第四单元thevirtualworld

1、Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldSupplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtu

2、al WorldLorem ipsum dolor sit amet conn 虚拟世界，是指运用电脑技术、互联网技术、卫星技术和人类的意识潜能开发、或形成的独立于现实世界、与现实世界有联系、人们通过虚拟头盔和营养舱以意识的形式进入、类似于地球或宇宙的世界。本质上与现实世界没有关联。 目前在互联网上所表现出的“虚拟世界”是以计算机模拟环境为基础，以虚拟的人物化身为载体，用户在其中生活、交流的网络世界。尽管虚拟世界是“虚拟”的，因为它来源于计算机的创造和想象；但它又是客观存在的，它在“居民”离开后依然存在，真实的人类虚幻地存在，时间与空间真实地交融，这是虚拟世界的最大特点。 虚拟世界（Virtu

3、al World）目前主要有狭义和广义两个层面的涵义： 狭义的虚拟世界，是指由人工智能、计算机图形学、人机接口技术、传感器技术和高度并行的实时计算技术等集成起来所生成的一种交互式人工现实，是一种能够高度逼真地模拟人在现实世界中的视、听、触等行为的高级人机界面，一句话，狭义的虚拟世界是一种“模拟的世界” 广义的虚拟世界，则不仅包含狭义的虚拟世界的内容，而且还指随着计算机网络技术的发展和相应的人类网络行动的呈现而产生出来的一种人类交流信息、知识、思想和情感的新型行动空间，它包含了信息技术系统、信息交往平台、新型经济模式和社会文化生活空间等方面的广泛内容及其特征，一句话，广义的虚拟世界是一种动态的网

4、络社会生活空间。 Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldLorem ipsum dolor sit amet conn虚拟世界又分为“虚拟的幻想世界”与“虚拟的现实世界”。“虚拟的幻想世界”与MMORPG(Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game)游戏相类似，它只是一个预定主题的幻想世界，例如魔兽世界（W

5、orld of Warcraft）便是一个典型代表。MMORPG游戏构造的虚拟世界，多是神话和幻想作品的网络互动版本。游戏为玩家提供了预先内置的场景和工具，使玩家扮演某一角色进入幻想世界中，伙同他人去捕杀怪兽，以此不断提升自身等级从而获得更高的技能，赚取更多的游戏币来购买更强大的装备和道具，本质上与现实世界没有关联。“虚拟的现实世界”是为虚拟世界的“居民”提供最原始的基本虚拟要素，利用它们，居民可以在一无所有的“土地”上建造他们想要的任何东西。居民对其创造的虚拟财产拥有产权，由创造者决定他们的产品是否可以被复制、修改或者转手。要人们自己来创造与扩展虚拟世界中的“现实”。同时，虚拟世界的生活与现

6、实世界的生活在政治、经济、文化、教育等方面存在一定的关联性。Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldLorem ipsum dolor sit amet conn 目前最能体现出“虚拟的现实世界”的案例是由美国加州“林登实验室(Linden Lab)”开发的Second Life（中文称作第二人生）。它不仅仅只是一款游戏，它正在重新定义整个互联网三维空间

7、的虚拟现实社会。在这里，你可以学习、工作、生产、购物、存款，或者是跟朋友们一起四处闲逛、娱乐游戏中的通用货币林登币(Linden dollars)与美元可以以一定汇率进行自由兑换，“第二人生”内的经济活动能赚取真金白银，商业、政治和娱乐开始渗入其中，虚拟与现实的界限由此逐渐模糊。 国内的“虚拟世界”最早是北京海皮士信息技术有限公司创建的3D虚拟世界Hipihi（海皮士），这是一个类似于Second Life 的虚拟世界，完全由用户创建虚拟世界中的人物、建筑场景和物品。随后，国内的虚拟世界还陆续出现了Novoking（创想王国）、UWorld（由我世界）、Mworld、Hapaworld（哈啪世

8、界）、ChinaQ等，有的已经公测，有的还在研发中。经过一段时间的运营，以UGC（用户创造内容）模式为代表的大客户端虚拟世界产品如Hipihi、Novoking已经陷入运营困境，而另外一种以微客户端，图形化社区为模式的3D虚拟世界正在兴起，如久游的3D舞蹈虚拟社区久游吉堂社区、梦境家园、娜娜米米等。Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldThe Inte

9、rnet & The First ComputerThe Internet & The First ComputerWhat better way to practicemath skills than with an abacus! Still used today, the abacus is as fast as calculators. A great mental workout for kids and adults. Our abacus is made to be used everyday in Asia at home, school, or office. Approx.

