MOBILE TRANSLATORS (2)

British science fiction author Arthur C. Clark once said, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Since even the best translators can still fail terribly, they are hardly magic. But consider what's happening underneath the app's surface. You might not appreciate how advanced modern translation systems are!

Translators use machine learning to compare millions of examples of human translated texts. That information helps the program reproduce more natural sounding translations based on real-world examples. People can flag incorrect or unhelpful translations and suggest better ones. This input is then used to make future translations better. 

With programs like Google Translate, it can be hard to get good translations for single words because most words have multiple meanings. It's better to try short sentences that provide context instead. But make the sentence straightforward. Anything too complicated or idiomatic will likely produce unusual results. For example, "I am very hungry" will get better results than "I am dying of hunger." 

As people continue to use translation services, translations will improve. One day you might not have to worry about a poor translation causing an embarrassing misunderstanding. But used wisely, they are still excellent aids for exploring and understanding the world around you. 

Info Cloud

stranger than fiction 很神奇或是很耐人尋味的事情

Welcome to Info Cloud, friends. Do you like reading science-fiction novels? 

I enjoy a science-fiction story from time to time. The writers have great imaginations. 

They really do. A lot of our modern inventions come from science fiction, including the cellphone, the credit card and earbuds. 

So we could say that reality is stranger than fiction. Indeed. This is a common phrase that we can use to comment on something that is unusual, amazing or seemingly magical. 

Oh, like that video I saw online about a dog and a lion that became best friends. 

Ha... that is stranger than fiction. 

This phrase appears in writing by American author Mark Twain who said "Truth is stranger than fiction" in 1897. 

It means that we can imagine certain things, but many things may happen that are even beyond what we can imagine. 

Science fiction writer Jules Verne imagined machines that could dive under the water or fly in the air back in the late 1800s. 

But he didn't imagine that he would inspire engineers to create the submarine and the helicopter. However, those were directly inspired by his stories. Truth really is stranger than fiction. 

當我們看到一些很神奇或是很耐人尋味的事情，你可以用 stranger than fiction來形容。fiction是杜撰的小說，stranger than fiction 就是比小說裡面的情節還要神奇或是奇怪，像是有一個網路影片紀錄一隻狗和獅子成為好朋友，你就可以說: That is stranger than fiction. 這真的是比小說還要神奇。其實美國作家 Mark Twain 就曾經在1897年說過: Truth is stranger than fiction. 真相是比小說的情節還要神奇的，例如，人類會發明潛水艇和直升機都是因為小說家 Jules Verne 早在19世紀就曾經提出過的靈感，我們只能說這個世界真的是無奇不有。

Language Lab

underneath preposition. 底下、東西的下面  
below or beneath (something) : under
- The house might look beautiful, but you should pay attention to its foundation underneath.
房子也許外表漂亮，但你應該注意它底下的根基。
- The child likes to hide underneath the table and pretend he is a bear in a cave.
那個小朋友喜歡躲在桌子底下，假裝他是一隻洞穴裡的熊。
underneath n. 底下部分
the bottom surface of something : underside
- If you want to know the price of the bottle, check the underneath.
如果你想知道那個瓶子多少錢，要看瓶子底下。
- To tell if this chair is an antique or not, take a look at the underneath.
要辨認這張椅子是否是個骨董，就要看它的下面。 

input n. 資訊的輸入
information that is put into a computer
- The old computer Mary uses for data input needs to be upgraded.
那台Mary用來輸入資料的舊電腦需要被升級。
input n. 意見、想法 
advice or opinions that help someone make a decision  
- The supervisor is not going to make a decision until he gets more input from everybody.
主管要等到他收到更多人的意見後，才會做決定。
- I hope you’ll speak to the boss about this problem because he values your input.
我希望你會跟老闆提出這個問題，因為他很看重你的想法。
input n. 資源、能源的輸入
something (such as power or energy) that is put into a machine or system
- With the input of all that water, the plants on the farm began to grow.
因為灌入了那麼多水，農場的植物開始成長。
input v. 輸入
to enter (information) into a computer
- No wonder the final calculation was incorrect; we inputted the wrong numbers.
難怪最後的統計不正確，因為我們輸入的數字是錯的。 

straightforward adj.  簡單容易懂 
easy to do or understand : not complicated
- The instructions need to be straightforward; otherwise people will get confused.
指令要簡單清楚，不然人家會被搞糊塗。
- If you ask Howard a question, he’ll give you a straightforward answer.
如果問Howard 一個問題，他會很簡單地回答你。
straightforward adj.  一個人很直率
honest and open
- Trent is a straightforward guy, and his friends appreciate his honesty.
Trent 為人直率，他的朋友們都欣賞他的坦承。 

idiomatic adj. 跟成語有關的、包含著慣用語的 
an expression/phrase that is an idiom
idiom n. 成語
a form of a language that is spoken in a particular area and that uses some of its own words, grammar, and pronunciations : dialect
- It’s hard for me to translate this article directly because it is full of idiomatic phrases.
要我直接翻譯這篇文章困難，因為裡面有很多慣用語。
- The tour guide used a lot of idiomatic expressions that were hard for his foreign guests to understand.
導遊用了很多國外客人聽不懂的慣用語。
idiomatic adj. 語言的表達很自然
sound natural or correct
- The princess was educated overseas and speaks idiomatic English.
公主是在國外受教育，她的英文講的非常道地。

MOBILE TRANSLATORS (1)

Science fiction to fact
隨身即時翻譯 昔日科幻小說 今日真實世界

Not that long ago, portable translation devices were only commonplace in works of science fiction. Travelers headed to foreign countries took bilingual dictionaries or phrasebooks with them. But now people can access instant translation services almost anywhere they go. 

Online translations are free, and when you use translation apps like Google Translate or iTranslate, sometimes you don't even have to look things up! Just point your phone's camera at some text, and a translation instantly appears. If you want to translate something being said aloud, just turn on your phone's microphone. Some apps even have a conversation mode where you take turns speaking with someone in a different language. Apps can even produce audio translations, just like C3PO from Star Wars. 

Translation apps make foreign travel much easier than before. They are invaluable when it comes to communicating with taxi drivers or hotel staff who don't speak your language. But these apps are far from perfect. Sometimes a translation makes no sense, and you can only guess at the gist of what it means. Other times, you might not know that the translation has failed until you try it on a native speaker. 

Info Cloud

lost in translation 在翻譯中流失

Welcome to Info Cloud, everyone. Anne Marie, do you speak any other languages? 

Yes, I speak a little Spanish, but I've forgotten most of it. Why? 

Well, I was wondering if you've ever had the experience of something being lost in translation. 

Oh, you mean when something has been translated, it becomes impossible to understand. 

Yes. That often happens with jokes. When a word or phrase is translated from one language to another, some of its deeper meaning might be lost. 

An idea that might come from one culture may be different or not even exist in another culture. 

So something might get lost in translation. I can give you an example in Chinese. We have a word “辛苦了!”. In English, we might say "Good job!" or "Thanks for your effort" to someone. But in the Chinese, there is an acknowledgement of the hard work someone has done and not just a simple praise or encouragement. 

That is a great example. Rex, is there any other way to use this phrase? 

We might use it when something is presented in a new way, for example, when they make a book into a movie. Some things get lost in translation in the movie version since not everything can be shown on screen. 

