◎　寫作中心公告

本學期的寫作諮詢服務於3/12(一)正式開始，並加開數個上午時段以因應同學需求，歡迎同學們上網預約，詳情請見寫作中心網站。......我要預約

◎　英文小老師諮詢服務

英文小老師服務線上預約系統已經啟用，時間地點和諮詢的內容在網頁上也都可以看到喔，歡迎大家多多利用。...... 我要預約

坐飛機讓你狂？

很多乘客都表示，突發的機艙症候群(Air Rage)案件在近年來越來越多。也就是上機後，某些人會莫名的緊張進而情緒失控，然而機上的失序行為可是不得了的危險阿！想瞭解更多機艙症候群的訊息嗎！進來看看吧！… 我不要抓狂

氣象新知：煙囪雲

什麼？煙囪雲？相信很少台灣人看過所謂的煙囪雲。在加州所拍攝到的煙囪雲，就如同巨大的煙囪由天空中冒出，不僅巨大黑煙壯觀，形狀也相當貌似龍捲風。所幸，煙囪雲並不像龍捲風威力驚人，因為它距離地面有一定的距離。想多瞭解煙囪雲嗎？來看看加州遠距離教學中心所提供的煙囪雲介紹吧！不僅提供影片，也有影片後的練習題可以做喔！... 真的不是聖誕老人搞的鬼

線上文學書房

之前已經介紹過兩個由外文系周樹華教授所設計的線上課程，讓很多讀者都發現閱讀文學作品對於英語能力的增進有著相當的助益。相信過了一個寒假，各位讀者也已經看了不少莎士比亞跟英國詩選，想換換新口味嗎？今天要跟各位介紹最新的「線上文學書房」，正是同樣由周樹華教授出品，有品質保證的英語學習資源。...... 再看一點介紹

GPS Sneakers: will it work?

GPS大行其道，現在連運動鞋裡都可以裝上GPS，號稱可以幫忙追蹤小孩和失智老人，說不定也可以用來調查老公有沒認真上班，還是假出差真偷情去了。不過，這種新發明不但貴，好不好用也還是未知，你有興趣試用嗎？

Alz: Hello, old chap. Look at that! New shoes?

Heimer: Yes, yet these aren’t any ordinary shoes. They are “GPS sneakers.”

Alz:  Not ordinary? Hey, GPS isn’t a novelty anymore. It’s just everywhere. And your GPS sneakers look like most ordinary running shoes…. Wait a minute, GPS in your shoes?

Heimer: Now you know, ha. With the GPS chip tucked into the bottom of my sneakers, I can be located anywhere in the world with the press of a button.

Alz: Button? Where is the button?

Heimer: Over here, near the shoelaces. Two silver buttons, you see? One to activate and one to cancel.

Alz: I see, very inconspicuous. I wonder if you can find it next time.

Heimer: Hey!

Alz: Just kidding, but what’s the point of wearing these shoes? Why would you like to be located anyway?

Heimer: This invention aims primarily to ease the fears of worried parents. They can know where their kids are all the time.

Alz: But you are no kid at all, old boy.

Heimer: For the time being, only the adult line is available. Children’s sizes will be out this summer.

Alz: What? But didn’t you say this invention is for “worried parents”? How come they don’t have children’s shoes out first?

Heimer: That’s something I am wondering about, too. Maybe the company is trying to produce some cheaper versions for kids. This thing is just so expensive. This pair on my feet cost $350.

Alz: Oh my, that’s really a hefty price tag.

Heimer: Not only that. The shoes alone won’t work unless you subscribe to a 24-hour monitoring service that runs $19.95 a month.

Alz: This idea is totally impracticable. Who’s got the money? There are so many cheaper GPS gadgets that also help track your kids.

Heimer: Yet shoes aren’t easy to lose, unlike GPS watches, cellphones, or bracelets.

Alz: Is that so? Shoes aren’t easy to lose, but there are other risks with shoes. Have you ever seen a kid use a shoe as a hammer? Kicking rocks? Knocking mud off the tread? And what kid wants to go to school and have all his friends and classmates find out his parents can track his movements with his shoes?

Heimer: Maybe you are right, but at least this device works for elderly people like us, especially those with Alzheimer’s disease.

Alz: Speak of Alzheimer, where are we now?

Heimer: Oh my God! I don’t know!

Alz: Don’t worry, just activate your GPS sneakers, and they will find us.

Heimer: It’s no use.

Alz: What do you mean by “no use”?

Heimer: I’ve been out for three days and nobody will ever find me.

Alz: What? Haven’t you said you can be located anywhere with the press of a button?

Heimer: Yes, but the battery had run out….

Alz: Very well, that’s just why old people don’t like the idea of “technology.”

 

Wordbank：

sneakers (n) 運動鞋	hefty (adj) 重的
novelty (n) 新奇的事物	subscribe (v) 訂購
tuck (v) 塞入	impracticable (adj) 不能實行的
locate (v) 定位，找出	gadget (n) 小玩意兒，科技小物
activate (v) 啟動	tread (n) 鞋底
inconspicuous (adj) 不明顯的	Alzheimer's disease(n) 阿滋海默症，老人
	痴呆症

 

相關連結：

Taipei Times：Smart GPS neakers track children in case of emergency