sense of touch through a trackpad. |
| B．It mainly uses vibration technology. |
| C．It takes the shape of a glove. |
| D．It makes virtual haptic communication possible. |
| A．The advantages of the new haptic glove. |
| B．The applications of the new haptic technology. |
| C．An explanation of how the haptic device works. |
| D．A personal experience of using SSDs during a video call. |
| A．It could replace video calls as a way to communicate. |
| B．it could be used for recreating organ tissues. |
| C．Doctors could perform surgeries at once. |
| D．Users could feel remote objects in a realistic way. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Geocaching
Common Sense Media says that this expensive but very cool GPS app makes it possible for the whole family to go geocaching, a high-tech treasure hunt game. This app makes it unnecessary to buy a dedicated GPS device. The app taps directly into a database with more than 2 million locations, some within walking distance, and gives you everything you need to find treasures hidden by other enthusiasts.
SkySafari
SkySafari is a powerful mobile planetarium (天象馆) that uses GPS locations to view the night sky. The app comes in multiple versions. The databases, even on the entry-level versions, are large, requiring up to 940 MB of free space depending on the platform. You can learn about astronomy by viewing planets and stars, searching for specific objects of interest or looking at astronomical sightings in that night’s sky.
Historypin
Historypin is a great tool to bring families together to share stories. You can learn about the history of any area by searching Historypin’s world map by place, time, or subject. Because there are a few different ways to use Historypin’s bank of user-contributed knowledge, as well as ways to add content, you can learn how to access and create digital content that’s meant to be shared with the general public.
GarageBand
GarageBand is powerful digital music workstation and multitrack recorder. You can create songs in a number of ways, all in an interesting interface. An added bonus is the great editing tools that tighten up any musical performance. You can share your GarageBand songs through social media, email, or text. The app is designed to give everyone an amazing musical experience—and it delivers.
1. What is special about Geocaching?| A．It helps to collect data. | B．It needs an extra GPS device. |
| C．It can develop games. | D．It can locate hidden treasures. |
| A．Search for your interest. | B．Explore different versions. |
| C．View astronomical sightings. | D．Develop the multiple databases. |
| A．search world maps | B．share what they create |
| C．get families involved | D．enjoy musical performances |
【推荐2】At first glance, there is nothing unusual about BingoBox’s convenience store–shelves packed with snacks line the walls, attracting passers-by through the glass windows. But upon closer look, BingoBox is no ordinary store. The door unlocks only after customers scan (扫描) a QR code to enter, and there is no cashier — just a lone checkout counter (柜台) in a corner. The Shanghai-based company is one of many unmanned store operators (运营者) opening outlets all over China, hoping to improve slim profit by reducing staff costs.
“If staff costs rise quickly, that puts greater pressure on low-profit businesses like convenience stores and supermarkets,” said Andrew Song, an analyst at Guotai Junan Securities. “In China, manpower costs have been rising relatively quickly.”
However, the future vision of shopping without a check-out person is still a work in progress. A Post reporter who visited a BingoBox store in Shanghai was briefly locked in when trying to exit without buying anything. Although a sign near the exit stated that empty-handed customers can leave by scanning a QR code, no QR code was to be found. Repeated calls to the customer service hotline went unanswered.
The idea of unmanned stores first caught the world’s attention in December last year. Equipped with technology such as RFID tags, mobile payment systems and facial and movement recognition, such stores collect large amounts of data that give operators a better idea of consumer preferences and buying habits, which can then be used to optimize (使最优化) operations and make more efficient inventory decisions. For companies like BingoBox, lower operating costs also mean it can afford to expand its reach to areas with less foot traffic or fewer people, according to its founder and chief executive Chen Zilin.