當我們聽到或是看到一些中文翻譯，有的時候會覺得怪怪的，那是因為翻譯並沒有辦法百分之百的呈現原汁原味，你可以用 lost in translation 來形容這種狀況。lost in translation 就是在翻譯中流失的意思，舉例來說，很多美國笑話翻譯成中文，是完全行不通的，這是因為文化上的差別，或是在中文，我們常說「辛苦了」，翻成英文可能就是"Good job!" 做得好，或是"Thanks for your effort" 謝謝你的付出，但是「辛苦了」這句話裡面，代表說話的人看到一個人在勞力上所承擔的某些痛苦，這部分翻譯成英文就會變成 lost in translation 在翻譯中流失。

Language Lab

commonplace adj. 普通、普遍的 (因為常常會發生或常常看得到)
happening or appearing in many places and not unusual : very common or ordinary
- It seems rather commonplace to hear about professional athletes getting ankle injuries.
聽到職業運動員傷到腳踝的新聞，感覺很普遍又常見。
- Nothing in the bazaar attracted Trina because everything looked rather commonplace.
市場裡沒有一樣東西吸引Trina，因為她覺得所有的東西看起來都很普通。
- To John, the second-hand store was full of commonplace things, but to Cindy it was a pile of treasures.
對John而言，二手店裡的貨物都是很普通的東西，但對Cindy而言，卻是一堆寶物。

mode n. 模式  
the state in which a machine does a particular function
- When I was on the plane, I put my tablet on airplane mode.
我搭飛機時，會把我的平板轉到飛航模式。
- Dereck always puts his phone on silent mode before he goes to sleep.
Dereck 睡覺前會把手機轉到靜音模式。
mode n. 方式
a particular form or type of something (such as transportation or behavior)
- We have a lot of food for the disaster victims but we need to figure out our mode of transport.
我們有很多糧食要送給災民，但是我們要想出最佳的運輸方式。
- The new manager finds the company's mode of operation to be very inefficient.
新的經理認為公司的運作方式非常沒有效率。

staff n. 工作人員
a group of people who work for an organization or business
- The boss has an important announcement and wants to speak to the entire staff.
老闆有一件重要的事情要宣布，所以要跟全體員工見面。
- The restaurant isn’t very big and there are only five people on the staff.
餐廳不大，員工就只有五位。
staff n. 一根很長的手杖或棍棒 
a long stick that you carry in your hand for support while walking
- A man with a shepherd’s staff walked by with several sheep.
一位拿著牧羊杖的人跟著幾隻羊，就這樣子經過。
staff v. 提供人員 
to supply (an organization or business) with workers
- The factory had to shut down because it was completely staffed with illegal immigrants.
工廠必須關閉，因為他們的工作人員通通都是非法移民。 

gist n. 要點、大意
/ˈʤɪst/
the general or basic meaning of something said or written — usually + of
- Betty didn't know French but she watched the street performer’s body language and got the gist of what he was saying.
Betty 雖然不懂法文，但是她光看街頭藝人的肢體語言就大概知道他的意思。
- I didn't pay attention to the entire speech but I think I got the gist.
我沒有注意聽整個演講，但是我大概知道演講的大意。
- We don't have time to hear the entire report so please just give us the gist.
我們沒有時間聽整篇報告，只要跟我們說報告的大意就好了。

Digital Health (1)

The doctor will Skype you now
數位健康 遠距醫療讓醫師透過Skype看診

Our health care technology developed by leaps and bounds in the last century. We have developed many tools to help doctors diagnose illnesses. As we continue to develop better methods for understanding, detecting and treating disease, we can enjoy healthier, longer lives. But good health care depends on access to good information, which our digital devices easily provide. Digital health could be the next big development in how we approach health care. 

Digital health might sound like it's intended to keep your digital devices healthy. Instead, it is a term that describes the system of interconnected devices that can monitor and report important health information. Doctors can then use that information to ensure that your treatment is tailor-made to your situation. 

To really appreciate digital health's potential, you need only look at how digital devices have already changed your lives. Take travelling as an example. Before smartphones, online translators, GPS and the internet, travel in unfamiliar areas was difficult. You either had to use a map, find a guide, or constantly ask people to help you get from one place to another. Now, all the information you need can be carried with you in your pocket. 

Info Cloud
Change is the only constant in life. 改變是生命中唯一不變的現象

Welcome to Info Cloud. I have a quote to share with you today. 

I enjoy hearing a good quote. What is it? 

Change is the only constant in life. It was first said by the Greek philosopher Heraclitus over 2500 years ago. 

Wow! That is deep. But I think it is still true today. Can you explain it more? 

I'd love to. 

If something is constant, that means it stays the same or it's steady and reliable over time. 

So what are things in our lives that never change? 

That's a hard question to answer. We grow up. We learn new things. Life is always changing. 

Yes. Even things we think will always be the same can change without warning. 

But one thing that is always true is that things always change. 

Oh, I see. The only constant is change. 

We might use this phrase to comment on an unpredictable situation. It means we expect things to change even though we don't know how. 

When things are good, we might hope they never change. And when we face difficulties, we may lose hope that anything will change. 

But we can be encouraged when we have a healthy attitude towards change since it's going to happen whether we like it or not. 

近年來，我們常常聽到一句相當流行的名言，唯一不變的就是改變，或者改變就是唯一不會變的道理，英文也有相同的一句話，Change is the only constant in life. 改變是生命中唯一不變的現象。constant 是不變的事物，Change is the only constant in life. 是用來形容人生中的大小事物，持續不斷地改變是常態，例如，生老病死，或是一些我們沒有辦法預料的事情。聽起來很哲學，沒錯，這其實是希臘哲學家Heraclitus 赫拉克里特在兩千五百年前就說過的一句話，一直流傳到今天。

Language Lab
by leaps and bounds ph. 非常快速的
very quickly and greatly
- Benjamin started out at the bottom of the class, but he has improved by leaps and bounds.
Benjamin 一開始在班裡排倒數第一名，但是他現在的進步是很神速的。
- Because the sales team has worked very hard, their sales are increasing by leaps and bounds.
由於業務團隊很努力地工作，業務很神速地增加。
- In recent years, the use of fitness watches has grown by leaps and bounds.
近幾年來，健身手錶的使用度迅速地增加。 

diagnose v. 診斷 
to recognize (a disease, illness, etc.) by examining someone
- David has not been feeling well for a while, but no doctor has been able to diagnose the problem.
David 身體不舒服已經有一段時間了，但是沒有醫生能夠診斷出他的問題所在。
- The specialist was able to diagnose Edward’s condition and provide the proper treatment.
專科醫師能夠診斷Edward的病狀，並能夠提供適當的療法。
diagnose v. 查出一個系統裡面的問題的起因
to find the cause of (a problem)
- Henry didn’t need a plumber to diagnose the problem with his water pipes.
Henry 不需要水電師傅來幫他查出水管的問題在哪裡。
diagnosis n. 醫師的診斷
/ˌdajəgˈnoʊsəs/
the act of identifying a disease, illness, or problem by examining someone or something
- The doctor took a quick look at the patient and made a diagnosis.
醫生快速地看了一下病人，然後做出診斷。 

interconnect v. 互相連接 (‘inter’ 互相) (connect 連接)
to connect (two or more things) with each other
- The data banks from the two research facilities are now interconnected.
兩個研究中心的資料庫是互相連接的。
- If these two buildings were interconnected, it will be easier for the people inside to move around.
如果這兩棟建築物可以連在一起，就會讓裡面的人可以比較方便走動。
- The counselor is trying to help the couple understand that their problems are interconnected.
諮詢師試著讓那對夫妻暸解他們之間的問題都是互相連接的。 

tailor-made adj. 裁縫師做的 → 量身訂做的、特製的 (tailor 裁縫師) (made 做的)
made by a tailor;
made or seeming to have been made for a particular person or purpose
- Urma would like to wear a tailor-made dress to the ceremony.
Urma 想穿一件特製的禮服區參加典禮。
- Kelly likes to go to that beauty salon for its tailor-made beauty treatments.
Kelly 喜歡去那家美容沙龍，享受他們的特別美容療程。
- The training school offers tailor-made programs for working professional.
那所訓練中心為上班族提供客製化的訓練課程。

Water From Air (2)

As an added bonus, once the water is extracted, GENNY emits purified air, which is healthier for people to breathe.

