[00:00.00]Lesson 13 Tomorrow's World

[00:-1.00]The Future of Cyberspace

[00:-2.00]Peter Taylor finds out how computers

[00:-3.00]and the internet are going to affect our affect our lives.

[00:-4.00]In the last thirty years,the Internet has grown dramatically.

[00:-5.00]In 1983, there were only 200 computers connected to the Internet;

[00:-6.00]now there are around 50 million and this growth is clearly going to continue.

[00:-7.00]Some experts are pessimistic about the future.

[00:-8.00]One worry is the activities of cybercriminals.

[00:-9.00]Even now,young hackers can get into the computers of banks and governments

[00:10.00]In the future,cyberte-rrorists may 'attack the world's computers cause chaos,

[00:11.00]and make planes and trains crash.

[00:12.00]However,many people are optimistic about the future of the Internet.

[00:13.00]Already, users can buy books, find out about holiday offers,

[00:14.00]book tickets,and get all sorts of information from the Internet.

[00:15.00]'In the next few years,' says Angela Rossetto of Cyberia magazine,'

[00:16.00]it is clear that we are going to see an explosion of shopping on the Internet.'

[00:17.00]She also believes that, in the future,

[00:18.00]we will get entertainment from the Netand

[00:19.00]that television will probably disappear.

[00:20.00]The postal service may also disappear with the increasing use of e-mail.

[00:21.00]Some specialists see our future in virtual reality

[00:22.00]the use of computers with sounds and images

[00:23.00]that make you feel as if you are in a real situation.

[00:24.00]'Personally, I think virtual reality will become a part of modern life,'

[00:25.00]says Australian expert Peter Anderson'I see people living

[00:26.00]and working in a virtual world.

[00:27.00]We will work in virtual offices, shop in virtual supermarkets,

[00:28.00]and we will even study in virtual schools.'

[00:29.00]Lesoon 15

[00:30.00]Virtual Reality Tom: Hi, Cathy.

[00:31.00]What are you up to this weekend? Cathy:Don't ask, Tom.

[00:32.00]I have lots of work to do.

[00:33.00]If I don't finish my project on the history of the Internet

[00:34.00]for next Monday's lesson, the science teacher will be angry.

[00:35.00]What about you? Do you have anything planned for Saturday and Sunday?

[00:36.00]Tom: It depends on the weather.If it's good.

[00:37.00]Dad, Mum and I will probably go camping.

[00:38.00]But we won't go if it rains.

[00:39.00]Hey, if I stay home,I'll help you with your project if you like.

[00:40.00]Cathy: Thanks for the offer.

[00:41.00]Tom, can you suggest any good books for my project?

[00:42.00]If you tell me some titles, I'll look for them in the library.

[00:43.00]Tom: Use the library computer.

[00:44.00]If you go to the Science Museum website,you'll find lots of good information.

[00:45.00]I'll send you the website address when I get home.

[00:46.00]Cathy:Thanks,Just think,if we had virtual reality holidays,

[00:47.00]we wouldn't have any problems with the weather.

[00:48.00]What's more,we wouldn't have to spend a long time travelling

[00:49.00]on planesto get to our holiday destinations.

[00:50.00]Tom:What do you mean?

[00:51.00]Cathy: Well, in the future,we'll be able to use modern technology

[00:52.00]to go anywhere we like.Wouldn't that be great?

[00:53.00]I feel excited just thinking about it.

[00:54.00]Tom: I don't understand.

[00:55.00]Cathy, do you mean we'll use the computerto travel around the world

[00:56.00]and visit all the historical sites?

[00:57.00]Cathy: That s right! Just imagine it.

[00:58.00]We would not only be able to travel around the world,

[00:59.00]but also go to study in any world famous universities we wanted to.

[-1:00.00]Tom: That could be really exciting! But I still find it hard to imagine.

[-1:-1.00]Cathy: If they invented virtual reality holidays,

[-1:-2.00]I'd on an around-the-world tour.

[-1:-3.00]Tom, what would you like to do if someone gave you the chance?

[-1:-4.00]Tom: I don't really know.

[-1:-5.00]Personally,I'm more interested in virtual reality universities

[-1:-6.00]than virtual rea holidays.

[-1:-7.00]I'd like to go to a world-famous university like Stanford.

[-1:-8.00]But I guess,a virtual university just wouldn't be the same,would it?

[-1:-9.00]Cathy: True, but just think —you would be able study

[-1:10.00]in such a world-famous university with out going out of your room!

[-1:11.00]Lesson 16 Vitual Tourism

[-1:12.00]AUCKLADD new Zealand a guide Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand.

[-1:13.00]It has a population of just under a million people and is locate North Island.

[-1:14.00]This seaport is an important centre for business and industry

[-1:15.00]It is also the most dynamic and multicultura in New Zealand.

[-1:16.00]The history of the city goes back 650 years when the Maoris settled the area.

[-1:17.00]European settlement began in 1840 when the British arrived.

[-1:18.00]New Zealand's first governor, Captain William Hobson,made Auckland the capital.

[-1:19.00]Later, the capital moved to Wellington,because it was central.

[-1:20.00]Since 1945,the city of Auckland has grownand it now has large modern suburbs.

[-1:21.00]In 1985,the New Zealand government made people country a nuclear free zone

[-1:22.00]and since then

[-1:23.00]Auckland and has been centrefor protest against nuclear testing in the Pacific region.

[-1:24.00]Famous sights include Mt Eden,

[-1:25.00]one of many large volcanic hills well as the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

[-1:26.00]At the Parnell Village,

[-1:27.00]you can visit some of the first European settlers'homes.

[-1:28.00]In the city is the beautiful Auckland Domain

[-1:29.00]which is famous for its large palm tree and exotic plants.

[-1:30.00]You can see Maoris perform their traditional dances at the Auckl and Museum.

[-1:31.00]From wherever you are in the city, you can see the sea.

[-1:32.00]Auckland's nickname is 'the city of sails'

[-1:33.00]because it has more boats than anywhere else in the world.

[-1:34.00]It has a warm climate with plenty sunshine—

[-1:35.00]the average temperature in January(summer) is 23.4°C

[-1:36.00]and in July (winter)it is 7.8°C.

[-1:37.00]It has some of the best beaches Hb Zealand for doing water sports:

[-1:38.00]swimming, diving, fishing, sail and windsurfing.

[-1:39.00]It is easy to travel between Auckland and the rest of New Zeal

[-1:40.00]There are regular international flights too.

[-1:41.00]However, flights from Europe take over twenty-four hours and are expensive.