【Unlocking Word Meanings】
今日の単語・フレーズ
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. flagship / ˈflægˌʃɪp/ (n.) – the most important in a series or a group
Example: Their flagship store is in New York City.
2. enable / ɛnˈeɪ bəl/ (v.) – to allow
Example: The phone’s high-quality camera enables me to take beautiful photos.
3. determine / dɪˈtɜr mɪn/ (v.) – to affect or have an effect on something
Example: The quality of the parts determines the quality of the entire phone.
4. verify / ˈvɛr əˌfaɪ/ (v.) – to confirm or to check
Example: To verify the owner of a credit card, cashiers often ask for an ID.
5. integrate / ˈɪn tɪˌgreɪt/ (v.) – to combine
Example: The fingerprint scanner was first integrated into smartphone devices in 2013.
【Article】
ニュース記事
Read the text below.
Samsung has increased its smartphone security features by adding an iris scanner.
This year, Samsung released three flagship smartphone models. The latest one is the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. The company claims that this is their most secure phone to date.
The Galaxy Note 7 runs on the Knox platform, a system that can protect both the mobile’s hardware and software. It also has a fingerprint scanner, which can unlock the device. The latest addition to the phone’s security feature is the iris scanner. This enables unlocking the phone using technology that relies on eye recognition.
Iris recognition technology uses infrared, a light invisible to the eyes, to examine the patterns in the iris—the part of the eye that determines its color. It is composed of wave-like patterns unique to every individual. The infrared brightens the iris to make the pattern easier to scan and recognize. The iris scanner then retrieves information from its database to verify the owner of the phone. This means that the owner’s iris must first be registered in the database. Once verified, the phone will be unlocked.
Samsung is not the only company that has integrated iris scanners in their smartphones. Microsoft and Fujitsu are also trying to integrate iris and fingerprint recognition into their devices’ scanners for security purposes. However, although many users find fingerprint scanners more convenient, iris scanners are more consistent. This is because the pattern of the iris does not change, whereas fingerprints can change over time.
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【Viewpoint Discussion】
ディスカッションテーマ
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
· Would you buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 7? Why or why not?
· Aside from an iris scanner, what else can improve the security features of a phone?
Discussion B
· Should using iris recognition technology be encouraged? Why or why not?
· What do you think are other uses of iris scanners aside from improving the security of gadgets?