1. What makes BingoBox store look like an ordinary convenience store?| A．No cashier to check out. |
| B．A lone checkout counter. |
| C．Shelves packed with goods. |
| D．Entering by scanning a QR code. |
| A．The customers prefer mobile payment systems. |
| B．The unmanned stores help improve profit with lower labor costs. |
| C．The employees focus on consumer preferences and buying habits. |
| D．The operators care more about operations and inventory decisions. |
| A．To show his anger and dissatisfaction. |
| B．To warn people not to go to a BingoBox store. |
| C．To explain unmanned stores still have a long way to go. |
| D．To complain that QR code service is not convenient at all.. |
| A．Nowadays all stores should be equipped with advanced technology. |
| B．The operators collect data about consumer preferences and buying habits. |
| C．BingoBox made wiser decisions based on the data collected in those unmanned stores. |
| D．The operators can open unmanned supermarkets in more distant places with low cost. |
【推荐3】In today’s classroom, homework is completed not only with the pen and paper, but also with computers and cell phones. How to make the best use of such digital products is an important question for teachers and students. The following top digital portfolio platforms (作品集平台) offer a broad range of functions. Most importantly, they provide a way to share students’ work with pride.
Google Sites
Creating a digital portfolio could not be any easier than Google Sites makes it. It lets students quickly put in contents, such as text, images, videos, maps, and much more. Use one of the provided six themes or create a custom one, and then publish it as a public or restricted-view site.
Seesaw for Schools
Designed for education, Seesaw for Schools provides a platform through which students complete and share school projects. By recording the process of gradually improving their schoolwork, kids gain a sense of mastery and pride, so it attracts them. Plus, parents can be involved too — just download the Seesaw Family app.
Artsonia
Artsonia is like a dream come true for art-minded students: a free, safe, educational space through which students show their digital creativity. Friends and family can view, comment on and buy objects. The site also provides a complete teachers’ instruction. Just celebrate the artistic skills with Artsonia!
Edublogs
One of the oldest and best-known web platforms for education, Edublogs makes it easy for teachers and students to start building a free WordPress platform. The free plan offers 1 GB of storage space, class management tools, and no advertising. The qualified guidance of educators and community participation is another big plus for Edublogs.
1. Which of the following about Google Sites is correct?| A．It allows students to learn from others’ work. |
| B．It can be controlled by parents for safety. |
| C．It offers students online publishing rights for free. |
| D．It lets students create contents with given subjects. |
| A．It helps check their school work. |
| B．It can track their progress. |
| C．It requires teamwork with parents. |
| D．It protects their personal information well. |
| A．They offer professional advice. |
| B．They require support from teachers and parents. |
| C．They remind students to hand in homework on time. |
| D．They can store large amounts of information. |
【推荐1】Clean drinking water is something we might take for granted at home, but not so for travelers. The epiphany moment for Samuel Ian Rosen came when he found himself at an airport selling out $ 5 for a bottle of Evian water.
“Nobody up till now has built a digital map for drinking water,” Rosen, a serial entrepreneur(企业家), said in an interview. “Finding water is inconvenient. When I opened a digital map and typed ‘water fountain’, there was nothing. We solved it by building a digital map for water. We are a search engine. We tell you where the water is.”
Beginning October 23, consumers in cities from New York and Los Angeles to Amsterdam and New Delhi will be able to download an app called “Tap” on their mobile phones that will help them find the closest free public drinking fountains and water bottle refill stations at places like airports. They can also refill(再装满) their bottles at over 34,000 cafes. Restaurants and other businesses-from Umami Burger and Shake Shack to Sweetgreen and Barry's Bootcamp-have signed on globally in the Tap's Refill Station network. Rosen said that number is rapidly growing.
The app allows users to narrow their search by such criteria as whether the water is unfiltered(未过滤的) or flavored. There are also “water ATMS” where people will be able to purchase unpackaged water to refill their existing bottles.
“We didn't have to wait to convince anyone to sign up,” Rosen who previously founded on-demand storage company Makespace, said. “It's similar to what corporations are doing with sustainability for the same right reason. We have brand ambassadors as young as 10 signing up local businesses. This is a movement.”
