Our pick of the month’s smartest tech
Opal Tadpole webcam
Marketed as the world’s first portable webcam, the Opal Tadpole is tiny and surprisingly affordable. Despite its small size, the camera features a directional mic that blocks surrounding noise, and offers an unexpectedly high-quality 4K camera. It can be clipped on top of any laptop and taken anywhere.
Humane AI PinThis device will seem familiar to any keen-eyed readers. Currently, it’s hard to tell if this is revolutionary or just a trend that won’t last the year. The Humane AI Pin is a device to replace your smartphone, offering an Al assistant, camera and a display that lights up on your hand. The aim is to decrease dependence on a smartphone, so you can make calls, text, check maps and do all your phone tasks in an easier way.
TranscribeGlassA smart pair of glasses with one single purpose: to record your thoughts. Designed for deaf people or those who are hard of hearing, they use a small microphone to pick up voices. Whether it’s from a conversation, a video or a museum tour, the glasses will automatically record voices and display subtitles in front of your eyes. It all happens in real time and, according to the company, is highly accurate.
CMF by Nothing Watch ProCMF is all about making popular tech more affordable. The Watch Pro costs an impressively low £69. Most competitors at that price are somewhat limited, but CMF has managed to create something that looks like the Apple Watch, while offering a lot of the same features. Sure, it isn’t quite as powerful, or feature-packed, but for this price it’s impressive what they’ve managed to cram into it.
1. What is the main purpose of the Humane AI Pin device?| A．To restrict teenagers’ screentime. | B．To reduce reliance on smartphones. |
| C．To maximize smartphones’ portability. | D．To enhance smartphones’ performance. |
| A．TranscribeGlass. | B．Humane AI Pin. |
| C．Opal Tadpole webcam. | D．CMF by Nothing Watch Pro. |
| A．Their unique designs. | B．Their affordable prices. |
| C．Their limited functions. | D．Their high-quality cameras. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Sony has a new device for anyone who’s ever wished they could carry their air conditioner on hot summer days.
Called Reon Pocket, the small, lightweight gadget slides into the upper back pocket of a specially designed T-shirt. Controlled with a smart phone app, it’s capable of heating or cooling the wearer via the Peltier effect, a thermodynamic principle widely used in refrigeration.
The Reon Pocket comes out of Sony’s startup acceleration program, and Sony is currently crowdfunding (众筹) the device. Supporters can choose from a few different packages, if they want multiple T-shirts for instance, but a basic one including the device and one shirt costs ￥14, 080. There’s a catch, though: Sony only has plans to release the Reon Pocket in Japan at present.
According to a spokesperson, the target audience is mostly businessmen who have to wear a suit in the summer, though the company says it will judge its wider relevance based on the crowdfunding results. Right now, though, the T-shirts available come in men’s sizes, small, medium, or large.
The device is not really for all-day use so much as moving between air-conditioned or heated areas, such as during the commute to work. The battery takes around two hours to charge and lasts about 90 minutes.
With the Reon Pocket, Sony joins the ranks of those working on temperature-regulating clothing. On the more tech-forward end are examples such as French label Courreges, which debuted coats with built-in heaters a few years ago, and the US Army, which is experimenting with conductive fabrics that can generate heat in extreme cold. More commonplace examples include Uniqlo, which has been successful with its Heattech and Airism underlayers, and a number of brands making shirts meant to offer the comfort and sweat-wicking properties of athletic wear.
In a blog post from Sony’s startup accelerator, Yoichi Ito, a project leader on Reon Pocket, said people have become increasingly focused on functionality and comfort in their clothing. In 2017, his team started thinking of ways they could blend technology with fashion to reach those goals. Reon Pocket was the result.
Japanese buyers looking to battle the record heat this summer will have to wait, though. If the crowdfunding is successful, deliveries of the device are scheduled to begin in March 2020.
