The Evolution of Multimedia Technologies
In the late 20th century, a revolution began with the development of various communication tools, producing what we now know as multimedia. This mixture of text, audio, graphics, and video into one medium has transformed the way information is transferred and received, greatly changing several industries.
In the field of education, multimedia platforms have become a must in classrooms. Traditional classrooms, with chalk and blackboard, have transformed into dynamic spaces with interactive whiteboards. Students, no longer passive listeners, are now actively interacting with the content, making a deeper understanding of subjects. Multimedia has allowed for the creation of e-learning platforms, ensuring that no student is left behind, even in remote parts of the world.
The entertainment industry too has seen a big change. Gone are the days when families would gather around a single television set. Due to the popularity of multimedia devices, people have a large amount of content to choose from. Streaming platforms have challenged traditional media systems, providing viewers with a personalized viewing experience.
Moreover, multimedia has proved to be a boon for the business world. Companies employ multimedia presentations to show ideas, products, and visions, ensuring that their message stands out. Virtual tours, 3D product modeling, and interactive customer service have made user experience better, leading to increased brand loyalty (品牌忠诚度).
The field of healthcare has also been significantly impacted. With multimedia, doctors can now visualize complex medical procedures and share them with patients, making sure a better understanding from the patients. Medical students benefit from 3D models, making learning more interactive and precise.
However, multimedia can sometimes result in information overload, causing cognitive tiredness. Additionally, the cost of setting up multimedia systems can be high, leading to a digital divide where only the rich people can afford the latest technology.
Another concern is the invasion of privacy. With smartphones turning into multimedia platforms, every click, swipe, and download can be tracked, leading to questions about data security. The wide use of multimedia, while beneficial, requires a stronger framework for data protection and user rights.
In conclusion, the rise of multimedia technologies is a testament to human creativity. While it offers many opportunities, it’s essential to address the related challenges to ensure a harmonious digital future, respecting the rights and limits of its users.
1. How does the author strengthen his arguments about multimedia’ effects on different sectors?| A．By telling stories. |
| B．By presenting data. |
| C．By raising examples. |
| D．By quoting from experts. |
| A．Multimedia has so many drawbacks we need to keep away from it for now. |
| B．Multimedia has many benefits, however, it’s important to consider the challenges. |
| C．Multimedia benefits classroom teaching, but it also distracts students from the subjects. |
| D．Multimedia focuses mainly on combining audio and video and needs further development. |
| A．Multimedia: Yes or No? |
| B．The Wonders of Virtual Reality |
| C．The History of Communication Tools |
| D．The Digital Divide: A Growing Concern |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Speeding off in a stolen car, the thief thinks he has got a great catch. But he is in for an unwelcome surprise. The car is filled with a remote immobilizer and a radio signal from a control center miles away will ensure that once the thief switches the engine off, he will not be able to start it again.
The idea goes like this. A control box fitted to the car contains a mini-cellphone, a micro-processor and memory, and a GPS satellite positioning receiver. If the car is stolen, a coded cellphone signal will tell the control center to block the vehicle’s engine management system and prevent the engine being restarted.
In the UK, a set of technical fixes is already making life harder for car thieves. “The pattern of vehicle crime has changed,” says Martyn Randall, a security expert. He says it would only take him a few minutes to teach a person how to steal a car, using a minimum of tools, but only if the car is more than 10 years old.
Modern cars are far tougher to steal, as their engine management computer won’t allow them to start unless they receive a unique ID code beamed out by the ignition(点火) key. In the UK, technologies like this have helped achieve a 31% drop in vehicle-related crime since 1997.
But determined criminals are still managing to find other ways to steal cars, often by getting hold of the owner’s keys. And key theft is responsible for 40% of the thefts of vehicles fitted with a tracking system.
If the car travels 100 meters without the driver confirming their ID, the system will send a signal to an operation center that it has been stolen. The hundred meters minimum avoids false alarms due to inaccuracies in the GPS signal.
Staff at the center will then contact the owner to confirm that the car really is missing and keep police informed of the vehicle’s movements via the car’s GPS unit.
1. What’s the function of the remote immobilizer fitted to the car?| A．To help the police make a surprise attack on the car. |
| B．To order the car to lock automatically when stolen. |
| C．To prevent the car thief from restarting it once it stops. |
| D．To send a radio signal to inform the car owner of the thief. |
| A．it takes less time for the car thief to do the stealing |
| B．many self-prepared tools can be used for car theft |
| C．the theft becomes more difficult because of modern technology |
| D．the thief has lost interest in stealing cars over 10 years old |
| A．A micro-professor. | B．A unique ID code |
| C．A special cell phone | D．A GPS satellite positioning receiver. |
| A．To leave time for the operation center to give an alarm. |
| B．To keep police informed of the car’s movement. |
| C．To give the driver time to contact the operation center. |
| D．To allow for possible errors in the GPS system. |
| A．Start the tracking system. | B．Stop the engine. |
| C．Contact the owner. | D．Locate the missing car. |
【推荐2】Giraffenap is a new style of sleeping pod (仓) that encourages workers to get power naps during the day as a way of improving concentration and work efficiency.