1. An “epiphany moment” is when you .| A．experience something funny | B．are about to make a bad deal |
| C．come up with a bright idea | D．are mad at something unfair |
| A．To stop water waste. | B．To advertise some businesses. |
| C．To compete with digital map companies. | D．To make free drinking water accessible. |
| A．Filter(过滤) water. | B．Buy clean water. |
| C．Donate water bottles. | D．Store water for the poor. |
| A．Confidence. | B．Indifference. | C．Sympathy. | D．Relief. |
【推荐2】There are many ways for diseases to spread. A sick person can cough or sneeze on someone nearby, or they can spread germs through a handshake. But sometimes we pick up germs indirectly. A sick person might leave behind bacteria or viruses when they touch a door handle, for example. But what if those surfaces could clean themselves?
Two teenagers from Hong Kong asked themselves the same question. Now they've developed a door handle that can kill germs on contact.
The idea is simple. Every time the door is opened, the movement creates power that starts a germ-killing reaction on the handle. In lab tests, their system killed about 99.8 percent of the germs that they spread onto lab dishes covered with their material.
Research by others has shown that door handles in public areas are often home to lots of bacteria and viruses, notes 17-year-old Sum Ming(“Simon”) Wong. He and his schoolmate Kin Pong(Michael) Li, 18, wanted to design a covering for door handles that would kill germs.
After doing some research, they learned that a mineral called titanium dioxide is known to kill bacteria. It's already used in many products, from paints to desserts. To make their covering, the teenagers made the mineral into a very fine powder.
Titanium dioxide kills bacteria best when lit by ultraviolet light, says Simon. UV light is found in sunlight. But UV light does not naturally shine on indoor handles or any used at night, so the teenagers light their door handle from within.
To make sure the light reaches the coated surface, the teenagers made their door handle out of clear glass. Each end fits into a bracket. Inside one of the brackets is a strong light-emitting diode(LED). From it comes UV light.
And here's the interesting part: The power that makes the UV light shine comes from opening and closing the door. The power from the door is then carried by wire to the LED inside the door handle.
The door handle system, Michael and Simon say, might cost no more than about $13(about 81 yuan) to build.
1. The ways diseases spread are mentioned at the beginning of the text to ______.| A．explain how most diseases are spread directly |
| B．explain how to kill bacteria or viruses effectively |
| C．introduce a new invention that can kill germs |
| D．remind readers of the importance of cleaning their hands |
| A．is too expensive for ordinary families | B．works better at night than in the daytime |
| C．is powered by the movement of its users | D．is made of a metal that can take in UV light |
| A．produce titanium dioxide to kill bacteria |
| B．supply enough power to the handle system |
| C．direct the UV light in sunlight to the coated surface |
| D．provide UV light to help titanium dioxide work better |
| A．Careful | B．Negative | C．Disappointed | D．Supportive |
【推荐3】Creativity can seem like magic. We look at people like Steve Jobs and Bob Dylan, and we conclude that they must possess supernatural powers.
Let’s start with the hardest problems.
But this raises an obvious question: If different kinds of creative problems benefit from different kinds of creative thinking, how can we ensure that we’re thinking in the right way at the right time? When should we daydream and go for a relaxing stroll, and when should we keep on sketching and toying with possibilities?
Steve Jobs famously declared that “Creativity is just connecting things”.
| A．But creativity is not magic. |
| B．Every creative story is different. |
| C．It’s just a matter of getting the answer out. |
| D．Such problems are typically solved in a moment of insight. |
| E．Actually human minds can assess the right kind of creativity. |
| F．The most unbelievable concepts are combinations of existing stuff. |
| G．They also explain why a major breakthrough happens in the unlikeliest place. |
【推荐1】“Keep your eyes on the ball.” That is good advice when you are on the playing field, and good advice for everyday life. “Keep your mind on what’s important,” is the way I’d put it. But people are funny. They think too much about the details.
