Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. wearable
    • ex. Wearable fitness bracelets can monitor your sleep and exercise.
  2. depend on (something)
    • ex. Students today depend on the internet to do their homework.
  3. customized
    • ex. The app gives you customized weather reports based on your location.
  4. an assessment
    • ex. The doctor made some assessments about his health after the check-up.
  5. a niche market
    • ex. The sports tech company makes fitness products for a niche market of outdoor sports fans.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Samsung has introduced new wearable devices that use artificial intelligence (AI). This comes six months after the company added AI to its smartphones. It has now become a trend to include AI in everyday devices. This trend is also present in Google and Apple’s smartphones and Microsoft’s computers.

Samsung’s new smartwatch and ring depend on AI to do a better job of helping users monitor and manage their health, which is the main reason most people buy wearable devices. Samsung’s new devices are like a fitness coach. They give customized assessments of users’ health and well-being. They also give health advice according to these assessments. The new smartwatch costs $650 (about ¥102,000), and the ring costs $400 (approximately ¥63,000).

More people are buying smartwatches because they help with health. Sales are expected to reach $29 billion (about ¥5 trillion) this year. According to predictions, Samsung won’t have many competitors for now. However, it is likely to face more challenges in the smart ring market. Research said that smart rings are still new, and not a lot of people want them. So, they are expected to stay within a niche market until 2028.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Wearable Devices

  • Samsung’s new wearable devices can act like a fitness coach that gives health advice based on the user’s customized assessments. Do you want to have one? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Samsung’s new smartwatch costs $650 (about ¥102,000), and the ring costs $400 (about ¥63,000). As a consumer, how do you feel about these prices (ex. they’re reasonable, they’re too much)? Discuss.
  • Research said that smart rings are still new, and not a lot of people want them. Do you think it is a good move for Samsung to release these devices even if they are not yet popular outside a niche market? Why or why not? Discuss.

AI in Everyday Devices

  • Do you think including AI makes devices more attractive to consumers? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Imagine you own a Samsung wearable device with AI. Would you believe its assessment of your health and follow its advice? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • How do you feel about AI providing customized information based on your data (ex. I don’t feel comfortable about it, I find it useful)? Discuss.