At the 202 Smart Home Mark of Excellence Awards at the Consumer Electronics Show, GENNY was named the Energy Efficient Product of the Year. The award series recognizes the world's top high-tech home products.

As a company, Watergen aspires to provides drinking water to the billions of people who don't have safe drinking water at home. Last year Watergen's large-scale products were donated to authorities in Brazil, Vietnam and India.

Watergen also seeks to help the environment by eliminating waste generated by plastic water bottles. People can put the water from GENNY into reusable bottles so that plastic ones don't get used and thrown away. It also strives for energy efficiency. There are even two versions of GENNY: one that plugs into a standard power supply and another that runs on energy from solar panels. The solar panel version is particularly useful for remote villages or other areas not connected to an electrical grid.

Watergen's technology is sure to help many people around the world as well as help take care of our planet.


Info Cloud
fish out of water

Hello, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. Before we start, I have to ask Rex a question. Why were you so quiet in the meeting yesterday? You didn't say a word.

I know. I'm always like that in meetings. I'm not very good at communicating, especially in a very serious meeting, so I feel like a fish out of water.

Oh, I see. I can definitely understand being a fish out of water. Why don't you explain what it means to our students?

OK. We all know that fish belong in the water. When they leave the water, they will literally die. When we describe someone as a fish out the water, it means that the person is extremely uncomfortable in a situation.

When Rex says uncomfortable, he doesn't mean physically. When a person is a fish out of water, the person feels out of place or very awkward in a certain situation, just like Rex being in a meeting.

That's correct. I am an introvert. I like reading, watching TV and being alone.

Well, you can't be alone all the time. Sometimes it's good to challenge yourself by choosing to be in an uncomfortable situation, even if you feel like a fish out of water.

我們有時候會處在一種渾身不自在的場合，你可以用 fish out of water 來形容這種情況。fish out of water 字面上是魚離開了水，而我們知道魚本來就是應該在水裡自由自在地游，因此，你形容一個人是 fish out of water，那就代表這個人在某種場合裡面，感到非常地不舒服或是彆扭。

I felt like a fish out of water in that meeting. 我在會議當中感到很彆扭，那是一個我很不自在的場合，有可能是因為大家在討論的話題是你完全不熟悉的，或者是你在跟一些完全不同類型的人在一起，感覺很奇怪。


Language Lab
extract v. 取出 (靠化學過程或機械方式)
/ɪkˈstrækt/
to remove (something) by pulling it out or cutting it out
- To extract gold from a rock involves the use of cyanide.
要從礦石中提煉出黃金會用到氰化物。
- It seems the government does not have immediate plans to extract the oil from that region of the country.
政府好像沒有計畫要馬上把那一區的石油抽取出來。
extract v. 用力拔出
to get (a substance) from something by the use of a machine or chemicals
- When the dentist told Jimmy he was going to extract his tooth, Jimmy became very nervous.
牙醫跟Jimmy說要拔牙的時候，Jimmy 就變得很緊張。
extract n. 精華 (重音第一音節)
a substance that you get from something by using a machine or chemicals
This cake doesn’t have any flavor because I forgot to add vanilla extract.
這個蛋糕沒什麼味道，因為我忘了加香草精。

purify v. 潔淨、淨化
 /ˈpjɚrəˌfaɪ/
to make (something or someone) pure: such as a : to remove dirty or harmful substances from (something)
- If you really want to purify the water in your house, the basic water filter you have is not good enough.
如果你真的要淨化你們家的水，你現在用的那台基本款的濾水器是不夠的。
- Greta is buying some indoor plants to help purify the air in her apartment.
Greta 要買一些室內盆栽植物來淨化她公寓裡的空氣。
- Rita is trying a new kind of diet and is hoping the food can help purify her skin.
Rita 再試一種新的飲食法，希望可以透過飲食來幫助她淨化肌膚。
purify v. 除掉心靈或道德方面的瑕疵、汙穢
to free (someone) from guilt or evil thoughts
- Damien has always wondered: If good deeds could purify a person’s heart, then how many good deeds should one do?
Damien 常常在想，如果一個人能夠用做善事來潔淨心靈，那麼要做多少善事才夠呢?

version n. 版本 
a story or description that is different in some way from another person's story or description
- Although the newest version of the software looks a lot like last year’s version, there are some major differences.
雖然這個最新版本的軟體看起來跟去年的很像，但是還是有一些重大的差別。
version n.  形式方面的版本
a form of something (such as a product) that is different in some way from other forms
- The movie version of the story is a whole lot better than the cartoon version.
那個故事的電影版比卡通版本好很多。
version n. 翻譯成不同的版本
- I have read the Mandarin version of that story many times, and I will try the English version next.
那個故事的中文版我已經看了好幾次，接下來想試試英文版。
version n. 說法
- You need to hear both Tony’s version of the story as well as Stella’s version of the story if you really want to understand what had happened between them.
你必須同時聽Tony的說法以及 Stella的說法，才能夠了解他們之間是發生了什麼事。

grid n. 格子、方格
a pattern of lines that cross each other to form squares on a piece of paper, a map, etc.
-  The teacher wanted to play a game with her students, so she began by drawing a grid on the board.
老師想跟學生們一起玩個遊戲，她就先在板子上換了方格子。
grid n. 電力網
a network of electrical wires and equipment that supplies electricity to a large area
- I can’t believe Natasha brought a hair dryer on this camping trip, did she not realize we are at a campsite far from any electrical grid?
我無法理解Natasha 為什麼會帶吹風機來露營，難道他不知道我們的營區是離電力網有多遠嗎?
grid n. 格柵
a metal frame with bars running across it that is used to cover an opening
- There was a metal grid over the hole in the middle of the road, but a mouse was still able to crawl through it.
馬路中間的洞口上面有格柵，但是還是有老鼠可以從當中爬出來。
grid n. 地圖上面的座標方格
- It is hard to find the destination on this map without a grid.
這張地圖上沒有座標方格，是很難找到目的地的。

Water From Air (1)

A new technology offers solutions for water shortages 
空氣水？！ 全新應用科技為水資源短缺找到解方

Israeli company Watergen has produced an appliance that generates clean, potable water out of air. The device, called GENNY, is small enough to be used in a home or office but can generate up to 30 liters of water a day. The water that GENNY produces is not only clean enough to drink, it’s also often cleaner than tap water.

GENNY takes air in and passes it through a filter to remove dust and dirt. The filter is powerful enough to work even in areas with high air pollution. The air then passes through a chamber where heating and cooling cause water vapor in the air to condense. This water is then passed through several more filters, and minerals are added to make it healthier and better-tasting. Finally, the water is stored in a tank where it is continually circulated to keep it fresh.

The heating and cooling process, dubbed GENius, is far more energy-efficient than other technologies that generate water from air. It produces four to five times more water per kilowatt-hour. Watergen has other products that use this same technology on a larger scale, the largest of which can produce up to 5000 liters of water per day.



Info Cloud
puzzle

Hello, everyone. Welcome to Info Cloud. Rex, what are you working on?

Oh. I'm trying to figure out this puzzle. It's kind of confusing.

It sounds like that number puzzle is pretty puzzling, huh?

Oh, yeah. I forgot puzzle, the noun, can become an adjective, puzzling. I usually think of a puzzle as a game like with numbers or a picture cut up into pieces.

Well, that is one kind of puzzle. But a puzzle can also be a problem or question that is hard to figure out. We often use the word puzzle with a preposition at the end.