I had a secretary once. She was very hardworking. I ran a school and people used to call up to enroll for courses. Berry used to get angry at the phone. “If they keep on ringing, I’ll never get my typing done!” she’d shout.
People just don’t see the big picture. One evening, after leaving work, I was sitting next to a man on the train. I was feeling tired. My eyes fell on the paper he had spread out in front of him. You know how you feel to read over someone’s shoulder?
I read the page and leaned back. I guessed I was waiting for him to turn it. After a while, I realized—he wasn’t turning the page. He just kept on reading.
Now if you knew the page he was reading, you’d know that there weren’t many words on the page to read anyway. The layout was mostly pictures. So I turned to the man and said,” You know, you really read very slowly.”
“What do you mean?” he asked. “Well,” I told him, “I read the page in about a minute, and you have taken about ten. And you are still reading. You know,” I went on “If you learned to read faster, you could get more reading done.” He remained silent for a minute or two. “If I read too fast, my paper wouldn’t last me to my station.”
1. The writer wasn’t satisfied with his secretary because ___.| A．she didn’t put first thing first | B．she was too busy |
| C．she was easy to get angry | D．she couldn’t finish her work on time |
| A．take in information | B．enjoy pictures |
| C．save time | D．kill time |
| A．what to read first | B．how to read fast |
| C．what is important | D．what is funny |
【推荐2】Researchers say they have found a new species of tropical fish during an expedition (探险) to remote islands off the Pacific coast of Mexico. Named the tailspot wrasse (尾斑隆头鱼), the colorful species was found living among volcanic rocks in the waters surrounding the Revillagigedo Archipelago — an island system known as the “Mexican Galapagos” for its vast marine biodiversity. The discovery was officially penned into the scientific record on Tuesday with the publication of a paper on the species in the journal PeerJ.
“I can’t believe that we can still find species that are new to science in a place where people are visiting pretty regularly — it just shows how big and complex the world is,” said UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s Ben Frable, who was one of the scientists in the expedition.
Based on the samples examined by Frable and the rest of the team, the species ranges in size from about an inch long to nearly six inches, Scripps said. They are also believed to be hermaphroditic (雌雄同体的), beginning life as female with some later changing to male.
The smaller female fish are mostly white with red stripes on top and black patches on their back fin. The male fish are described by Frable as having an orange-red up top fading to a yellow belly with a dark band at the base of the tail.
According to Scripps, researchers believe they are related to other fish in the wrasse family. However, the species are believed to be endemic, meaning it cannot be found anywhere else on Earth.
Located just 250 miles south of the Baja California peninsula, the Revillagigedo islands are well-known for their abundance of marine life, in part due to protections that prevent fishing in the area.
1. What does Frable think of the discovery of the new fish species?| A．Interesting. | B．Amazing. | C．Boring. | D．Frightening. |
| A．Its living habits. | B．Its physical features. |
| C．Its size and color. | D．Its protection efforts. |
| A．It’s unique to the area. |
| B．It feeds on volcanic rocks. |
| C．It has no relation to other fish species. |
| D．It’s the smallest fish species in the area. |
| A．To record a meaningful expedition. |
| B．To call on people to protect marine life. |
| C．To share the discovery of a new fish species. |
| D．To show gratitude to the established scientists. |
【推荐3】Most environmental pollution on Earth comes from humans and their inventions, such as cars or plastic. Today, car emissions (排放物) are a major source of air pollution leading to climate change, and plastics fill our ocean, creating a significant health issue to marine (海洋的) animals.
And what about the electric light, thought to be one of the greatest human inventions of all time? Electric light can be a beautiful thing, guiding us home when the sun goes down, keeping us safe and making our homes bright. However, like carbon dioxide emissions and plastic, too much of a good thing has started to impact the environment. Light pollution, the inappropriate use of outdoor light, is affecting human health, wildlife behavior and our ability to observe stars.