Japan usually emphasizes extreme dedication to one’s work. In order to get used to this kind of heavy schedule and stress, some workers turn to short power naps. These are known to improve energy levels and concentration, as long as the person doesn’t go into deep sleep. In order to make it easier for people to get power naps pretty much anywhere, one company has begun installing vertical (垂直的) sleeping pods called Giraffenap in cafes all over the country.
One of the main reasons that Giraffenap pods have a vertical orientation is space—it’s much easier to have them installed in small cafes and restaurants because they take up little room—but it’s not the only reason. The standing position makes it easier for the person using the pod to wake up from their power nap.
Each Giraffenap pod features an alarm system that can be set by the user and support points for various parts of the body, which can make sure that the user remains in an upright position when napping. The pods also feature a height adjustment system so that anyone can achieve the perfect posture while using them.
Giraffenap sleeping pods currently come in two styles: a plain white model and one that uses a more traditional bamboo design. They offer great sound insulation (隔音), various sounds designed to support sleep and a built-in ventilation system.
Giraffenap is currently being put into effect in some coffee shops in Japan, and if the response is positive enough, we might also start seeing them in other places.
1. Where is the text probably taken from?| A．Science magazine | B．A biography |
| C．An advertisement | D．A novel |
| A．It keeps people healthy. | B．It is very cheap in price. |
| C．It saves a lot of energy. | D．It makes work efficient. |
| A．The types of Giraffenap pods | B．The effect of Giraffenap pods |
| C．The features of Giraffenap pods | D．The materials of Giraffenap pods |
| A．Hotels are to be replaced soon. | B．People’s sleeping habits change. |
| C．A company launches vertical pods. | D．How we keep energetic at work. |
【推荐3】Every driver loves sailing through a series of green lights without having to stop and wait at a traffic light. Now, thanks to artificial intelligence, German researchers have found a way to reduce time spent at intersections. And they have gone further than that. This innovation is now being tested in the small German town of Lemgo.
For the research, scientists first studied algorithms taken from a busy intersection to learn about traffic patterns and where improvements were most needed. Actually, it is necessary to adjust waiting time at intersections as conventional methods are inflexible and cannot interpret all traffic flow patterns.
The new AI method uses radar sensors and high-resolution cameras to interpret traffic patterns in real time. They can determine the speed of traffic as well as waiting time and combine this with self-learning algorithms.
The intelligent lights are said to improve traffic flow by 10 to 15 percent, which results in money saved. (The EU estimates that traffic jams create economic damage that adds up to 100 billion Euros a year.) Aside from reducing commuting time, these traffic lights will reduce noise and CO2 emissions from cars moving slowly at intersections.
Another exciting development in this research focuses on pedestrians crossing intersections. Using AI, researchers can confirm how many people are waiting at a pedestrian crossing and whether some of these people will need extra time to cross the street. Using a 3D points cloud, they can tell if someone has disabilities or is elderly without identifying the individual.
Testing will be done until this summer in the German towns of Lemgo and Bielefeld, with researchers optimistic that it will be adopted abroad. “We are the first team in the world to test deep reinforcement learning for traffic light control under real-world conditions. And our testing work has encouraged others to make similar efforts,” scientist Arthur Müller said.
1. What can the new AI method do?| A．Interpret real-time traffic patterns. | B．Offer directions to lost pedestrians. |
| C．Control traffic lights without sensors. | D．Identify individual car drivers quickly. |
| A．Potential economic damage caused by traffic jams. |
| B．The problems with the AI method in the real world. |
| C．The benefits brought by the intelligent traffic lights. |
| D．Pedestrians’ efforts to create a better environment. |
| A．By leading them to a special crossing. | B．By providing AI-based guiding service. |
| C．By shutting down the lights for a while. | D．By lengthening the time for green lights. |
| A．It is based on similar testing efforts. | B．It is pioneering and inspiring. |
| C．It has failed in real conditions. | D．It has been well adopted abroad. |
【推荐1】If you want to know the world, you must know famous global media. Here are four well-known ones that can help you learn about what are happening in the world without leaving home.
The Sun (http//www.sun.co.uk)
The Sun is a popular newspaper owned by News Corporation founded by Keith Rupert Murdoch. It is filled with the jokes about heads of state and major events both inside and outside Britain such as mayor’s trousers not being tied properly, politicians’ sleeping during conferences and so on. Its lively and popular style just meets the taste of the lower classes. Now its annual circulation (年发行量) has reached 23,100,000 copies.
