poniedziałek, 18 stycznia 2016

Raymond Wang: How germs travel on planes and how we can stop them

Click to see Mr Wang's discourse

VOCABULARY:

to pre-screen for sth - to examine or interview before further selection processes occur

In order to pre-screen the applicants for interviews, the recruiters asked them to solve a short test.

It is very difficult to pre-screen for Ebola, as in the early days after contracting the virus, the infected person usually does not notice any disquieting symptoms. 


to be in latent period - the interval between exposure to an infectious organism or carcinogen and the clinical appearance of the disease

She never knew she had cancer. It had been in the latent period for such a long time that she had never felt really ill, until it suddenly struck her, literally knocking her off her feet. 

Before the infected person shows any symptoms of the disease, it can stay in the latent period for months.


to exhibit symptoms  - to show signs of sth (esp. a disease)

Researches have discovered that people who regularly use the internet can exhibit symptoms usually seen in substance abusers.

People who have experienced a loss of a beloved person may exhibit symptoms of depression.


pathogen - an agent that causes disease (esp. a virus, bacterium or fungus).

Regular physical exercise increases immunity to common pathogens.

There are 3 types of pathogens causing influenza, all of them viruses.



to mesh sth - to coordinate so that people/things work closely together

They have never manage to mesh successfully their different managment styles. 

I have collected huge amounts of data on the subject, but I cannot mesh it, so I fail to find any definite conclusion.



composite material - a material made from two or more constituent materials, which has its specifiv properties

Adobe, made of straw mixed with mud, is one of the most ancient composite materials. 

The primary advantage of composite materials is the fact that they are light. 



poniedziałek, 11 stycznia 2016

Sebastian Wernicke: How to use data to make a hit TV show

How to use data to make a hit TV show

VOCABULARY:

data point - a single fact or piece of information; in statistics - a set of one or more measurements on a single member of a statistical population.

To have a comprehensive overview of the problem of obesity, we have to observe in the studied group such data points as age, occupation, type of lifestyle and eating habits. 

The investigation wouldn't have come to a standstill  if one important data point had been agreed on. 

data crunching - processing large amounts of data

While you're enjoying playing this game with such detailed graphics, you probably don't realise that your PC has to do some serious data crunching to provide you with this effect.

Everyday in global companies, computers crunch enourmous amounts of data on staff, clients, market, current demand etc.

bits and pieces - small things of different types

What a mess! You really need to tidy away all these bits and pieces of yours before the grandma's visit. 

Sue finally quit her tedious job. She was smiling to herself while collecting her bits and pieces from her desk. 

to take a leap of faith - to risk belief

We have always dreamt of a hitchiking trip around Europe, but we are too scared to take a leap of faith and just give it a try. 

I loved that old, semi-derelict house by the lake so much that I took a leap of faith and bought it. I have no regrets - after renovation, it's a perfect place to lead a peaceful life. 

data-savvy (inf) - well informed about or experienced in the domain of data

Google, being a data-savvy company, is perfectly skilled at processing and interpreting large amounts of information. 

They claim to be so data-savvy, but they can't even check the simplest information on the internet! 

a pinnacle - the most successful point, the culmination

After 15 years of hard work, he finally reached the pinnacle of his carrer.

In my opinion, "House of Cards" is the pinnacle of addictive TV shows. 

tech demo (technology demonstration)  - a prototype, rough example or an otherwise incomplete version of a conceivable product or future system

In 2015, Lexus revealed their tech demo of a hoverboard, an idea well known from "Back to the Future". 

This software is merely a tech demo. Potential buyers will have to wait another year to acquire a fully developed version. 

the basic setup - the elemental organisation or arrangement of sth

The complete format of your PC will mean a return to the basic setup. 

We've just redecorated our flat a little bit; the basic setup has been left untouched.