【推荐3】Sunglasses that can record videos

Snapchat, the popular social media app that allows users to share photos or short videos, or “snaps”, has taken the world by storm since its launch in 2011. Now, the company has done it again with the release of Snapchat Spectacles-stylish sunglasses that can record short videos.

To begin recording, the user taps a button on the left hand comer of the sunglasses. However, the camera can only record a 10-second-long video at a time.

The recording can be instantly downloaded to an Android phone or iPhone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and shared with friends and family through the Snapchat app. If a user does not have access to a phone, the film remains stored in the sunglasses.

To recharge the camera’s battery, the user simply places the Spectacles back into the bright yellow sunglasses case that comes with the purchase. What’s great is that the portable case can store enough power to charge the sunglasses up to four times, before the case itself needs recharging.

The Snapchat Spectacles, which were released on November 10, 2016, are priced at $ 130. While not cheap, they are a bargain when compared to Google Glasses, which cost $ 1, 500. But before you rush out to get yourself a pair, be warned that they are a little hard to find. For the past few weeks, the Snapchat Spectacles could only be bought in select American cities with limited stock.

On November 21, the company established its first semi-permanent storefront in New York City. Those wishing to obtain a pair or two (the maximum allowed) have to be prepared for a long wait. Judging from the over 500 people that patiently lined up outside the store long before it opened, Snapchat Spectacles’ fans do not appear to mind! Most probably the glasses will rank high on Christmas wish lists this year.

【推荐1】Iron Cooks

Robots have arrived in American restaurants and hotels for the same reasons they first arrived on factory floors.     1     Labor, meanwhile, is getting expensive, as some cities and states pass laws raising the minimum wage.

“We think we’ve hit the point where labor-wage rates are now making automation of those tasks make a lot more sense,” Bob Wright, the chief operations officer of the fast-food chain Wendy’s, said in a conference call with investors last February, referring to jobs that feature “repetitive production tasks.” Wendy’s and McDonald’s are in the process of installing self-service kiosks in locations across the country, allowing customers to order without ever talking to an employee.

    2     The international chain CaliBurger, for example, will soon install Flippy, a robot that can make 150 burgers an hour. John Miller, the CEO of Cali Group, which owns the chain, says employees don’t like working in the kitchen. Once the robots are sweating there, human employees will be free to interact with customers in more-targeted ways, bringing them extra napkins and asking them how they’re enjoying their burgers.

How many employees, though, do you need working in the café?     3     Will companies like CaliBurger see sufficient value in employing human greeters and soup-and-sandwich deliverers to keep those positions around long-term?

The experience of Eatsa may be instructive. The start-up restaurant, based in San Francisco, allows customers to order its quinoa bowls and salads on their smartphone or an in-store tablet and then pick up their order from a white wall of cubbies — an Automat for the app age. Initially, two greeters were stationed alongside the cubbies to welcome and direct customers.     4     So the company now employs a single greeter in its restaurants.

【推荐3】Accompanied by the background sounds of Chinese traditional instruments, Yuanxi — China Daily’s digital employee — introduced the 9,000-year-old stone carvings (岩画) from the Helan Mountains in Northwest China’s Ningxia Hui autonomous region on Oct 14.

The meeting between the virtual human and Chinese traditional culture is quite interesting,” an internet user commented on Sina Weibo.

With the rise of the metaverse (元宇宙), virtual humans have become a growing phenomenon in China. According to a research report by QbitAI, it is estimated that the overall market size of China’s virtual humans will reach 270 billion yuan by 2030.

Though they are not real, these virtual beings share similar identities with us and serve in different fields of our daily lives, including education, broadcasting, and business. For example, in June 2021, Hua Zhibing, a virtual human who can write poetry, was officially registered as a student at Tsinghua University. Throughout the 2022 Winter Olympics, China’s first AI sign language presenter served hearing-impaired (有听力障碍的) audiences 24/7.