Oh, like to puzzle over something. That means to think long and hard to try to figure out the answer.

Right. Or to puzzle something out. When you puzzle something out, you think about it until you find the answer. It took me a while to puzzle out what Jack meant by what he said to me.

For now, I'm just trying to puzzle out how to solve this puzzling number puzzle.

Don't puzzle over it too long, Rex. We have to finish our lesson.

很多人都知道 puzzle 是拼圖，但其實這個字當作動詞使用，有苦思或是傷腦筋的涵義，有點像拼拼圖的感覺。如果你形容一件事情是 puzzling，那就代表它很令你困惑或傷腦筋，如果是 puzzle over，那就是你正在用力思考怎麼解決一個問題，I’m puzzling over this math problem. 我正在想怎麼解這個數學的考題。另外一個類似的說法是 puzzle something out，這也是想辦法找出問題的答案，I’m trying to puzzle out what he meant. 我在想他到底是什麼意思。


Language Lab
generate v. 產生某種資源或能源
to produce (something) or cause (something) to be produced
- Using solar panels in the desert is a great way to generate energy.
在沙漠裡用太陽能板是一個生產能源的好方法。
- Scientists continued to help farmers find new ways to generate more food.
科學家繼續幫助農民找出新的方法來生產更多食物。
generate v. 引發、造成
to be the cause of or reason for (something, such as interest or excitement)
- The movie was very interesting, and it generated a lot of discussion among my friends.
那部電影非常有意思，引發我朋友當中的很多討論。
- Both Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are working, and now their two oldest kids are also getting part-time jobs to help generate more income for the family.
Wilson 先生及太太都在工作，而現在他們兩個年紀最大的孩子，也要半工半讀，好增加他們家的收入。

filter n. 過濾器、會有過濾效果的東西  慢慢地滲透
a device that is used to remove something unwanted from a liquid or gas that passes through it
- We changed the filter in the drinking fountain every month.
我們每一個月會把飲水機裡的過濾器換新的。
- There is nothing wrong with the vacuum cleaner. You just need to clean out its filter.
吸塵器沒有任何問題，你只要把它裡面的濾塵器清乾淨就好。
filter v.  過濾
to pass (something, such as a gas or liquid) through a filter to remove something unwanted
- Some of the impurities in the water are difficult to filter out.
水裡有一些雜質很難過濾。
filter v. 慢慢地滲透
to move through or into something in small amounts or in a gradual way
As the morning light filter through the curtains and into the room, Julia slowly crawled out of bed.
隨著晨光緩緩地透過窗簾照進房間，Julia 也慢慢地從被窩裡爬出來。

water vapor n. 水氣、水蒸氣
vapor n. 蒸氣
a substance that is in the form of a gas or that consists of very small drops or particles mixed with the air
- The towels don’t dry in the bathroom because there is too much water vapor in there.
毛巾掉在浴室裡都不會乾，因為水氣太多。
- The plants grow really well in the greenhouse because there is water vapor in the air.
溫室裡的植物都長得很好，因為空氣中有水氣。
vaporize v. 蒸發
to change into a vapor or to cause (something) to change into a vapor
- If you don’t cap the bottle tightly, the chemical inside will vaporize.
如果你不把瓶子的瓶口蓋好，裡面的化學品會蒸發掉。

condense v. 讓氣體變成液體或固體、凝結 
to change from a gas into a liquid
- When steam comes into contact with cooler air, it will condense and that’s how we get fog.
當水氣碰到較冷的空氣就會凝結，產生了霧。
condense v. 濃縮
to remove water from (something) to make it thicker
- If you keep cooking the milk, it will slowly begin to condense.
如果你一直煮牛奶，它會慢地開始濃縮。
condense v. 縮短
to make (something) shorter or smaller by removing parts that are less important
- I know you have a lot to say in your report, but you need to condense it because no one has time to read the whole thing.
我知道你有很多東西想放在報告裡，但是你一定要把它縮短，因為沒有人有時間把它讀完。
- In order to squeeze a semester’s worth of lessons into a one-month training, the professor had to condense all his material.
為了把一學期的課程壓縮成一個月的培訓，教授不得不縮短他的教材。

Jailbreak! (2)

Cydia is the alternative app store for jailbroken iOS devices. It offers apps that allow you to change almost anything on your iPhone. At one point Cydia was very popular because it was the only way to change certain iOS settings. Developers at Apple took notice and incorporated some of the popular changes into new versions of iOS. Jailbreaking is discouraged by Apple, however, and it voids your warranty, so if something goes wrong, Apple won't fix it.

People have been modifying jailbroken iPhones for a long time, and there is a lot of information about it online.

If you "brick" your phone somehow, meaning something goes so wrong that it won't even turn on, there are also guides online to help you fix it. Whatever you do, remember to save a backup of your device. It will help if you ever decide to go back to the official Apple iOS.

Jailbreaking isn't just for iPhones. You can jailbreak a Nintendo Switch so that it can run any app from Google's app store, for example. The process is different from jailbreaking an iPhone, and so are the dangers. Regardless of the risk, some people just can't resist unlocking their device's potential.



Info Cloud
null and void

Welcome to Info Cloud. Today I have an interesting legal term to share with you.

Oh, English use in legal situations can get complicated.

You're right. And there's actually a reason for that, which I will tell you later. But today's term is null and void.

Null and void? Like if something is canceled?

Yes. We might see this term on a contract. If both parties don't follow the contract, it will be null and void.

Both of these words mean the same thing, don't they? So why repeat them?

Some say the repetition is on purpose. In law cases, even the smallest detail can change the outcome of a case.

That's true. It's a lawyer's job to find any loopholes in a contract.

And to make that more difficult, many legal documents will have similar repetition.

Are there any other examples?

Sure. The full name of the document that explains what happens to a person's property after they die is called a "last will and testament." Will and testament both mean the same thing - someone's wishes.

So the document may be called a will. But if you see the actual legal paper, it will say "last will and testament."

Yes. And if a document such as a will is not signed and witnessed, then it's null and void.

今天要跟大家介紹幾個跟法律文件有關的用語，第一個是 null and void，當一個合約因著某些原因已經失效，通常會用 null and void 做出正式的聲明。null 和 void 是無效的意思。null and void 就是重複兩次的聲明無效，這樣就沒有人可以鑽合約上的loophole 漏洞。

另外還有一個很特別的用語用來代表一個人財產分配的遺屬，那就是 last will and testament。一般來說，will 就已經代表遺囑，last will and testament 聽起來非常的正式和嚴肅。last will是最後的遺囑，testament就是遺言。通常在正式的法律文件上會出現 last will and testament，因為 will 聽起來有點太簡單、不夠權威。