Light pollution is a global issue. This became obvious when the World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness, a computer-generated map based on thousands of satellite photos, was published in 2016. Available online for viewing, the map shows how and where our globe is lit up at night. Vast areas of North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia are glowing (发光) with light, while only the most remote regions on Earth (Greenland, Central African Republic and Niue) are in total darkness. Some of the most light-polluted countries in the world are Singapore, Qatar, and Kuwait.
Sky glow is the brightening of the night sky, mostly over cities, due to the electric lights of cars, streetlamps, offices, factories, outdoor advertising, and buildings, turning night into day for people who work and play long after sunset.
People living in cities with high levels of sky glow have a hard time seeing more than a handful of stars at night. Astronomers are particularly concerned with sky glow pollution as it reduces their ability to view stars.
More than 80 percent of the world’s population, and 99 percent of Americans and Europeans, live under sky glow.
1. What can we learn from paragraph 2?| A．Electric light is the greatest human invention. |
| B．The use of outdoor light must be forbidden. |
| C．Electric light is the main factor to keep us safe. |
| D．Electric light has both advantages and disadvantages. |
| A．Qatar. | B．Kuwait. | C．Niue. | D．Singapore. |
| A．Sky glow costs too much. | B．Sky glow has a bad effect on their sleep. |
| C．Sky glow wastes too much electricity. | D．Sky glow affects their viewing stars. |
| A．Different kinds of pollution | B．Plastic pollution |
| C．Air pollution | D．Light pollution |
【推荐1】Millions of visitors travel to North Carolina’s Outer Banks to enjoy miles of sand, surf, food, music and sporting events.
Outer Banks Seafood Festival
Designed to bring fishermen closer to the people they feed, the three-day festival is a family-friendly event that allows visitors to step into the local fishing culture. Then cheer on the locals in the Fish House Olympics, where competitions include the fish catching, fish packing and netcasting. Friday night is the festival’s opening party, where you can enjoy local foods, all while listening to local artists perform.
Outer Banks Taste of the Beach
The festival gives visitors four days to celebrate the independent restaurant culture of the Outer Banks in more than 70 events over the weekend. Customize your journey with beer castings, wine classes, restaurant tours, cooking classes and BBQ competitions. Tickets for the next Taste go on sale in December.
Wings over Water Wildlife Festival
The festival connects visitors with many outdoor adventures. Bird watchers will be impressed with the more than 300 species of birds, and there is a variety of other wildlife to enjoy while taking boat or canoe tours, nature photography lessons or hiking trips. There are over 70 tours and classes over six days, so be sure to make reservations ahead of time and schedule no more than 2 trips a day.
Triple S Invitational
The Triple S Invitational — which stands for Surf, Slicks and Sliders — started in 2006 in Cape Hatteras. This event draws world-class kiteboarders from over a dozen countries to compete in ten events throughout the first week in June as more than 10,000 people watch. Make sure to check out the competitions on the world’s largest slider park for kiteboarding.
1. What can tourists do at Outer Banks Seafood Festival?| A．Sing with many local artists. | B．Perform at the opening party. |
| C．Experience the local fishers’ life. | D．Join in the competition of fish catching. |
| A．Buying the tickets online. | B．Hunting for birds in the tour. |
| C．Booking tours in advance. | D．Learning boating before going there. |
| A．Triple S Invitational. | B．Outer Banks Seafood Festival. |
| C．Outer Banks Taste of the Beach. | D．Wings over Water Wildlife Festival. |
【推荐2】How Room Designs Affect Our Work and Feelings
Architects have long had the feeling that the places we live in can affect our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. But now scientists are giving this feeling an empirical（经验的，实证的） basis. They are discovering how to design spaces that promote creativity, keep people focused and lead to relaxation.