10、 13“ long, made of plastic For durability. The Worlds First Computer: Abacus Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldInventor of the Modern ComputerInventor of the Modern Computer The First Freely P

11、rogrammable Computer invented The First Freely Programmable Computer invented by Konrad Zuseby Konrad Zuse（德国康拉德祖萨开发第一台采用二进制和布尔逻辑的可编程德国康拉德祖萨开发第一台采用二进制和布尔逻辑的可编程计算机）计算机）Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virt

12、ual WorldKonrad Zuses Z1 Circa 1938Konrad Zuses Z1 Circa 1938Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldThe Harvard MARK I Computer - Howard Aiken and Grace Hopper, 1944Supplementary ReadingAfter Readi

13、ngDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldA New Type of ComputerA New Type of ComputerSupplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldThe

14、InternetThe Internet i is changings changing our lives andour lives and a parallela paralleluniverse isuniverse is rapidlyrapidly emergingemerging online. online. Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual

15、WorldToday theres scarcely an aspect of our lifethat isnt being upended by the torrent ofinformation available on the hundreds ofmillions of sites crowding the Internet, notto mention its ability to keep us in constanttouch with each other via electronic mail. Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetai

16、led ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldThe Internet is saving companies billions of dollars in producing goods and serving the needs of their customers.Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefo

17、re ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldThe Internet and e-commerce are viewed The Internet and e-commerce are viewed asas a global mega-trend along the lines of a global mega-trend along the lines of thethe printing press, the telephone, theprinting press, the telephone, thecomput

18、er and the puter and the electricity.( (a megawatt, a megabyte).a megawatt, a megabyte).Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldYou would be hard pressed to name something that isnt available on the

19、 Internet.Consider: books,health, movie tickets, baby clothes, stocks,real estate, toys and airline tickets.Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldSome Popular TV Companies in Some Popular TV Compa

20、nies in U.S.A.U.S.A.Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldCable News NetworkCable News NetworkCNN是美国有线电视新闻网（Cable News Network）的英文缩写，由特纳广播公司（TBS）特德特纳于1980年6月创办，通过卫星向有线电视网和卫星电视用户提供全天候的新闻节目，总部设在美国佐治

21、亚州的亚特兰大。CNN国际新闻网每周七天，每天二十四小时的全球直播新闻报导。面对突发的新闻，CNN国际新闻网都会作现场报导。全球超过二百一十个国家及地区均转播CNN的新闻。CNN国际新闻网除了将全球新闻送到府上外，还加强了报导亚洲地区的新闻。亚洲七个新闻分社：香港、东京、北京、汉城、雅加达、新德里及曼谷，将有关整个亚洲时事的头条新闻、专题节目及报导，精确地传送到世界各地。经过30余年的努力，今日CNN在全世界设立了36个记者站，共办有7套单项电视节目和1套双向网络电视节目。Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal Read

22、ingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual World微软全国广播公司节目(MSNBC)由美国全国广播公司（NBC）和微软公司联合开办。使得受众既可以在家通过电视机收看有线电视的MSNBC节目，也可以通过电脑上网获取在线MSNBC的信息。成立于1926年11月15日的全国广播公司（National Broadcasting Company，简称 NBC）是美国最早成立的全国性广播电视网。NBC电视网的台标是一只开屏的孔雀，因此孔雀成了NBC的代表标识。NBC是美国最早出现的广播公司，也是

23、第一个将电视引入美国的公司，1941年NBC就建立了美国第一个商业电视台。1953年，NBC第一次进行彩色电视广播。1989年，NBC首次进行了美国制式的高清晰度电视实验。1996年，微软投资2.5亿美元与美国全国广播公司共同组建了微软全国有线广播电视公司，该公司全天24小时在电视上播报世界各地的最新新闻。2012年7月17日微软与美国全国广播公司(NBC)正式宣布结束之间在互联网业务上的合作。美国全国广播公司新闻网(NBC News)宣称，其将从软件巨头微软公司回购微软所持有MSNBC网站股份，从而实现对后者的完全控股；并计划将MSNBC网站更名为NBCNews，但NBC将继续向微软的新闻站

