Topic Reading-Vol.2401-11/7/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers

Meet Sophia: The robot who laughs, smiles and frowns just like us

A robot that not only expresses human emotions naturally but also understands the emotional state of people, up to a certain extent. This robot, named Sophia, was developed to represent the intersection of humanity and technology as well as to enhance humanity.

To realize such complex movements of the face and voice, researchers had to study neurobiology and biology of human facial expressions to design how to move each part of the artificial muscle. She can generate various expressions such as joy, confusion and even frustration. She also shows up as a model and delivers a speech. With these human-like abilities, she became the first robot to be granted a citizenship, in Saudi Arabia.

Enjoy watching the video and think if you may want to have a robot partner or pet in your home someday.

https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/sophia-robot-artificial-intelligence-smart-creativity/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.2400-11/6/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers

Can music therapy work on dogs?

Some pet dog owners or carers might believe that music calms dogs. In fact, some study shows that dogs in animal shelters are less likely to bark and more likely to sleep to classical music than more upbeat music like heavy metal or no music. But what about specially trained dogs like police dogs that are often under stress for their intensive searching tasks?

Here, in a Spanish police dog training center, dogs hear classical music when they are off duty and in their respective cage. The staff members say that they bark less and look more relaxed.

Have the trainers found what type of classical music dogs prefer?  Do German Shepherds like Wagner more than Verdi, or Retrievers prefer symphonies to chamber music? Maybe we should put a “Like” button next to those dogs to gather data.

Enjoy watching a video and think if what makes you feel calm and relaxed.

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p06npdl1/these-police-dogs-get-musical-therapy-to-help-them-stay-calm

Topic Reading-Vol.2399-11/5/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers

India unveils the world's tallest statue

Will the Statue of Unity in India become as popular as the Statue of Liberty in New York?

This newly inaugurated statue in the western Indian state of Gujaratis is 182 meters tall, nearly twice as tall as the famous copper statue in Manhattan, and now is the world’s tallest statue. Unlike other religious or anonymous statues, this new statue is a tribute to one of the independence leaders, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who served as the first Deputy Prime Minister of India. Though he is not as known as Nehru in the world, he worked very closely with Gandhi and was, in fact, the last person to talk privately with Gandhi before he was assassinated only minutes later.

Will this founding father serve the nation once again by bringing millions of tourists as incumbent PM Modi expects?

Enjoy reading and watching the video and think if a statue, however huge or tall might be, is attractive to you to visit the remote site.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-46028342

Topic Reading-Vol.2398-11/4/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers

Why is Seven Samurai so good?

This over-six-decade-old, black-and-white work by Akira Kurosawa is one of the most well-known and referred to films among movie producers, actors, and critics. In the 16^th century in Japan, seven master-less samurais were hired by farmers to protect their village from bandits. Though the story sounds simple, the making and acting of this movie are both outstanding. It won Silver Lion award in the Venice Film Festival in 1954 and won or nominated in other prominent film awards. Scores of years later, movie critics were asked by BBC to choose their favorite non-English language movies. Among the 100 top listed films, Seven Samurai came to the top of the list.

Why is this particular old movie?

Enjoy reading and learn about this legendary milestone work in cinema history.

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20181025-why-is-seven-samurai-so-good

Topic Reading-Vol.2397-11/3/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers

Amazon is investing millions to keep packaging out of landfills

While generating billions of dollars in bottom line profit, Amazon is also creating tons of trash on the earth as their fulfillment centers ship over a million packages daily. That’s a lot of cardboard being used, opened and trashed or recycled. In each box or package, there is bubble wrap and/or Styrofoam to keep the merchandise in good shape. How much of such plastic packaging materials is properly collected and recycled?

Now, in order to respond to the rising criticisms and demands for reducing or replacing single-use plastic items like straws and lids, Amazon announced to invest “ten million dollars” to a fund that invests in recycling programs, sustainable goods, and landfill reduction efforts through venture capitals and investment funds.

Does is sound generous or sufficient to you considering the amount of trash the online giant is creating every day?

Enjoy reading and think how much trash from the delivered packages you throw out a week.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/26/investing/amazon-trash-plastic-impact-investors/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.2396-11/2/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers

Is it OK to be average?

Do you consider yourself an average person? If you are, do you want to stay in or stand out from the crowd?

Being an average or ordinary person gives you a chance to fit in a classroom, workplace, or community easily. Many people prefer to be that way simply to stay in the comfortable zone or to intentionally hide their identity, such as a criminal or undercover operative. But unless you have some distinguished talent or particular reasons, you can decide and control mostly how you are seen by the way you look to, speak to, or treat others.

Indeed, being an average, you’ll get fewer hassles, troubles, or worries. But isn’t that too boring to you?

Enjoy reading and think if being average an insult or compliment.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1XDvM0PtCW8kMw8FhHtmYYY/is-it-ok-to-be-average

Topic Reading-Vol.2395-11/1/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers

Driverless cars: Who should die in a crash?

Driving a van with passengers, your family or friends, and suddenly noticed an extended family, grandparents, parents and two kids are walking across the street at a distance that is no way to avoid a collision. What would you do?

This is a kind of situation you never want to face when you sit in the driver’s seat, who to save and who to hit if there is ever any moment to think or judge. Instinct probably prevails over logic, and reaction likely comes before conscious control.

A research found that how people cope with such situation differs widely by culture. The Japanese chose to avoid hitting pedestrians while the Chinese wanted to save the passengers. The French chose to save young people but the people in Confucianism cultures, such as China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japanese, chose otherwise.

So, what would a self-driving vehicle do in such a situation? What sort of decision-making algorithm is going to be set? Would that vary by country or situation? Should the driver be asked to choose an algorithm option before activating the self-driving system?

Enjoy reading and think what you would do at such a critical moment.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-45991093