Module4NewtechnologyTeachingresources教学资源库I.HowtouseMP3?GettingstartedMP3playersarebundledwithallthesoftwareyou'llneed,including:←Driversthatallowyourcomputertointerfacewiththeplayer←Afile-managementprogramtohelpyousortsongfiles←"Ripper"softwareforconvertingCDaudiodatatoMP3format.It'sagoodideatocheckthemanufacturer'sWebsiteforannouncementsofsoftwareupgrades,whichyoucanthendownload.Thefirststepistoconnecttheplayertoyourcomputer.MostMP3playersarePC-compatibleandalloftoday'splayersuseeitherFirewireortheUSBformattotransfermusicfromyourcomputer.USB2.0andFirewirearemuchfasterthanUSB,ifyourcomputersupportsthem.Oncetheunit'sbatterieshavebeenfullychargedandthesoftwarehasbeeninstalled,it'stimetofillitupwithtunes!IfyoualreadyhaveMP3filesonyourharddrive,youcansimplytransfertheseintotheplayer'smemory.Oryoucanuseyourcomputer'sCD-ROMorDVD-ROMdrivetoconverttracksfromtheCDformat(technicallycalledPCMaudio)toMP3.UsingcompressionTounderstandcompression(considerit"datareduction"),youshouldseeitinaction.Trytransferringthesametrack(preferablysomethingfromawell-recordedCDwithvoicesandrecognizableacousticinstruments)atdifferentratesofcompression.Themorecompressionyouuse,themoremusicyoucanfitintoyourplayer.Note,however,thatincreasingthecompressionlevelalsomeansmoresonicdegradation.Hownoticeablethisdegradationiswillvarydependingonthemusictype,theheadphonesorspeakersyou'reusing,theamountofbackgroundnoise,and—ofcourse—onthesensitivityofyourears.Alittleexperimentationcanhelptodeterminewhichlevelofcompressionworksbestforyou.UpgradingyourMP3playerTheheadphonessuppliedwithyourplayerareusuallysubpar,soupgradingthemmayhelpthesound.ThelittlepreampsbuiltintoMP3players,however,canbeevenweakerthanthosebuiltintoportableCDplayerssobesuretocheckhowmuchvolumethenewheadphonescanmusterwithyourunitbeforebuying.Also,theinherentlimitsoftheformat—especiallyatmoreextremecompressionrates—willbecomemoreapparentthroughbetterheadphones.This,inturn,mightdriveyoutowardanMP3playerwithmorememorysoyoucangetawaywithlesscompression.You'reset!Startenjoyingyourdigitaltunes.Sothereyouhaveit—allyouneedtoknowtogetstartedwithyourskip-free,portableMP3player.Gooutandenjoythegreatsoundandconvenienceofdigitalmusic.II.TeensandtechnologiesToday’sAmericanteensliveinaworldenvelopedbycommunicationstechnologies;theinternetandcellphoneshavebecomeacentralforcethatfuelstherhythmofdailylife.Thenumberofteenagersusingtheinternethasgrown24%inthepastfouryearsand87%ofthosebetweentheagesof12and17areonline.Comparedtofouryearsago,teens’useoftheinternethasintensifiedandbroadenedastheylogonmoreoftenanddomorethingswhentheyareonline.Amongotherthings,therehasbeensignificantgrowthoverthepastfouryearsinthenumberofteenswhoplaygamesontheinternet,getnews,shoponline,andgethealthinformation.Notonlyhasthenumberofusersincreased,butalsothevarietyoftechnologiesthatteensusetosupporttheircommunication,research,andentertainmentdesireshasgrown.Thesetechnologiesenableavarietyofmethodsandchannelsbywhichyouthcancommunicatewithoneanotheraswellaswiththeirparentsandotherauthorities.Email,oncethecuttingedge“killerapp,”islosingitsprivilegedplaceamongmanyteensastheyexpresspreferencesforinstantmessaging(IM)andtextmessagingaswaystoconnectwiththeirfriends.Infocusgroups,teensdescribedtheirnewenvironment.Tothem,emailisincreasinglyseenasatoolforcommunicatingwith“adults”suchasteachers,institutionslikeschools,andasawaytoconveylengthyanddetailedinformationtolargegroups.Meanwhile,IMisusedforeverydayconversationswithmultiplefriendsthatrangefromcasualtomoreseriousandprivateexchanges.Itisalsousedasaplaceofpersonalexpression.ThroughbuddyiconsorothercustomizationofthelookandfeelofIMcommunications,teenscanexpressanddifferentiatethemselves.Otherinstantmessagingtoolsallowforthepostingofpersonalprofiles,oreven“away”messages,durablesignalspostedwhenauserisawayfromthecomputerbutwishestoremainconnectedtotheirIMnetwork.