24、点MSN提供新闻服务，而作为回报，MSN向NBC提供网络流量支持。Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldThe American Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company美国广播公司(American Broadcasting Corporation),简称ABC，美国三大商业广播电视公

25、司之一，经费来自广告广播。1941年春，美国联邦通信委员会决定，全国广播公司不得同时拥有红色广播网和蓝色广播网。1943年10月，爱华诺布尔以800万元买下蓝色广播网（拥有116座附属广播电台），1945年6月15日正式使用美国广播公司的名称。目前的最大股东是华特迪士尼公司，为迪士尼-ABC电视集团的成员。ABC总部有两个，娱乐节目部设在洛杉矶附近的伯班克市，这里靠近娱乐中心好莱坞。另一个总部设在传媒中心纽约的时代广场上。Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore

26、ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldPoemComputer-related VocabularyIntroduction of the virtual worldNews ReportWarm-up QuestionsSupplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldIntroductio

27、n of the Virtual WorldSOHO Small-Office/Home-OfficeVirtual CollegeSome Famous Websites Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldPoem Directions: Listen to the poem Surfing the Internet and answer the

28、 following questions.1. What was the hero doing when his boss came in?Surfing the Internet.2. How did he act in front of his boss?He pretended to be surprised at the computer which had crashed “unexpectedly”.3. What would you do if you were in such a situation?Open ended.Supplementary ReadingAfter R

29、eadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldSupplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldComputer-related Vocabulary The most dynamic

30、 combining forms/prefixes for new computer- and Internet-related vocabulary in English are cyber-, virtual, Net- (net), Web- (web-), and E- (e-).1. combining forms/prefixes + noun virtual life (虚拟世界虚拟世界),virtual office(虚拟办公室虚拟办公室), cyber-interaction(网络互动网络互动), cyber nut(网虫网虫), cyber pet(电子宠物电子宠物),We

31、b page(网页网页), website(网站网站), e-card(电子贺卡电子贺卡),e-business(电子商务电子商务)Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual World2. combining forms/prefixes + verbcyber surf(网上冲浪网上冲浪), netsurf(网上冲浪网上冲浪), email(发送发送电子邮件电子邮

32、件)3. words like cyber, net, etc. + suffixcyberian(网络用户网络用户), netter(网民网民), cyberize(使联网使联网)4. clipped wordscyberdoc(网络医生网络医生), Netcast(网络播放网络播放), Netizen(网网民民), e-zine(电子杂志电子杂志)Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit

33、4 The Virtual WorldSome famous websites Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldSupplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual World

34、Unit 4 The Virtual WorldSupplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldSupplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtu

35、al WorldIn information technology, SOHO is a term for the small office or home office environment and business culture. A number of organizations, businesses, and publications now exist to support people who work or have businesses in this environment. These people neednt go to the office everyday.

36、They work at home without worrying about their dress and the strict rules of the company. The term “virtual office” is sometimes used as a synonym.SOHO Small-Office/Home-Office1. What do you guess is the meaning of SOHO in information technology?Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlob

37、al ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldWriters, program designers, ad-agent, etc., all belong to the group of SOHO. Obviously, the author of Text A is a member of them.2. What kind of people do you think belong to the group of SOHO?Supplementary Readi

38、ngAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual World Virtual College affords individuals the opportunity to advance in their chosen careers through on-line education. People can complete their education without leaving their home

39、 or office. However, they will have the college campus experience through a virtual classroom environment. The virtual classroom will allow them to interact with their instructors and other students in the class. Through the virtual classroom students will share information with their “classmates” f

40、rom all over the world. The virtual classroom is available 24 hours a day, allowing people to complete the courses at their convenience regardless of their work schedule.Virtual College Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual W

41、orldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldSome virtual colleges are: APCO Virtual College, Virtual College of Elizabeth City State UniversitySupplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldNews ReportDirection: Listen to

