【推荐1】For millions of people sitting in a traffic jam or standing on a crowded train, the daily commute (通勤) probably isn’t the best part of their day. But cars and trains aren’t the only travel options.

For those who have a short commute, you could consider getting an electric bike or scooter. An electric scooter has the advantage of being highly portable (轻便的): small and light enough to carry to your office. You’ll just need to check if they are allowed to be used in your area.

Take RYNO for example. It’s a single-wheel electric scooter, whose highest speed is about that of a bicycle. And like other electric vehicles, it can be charged anywhere.

If you want transportation for short distances, the WalkCar might be perfect for you.

The WalkCar looks like a laptop and only weighs three kilograms. It’s also incredibly easy to use — stand on it and it will start to move; move your weight to one side and it will change direction. The WalkCar will take you at a speed of up to 10 kilometers per hour and can travel 12 kilometers on one charge.

Weighing around 200 kilograms, jetpacks aren’t exactly portable, but they’re sure to have a lot of fun and attract a lot of attention. Running on petrol, the jet engines allow the user to lift off the ground and fly in the air.

The world’s first jetpack is the Martin Jetpack. Once you’ve attached this tiny personal jet plane onto your back, you’ll be able to travel up to 50 kilometers at a height of 1,000 meters. With a price tag of about $150,000, this is probably the most expensive option, but it will almost certainly be the coolest!

【推荐2】The Most Bicycle Friendly Countries Around the World

Denmark

Cycling is a hugely popular means of transport and a way to see the country in Denmark. In fact, across the country you’ll find huge networks of cycle paths where no motorized vehicles (机动车辆)can go, so you can feel safe while riding your bike. Because of this cycling has become one of the main tourist attractions and activities in Denmark, particularly when it Comes to exploring the beautiful capital city of Copenhagen.

Norway

Because of the popularity of cycling here, you’ll find plenty of bicycle parking and public rentals (出租), so you can simply get a bike and go as you explore the country. Much like Denmark, the dedicated (专用的) bike lanes do not allow for cars or motorised vehicles to enter them.

The Netherlands

In the Netherlands the government prefer bikes to cars and encourage people to travel by bike as much as possible. If you’re a tourist visiting big cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam, you can easily hire a bike and explore. There are bike lanes (and bikes) everywhere, they even have their own sets of traffic lights. Much like driving, there are strict rules for cycling in the country and these must obey.

Sweden

While it can get very cold there in the winter, cycling is still enjoyed year-round and the country develops a cycling culture that encourages people to use bikes as their primary means of transport. For this reason, there are supportive measures in place and plenty of places to rent a bike from. Many travel Sweden’s beautiful cities on two wheels, Stockholm, in particular, is a great place to explore on a bike.

What’s more, cycling is so big there that they have pump stations for deflated (泄气的) tires and bicycle-only parking. The use of electric bikes is also becoming more popular here.

【推荐1】Walking through an airport is never easy. Now imagine doing it if you were blind. That’s the challenge faced by Chieko Asakawa, a computer scientist. Asakawa often flies between the US and Japan. If traveling alone, she has to be helped at both ends of the flight, which sometimes includes endless waiting. In order to search for a better way, Asakawa has invented a high-tech suitcase that helps get her to the destination with no risk and without difficulty.

Packed with cameras and sensors, the suitcase uses artificial intelligence to map the environment around it. A mobile phone app is used to design a computer program of a destination into the suitcase, which plans a route and directs the user through vibrations(震动) in its handle. The suitcase also features facial recognition technology, which can inform the user if a friend is nearby. It can also flag shops and other places of interest nearby and direct the user to them if necessary.

As a keen runner, Asakawa had Olympic dreams as a child, but a swimming accident at age 11 caused her to gradually lose her sight. As an adult she is already thinking about developing accessibility technology. “I never relax when I travel alone,” she says. “I always think about what technology will help me travel more easily, quicker and more comfortably.” It was this restlessness that led to the AI suitcase.

The suitcase has other applications and could be used to help visually impaired people navigate(导航) cities, while its object-recognition technology can be used to identify colors—useful when buying clothes. Perhaps its best benefit is that it allows users to devote mental energy to other things. With AI providing space awareness, a blind person can do many other things: take a call or listen to the birds. Public spaces become places to be enjoyed, not just navigated. “It will open up many doors for blind people, because we’d be able to go anywhere by ourselves,” says Asakawa. The technology will naturally develop, she predicts, as components(组件) become smaller, lighter and more powerful.

Without new technology, we wouldn’t change our society. A smart suitcase is a great showcase for how AI and technology can change the lives of people with visual disabilities.

【推荐2】Baidu, a Chinese search engine and artificial intelligence firm, announced its latest electric autonomous driving vehicle, Apollo RT6, on Thursday. The new vehicle is a fully electric vehicle with a steering wheel (方向盘) that can be removed when not required. It will cost ¥250,000 per unit.

“The steering-wheel-free design allows more space for extra seating or other additions and the massive cost reduction will enable us to put tens of thousands of autonomous vehicles into operation across China,” Robin Li, co-founder and CEO of Baidu, said at the firm's Baidu World Conference Thursday. “We are moving towards a future where taking a robotaxi will be half the cost of taking a taxi today.”

Baidu already runs Apollo Go and Apollo Moon, taxi services using self-driving robotaxis with safety staff seated in the driver or passenger seat. They have been in operation in big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, although the service is limited to specific areas. The new vehicle will soon join those robotaxis.

The RT6 has reached the industry's Level 4 out of five possible levels of technology. That means its systems can operate without a driver but must be pre-loaded with a detailed map, thus limiting the areas where the vehicles can operate. Lower levels of self-driving technology have been available for decades. For example, many Level-3 vehicles allow hands-free highway driving. Other kinds of self-driving robot vehicles are already widely used in factories warehouses and other tightly controlled settings.

Compared to previous generations where the technology was mainly used on conventional vehicles, the Apollo RT6 was designed specifically with fully autonomous driving in mind.

Baidu is best known for its search engine and online advertising services, but in recent years it has invested heavily in autonomous driving and artificial intelligence technology, including automated personal assistants and AI chips.

【推荐1】Mother Nature never fails to surprise us with something extraordinary and unusual from time to time. There will always be news about something completely different that will surely grab eyeballs.

Blood Falls (Antarctica)

As the name suggests, Blood Falls is a waterfall which shoots blood-red water into a river. The sight is a perfect backdrop for a horror film; mysterious and of course bloody. Previously, red algae (红藻) were believed to cause the water to change its colour and turn blood-red. Until 2017, the true origin of the so-called blood was revealed to be oxidized iron in saltwater.

Frozen Bubbles (Canada)

Impressive yet a dangerous sight, frozen bubbles (气泡) can be seen in winters at Abraham Lake in Canada. The phenomenon occurs when methane (甲烷) gas gets trapped underwater, freezes, and forms other-worldly visuals. Such a large amount of methane trapped is highly risky. So even a lit match nearby can cause a giant explosion.

Hidden Beach (Mexico)  

Located only a few miles off Mexico’s coast, the hidden beach was caused by an explosion by the Mexican Government as part of target practice. The beach is now every lover’s dream destination. To get there, you must ride an hour-long boat. Once you land on the island, you have to travel through the waters to reach there.

Sky Mirror (Malaysia)

During the new moon and full moon periods, tourist can see a clear reflection of the sky in the waters of Sasaran Beach. This natural phenomenon occurs because the tides are the lowest during these days. The smooth sand and minimal water level create such an incredible sight. Also known as the “Mirror of the Sky”, this shallow water beach is an amazing place to click pictures and thus a perfect travel destination.