Daily Mail (http//www.dailymail.co.uk)
Daily Mail, compared to The Sun, is a little more serious. Reading Daily Mail, you can not only understand main political and economic events, but also find some relaxing and helpful contents. Well-known for favorite topics for women, it is extremely popular with middle-class housewives. Now its annual circulation has come to 20,930,000 copies.
Onion News (http//www,theonion,com)
Onion News is the most popular satirical (讽刺的) magazine in the United States with a circulation of 6,900,000 copies a year, covering domestic (国内的), foreign and local news including entertaining newspapers and websites. Most onion readers are between 18 and 44 years old.
The New Yorker (http//www.newyorker.com)
The New Yorker is a comprehensive (综合性的) magazine of America. It is mainly on non-fiction (纪实文学), including reports and comments on politics, international affairs, popular culture, art, science, technology and business. It also publishes literary works, but mainly short stories and poems, as well as humorous sketches and its different style of the New Yorker cartoons. Its annual circulation adds up to 10,209,000 copies.
1. Which medium (媒体) has the smallest circulation? ________| A．Onion News. | B．Daily Mail. |
| C．The New Yorker. | D．The Sun. |
| A．A popular culture report. | B．A topic for women. |
| C．A humorous sketch (素描). | D．A short story. |
| A．Windows to the world | B．Popular magazines |
| C．Ways to stay at home | D．Global media |
【推荐2】Home fires can happen quickly，destroying lives and property（财产）but unlike other disasters，most home fires can be prevented Read on to learn 4 unexpected home fire dangers．Having old smoke alarms
An effective smoke alarm can make all the difference when it comes to surviving a house fire． It's not enough to change the batteries twice a year． You also need to replace your alarms every decade． "You should test your smoke alarms every month，" says Lorriane Carli， vice president of promotion and advocacy for the National Fire Protection Association． "But also don't forget to check the dates and replace an alarm that is more than 10 years old．"
Leaving the kitchen while you cook
One in five Americans admitted leaving food cooking unattended on the stove， found an American Red Cross survey． Walking away from food cooking in the kitchen is a serious fire risk． "The leading cause of home fire is cooking and the leading cause of those fires is unattended cooking．" says Carli． If you need to use the stove or oven， be sure to keep an eye on it．
Turning the heat too high when you cook
Cranking up the heat too high can be deadly， even if you're in the kitchen while you cook． Kevin Kelley， senior director of community preparedness programs for the American Red Cross， recommends paying close attention and turning off the burner if you see smoke or grease （油脂） starting to boil while frying food．
Having a dirty stove while you cook
If your stove is covered with grease， a small kitchen fire can get out of hand quickly． Clean and clear the area around the stove before turning on the heat． Or the result will be dangerous．
1. What is the passage about？| A．Small things to cause home fires． |
| B．The ways to prevent home fires． |
| C．The danger of the home fires． |
| D．The importance of an effective smoke alarm． |
| A．Leaving the kitchen while cooking． |
| B．Cooking while staying in the kitchen． |
| C．Cleaning a dirty stove． |
| D．Replacing an alarm． |
| A．Unexpected home fire dangers can't be prevented． |
| B．Having a dirty stove is dangerous while you cook． |
| C．Kevin Kelley suggests paying no attention to cooking． |
| D．It is advisable to replace your alarms every month． |
【推荐3】When you are travelling, whether on business or for pleasure, you often need to stay in a hotel. The kind of hotel you choose probably is decided above all according to how much money you want to spend. There are small hotels with very few services,where the prices are low, or there are large hotels with all the very latest comforts,where you could spend all the money you have in the bank for one very comfortable night.
There are several different kinds of people who go to hotels. Some want to live, rather than just stay in a hotel. The hotels which are designed to meet their needs are called residential hotels(公寓旅馆). However, most people who stay in hotels are either business people or tourists on holiday.
In most hotels, there are two kinds of rooms: single rooms, for the use of one person, and double rooms, for the use of two people. In addition, in large hotels, there are also suites (套房) , which include two or more rooms connected together - perhaps a bed-room and a living room. They are for people who are very rich or very important.
1. One's choice of a particular hotel is made mainly according to ____.| A．how much one is willing to pay for a night |
| B．whether one is travelling on business or for pleasure |
| C．whether the hotel is in the central part of a city |
| D．how good the services of the hotel are |
| A．live in a new hotel with a suite |
| B．stay in a single room of a hotel |
| C．stay in a double room of a hotel |
| D．stay in a suite of a modern hotel |
| A．he will become poor |
| B．he has to pay a lot of money |
| C．he has to spend all the money he was in the bank |
| D．he has to pay some money |