Language Lab
alternative adj. 另外的、另類的、可以當代替的
offering or expressing a choice
- When Arthur realized his idea was a bad one, he tried to come up with an alternative plan.
當Arthur 發覺他的構想很不好的時候，他就試著想出另一個計畫。
- Since all flights are cancelled, travelers have to find an alternative form of transportation.
因為所有航班都被取消，所以旅客們得找另外的交通工具。
alternative n. 替代品、選擇
something that can be chosen instead of something else : a choice or option
- There is no need to feel discouraged if things don’t work out. There are plenty of alternatives.
如果這個辦法行不同，不要灰心，因為還有其他的選擇。
- This is the only way to solve the problem, and there are no alternatives.
這是唯一可以解決問題的方法，別無選擇。

void v. 使無效 
to make (something) invalid : to say that (something) is no longer in effect
- The department of motor vehicles voided Becky’s old license when she received her new one.
機動車輛管理局給了Becky 一張新的駕駛執照，而她舊的駕照就作廢了。
void adj. 某個東西無效或是不合法
law : having no legal force or effect
- Craig’s country club membership was voided when it was discovered that he had been a criminal.
Craig的鄉村俱樂部會籍被取消，因為他以前的犯罪行為被發現。
- Since the contract was never renewed, the agreement between the two parties is void.
既然合約沒有更新，雙方之間的協議現在無效。
void n. 有空洞或空虛
a large empty space
- After David retired, he sensed a void and tried to fill it with all kinds of activities.
David 退休後就忙著做很多事情，為了填補空虛。

backup n.  備份
a person or thing that can be used to replace or support another person or thing
- Although Diane lost all of her computer files, it wasn’t a big loss because she kept a backup.
雖然Diane 的電腦檔案都不見了，但沒有造成嚴重損失，因為她有存了備份。
- After you’ve created your own file, it is important to save a backup.
當你開了自己的檔案後，要記得存下備份。
backup n.  候補的人/物品
help or support provided by additional people or things
- We need more help in the store. Can someone call the office for backup?
店裡需要更多人員的幫忙，有誰可以聯絡辦公室，請他們派更多人來支援嗎?
- Emily is serving cake at the party, but if there isn’t enough, she has some boxes of cookies as backup.
Emily 在聚會裡提供蛋糕給大家吃，但是如果蛋糕不夠的話，她還有準備幾盒餅乾當備用。

regardless adv. 無論如何
in spite of difficulty, trouble, etc. : without being stopped by difficulty, trouble, etc.
- The concert will begin on time, regardless of the number of people sitting in the audience.
無論來聽演奏會的人有多少，演奏會還是會準時開始。
- The king has decided to carry out his plan regardless of what his officials think.
國王不顧官員們的看法，就決定要執行他們的計畫。
- Regardless of whether there is any money in his bank account, Fred is determined to travel around the world.
不管他銀行帳戶裡有沒有錢，Fred決心要去環遊世界。



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Jailbreak! (1)

Nearly everyone likes customizing their phone. Most people change the wallpaper - or background - and their ring tone. Some people, however, really want to fiddle with their operating system. Maybe they don't want to use the default programs set by the device manufacturer. Or they just want to modify the way the user interface works. Modifying these things is normally not allowed unless you jail break your device.

Jailbreaking is a general term for unlocking the operating software of an electronic device. It commonly refers to unlocking iOS for iPhones and iPads.

Apple is well known for its great designs and easy-to-use products. Apple is also famous for forcing users to use Apple programs by default. Those settings are locked and not changeable. Apple Maps is the default map app on the iPhone. You can install and use Google Maps, but you can't set it as the program that automatically opens every time you click on an address. That seems like a small thing, but some people find it very annoying. With a jailbroken phone, you have numerous ways to change any setting to suit your needs. You can even install apps not offered in Apple's App store.


Info Cloud
fanboy and fangirl

Hello, and welcome to Info Cloud, friends. Everyone has an interest they love. Maybe it's a video game, a brand or an actor or singer.

The word fanboy or fangirl is the word we use to describe someone who is extremely excited about or into something to the point of being obsessive.

I have some students who really love K-pop. They are K-pop fangirls. They have K-pop singers' pictures on their desks, and they always host about their favorite idols on social media.

Guys can be fanboys, too. I have a friend who loves Apple products so much, he would never dream of using anything else. His phone is Apple, his watch is Apple, his computer is Apple, too. He's a total Apple fanboy.

Rex, I thought you really loved Apple. Are you talking about yourself here?

Well... yes, I am. I guess you could say I'm an Apple fanboy.

You know, this word is interesting. You may think that the proper way to say it is girl fan or boy fan, an adjective describing a noun. However, the words have swapped places to make one noun.

Fangirling or fangirl are the verb forms of this word. Ever since her favorite actor's new movie came out, she's been completely fangirling. How about you? Are you a fangirl or a fanboy of anything?


相信大家對粉絲這個名詞相當熟悉，其實是從英文的fans衍生而來的外來語。除了fans之外，你還可以用fanboy來形容男生粉絲，還有fangirl 就是女生粉絲。Some of my students are K-pop fangirls. 我的一些學生是韓國流行音樂的女生粉絲。

除了流行界的明星之外，你也可以是一些熱門商品的fanboy或fangirl，John is a total Apple fanboy. John是不折不扣的蘋果粉絲。你也可以把fangirl 當作動詞，代表你變成粉絲。She’s been fangirling since the actor’s movie came out. 那位演員的電影推出後，她就開始變成粉絲了。


Language Lab
fiddle n. 用來拉民俗或鄉村曲的小提琴
violin
- Samuel will perform an old Irish song with his fiddle.
Samuel 會用小提琴來表演一首古老的愛爾蘭民謠。
fiddle v.  用很不專業的方法來修理或調整東西
to change or handle (something, such as the controls of a machine) in a way that shows you are not sure what to do
- After fiddling with the broken washing machine for over an hour, Ted finally decided to call a repairman.
Ted 試著自己一個人修理洗衣機，但過了一個小時後，還是打了電話，請了專業的人員來幫忙。
fiddle v.  因為感到緊張而隨便摸或拉扯東西
fiddle with (something) : to move or handle (something) with your hands or fingers in a nervous way
- Tommy was very nervous about giving a speech, and he began to fiddle with his tie.
Tommy 因為要演講而感到緊張，並且開始亂拉領帶。
fiddle v.  干涉、胡弄
to change (something) in a harmful or foolish way
- The police ordered the private detective to stop fiddling with the evidence.
警察叫私家偵探不要在胡弄證據。

modify v.稍微地調整、稍微地修改
to change some parts of (something) while not changing other parts
- The original song is very complicated, so the music teacher modified the song so that the child could play it on the piano.
原本的歌曲很複雜，所以音樂老師把它修改一下，好讓小朋友們能用鋼琴彈奏。
- The dance team modified some of their moves so that their injured teammate could be part of the dance performance.
舞蹈團把一些動作調整一下，好讓他們受了傷的團員能夠跟大家一起表演。
modification n. 修改
the act or process of changing parts of something : the act or process of modifying something
- This plan is too difficult and will need a lot of modifications.
這個計劃太艱難了，會須要一些修改。
- Russel has fixed up his old house, and a lot of modifications have been made.
Russel 整修了他的舊房子，而且做了很多的修改。

setting n. 電子產品或是機器的調控設定
a particular way of positioning the controls of a machine, system, etc., in order to produce a desired result
- I have already adjusted the setting on my TV screen, but things keep changing every time I turn the TV on.
我又把電視螢幕設定好，但是每次打開電視，設定就會變不一樣。
- The refrigerator isn’t very cold, so I think there is something wrong with the setting.
冰箱不夠冷，我想是設定有問題。
setting n. 故事背景
the time, place, and conditions in which the action of a book, movie, etc., takes place
- Sarah became interested in the book when she heard that the setting of the story was in fifteenth century.
Sarah 一聽到故事的背景是在15世紀的蘇格蘭，她就立刻對那本書產生興趣。
setting n. 環境地點
the place and conditions in which something happens or exists
- Anthony proposed to his girlfriend on the beach, and it was the perfect setting.
Anthony 在海灘上向他女友求婚，而那個地點非常完美。

find v. 尋找
a : to discover (something or someone) without planning or trying to : to discover (something or someone) by chance
- I can’t find my keys!
我找不到我的鑰匙。
find v. 認為 find oneself (yourself, myself, himself, herself) : 發覺自己在某一個情況中\
to become aware that you are doing something or that you are in a particular place or situation
- Nathan found the meat to be rather hard to chew.
Nathan 覺得這個肉很難嚼。
- Teresa found the speaker to be rather funny.
Teresa 覺得這個演講者很風趣。
- After talking on the phone and not paying attention to where she was going, Irene suddenly found herself in the middle of the train station.
Irene 忙著講電話，而且都沒有注意她走路的方向，結果她後來發覺她人在火車站裡。



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A Breakthrough for a Solar Start-up (2)

Heliogen's breakthrough is that it uses cameras to observe where sunbeams are going and make minute adjustments several times per second to keep the mirror pointed in the right direction. Heliogen says it's been able to achieve temperatures of more than 1000 degrees Celsius.

