Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. customize (v.) – to make or change something to suit a person or a task
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. customize (v.) – to make or change something to suit a person or a task
Example: Car makers can customize the driver’s seat for a person
with a certain physical disability.
2. jump-start (v.) – to cause
someone or something to move or function quickly
Example: TV advertisements jump-started the marketing program of
the company.
3. pledge (n.) – an amount
of money someone promises to give
Example: Many people are
offering pledges for the rebuilding
of the school.
4. astounding (adj.) – surprisingly
great
Example: His business made astounding profits in its first four
months.
5. cutting-edge (adj.) – highly advanced or
modern
Example: Makers of mobile phone
use cutting-edge technology to enable
users to do several tasks with only the press of a button.
Article
Read the text below.
Read the text below.
A new “smartwatch” called
Pebble will soon be available on the market thanks to the support of people
online.
Pebble has an
electronic paper screen and connects with mobile phones using wireless
technology. Users can customize the face of the wrist watch
and download useful Internet applications.
The watch can
receive emails and text messages, display the speed and distance of runners
and cyclists, and control a mobile phone’s music with the touch of a
button.
Canadian Eric
Migicovsky, the Pebble’s creator, said he just could not get investors to
finance his watch. He finally turned
to Kickstarter, a company that helps people to jump-start their creative projects.
Kickstarter
finances projects using a “crowd funding” model. Through the Kickstarter
website, people can offer pledges to
projects by simply clicking the amount they want to give —from $1 to $10,000.
Migicovsky and his
company hoped to raise $100,000 in five weeks to start production of 1000
watches. However, after only 28 hours, Pebble got pledges amounting to $1 million. Pledges from supporters eventually reached an
astounding $10 million even before
the 5-week period was over.
Migicovsky says the
people who gave money in support of the project will be the first to receive
the watches. He adds the money will also be used to hire more engineers and
designers to create more cutting-edge
smartwatches.
Pebble smartwatches
will be out in the market by September 2012 for $150 and will compete with other
smartwatches, such as Sony’s Smartwatch.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
Do you think websites like Kickstarter that use
“crowd funding” are good ideas? Why? /
Why not?
·
How do you think the Internet has affected
people’s businesses? Please explain.
Discussion B
·
Would you want to own a smartwatch? Why or why
not?
·
How do you think technology that people can
carry around anywhere (mobile phones, smartwatches, music players) has changed
people’s lives? Please explain.