Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. satisfy (v.) [sat-is-fahy] – to meet a desire or need
Example: Shopping satisfies her desire for more clothing.
2. varied (adj.) [vair-eed] – having different kinds or types
Example: Different kinds of
music allow people to have varied tastes in music.
3. embedded (adj.) [em-bed-did] – placed into a whole as necessary part
Example: Laptops and mobile
phones cannot work without embedded
microchips.
4. preference (n.) [pref-er-uhns, pref-ruhns] –
something that a person likes over other choices
Example: Many people like iPhone,
but my preference is for Android
phone.
5. debut (v.) [dey-byoo, di-, dey-byoo, deb-yoo] – to make a first public appearance
Example: The latest smartphone is
expected to debut in next month’s technology
festival.
Article
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
Automakers are
currently competing to satisfy consumer
demand for connected-car services.
At the New York
International Auto Show last April, companies showcased the varied ways cars can connect to the
Internet—through smartphones, through embedded
systems, or through both.
Ford’s MyFord Touch
uses smartphones to access Internet-based apps. It uses a program called “Applink”
to check which apps from the phone can be used in the car. Additionally, MyFord
Touch can also read aloud text messages or directions from smartphones.
Honda and Subaru,
meanwhile, announced that they will be adding embedded systems that directly
connect cars to the Web. Drivers will be able to access online travel guides
and “Aha,” a service that lets users listen to Internet radio stations.
More expensive
brands, including Mercedes-Benz and General Motor’s Cadillac, can run apps using a connected smartphone, but also
have embedded security and communications features. A feature such as “Family
Link” lets users find their car using any Internet-capable device.
Each service has
advantages and disadvantages. There are no additional fees for connecting
with a smartphone, while embedded systems have monthly service charges.
A smartphone-connected
car may give a better experience for each driver, since a person’s preferences in music or apps are saved in a phone and not in the
car itself. However, embedded systems ensure that the car is always connected,
with features that let a driver access the car even from far away.
All this means consumers
will face no shortage of choices in connected-car services, especially when
2013 models debut in showrooms later
this year.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
Would you like to have a connected-car? Why or
why not?
·
If you were to get a connected-car, would you
prefer one with an embedded system or a smartphone-based system? Why would that
be your choice?
Discussion B
·
Do you think it’s it is important to have internet
connection while driving or commuting? Why or why not?
·
What may be the benefits in having internet
access while driving? What problems can result from it?