"I don't know how many people will understand how significant breaking 1000 C is," Heliogen founder Bill Gross told GeekWire. "Cement is made above 1000 C. Steel is made above 1000 C. Hydrogen is made above 1000 C." He added that cement production alone accounts for 8 percent of global CO2 emissions.

Gross said he was inspired to start Heliogen after attending Bill Gates' 2010 TED talk, "Innovating to zero!" In the talk, Gates said that if he could be granted a wish for the next 50 years, it would be for someone to invent a technology that would lower the cost of energy and eliminate CO2 emissions at the same time. Afterward, Gates invited Gross to Seattle for a brainstorming session with other Gates Foundation leaders. "We talked about all the different ways that this could happen, and that was the beginning of thinking through the different technical challenges," Gross said. "Of course [Gates is] going around the world telling everybody about this."



Info Cloud
sunny disposition 形容一個人擁有正面開朗的性格

Hello, and welcome to Info Cloud. How's your going, Anne Marie?

It's been a wonderful day, as usual.

You know, Anne Marie, I really appreciate your sunny disposition. Oh, thank you, Rex.

I try to keep a positive attitude and live a life of thankfulness.

So having a sunny disposition means someone who is optimistic or who looks on the bright side.

Someone's disposition means their general attitude or personality.

That reminds me of a proverb: A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition.

That means you can beat a bad day if you have the right attitude.

You really are a ray of sunshine in our studio today.

Thanks again. But, you know, when I was younger, I wasn't exactly a ray of sunshine.

You mean you used to complain or have a negative attitude?

Yes, I wasn't as fun to be around. That's one way to use this phrase to say the opposite.

Bridget hasn't exactly been a ray of sunshine since her best friend moved away.

So Bridget has generally been in a bad mood since something negative happened in her life. I'm glad I've changed my disposition now, and hopefully Bridget will have a sunnier disposition soon, too.

大家都喜歡跟開朗、樂觀的人在一起，因為他們會散發一種正能量，你可以用 sunny disposition 來形容這種人。sunny是晴朗，disposition 是性格。因此，sunny disposition 就用來形容一個人擁有正面開朗的性格。

I really appreciate your sunny disposition. 我真的很珍惜你的開朗和樂觀。另外一種類似的表達是 a ray of sunshine 一絲陽光，You really are a ray of sunshine in our class today. 你今天在班上真的很正面開朗，讓班上的氣氛很好。a ray of sunshine 也可以負面地使用，Bridget hasn't exactly been a ray of sunshine since her friend left. 自從朋友離開之後，Bridget一直不是很開朗。


Language Lab
minute n.分鐘
 /ˈmɪnət/
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds : one 60th of an hour
- I waited five minutes.
我等了五分鐘。
minute n. 一下子、一會兒
a brief period of time : moment
- I will return in just a minute.
我等一下就會回來。
minute adj. 非常小的; (一件事)不重要或微不足道的
/maɪˈnuːt/
very small : tiny
- Ian was so impressed with the minute detail in this painting.
油畫裡的小細節讓Ian嘆為觀止。
- I can’t believe such minute differences between the two opinions could create such a huge argument.
我很難相信兩個看法之間那麼一點點的不一樣，就可以造成這麼大的紛爭。
- I have a favor to ask, and it’s really minute.
我有一件事想請你幫忙，是一件小事。

account n. 帳戶
an arrangement in which a bank keeps a record of the money that a person puts in and takes out of the bank
- I want to check my account and see how much money I have left.
我想查查看我的帳戶，看還剩多少錢。
account n. 報告、描述 to account for (ph v)
a list or description of facts
- Janice was asked by the police to give an account of what had happened at the bank.
警察請Janice 描述銀行當時是發生什麼事。
account for (something) [phrasal verb] 做出解釋或說明
to give a reason or explanation for (something)
- The clerk could not account for the missing cash.
收銀員無法解釋為什麼少了現金。
- Patty hasn’t slept well for the last several days, and that might account for her lack of concentration.
Patty 做事不專心可能是因為這幾天都沒有睡好覺的關係。

eliminate v. 消除、解決 
to remove (something that is not wanted or needed) : to get rid of (something)
- Rats are coming into the house, and it is a problem that needs to be eliminated.
老鼠一直跑進屋內，這個問題必須立刻解決。
- Scientists are hoping to find a cure that could eliminate this terrible disease.
科學家希望可以找到解決這個恐怖疾病的治療方法。
eliminate v. 淘汰
to defeat and remove (a team, player, etc.) from a competition — often used as (be/get) eliminated
- Our school team didn’t have a high enough score and was eliminated very quickly.
我們的校隊的成績不夠高，結果很快就被淘汰掉。
elimination n. 清除、淘汰
the act or process of removing something or someone
- After the first game was over, the elimination of a former gold medal champion was a shock to everybody.
之前的金牌冠軍在這次的第一場比賽就被淘汰掉了，讓大家非常驚訝。

brainstorming n. 腦力激盪法 (為了想出點子或激發或強化思考，及創造能力的方法)
an idea that someone thinks of suddenly — usually singular
- The students did a little brainstorming to come up with some ways to raise money.
學生們透過腦力激盪來列出一些募款方式。
- The manager thought the sales team’s brainstorming was very creative.
經理認為業務團隊的腦力激盪方式很有創意。
- After several hours of brainstorming and discussion, Trent and his coworkers finally came up with an idea that everyone liked.
經過幾個小時的腦力激盪及討論，Trent 跟他的同事們終於有一個大家都滿意的點子。

A Breakthrough for a Solar Start-up (1)

It all began with a TED Talk in Long Beach, California
太陽能新創公司 緣起於美國加州長灘的一場TED 演說

Los Angeles-based Heliogen, backed by Bill Gates and AOL founder Steve Case, just announced that it has found a way to replace fossil fuels in industrial plants. Those plants produce more than 20 percent of the world's carbon emissions, but Heliogen's new concentrated solar technology may change that. It can create heat over 1000 degrees Celsius, potentially replacing much of the fossil fuels these plants currently use.

For decades, the solar industry has been trying to produce the high temperatures needed for such manufacturing with concentrated solar.

Concentrated solar companies have traditionally used hundreds of mirrors to reflect the sun's beams onto a single spot. It requires a great deal of precision and engineering skill to determine the precise angle of each mirror in order to point the beam at exactly the right spot, and then to keep changing the mirror's position as the sun moves across the sky. Despite its best efforts, the concentrated solar industry was never able to create temperatures higher than 600 degrees Celsius, which is certainly very hot, but hot enough for things like steel or cement manufacture.


Info Cloud
Fahrenheit or Celsius

Hello, friends. And welcome to Info Cloud. Anne Marie, something funny happened to me the other day.

Tell us about it.

Well, I was on the phone with a friend from the States, and he asked me what the weather was like. I told him that it was a beautiful 25 degrees outside.

And he was shocked that I thought 25 degrees was nice.

Oh. That's because in the States we use Fahrenheit to measure temperature. 25 degrees is below freezing on that scale.

You would need a hat, coat and boots to go out and would probably still feel cold.

You know, the U.S. is one of only a few countries in the world to use the Fahrenheit scale to measure temperature.

Actually, in 1975, American Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act. This was supposed to start the process of converting over to the metric system.

