Smart Phone Apps Test

Smartphones have plenty of added functions and applications for savvy¹ users to explore. But how well do you make use of your smart phone?
Recently many people have been taking part in an online test designed to test their smartphone proficiency², and they have even received a proficiency certificate.

Zhang Wan³ takes a closer look.

 
Using the question "how well do you make use of your smart phone?" I made a random⁴ check of people in our office. Only a few colleagues of mine say they explore the applications available for their smartphone, other than the basic functions.

"When I had just got my smart phone, I tried all the applications. But one month later, I gave up using 80 or 90 percent of the applications, other than making phone calls, sending messages or logging on to Weibo, as well as the memo⁵ application, clock and alarm. I thought I would download and use various apps for my smart phone in the beginning, such as the compass, map, games and msn, but I haven't used them yet."

In contrast to this, most colleagues say they are only able to use the basic functions of their smartphone, such as making phone calls and sending messages.

"Apart from making phone call, I often take photos and record voice with it, and sometimes, I use it to access the internet. I must say I only go for the basic functions. I'm sure there must be some applications that I don't know about at all."

Now people have the chance to test how much they know about their smartphone applications through the internet. Logging on a test web page, you will find ten questions. By giving right answer to most questions, you'll get a "certificate", which is categorized into high level, middle and low level.

Although the test is actually provided by an internet company rather than any official test center, it has attracted thousands of testers within several days.

Some testers say these questions are very interesting, for example, "what would you do if your smart phone falls into water and switches off?" option one: open up the mobile phone and scatter⁶ some salt on it, then have it exposed under sunshine for six hours; option two: dial the number 10086, which is the service hotline.

Besides these humorous questions, there are also questions that relate to the use of mobile phone, such as: how do you shut down the mobile phone when it freezes? or questions like: who is the manufacturer of the world's first civil mobile phone?

Many testers say they have little knowledge about the many smartphone applications before they do the test. And the reason why they like the test is because it helps them become more skillful in smart phone usage.

Although the test is simply kind of game for fun, smartphones have become part of people's everyday lives. And proficiency in using smartphones is considered very important.

Some new media researchers says that smart phones have begun to replace computers in many ways, so the knowledge of how to better use smartphones is regarded as a must. And games like this test are good for publicizing smartphone knowledge.

For CRI, I am Zhang Wan.

1 savvy   

v.知道，了解；n.理解能力，机智，悟性；adj.有见识的，懂实际知识的，通情达理的

参考例句：

• She was a pretty savvy woman.她是个见过世面的漂亮女人。
• Where's your savvy?你的常识到哪里去了？

2 proficiency   

n.精通，熟练，精练

参考例句：

• He plied his trade and gained proficiency in it.他勤习手艺，技术渐渐达到了十分娴熟的地步。
• How do you think of your proficiency in written and spoken English?你认为你的书面英语和口语熟练程度如何？

3 wan   

(wide area network)广域网

参考例句：

• The shared connection can be an Ethernet,wireless LAN,or wireless WAN connection.提供共享的网络连接可以是以太网、无线局域网或无线广域网。

4 random   

adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动

参考例句：

• The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。
• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

5 memo   

n.照会，备忘录；便笺；通知书；规章

参考例句：

• Do you want me to send the memo out?您要我把这份备忘录分发出去吗？
• Can you type a memo for me?您能帮我打一份备忘录吗？

6 scatter   

vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散

参考例句：

• You pile everything up and scatter things around.你把东西乱堆乱放。
• Small villages scatter at the foot of the mountain.村庄零零落落地散布在山脚下。