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VOA慢速英语--顶级视频通话软件用于学习工作和社交

时间:2020-03-28 23:55:28

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Top Video Calling Apps for Learning, Work, Social Connections

As people stay home to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus, many are using video calling services to stay connected to the outside world.

Today we examine some of the top technology tools designed to help improve communication for learning, work and social life.

One of the most widely used video calling services is Zoom1 Cloud Meeting, which has many good features for both education and business. Zoom is currently2 listed as the most popular free app in Apple's App Store by industry data reporting company App Annie. Downloads of the app have risen sharply3 in recent weeks, as shutdowns of businesses, schools and transportation grew.

Zoom can be used on a computer or mobile device to hold high quality one-on-one video or voice calls or video conferences involving groups.

The company offers a "basic" free service that permits unlimited4 one-on-one meetings and group meetings of up to 100 people. The basic service limits group meetings to 40 minutes. Zoom also offers private messaging between users and groups, screen sharing and the ability to record meetings.

Zoom provides suggestions on its website for people seeking to use the service to improve work activities at home, as well as educational ideas for teachers, schools and parents. The app receives high ratings5 in the Apple and Google Play stores for video quality and technical reliability6.

Another very similar service is Microsoft-owned Skype, which began in 2003 as an early example of free voice, video and messaging technology over the internet. Skype can be used on computers or mobile devices to make high quality video and voice calls for individuals and groups. It also includes messaging, personal and group chat and screen sharing.

The service is free for Skype-to-Skype calls worldwide. But users have to pay for some services, such as calling a landline or mobile phone or sending text messages.

One of the most popular services for remote workers is Slack7, which offers video and voice calls and messaging. The free version permits one-on-one video and voice calls between team members. There is a cost for calls involving additional team members and other services. Slack also offers special programs to support educational organizations and student groups.

Other popular video calling services for home-based workers include Microsoft Teams and Google's Hangouts Meet. Both offer a series of powerful tools to link employees to company systems and co-workers. The downside of these services is that they are designed to be used with other Microsoft and Google products.

On the personal side, Facebook Messenger has become one of the most popular apps for video calls by users of the social media service. In fact, Facebook data shared with the news website CNET showed a 70 percent jump last week in people using Messenger to take part in group video calls.

In addition, the number of voice and video calls on Facebook's WhatsApp service more than doubled year-over-year in places most affected8 by the virus, CNET reported. Groups of up to four people can connect through video on WhatsApp.

Apple's FaceTime is another way to easily connect with friends and family, as long as all users have Apple devices. Video calls can be one-on-one or involve groups of up to 32 people.

For Android device users, there is Google Duo, which can also be used to hold individual and group video calls.

For more of a group "video party" experience, there is an app called Houseparty, which is available for both Apple and Android users, as well as on computers. Houseparty is not new, but downloads of the app recently saw a huge increase to about 210,000 per day, the French Press Agency AFP reported.

Houseparty has become popular with homebound people who are used to going out with family and friends to restaurants and bars. The app brings people together to socialize as if they were out together - sometimes with alcohol, music, dancing and games.

One user of the app based in the United States, Amaya Howard, told AFP the video meetup is one way to relax and take a break from non-stop coronavirus news – at least temporarily.

"The idea came about of doing a happy hour - we just get on the app and just drink wine and talk," Howard said. "Mostly it's about a lot of randomness10, but occasionally someone will say, 'I just can't believe how crazy what's going on is.'"

Words in This Story

feature – n. a typical quality or important part of something

screen – n. a flat area on an electronic device where images can be seen

reliability – n. ability to be trusted or believed

chat – n. an informal talk with someone

relax – v. to become happy and comfortable because nothing is worrying you

random9 – adj. done or chosen without any plan or system

occasionally – adv. not happening often


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1 zoom VenzWT     
n.急速上升;v.突然扩大,急速上升
参考例句:
  • The airplane's zoom carried it above the clouds.飞机的陡直上升使它飞到云层之上。
  • I live near an airport and the zoom of passing planes can be heard night and day.我住在一个飞机场附近,昼夜都能听到飞机飞过的嗡嗡声。
2 currently SvMzI2     
adv.通常地,普遍地,当前
参考例句:
  • Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
  • Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。
3 sharply UiRziL     
adj.锐利地,急速;adv.严厉地,鲜明地
参考例句:
  • The plane dived sharply and rose again.飞机猛然俯冲而后又拉了起来。
  • Demand for personal computers has risen sharply.对个人电脑的需求急剧增长。
4 unlimited MKbzB     
adj.无限的,不受控制的,无条件的
参考例句:
  • They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
  • There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。
5 ratings ff3afd5184758fee28f3683303ad728b     
n.等级( rating的名词复数 );收视率;表示电影分级的数字(或字母);(海军)水兵
参考例句:
  • He won high ratings [marks] in all his examinations. 他所有的考试都获得高分。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • The boat was operated by two naval ratings in dress whites. 船由两个穿着白色礼服的水兵驾驶。 来自辞典例句
6 reliability QVexf     
n.可靠性,确实性
参考例句:
  • We mustn't presume too much upon the reliability of such sources.我们不应过分指望这类消息来源的可靠性。
  • I can assure you of the reliability of the information.我向你保证这消息可靠。
7 slack mxwwc     
adj.松弛的,萧条的,懈怠的;vt.使松弛
参考例句:
  • Slack off those ropes there,there's a storm coming!把那里的绳索放松,暴风雨就要来了!
  • Some are hard at work and some are slack in work.有的勤奋工作,有的则消极怠工。
8 affected TzUzg0     
adj.不自然的,假装的
参考例句:
  • She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
  • His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
9 random HT9xd     
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。
10 randomness af1c2e393e31ba3c5a65a5ccc64d0789     
n.随意,无安排;随机性
参考例句:
  • The randomness is attributed to the porous medium. 随机性起因于多孔介质。 来自辞典例句
  • Einstein declared that randomness rather than lawfulness is the characteristic of natural events. 爱因斯坦宣称自然现象的特征为不可测性而不是规律化。 来自辞典例句

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