Right. The problem was that this was deemed voluntary. So it was up to individuals to decide if they wanted to switch over or not.

Obviously, nothing changed too much.

Yeah. Most Americans I know still use Fahrenheit.

So, Anne Marie, which do you use now, Fahrenheit or Celsius?

That really depends on who I'm talking to. If it's someone in the States, I always use Fahrenheit.

當你到美國旅遊的時候，可能會有一個不太習慣的地方，那就是氣溫的測量方式是用 Fahrenheit 華氏的溫標，在亞洲我們用的是 Celsius 攝氏。當你跟美國朋友說天氣很好，氣溫二十五度剛剛好，他可能會一時轉不過來，因為華氏二十五度在美國等於是我們的零下三度。曾經在1975年，美國國會試圖要全國轉換成 metric system 公制的量度系統，但是老百姓卻不接受，因為不習慣。目前只有美國和少數幾個國家還在用 Fahrenheit 華氏的溫標。


Language Lab
plant n. 植物
a living thing that grows in the ground, usually has leaves or flowers, and needs sun and water to survive
- Some of the plants in the garden look interesting to me.
花園裡有一些植物看起來很有趣。
plant n. 工廠
a building or factory where something is made
- There is a rumor that the boss wants to sell the plant because he wants to retire.
聽說老闆想把工廠賣掉，因為他想退休。
- There will be some guests visiting the plant today.
今天會有一些訪客到工廠參觀。
plant v. 栽種
to put (a seed, flower, or plant) in the ground to grow
- William planted a tree in his yard.
William 在院子裡種了一棵樹。
plant v. 灌入想法、主意
to cause (an idea, feeling, etc.) to be in someone's mind
- I don’t want the kids to be with Uncle Joe because he is always planting funny ideas in their heads.
我不要小朋友跟Joe 叔叔一起，因為他老是給他們腦子灌入奇怪的想法。

potentially adv. 很有可能地
capable of becoming real : possible
- It is best not to walk through that neighborhood because it is a potentially dangerous place.
最好不要經過那個社區，因為那是一個可能不太安全的地方。
- The drug might cure the sickness, but there are some potentially harmful side effects.
這個藥品也許會治好病，但是它有一些會造成其他傷害的負作用。
potential adj. 可能的
capable of becoming real : possible
- The plan might seem like a good one to you, but there is a potential problem.
你也許認為這項計畫是好的，但是它有一個潛在的問題。
potential n. 潛力
an ability that someone has that can be developed to help that person become successful
- Bobby has a lot of potential but the coach doesn’t think he is ready to join the basketball team.
Bobby 有很多潛力，但是教練不認為他可以加入籃球隊。

beam n. 光束、光線
a line of light coming from a source (such as the sun or a headlight)
- As we were standing by the road, the beam from the headlights of a car almost blinded us.
當我們站在路旁時，眼睛因為被一輛車的照明燈光束照到幾乎無法看見。
beam n. 樑 (木頭、水泥鋼筋)
a long and heavy piece of wood or metal that is used as a support in a building or ship
- Matthew sees a big machine lift up large heavy wooden beams to the top of a building.
Matthew 有看到一台大機器，把又重又大的木梁拉到建築物的上方。
beam v. 微笑
to smile happily
- Allyson is beaming, but she’s not telling us why she is so happy.
Allyson 一直微笑，但是她不跟我們說她為什麼這麼高興。

precision n. 準確性
/prɪˈsɪʒən/
the quality of being precise : exactness or accuracy
- The golfer aimed and hit the ball with such precision that the ball landed straight into the hole.
高爾夫球手瞄準，然後擊球精準，讓球直接一竿進洞。
- The chef cut the fish with great precision.
主廚切魚切得很好、很仔細。
precise adj.精準的、準確的
 /prɪˈsaɪs/
very accurate and exact
- It was at that precise moment that Marilyn realized someone was listening to her phone conversation.
就在那一剎那，Marilyn 才發覺有人在偷聽她的電話。
precise adj.仔細、對細節很謹慎的
very careful and exact about the details of something
- Lisa is a very careful person and is always very precise with her work.
Lisa 是一個很嚴謹的人，她做事都很仔細。

Working With a Digital Colleague (2)

Getting your team comfortable with digital workers
Geary and Kurkal both say that opposition to change is your biggest hurdle when it comes to transitioning your team to be comfortable with digital colleagues. People tend to resist shifts of any kind simply because they don't want to leave their comfort zones. But you have reimagine big-picture goals.

"Once those are determinded," says Geary, "a company should create a road map that defines the type of work humans should do versus their digital counterparts. As companies begin to introduce automation, they can add in the human touch where more empathy is needed."

You also need to address your culture. It's imperative that you embrace the new and get everyone involved, treating automation as a journey rather than a destination.

Your digital colleague might not look human or even like a robot. But it's going to have a seat next to you, and soon. And, as a leader, your ability to stay competitive while also keeping your team happy depends on being able to see new ways of creating, producing and allocating tasks.

The sooner you consider how to transition to digital colleagues, the sooner you'll likely be in a position of respect, stability and significant market share.


Info Cloud
Let’s get this show on the road. 

Hi, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. I'm so excited about today's lesson, so let's get this show on the road.

Wow! You look excited. What are we sharing with our students today?

Let's get this show on the road. Well, yeah. What are we talking about? Let's get this show on the road. I want to talk about what it means when someone says: Let's get this show on the road.

Oh, I see. You tricked me. Well, then let's get this show on the road. Tell us what it means.

When someone says: Let's get this show on the road, it just means to begin or start doing something.

For example, maybe you are preparing for a meeting at 10:00, and it's time to begin the meeting, you can say to everyone: Let's get this show on the road.

This expression most likely is used by performers touring different places. We use "on the road" to describe performers traveling to different locations to perform.

"Let's get this show on the road" is a fun and casual way to say you want to officially begin an event or journey.

今天跟大家分享的這句流行的用語是 Let’s get this show on the road. 這句話原本是用來形容某個藝人或是某個節目開始巡迴演出。on the road有旅行的涵義，Let’s get this show on the road. 字面上的意思就是「讓這齣戲開始巡迴演出吧」，用在日常生活中，就可以用來表達讓一件事情正式開始吧。像是如果預定十點鐘開會，大家都到齊了，主席可以說: Let’s get this show on the road. 我們正式開始吧，這是比較輕鬆幽默的方式，來宣布要開始做一件事情。


Language Lab
hurdle n. 跨欄比賽中的欄架
/ˈhɚdl̟/
one of a series of barriers to be jumped over in a race
- Alice jumped beautifully over the hurdle.
Alice 很漂亮地跳過欄架。
the hurdles : a race in which runners must jump over hurdles 跨欄比賽
- Wanda is interested in the 100-meter hurdles.
Wanda 對一百米跨欄有興趣。
something that makes an achievement difficult 障礙、必須面對的困難
- Diana wants to start her own business, but she knows there will be a lot of hurdles.
Diana 想自己創業，但他知道一定會有很多困難要面對。
hurdle v. 跨過東西
to jump over (something) while running
- Trent hurdled the fence and chased after the bus.
Trent 跨過圍欄去追公車。

transition v. 過渡、轉變
to make a change from one state, place, or condition to another : to make a transition
- Sabrina is transitioning to a new life in a new city.
Sabrina 正轉換到新城市，過新生活。
transition n. 轉變、轉變的過程
a change from one state or condition to another
-  Ever since Carol quit her job and stayed home to be with her kids, she has found the transition to be difficult.
自從Carol辭掉工作留在家裡照顧孩子，她一直覺得整個轉變過程相當困難。
transitional adj. 過渡的
- The residents in that neighborhood are switching to solar energy and are given a six-month transitional period.
在這個社區的居民有六個月的過渡時期來適應換用太陽能。