1. What is necessary to make it possible for Reon Pocket to work?| A．Wearers’ using the Peltier effect. |
| B．A T-shirt and a special smartphone. |
| C．A hot summer day and a special pocket. |
| D．A special T-shirt and a smartphone app. |
| A．Benefit. | B．Popularity. | C．Disadvantage. | D．Capture. |
| A．The device battery is not efficient enough. |
| B．The T-shirt for the gadget is too expensive. |
| C．Crowdfunding is not decided at the moment. |
| D．The T-shirt is not available for both men and women. |
| A．Functionality and comfort in clothing are increasingly appealing. |
| B．Reon Pocket will come into the market in March 2020 at all events. |
| C．Sony is the first company to invent the temperature-regulating clothing. |
| D．The comfort and sweat-wicking properties of athletic wear helps athletes to win. |
【推荐2】In mid-2019, an Indonesian design team submitted a plan to an international design competition for a new type of submarine (潜艇). It wasn't designed for military purposes or for exploring the ocean. The main purpose of this submarine was to create ice blocks to replace sea ice in the Polar Regions.
In the summer months of 2019, a massive heat wave shocked Europe and broke a number of high temperature records. As the hot air moved north over the Arctic, the ice sheet covering Greenland melted at an unexpected rate. Ice melt at the poles is normal in the summer months. Lost ice is often regained by refreezing in winter. But the fast melting rate could mean a permanent loss of polar ice, which would have global consequences.
Dealing with such a large-scale problem requires large-scale solutions. While many solutions look at reducing the greenhouse gases, few are aimed at repairing the effects of climate change. The ice-making submarine proposed to do just that.
The ice-making submarine's basic design involves forming a large hexagonal (六边形的) ice block of roughly 25 meters across and 5 meters thick. A large container in the submarine would be filled when submerged under water. Then the slow process of desalination (脱盐) and freezing would begin. After about a month, the submarine would discharge (卸下) the ice block and begin the process all over again. The overall vision would be to have multiple submarines working together, so that the hexagonal blocks could be pushed together to form a single large ice sheet.
The design was beautifully presented and won second place. However, the science behind the design came under criticism. One criticism was how the massive amounts of energy needed to desalinate and freeze the water would be provided. Another was that the amount of heat generated by the freezing process would result in a net warming effect. Additionally, the ice would be too thin to stay frozen for a significant amount of time. The designers couldn't sufficiently answer many of the scientific criticisms. Their inventive idea does, however, indicate the need for creative solutions in repairing the loss of polar ice.
1. The ice-making submarine was designed to ________.| A．explore the ocean | B．achieve military purposes |
| C．record rates of melting polar ice | D．make up for the decrease of polar ice |
| A．the limitation of the new design | B．the process of making ice blocks |
| C．the features of the ice-making submarines | D．the challenges that the designers encountered |
| A．The design introduces a unique angle for dealing with climate crisis. |
| B．The designers are confident about the effectiveness of the submarine. |
| C．The lost ice can be regained by refreezing in spite of fast melting rate. |
| D．The ice-making submarine is one of the solutions to reduce greenhouse gases. |
| A．doubtful | B．disapproving | C．supportive | D．unconcerned |
【推荐3】Recently, engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have designed a new running robot that operates on batteries and will soon be able to run like cheetahs, the fastest land animals on Earth. It is light enough with the weight of 30 kilograms. It runs on batteries. Sangbae Kim, director of the MIT Biomimetics Robotics Lab, says the robot needs only about 700 watts of power to operate.
The robot’s limbs( 四 肢 ) and other parts were made in a three dimensional--or 3D printer. A strong, light-weight plastic material called Kevlar is used to make the robot parts stronger. Kevlar is used for modern military helmets and protective body clothing.
“The frame has to be very light and very stiff , so we designed this frame to handle these high forces and the high shock.” Mr. Kim says another special feature is the motor controller. His team at MIT designed it themselves, he says, because no other available products could handle the robots power requirements.
But the development of MITS robot is not without its own set of problems. When supporting a great amount of force, the robot’s limbs sometimes break.
Researchers say the new technologies used on this robot may be used in the making of artificial climbs and other machines. Some of those machines may help save humans from performing difficult and dangerous jobs.
1. Which is not the main characters of the new robot?| A．Saving energy. | B．Light weight. |
| C．Smart mind. | D．Running faster. |
| A．solid and stiff. | B．stable and light. |
| C．light and strong. | D．modern and helpful. |
| A．Its limbs are too weak to support any weight. |
| B．Its limbs cannot bear a great amount of force. |
| C．Its motor controller could not handle the robot's power requirements. |
| D．Its design could not handle high forces and the high shock. |
| A．A travel guide. | B．A textbook. |
| C．A fashion magazine. | D．A science newspaper. |
【推荐1】On Tuesday, the Amazon Company introduced Amazon One, which connects your palm (手掌)print to a stored credit card so you can place your hand above a sensor to enter and leave easily after buying at checkout-free Amazon（AMZN）Go stores.
