When people are blind, navigating the world involves more than avoiding physical obstacles. Just as important is navigating your social relationships, which can be a challenge when you're not always sure who's around you. Researchers at Birmingham City University, in the UK, are attempting to solve that issue with a new cane design that will help the visually impaired recognize people from up to 32 feet away.
The researchers -- Waheed Rafiq, Steve Adigbo, and Richard Howlett -- are creating the XploR, a "smart" cane that's equipped with a camera, facial recognition software, and GPS. The camera, located just below the handle, has a 270-degree lens for capturing as much of the user's environment as possible. The software built into the cane draws on a database of photos pulled from services like Gmail and Outlook, and people can add as many faces to the database as they want by snapping a photo with the cane's camera.
As soon as the camera notices a person, its software will begin scanning the face to see if there's a match. If the scanned images matches a portrait in the database, the corresponding name and location will be fed back to the cane carrier via a Bluetooth to send information.
Rafiq says the additional features, like GPS, will allow people with weak eyesight to know directions more easily. The same image-capture technique could help the blind identify and move around common physical obstacles, too.
Although a cane is cheap, a high-tech one could be expensive. Danielson says, "The technology, whether made into a cane or another device, has potential to solve a real problem experienced by blind people, particularly at large social gatherings or networking events." Because it's one thing to get from point A to point B safely. It's a whole other thing to be able to say hello to the people you know while you do it.
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1.The underlined phrase “that issue” may refer to ______.
A avoiding physical obstacles
B navigating the social relationships
C designing a new cane
D making more people walk faster
解析:选B。B。词义推测题。根据该划线词组前面的Just as important is navigating your social relationships可知,是对人际关系进行指导。
2.Whom can the XploR recognize?
A The persons who created it
B The persons whose photos were in it
C The persons who were totally blind
D The persons who had recognition software
解析:选B。B。推理判断题。根据文章第2段最后1句的people can add as many faces to the database as they want by snapping a photo with the cane's camera可以得知这款设备能够认出那些已经先储存了照片的人。
3.What will the cane do firstly when it meets a person?
A It draws on the database
B It matches the portrait.
C It locates the right person.
D It scans the person.
解析:选D。D。细节理解题。根据第3段第1句的its software will begin scanning the face可以得知当拐杖遇到人的时候就会开始扫描,故该题的正确答案为D。
4. What is the GPS in the cane used for?
A Knowing the directions.
B Moving the obstacles.
C Matching the pictures.
D Saying hello to others.
解析:选A。A。细节理解题。根据第4段第1句的Rafiq says the additional features, like GPS, will allow people with weak eyesight to know directions more easily可知该手杖配备GPS是为了让视力不好的人知道方向。
5.What Danielson said in the last paragraph means ______.
A XploR is necessary and useful
B XploR will be very expensive
C XploR can made people healthy.
D XploR teaches people to say hello.
解析:选A。A。推理判断题。根据文章最后1段第2句的has potential to solve a real problem experienced by blind people, particularly at large social gatherings or networking events可知,他说的话意味着新发明实用且有必要。