imperative adj. 非常重要的、迫切的
/ɪmˈperətɪv/
very important
- It is imperative for the manager to get this file before three o’clock this afternoon.
經理非得在今天下午三點前拿到這份檔案。
- It is imperative that these boxes get sent out before noon.
這些盒子一定要在中午前送出去。
imperative n. 非常迫切或重要的東西或事
a command, rule, duty, etc., that is very important or necessary
- The government claims the invasion was a military imperative.
政府聲稱軍方的入侵是迫切的軍事行為。

stability n. 穩定性
/stəˈbɪləti/
stable adj. 穩定的
in a good state or condition that is not easily changed or likely to change
- This table is old, but it is still very stable.
這張桌子雖然很老舊，但是它還是站得很穩。
stability n.
/stəˈbɪləti/
the quality or state of someone who is emotionally or mentally healthy
- Laurie broke up with her boyfriend because she wants to find someone with greater emotional stability.
Laurie 跟男朋友分手，因為她想要找情緒比較穩定的男生。
stabilization n.穩定化
/ˌsteɪbələˈzeɪʃən/
- People began to notice the growing economic stabilization after the country allowed more international trade.
自從國家開始允許更多的國際貿易，人民可以感受到不斷增加的經濟穩定。

Working With a Digital Colleague (1)

Here’s what to expect
同事不是人！？ 面對智慧未來，你準備好了嗎？

If you woke up tomorrow and had a digital colleague next to you, would you freak out?

There's no set rule for what a digital colleague has to look like - they could look as simple as Amazon's Echo Dot or as complex as a humanoid robot. But the scenario of having one nearby is already on its way according to Pat Geary and Vijay Kurkal.

No, a digital colleague isn't the same thing as traditional AI 
There's a distinction between general artificial intelligence and a digital colleague, as Geary explains. Whereas both digital assistants and AI give greater speed and accuracy, traditional use of AI is more task specific.

It doesn't focus on building an intelligent, automated workforce form the ground up or automating processes.

A digital colleague allows you to not do easier work, but to do more interesting, innovative and emotionally satisfying work.

Your job isn't going anyway
This is exactly why you should be confident about not losing your job. "Workers who possess deep knowledge about their environments and can combine it with creative thinking will be invaluable to their employers," says Kurkal.

A survey showed that 63 percent of senior executives indicated that a talent shortage was a key concern for their organizations, particularly for IT teams.


Language Lab
freak out ph v. 驚慌、很怕 
to become very upset
- Melissa freaked out when she realized her wallet was missing.
發瘋
- The man was quietly sitting on the bench, but then he suddenly freaked out and started yelling and screaming.
嚇壞某人、使某人緊張害怕
- If you wear that outfit to work, you will freak out your coworkers.
-  Tom played a joke on me and freaked me out.

scenario n. 設想的場景
/səˈnerijoʊ/
a description of what could possibly happen
- The teacher presented a scenario to the class, and then asked the students to share their opinions.
best-case scenario 最佳情況
- The best-case scenario would be for us to catch the last plane tonight and get back home tomorrow morning.
worst-case scenario
- The counselor tried to help the family prepare for the worst-case scenario.

innovative adj. 創新的
/ˈɪnəˌveɪtɪv/
introducing or using new ideas or methods
- That designer was famous for his innovative ideas. 那名設計師很有名，因為他有很多創新的構想。
innovate v. 創新
- Because the customers’ demands continue to change, the company was forced to innovate. 這家公司非得持續創新不可，因為客戶的需求一直在變。
innovation n. 新的方法
The new manager brought a lot of innovation to the company. 新的經理為公司帶來很多的創新。

invaluable adj. 無價的
extremely valuable or useful
valuable adj.有價值的
worth a lot of money
- This necklace is very valuable. 這條項鍊非常貴重。
-The artwork may look ugly, but it is actually an invaluable treasure. 那件藝術品也許看起來很醜，但它其實是無價之寶。
- Although Gerald’s first year in the company was very difficult, the experience he gained was invaluable. Gerald在公司的第一年十分辛苦，但是他得到的經驗是無價的。


Info Cloud
I have a lot on my plate. 

Hello, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. Work, school, projects, family, relationships ... life can get pretty busy sometimes.

Today we want to teach you a phrase you can use when you feel busy or like you have too much to do: I have a lot on my plate.

Think of a dinner plate. For this idiom, it represents your life. Food on the plate is like the responsibilities, tasks or things that take up your time.

The word "lot" here means to have many or even too much. So if someone has a lot on their plate, it means that they have quite a bit to do or too many tasks.

Having a lot on your plate can also mean that someone feels overwhelmed with life or even just busy in general. Between working overtime and having four kids at home, Jack really has a lot on his plate.

I personally had a lot on my plate last week with all of the work deadlines I had to meet. How about you, Manya? Do you ever feel this way?

Definitely. I think everyone does sometimes. How about you? Do you have a lot on your plate?

當你手上有很多工作要做，或是肩膀上擔負許多責任，你可以用今天分享的用語來表達，那就是: I have a lot on my plate.

plate是吃飯時用的盤子，I have a lot on my plate. 字面上就是我的盤子上有很多東西，用來表達自己現在有很多事情要處理，有很多角色要扮演，或是有很多責任要履行。當你覺得自己被所有的事情壓得喘不過氣了，或者是單純的很忙碌，你可以用 I have a lot on my plate. 來形容你的情況。

Project xCloud (2)

Facing challenges

Many hurdles exist to making cloud gaming successful, especially for fast-paced games like Halo. Competitive play requires quick, responsive controls to keep up with the action. For mobile devices, xCloud games will have touchscreen controls. For a more console-like feel, gamers can connect their smartphone to an Xbox controller using Bluetooth.

A more challenging problem is the time it takes to transmit signals between a user and a network. Game lag, or the delay between a gamer's action and the game's response, can be extremely frustrating..

Non-gaming streaming services, like YouTube or Netflix, only have to worry about the time it takes to send information from their server to your device. Game streaming must accommodate constant information being sent back and forth between different users located all over the planet. Microsoft is in a unique position to meet this challenge.

Facing competitors 

A network of Microsoft servers strategically located around the globe already exists. Microsoft has also developed a method of concentrating the existing high-end technology used for Xbox consoles into their server systems. With existing servers and technology, Microsoft hopes to beat competitors like Google or Sony to bring reliable game streaming services to a world market.


Language Lab
hurdle n. 克服（困難）
something that makes an achievement difficult
- Getting sufficient funds is the major hurdle for this charity.
- After overcoming countless hurdles, the R&D team finally developed a prototype of the electric car.
one of a series of barriers to be jumped over in a race （賽馬或賽跑用的）欄；跳欄
- The runner cleared the hurdles with such speed that all his competitors were left behind.

transmit v. 傳送，傳達; 播送信號；發報
to send (information, sound, etc.) in the form of electrical signals to a radio, television, computer, etc.
- The space shuttle is transmitting signals to the base through a satellite.
- Nowadays messages were transmitted between computers in fractions of seconds.
- The figure skating competition was transmitted live in Japan.

server n.
the main computer in a network which provides files and services that are used by the other computers
- The server of the online shopping company was hacked and lots of data was stolen.
- Only very limited personnel have the access to the network server.
a person who brings your food and drinks at a restaurant : a waiter or waitress
- The server was very attentive, so we gave him a good tip.

strategically adv.
of or relating to a general plan that is created to achieve a goal in war, politics, etc., usually over a long period of time
- The coach strategically asked for a timeout when there were 10 seconds left in the game.
strategic adj.
- Treats like candy were placed in strategic positions, so customers could easily buy them.


Info Cloud
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