Due to their perfect image and interesting setups, some virtual humans even get a large number of fans and become idols in real life. Luo Tianyi is one of them. As a virtual singer, Luo has over 5 million followers on Sina Weibo. When she held a concert in Shanghai in 2018, more than 10,000 fans waved glow sticks and cheered for her. Gao Yu, a fan of Luo, told Economic Information Daily that “just like chasing human idols, Luo’s fans also hold birthday parties for her and buy the products she promotes.”

While the future of virtual humans seems promising, problems also lurk (隐藏着) underneath. As the novelty wears off, some followers are getting tired of virtual humans’ never-changing expressions. “No matter how lifelike these virtual influencers look, they’re still not real people. It’s a little scary,” Gigi You, 23, from Guangdong, told Insider. Studies also showed that their “perfect” face and “perfect” life which humans are unable to achieve can also trigger (引发) anxiety and depression in individuals.

Generally speaking, virtual humans are often seen as the gateway to the metaverse and have demonstrated financial potential, but there’s still a lot of room for development, reported Xinhua.

【推荐2】Getting Around on Campus

Thanks to the sunny weather and wide campus, bicycles are one of the most popular means of transportation at Stanford. There are over 12,000 bikes on campus, as well as the full service Campus Bike Shop at Tresidder Union.

To make it safer for walkers and cyclists, the University has designed the center of campus a pedestrian zone; four wheeled vehicles are not allowed. You can ride your bike anywhere on the Stanford campus except in the arcades(拱廊) around the Main Quad, which are reserved for foot traffic.

Some Things to Keep in Mind.

·Register your bike. Whether you purchase a bicycle at Stanford or bring one from home, you must register it with Santa Clara County. You can register your bike:

1. During registration events in White Plaza during New Student Orientation;

2. Online at Parking and Transportation Services (P&TS) website.

·Buy a bicycle lock such as a Kryptonite U-lock and a six-foot cable or chain. Bicycle theft is the most common campus crime, and most bikes that are stolen are locked with easy-to-cut cables. If you lose your bike lock key, call the Campus Bike Shop at (650) 723-9300 to have the lock cut for a fee.

·Park your bike in designed spaces. Be sure not to block a pathway, building entrance, or ramp intended for use by people with disabilities. The Department of Public Safety may remove and impound improperly parked bikes.

·Use a bike light if you are riding at night, and you are advised to wear a helmet at all times. P&TS gives out free bike lights during registration events; the Campus Bike Shop sells highquality helmets for $20.

·Follow traffic laws. Bicyclists are expected to obey the same traffic laws as automobile drivers and may be ticketed if they do not. To avoid a ticket, stop at all stop signs, ride in the direction of traffic, and use the same turn lanes as other drivers. The Bicycling Information section of the P&TS website has additional information on biking at Stanford, including bicycle route maps. You also can learn more about Bicycle Rules and Safety at the California Department of Motor Vehicles website.

【推荐3】Now that the holiday is coming, there is no doubt that it’s relaxing to watch a movie. Here we have chosen three exciting movies for you. Let’s take a look!

Chibi Maruke Chan: The Fantastic Notebook

Anime (动画)’s favorite third-grade schoolgirl is about to make the jump from 2D to 3D. Early 2022, Chibi Maruko-chan will star in her own feature film.

Maruko will jump out of her everyday life and travel on a mysterious adventure in a new world of fantasy, according to Sakura Production. “We delightedly expect everyone to enjoy the charming world of Maruko in the movie.”

Turning Red

This movie is a story based on a girl Mei Lee’s changing emotions. Mei is a Chinese-Canadian teenager. As she starts adolescence, an ancient curse put on her family means that every time she has a sudden outburst of feelings, something strange happens she turns into a giant fluffy red panda.

The message of the movie is that you don’t have to push emotions away or get rid of them to be considered a good girl or a good woman. The key is, to be yourself and be able to own your emotions.

Only Fools Rush In

The movie tells the story of a motorcycle enthusiast living in an island town. After falling in love with a waitress, he approaches her and joins her drama-prone brother’s motorcycle team, competing in local races. But their lives are turned upside down after an accident, then, the innocent young man and his girlfriend, has to go on a motorcycle road trip to Guangzhou where they end up drifting in the city as they struggle to deal with their difficult situation.