Researches show that aspects of the physical environment can influence creativity. In 2007, Joan Meyers-Levy at the University of Minnesota, reported that the height of a room's ceiling affects how people think. Her research indicates that higher ceilings encourage people to think more freely, which may lead them to make more abstract connections. Low ceilings, on the other hand, may inspire a more detailed outlook.
In additions to ceiling height, the view afforded by a building may influence an occupant's ability to concentrate. Nancy Wells and her colleagues at Cornell University found in their study that kids who experienced the greatest increase in greenness as a result of a family move made the most gains on a standard test of attention.
Using nature to improve focus of attention ought to pay off academically, and it seems to, according to a study led by C. Kenneth Tanner, head of the School Design & Planning Laboratory at the University of Georgia. Tanner and his team found that students in classrooms with unblocked views of at least 50 feet outside the window had higher scores on tests of vocabulary, language arts and maths than did students whose classrooms primarily overlooked roads and parking lots.
Recent study on room lighting design suggests than dim（暗淡的） light helps people to loosen up. If that is true generally, keeping the light low during dinner or at parties could increase relaxation. Researchers of Harvard Medical School also discovered that furniture with rounded edges could help visitors relax.
So far scientists have focused mainly on public buildings. "We have a very limited number of studies, so we're almost looking at the problem through a straw（吸管）," architect David Allison says. "How do you take answers to very specific questions and make broad, generalized use of them? That's what we're all struggling with."
1. What does Joan Meyers-Levy focus on in her research?| A．Light. | B．Ceilings. | C．Windows. | D．Furniture. |
| A．the shape of furniture may affect people's feelings |
| B．lower ceilings may help improve students' creativity |
| C．children in a dim classroom may improve their grades |
| D．students in rooms with unblocked views may feel relaxed |
| A．the problem is not approached step by step |
| B．the researches so far have faults in themselves |
| C．the problem is too difficult for researchers to detect |
| D．research in this area is not enough to make generalized patterns |
CP: Central Point P: Point SP: Sub-point（次要点） C: Conclusion
A． | B． | C． | D． |
【推荐3】The Best Silk Road Tour
Silk Road, a business and trade route, originates from the ancient China and connects with the Asian, African and European countries. Our well-designed Silk Road tour package will never let you down.
Departure City: Shanghai
Guide&Driver: English-speaking guide, experienced driver with an air-conditioned vehicle
Meals:12 western buffet breakfasts, 6 lunches with some being a la carte (点菜)style
Tour Highlights:
●Must-see sights in China-Terracotta Warriors, Famen Temple,Dunhuang Mogao Caves, Maiji Caves, Jiayuguan Pass and Mutianyu Great Wall
●Trace back to the Silk Road of 2,000 years ago& learn about the culture and history
●Marvel at the art treasure—Mogao Caves&enjoy an exciting camel riding in the Gobi Desert
We Guarantee 100% No Shopping Stops!
Tour Prices
| Tour Prices with Luxury Hotels | ||
| 2-3 travelers | 4-5 travelers | 6-9travelers |
| $3749 | $3299 | $2939 |
| Tour Prices with Standard Hotels | ||
| 2-3 travelers | 4-5 travelers | 6-9travelers |
| $3479 | $3029 | $2669 |
●Prices are per person in US Dollars.
●Any parts of the tour length, activities or hotels can be tailored to your individual interests.
Are you ready to follow the footsteps of the ancients to explore this mysterious land now?
1. What will people do on the tour?| A．Appreciate the ancient heritage. |
| B．Ride on camels all the way. |
| C．Stay a few nights in caves. |
| D．Do a lot of shopping. |
| A．A Beijing businessman good at golf. |
| B．A Japanese model loving fashion. |
| C．A Yunnan biologist interested in birds. |
| D．An American student learning history. |
| A．$10437 | B．$3749 | C．$3299 | D．$11247 |