Dilip Kumar, Amazon’s vice president told CNN Business that Amazon One had been used since long before the COVID-19. But the timing could be a positive for Amazon: Customers may find such payment convenient, and businesses also find it hopeful.
Yet the use of the Amazon One could raise eyebrows, too. Amazon has once come under fire from people who care about its facial-recognition software. When it comes to Amazon One data. Kumar said all palm pictures are coded and Amazon stores them online.
“I encourage people to try it, see how they like the experience,” Kumar said. You can hold your palm above an Amazon One scanner to enter the store. Then, anything you take will be automatically (自动地) charged to the credit card connected to their palm. Amazon One will make shopping faster and more convenient. Before trying it, users must place a credit card in an Amazon One device and hold a palm above it, facing down, so it can be scanned. The camera in it takes many pictures of the fine lines of the palm, and catches some details, which can’t be seen in typical photographs.
Amazon One now can be bought at two of the Amazon Go stores in Seattle, at 7th Avenue and Blanchard Street, and in the South Lake Union neighborhood.
1. Why is Amazon One introduced?| A．To ensure the safety. | B．To have a test. |
| C．To see credit cards. | D．To pay easily. |
| A．Being quite hot. | B．Receiving ill comments. |
| C．Getting on fire. | D．Gaining wide recognition. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Objective. | C．Supportive. | D．Unclear. |
| A．Pay with your palm. | B．The Amazon Company. |
| C．Pay with your face. | D．Ways to attract customers. |
【推荐2】War is expensive and it is bloody. That is why America's Department of Defence wants to replace a third of its armed vehicles and weaponry with robots by2015. Such a change would save money, as robots can be much cheaper to replace than people. Just as importantly for the generals, it would make waging war less prey to the politics of body bags. Nobody mourns a robot.
The US military already routinely uses robotic aero planes known as unmanned aerial vehicles ( UAVs ). In November 2001 two missiles fared from a remote-controlled Predator UAV killed Mohammad Atef, al-Qaeda's chief of military operations and one of Osama bin Laden's most important associates, as he drove his car near Kabul. But whereas UAVs and their ground-based equivalents, such as the machinegun-toting Sword robots, are usually controlled by distant human operators, the Pentagon would like to give these robots increasing amounts of autonomy, including the ability to decide when to use lethal force.
To achieve this, Ronald Arkin of the Georgia Institute of Technology, in Atlanta, is developing a set of rules of engagement for battlefield robots to ensure that their use of lethal force follows the rules of ethics. In other words, he is trying to create an artificial conscience. Dr Arkin believes that there is another reason for putting robots into battle, which is that they have the potential to act more humanely than people. Stress does not affect a robot's judgment in the way it affects a soldier's.
His approach is to create what he calls a "multidimensional mathematical decision-space of possible behavior actions". Based on inputs ranging from radar data and current position to mission status and intelligence feeds, the system would divide the set of all possible actions into those that are ethical and those that are not. If, for example, the drone from which the fatal attack on Atef was launched had sensed that his car was overtaking a school bus, it might then have held fire.
There are comparisons to be drawn between Dr Arkin's work and the famous Three Laws of Robotics drawn up in the 1950s by Isaac Asimov, a science-fiction writer ,to govern robot behaviour. But whereas Asimov's laws were intended to prevent robots from harming people in any circumstances, Dr Arkin's are supposed to ensure only that they are not unethically killed.
This is an admirable goal in theory, but even if ethics can be neatly encoded into software, pitfalls remain. Although a completely rational robot might be unfazed by the chaos and confusion of the battlefield, it could still make mistakes. Surveillance and intelligence data can be wrong, and conditions and situations on the battlefield can change.