42、 the following news and answer the questions.1. Why were e-communications booming when the deadly SARS virus was plaguing? Because people want to reduce their face-to-face contacts with others, or hide at home.Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore Rea

43、dingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual World2. What did people surf the Net for during the period of SARS plaguing?They surf the Net for information about SARS and use e-mail to keep in touch with friends and family; share the information and downloading medical advice.Supplementary ReadingA

44、fter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual World The deadly SARS virus plaguing China appears to have been a god-send for the nations Internet service providers. As people reduce their face-to-face contacts with others, or hide

45、at home from the disease, e-communications are booming. Many people are surfing the Net for information about the mysterious, and highly contagious virus and using e-mail to keep in touch with friends and family. Many Internet users are downloading medical advice to relieve their SARS-caused anxieti

46、es. And they are using e-mail to share the information. Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual World Ss news channels have received an increasing number of hits in recent days, due in part to the epidem

47、ic, said Daniel Mao, Ss chief executive officer. The remote office, which allows people to work via the Internet when they are out of their offices, has become increasingly popular since the SARS outbreak. Countless people nervous about shopping in high-traffic stores and malls are making purchases

48、online.Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual Worldcommunicating with people; shopping; reading; learning; working; publishing; listening to the music; watching films; playing games; hacking; etc.1. Wha

49、t are the antonyms of “virtual world” and “virtual life”?real world; real life2. What are the synonyms for “virtual would”?cyberspace; cyberia; etherworld; virtual reality; Internet world; net world; etc.3. What can people do on the Internet?Warm-up QuestionsSupplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetaile

50、d ReadingGlobal ReadingDetailed ReadingBefore ReadingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual World4. What do you usually do on the Internet, and what websites do you usually log on?Open-ended.Make comments on this pictureUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldSupplementary ReadingAfter R

51、eadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingBefore ReadingPart Division of the TextQuestions about the Text Word Scanning Further UnderstandingUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldSupplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingBefore ReadingFurther UnderstandingMultiple ChoiceTru

52、e or FalseQuestions and AnswersUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldSupplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingBefore Reading Part Division of the TextPartsPara(s).Main Ideas1132410Description of the authors virtual lifeThe authors feeling about the virtual life31113T

53、he author tries to find her way back into the real world but fails.Unit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldSupplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingBefore ReadingThe first paragraph tells about the consequences of living a virtual life and the last tells about the auth

54、ors return to it. Together, they show us the dilemma people are in at present: Because of modern technology, we have a choice between a virtual life and real life, but we find both unsatisfactory. The author, however, finally has to choose the latter despite its negative effects.Questions and Answer

55、s1. What is the main idea of Text A?Despite the many negative effects of virtual life, the author prefers it to real life.2. What are the roles of the first paragraph and the last?Unit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldSupplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingBefore R

56、eadingDirection: Scan Text A to find out vocabulary items related to computer and the Internet. virtual life link on the net cyber-interactiontelecommuter on line email system crash Internet mailing lists click on the modem computer-assisted connection data password Word Scanning Unit 4 The Virtual

57、WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldSupplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingBefore ReadingQuestions and AnswersShe had worked as a television producer, and now she submit articles and edit them via email and communicate with colleagues on Internet mailing lists.1. What did the autho

58、r do three years ago and what is she doing now?She can order food, manage her money, love and work on net.2. How does the author manage her daily life?Unit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual WorldSupplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingBefore ReadingHow does the author fee

59、l when she is suddenly confronted with people in the real world? _Direction: Read Part 2 carefully and choose ONE best answer to complete the sentence.A. She feels shy. B. She feels angry. C. She feels cautious. D. She feels overexcited.Multiple ChoiceUnit 4 The Virtual WorldUnit 4 The Virtual World

60、Supplementary ReadingAfter ReadingDetailed ReadingGlobal ReadingBefore ReadingHow does the author feel when she is suddenly confronted with people in the real world? _Direction: Read Part 2 carefully and choose ONE best answer to complete the sentence.Multiple ChoiceDA. She feels shy. B. She feels a