Smart Cameras to Help You Take Better Photos
Google Clips
One of the latest to launch (发布) is Google Clips. It is designed to be put somewhere in a room to take pictures by itself. It can also be attached to an object or a person's clothing.
Google says machine learning helps the camera choose the best times and situations for taking pictures and videos. Interested buyers can join a waiting list to be informed when it is on the market.
GoPro Hero
GoPro also uses machine learning to power its QuikStories characteristic(特征). This tool takes existing photos and videos and automatically (自动地) creates a finished video piece, complete with music and effects.
Snap Spectacles
Messaging app Snapchat sells a pair of sunglasses with a built-in camera that can record short videos with the push of a button. Snap Inc. says the product, called Spectacles, is designed to "catch the moment, without taking you out of it."
The glasses can record short video clips that can be shared with Snapchat users. Snap Inc. has started selling its Spectacles sunglasses online in the United States.
Apple iPhone X
Apple's new iPhone X is being launched with its new Face ID system that it says will unlock the phone just by having the user look at it. This replaces the Touch ID on previous ones that used a fingerprint to unlock the phone.
Apple says the system works by projecting(投影；映射) more than 30,000 dots on the face to create a kind of map. Apple says its facial recognition is even secure enough to allow payments through its Apple Pay service.
For the most part, you are probably only exposed to the music that is played on your favorite radio stations and TV shows, music Web sites, or the music that your friends and family members enjoy. While you probably know a lot about your favorite type of music, it can be a rewarding experience to enlarge your horizons (眼界), discovering artists and types of music that you're not familiar with. Who knows, you might discover you like certain types of music you never even considered.
Have you ever wondered about the history and influences of your favorite types of music? For example, did you know that rock 'n' roll originated (起源) from the blues, and that the blues began as a form of musical expression for African Americans during slavery (奴隶制度)? Did you know that most hip-hop is heavily influenced by early rhythm blues and jazz?
There are many fun ways to learn about different musical styles and their historical roots. For example, if you like hip-hop, listen to some of your favorite CDs and take note of the samples(样本) the performers used to create the songs. There is a possibility that the artist used parts of older songs to create the music. You can go to the library or online to learn more about the artists and listen to more of their music by checking out CDs from the library or downloading songs online for a small fee.
You can learn so much about culture and history just by paying attention to different types of music and what is being expressed in the songs. There are so many different styles of music to learn about, and you owe (欠) it to yourself to make an effort to listen to and learn about them.
Jibo, the robot, turns around when it hears its name. It points its touchscreen face up at you. "I am a robot, but I am not just a machine," it says. "I have a heart. Well, not a real heart, but feelings. Well, not human feelings. You know what I mean."
I'm not sure we do know what it means. That's what worries me about the new wave of robots that are coming online. They include Jibo, Cozmo and Kuri. They are kind of similar to Apple's Siri, Google Home and Amazon's Alexa, except that these robots try to act more like people.
Robots don't try to win us over with their smarts. Instead, they try to be our friends. This can be troubling. Time magazine said Jibo was one of the best new ideas. It said the robot could change how we understand machines.
Adults can remind themselves that these robots are not alive. Children sometimes have a hard time telling the difference. Children often see robots as being alive. Scientists have studied children playing with robots. They think the robots have feelings. When the robots played with them, the children were happy. When the robots didn't work as expected, the children felt sad.
Some people say the robots will teach kids empathy, the ability to understand the feelings of another person. How can kids have empathy for a robot? Robots have no feelings to share. They cannot put themselves in our place. No matter what robots "say," they don't understand our feelings. They don't get hurt or feel afraid. They might give kids the wrong idea about what real empathy is. Real relationships are messy. Relationships with robots are simple. Kids need to learn to build real relationships.
For so long, we dreamed of robots being our friends. We wanted them to talk to us and care about us. Now our dream is coming true. We have to be careful.
In the US, people prefer waiting for a table to sitting with people they don't know. This means a hostess may not seat a small group until a small table is available, even if a large one is. If you are sitting at a table with people you don't know, it is impolite to light up a cigarette without asking if it will disturb them.
At American restaurants and coffee shops you are usually served tap water before you order. You may find the bread and butter is free，and if you order coffee, you may get a free refill. Most cities and towns have no rules about opening and closing time for stores or restaurants, though they usually do make rules for bars. Especially in large cities, stores may be open 24 hours a day.
Serving in restaurants is often large, too large for many people. If you can't finish your meal but would like to enjoy the food later, ask your waitress or waiter for a "doggie bag". It may have a picture of a dog on it, but everybody knows you're taking the food for yourself.
Supper and dinner are both words for the evening meal. Some people have "Sunday dinner", which means an especially big noon meal.
Tipping plays an important role in American people's daily life. It reflects a kind of good manners and appreciation for the services provided. Usually tips are not added to the check. They are not included in the price of the meal, either. Generally speaking, a tip of about 15％ is expected and you should leave it on the table when you leave.
All of my five children played team sports in middle school and high school, and four of them in college.
Teenagers may get into bad habits. According to a study in Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, a survey of more than 14,000 teenagers found that those who had taken part in team sports were less likely to smoke or have unhealthy eating habits.
As children get older, they naturally develop their own lives and there will be fewer ways for parents to be involved (介入). Some teenagers are determined to shut their parents out of their room.
Sports build strong and healthy bodies. Children who compete know that they are only at their best if they ate and rest well. In sports, strength and speed, rather than thinness or other bad body image, are wanted. Team sports help kids avoid obesity (肥胖) problems even better than activities like running or biking.
The joy of a sporting season stays with us long after the season is over. Our children may forget who was in their English class or which math teacher they had in the 10th grade one day. But they will never forget their sports teams.
A. Sports teams can bring you lifelong memories.
B. Team sports make a child's social world wider.
C. As a matter of fact, doing sports made us a better family.
D. However, they still want their parents to attend their games.
E. Cigarett es and drugs harm their performance and every athlete knows that.
F. But teenagers who often take part in team sports have less time for misbehavior.
G. From their experiences, I've learned it's important for children to play team sports.
Being born and brought up in a village called Bruis, I lived a simple life with my father. I was 16 when one morning, Dad told me I could drive him into a 1 village called Burbank, on condition that I took the car in to be 2 at a nearby garage (修车厂). I readily accepted. I drove Dad into Burbank, and 3 to pick him up at 4 pm, then dropped off the car at the garage. With several hours to spare, I went to a theatre. 4, when the last movie finished, it was six. I was two hours late!
I knew Dad would be angry if he 5 I'd been watching movies. So I decided not to tell him the truth. When I 6 there I apologized for being late, and told him I'd come as quickly as I could, but that the car had needed a major repair. I'll never forget the 7 he gave me. "I'm disappointed that you feel you have to lie to me, Jason." Dad looked at me again." When you didn't 8, I called the garage to ask if there were any 9, and they told me you hadn't yet picked up the car." I felt 10 as I weakly told him the real reason. A 11 passed through Dad as he listened attentively "I'm angry with 12. I realize I've failed as a father. I'm going to walk home now and think seriously about 13 I've gone wrong all these years." "But Dad, it's 19 miles!" my protests (反对) and apologies were useless. Dad walked home that day. I drove behind him, 14 him all the way, but he walked silently.
Seeing Dad in so much 15 and emotional pain was my most painful experience. However, it was also the most successful lesson. I have never lied since.