1. America’s military force wants to replace people with robots NOT because ________.| A．war cost a lot and it is bloody |
| B．people show sympathy for a person not a robot |
| C．. the armed vehicles and weapons are too expensive |
| D．the general would receive less criticism from the masses |
| A．Atef was killed by two missiles fired from a remote-controlled manned aerial vehicle. |
| B．The department of force already uses UAVs with relatively high autonomy. |
| C．The study done by Dr. Arkin is similar to Three Laws of Robotics. |
| D．In Arkin’s opinion, a soldier’s judgment can be affected but robot’s won’t. |
| A．Ronald Arkin is developing a set of rules to increase autonomy. |
| B．Ronald Arkin is making efforts to create an artificial conscience. |
| C．Atef was precisely bombed by a remote-controlled Predator UVA. |
| D．There are comparisons between Dr. Arkin’s work and Three Laws of Robotics. |
| A．His approach is an admirable goal and it can be realized. |
| B．Robot would fight without any mistakes in the battlefield. |
| C．Dr. Arkin’s approach is ethical and faultless. |
| D．Robots are not substitute for people in the battlefield. |
【推荐3】The first word on an ancient Roman scroll carbonized by Mount Vesuvius’ eruption in 79 C.E. has recently been decoded, opening the door to eventually decoding the rest of the texts which haven’t been read in the past 2,000 years.
The scroll, along with some 800 scrolls unearthed in the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum, looks more like a burnt log. It’s so fragile (易碎的) that it would fall apart if researchers tried to unroll it. Early attempts to unroll and read it caused irreversible (不可逆的) damage and no such attempts have been made since the 19th century.
Brent Seales, a computer scientist from the University of Kentucky has been perfecting CT scan technology to see what’s inside the scrolls without actually touching them, a process he calls “virtual unwrapping”. Because commonly the ink contains metal, it can be seen on Seales’ CT scans. Unfortunately, the Herculaneum scrolls were written in carbon-based ink made from charcoal (木炭) and water. When Seales scanned them, nothing appeared to the naked eye.
Earlier this year, Seales’ team launched “the Vesuvius Challenge”, encouraging people to use AI to further explore researchers’ scans. In early August, a contestant called Casey Handmer got a reward of $10,000 for being “the first person to find substantial, convincing evidence of ink within the unopened scrolls.” As a follow-up, a 21-year-old computer science student Luke Farritor drew inspiration from his discovery and created a machine-learning algorithm (算法) that identified ten clear letters spelled as the English word “purple”, marking the first dive into an unopened ancient book.
These discoveries are critical steps toward decoding the remaining unopened scrolls. “Some 95 percent of the material from this important philosophical periods of humanity is lost,” says Robert Fowler, a classicist at the University of Bristol. “Recovering them would transform our knowledge of the ancient world in ways we can hardly imagine. The impact could be as great as the rediscovery of manuscripts during the Renaissance,” he adds.
1. Which of the following can be the reason why the scroll has become fragile?| A．It was made of a burnt log. | B．It was unearthed 200 years ago. |
| C．It was unrolled by some researchers. | D．It was carbonized by a volcanic eruption. |
| A．Because the scrolls were wet with water. |
| B．Because the carbon-based ink dirtied the scrolls. |
| C．Because the writing material contained no metal. |
| D．Because virtual wrappers were touched by hands. |
| A．The influence of the research. | B．The further plans to unroll the scrolls. |
| C．The reason for launching the program. | D．The process of decoding the text with AI. |
| A．Imaginary. | B．Groundbreaking. | C．Conventional. | D．Unidentifiable. |
【推荐1】It is true that summer is hot. But here is something to make your day easier. Are you prepared? Meet the new AirFreez— an alternative to traditional Air Conditioners that cools you just the same!
How does it work?
It is surprisingly easy to set up! You just need to plug it into a socket（插座）OR any USB port （it uses so little energy that it can even run off of a phone or laptop battery）.
Once you have done that, simply fill it with 20oz/0. 6L of cold tap water.
Now just press the power button and the instant cool air is here!
What is so special about this little box?
It is no larger than a lunchbox. It can be powered by a pocket solar panel（电池板）or battery pack and you probably have the world's first and most portable AC unit.
Bad sleepers are putting the AirFreez next to their beds at night. The relaxing blow of cool, clean air, the comforting soft night light and the quiet create the perfect sleeping conditions!
