Unlocking
Word Meanings
Read
the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. descriptive (adj.) [dih-skrip-tiv] – something that serves to describe something based on detailed facts
Example: He
gave me a very descriptive story
about his vacation.
2. access (v.) [ak-ses] – to make something available for use or contact or get from a storage device
(as of information on a computer)
Example:
Registration is required in order to access
the website.
3. shortcut (n.) [shawrt-kuht] – a shorter or faster way to accomplish something
Example:
Taking the shortcut saves time and
energy.
4. transmit (v.) [trans-mit, tranz-] – to send or transfer from one person, place or thing to another
Example:
Viruses can be transmitted through
the air.
5. hesitant (adj.) [hez-i-tuhnt] – undecided or doubtful
Example:
The company is hesitant about hiring
inexperienced applicants.
Article
Read
the text below.
The U.S.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
has released its first mobile application that can help parents report their
missing children.
The mobile
application, called Child ID, allows parents to organize individual profiles of
their children and include descriptive details in each profile, such
as photos, height and weight. Parents can quickly access this information and use it as reference when they file a report
to the police in emergencies.
The application
also has shortcut buttons designed to easily transmit this information over the
Internet. It features buttons which direct parents to emergency hotline 911 or
the national missing children hotline.
For those hesitant about posting their family's
private information, FBI explains that this information is transmitted to the
FBI only when the reports are filed. The photos and other information are
stored in the mobile device’s memory and not collected by the FBI.
Child ID is the
FBI's first mobile application. It can be downloaded for free by iPhone and
iPod Touch users. FBI plans to release other versions of Child ID for other
phones.
Aside from the FBI, other U.S. government
agencies have also released mobile device applications for Apple users. The
Internal Revenue Service, the Office of Personnel Management, the State
Department, the Transportation Security Administration and the White House all
have applications listed in the U.S. government website.
Viewpoint
Discussion
Enjoy
a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
Is it necessary
for government agencies to spend money on technology? Explain your answer.
·
What other
technological innovations do you think should be used by the government?
Discussion B
·
What mobile
applications do you think are unnecessary? Explain your answer.
·
If you were to
come up with a mobile application, what would it be? Why?