Research on diseases using Avatar film’s motion capture technology

admin 2023年1月28日

Beginner

science & technology, science & technology - beginner

Pre-reading questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。

Do you like science-fiction movies?
Have you already watched the movie Avatar?

Vocabulary:

I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.

単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。

technology /tek-NOL-uh-jee/

[noun] – (the study and knowledge of) the practical, especially industrial, use of scientific discoveries
The new technology in the car allowed for hands-free driving.

surprising /ser-PRAHY-zing/

[adjective] – unexpected
It was surprising to learn that he had been secretly saving money for a year.

character /KAR-ik-ter /

[noun] – person represented in a movie, play, or story
In the protagonist of the novel, the author created a complex and relatable fictional character.

disease /dih-ZEEZ/

[noun] – (an) illness of people, animals, plants, etc., caused by infection or a failure of health rather than by an accident:
The disease spread rapidly through the small village, causing concern among the residents.

bone /bohn /

[noun] – any of the hard parts inside a human or animal that make up its frame
The dog buried its bone in the backyard.

Article reading:

Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。

In a world where technology is constantly changing, finding new ways to use it to improve our lives is not surprising. Would you believe me if I told you that the same technology that brings our favorite fictional characters to life might also be used to save lives?

Motion capture suits were originally used to bring characters to life in films such as Avatar but are now used to track the spread of diseases that impair mobility. Researchers at Imperial College and University College London have spent the last ten years developing a novel technology that employs artificial intelligence to evaluate bodily movements. When assessing the severity of conditions like Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), it can do so rapidly and precisely.

The device can also be used to monitor patients recovering from other illnesses that impair movement, including those affecting the heart, lungs, muscles, bones, and neurological system. According to Dr. Valeria Ricotti of the Great Ormond Street Institute for Child Health, she believes the impact on the diagnosis and development of new drugs for a wide range of diseases could be “massive.”

True or False:

Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.

文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。

Motion capture suits were originally used to bring characters to life in films such as Avatar.
Motion capture suits are now used to track the spread of diseases that impair mobility.
The device can also be used to monitor patients recovering from other illnesses that impair movement.
Researchers at Imperial College and University College London have spent the last five years developing the technology.
The device is only used to assess the severity of conditions like Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

Fill in the blanks:

Choose the correct word from the table then fill in the blanks.

適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。

technology

surprising

character

disease

bone

The company’s investment in ______ has greatly improved its production process.
The doctor told him that he had broken a ______ in his arm.
The sudden and ______ turn of events caught everyone off guard.
Fans of the series were disappointed when their favorite fictional ______ was killed off in the final episode.
The doctor worked hard to find a solution for the serious _______.