The price is just amazing. Most AC units cost at least $ 300+ AND you have to pay more to cover the expensive electricity bills each month. AirFreez costs less than $ 100 （actually $ 53 if you buy more than one here）.
Top Tips：
●To make your air even cooler—add a bottle of cold tap water from your refrigerator or even ice!
●For a beautiful relaxing atmosphere—add a few drops of fragrant oils to the water!
1. Which is necessary to get AirFreez to work?| A．A socket. | B．A phone battery. |
| C．A laptop and hot waten | D．Cold water and power supply. |
| A．$106, | B．$ 200. |
| C．$ 300. | D．$ 600. |
| A．By adding ice into the machine. |
| B．By putting it closer to one's bed. |
| C．By filling the machine with tap water. |
| D．By adding a few drops of special oils. |
【推荐2】Here are four of the best museums in the U. S. that should appeal to you.
Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington D.C.)
The Smithsonian American Art Museum is a famous museum in the heart of Washington D.C., featuring a vast collection of American art from the colonial (殖民的) era to the present. The museum is known for its impressive collection of contemporary art, including paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, photographs, and folk art.
The Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago)
Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Art are the highlights of the collection at The Art Institute of Chicago. The museum is famed for its expansive collection of American art and 20th-century furniture. If you are a Monet enthusiast, don’t forget to stroll (闲逛) through this museum to catch one of America’s largest collection of Monet paintings.
Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum—Boston
The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum allows tourists not only to see where the tea was thrown into the harbor almost 250 years ago, but also to take on the role of someone who witnessed the historical event. The one-hour program allows visitors to enjoy the whole museum, as well as the gift shop and Abigail’s Tea Room & Terrace for light food and drinks.
National Museum of Natural History—Washington, D.C.
The National Museum of Natural History boasts an astonishing accumulation of more than 145 million different items. It’s also home to the famous Hope Diamond, as well as hundreds of different butterfly species. The museum is completely free, so go ahead and spend hours getting lost in all the historical objects.
1. Where should you go if you want to appreciate the works of Monet?| A．Smithsonian American Art Museum. | B．The Art Institute of Chicago. |
| C．Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. | D．National Museum of Natural History. |
| A．Buy some presents. | B．Throw tea into the harbor. |
| C．Participate in the historical event. | D．Play musical instruments. |
| A．Easy access. | B．Diamond theme. | C．Free admission. | D．Excellent service. |
【推荐3】Most of us fall back on the classics when it comes time to buy Mother’s Day gifts: flowers, fancy tea or a card. But if you really want to show off this year, you might want to dig a little deeper. This helpful list of Mother’s Day gifts will be of help.
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter (过滤器) $20 (now 15% off)
If she’s been hitting the trail without one, Mom will surely appreciate having a Life Straw in her bag, especially on longer hikes. The lightweight filter can remove dirty and harmful substances from any water source, making it a necessity for outdoor adventures.
Organic Dandy Instant Herbal Drink $ 13
This herbal dandelion-root mixture helped Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo cut coffee out of her diet completely. “The taste is surprisingly similar to coffee, but without the bitterness that would often mess with my stomach,” she says.
Alessi Apostrophe Orange Peeler $40 (now 20%off)
“Every so often, a device enters your life and leaves you wondering how you managed beforehand,” says Strategist contributor Fanny Singer of this Italian orange peeler. “This teardrop-shaped device is designed to make it really easy to slice an orange to separate the peel from the fruit. It’s a pleasant surprise every time I use it.”
WuFuYuan Tapioca Pearls, Black Sugar Flavor $5
According to one Strategist staffer who has been drinking bubble tea (珍珠奶茶) since she was in elementary school, these pearls are the best for making bubble tea at home. “The pearls by themselves aren’t sweet, but you can put them in a brown-sugar mixture to get the desired sweetness,” she explains. “Or just add sugar to your milk tea.”
1. What is the present price of LifeStraw Personal Water Filter?| A．$20. | B．$17. | C．$15. | D．$3. |
| A．WuFuYuan Tapioca Pearls. |
| B．LifeStraw Personal Water Filter. |
| C．Alessi Apostrophe Orange Peeler. |
| D．Organic Dandy Instant Herbal Drink. |
| A．They taste sweet. | B．They can treat diseases. |
| C．They are related to drinks. | D．They are a must for hiking trips. |
