Sony plans to launch electronic-paper watch

Sony plans to launch electronic-paper watch (1st December, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Sony is preparing for the launch of a watch made out of electronic paper. It could be out next year. The watch will be different from others because it will focus on looks and style rather than function. A special paper material will mean the face and strap act as a display. The wearer can change the whole surface of the watch. Analysts say that the watch may not sell well. It is stylish, but it isn't a proper smart watch as it cannot connect to the Internet.

Sony kept its watch a big secret. It made the design public last September using a pretend company. It didn't want people to know its name. A spokesman said: "We hid Sony's name because we wanted to test the real value of the product, whether there will be demand for our concept." Sony used crowdfunding to see how many people thought it would be a good idea. It got more than its $17,000 goal. It raised $30,000 in total.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/11/27/business/corporate-business/paper-watch-test-sonys-innovation-revamp
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2014-11/28/sony-electronic-paper-watch
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30245296

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	preparing for the launch	a.	rather than function
2.	made out of	b.	next year
3.	It could be out	c.	well
4.	The watch will be different	d.	of a watch
5.	focus on looks and style	e.	surface of the watch
6.	change the whole	f.	smart watch
7.	the watch may not sell	g.	electronic paper
8.	it isn't a proper	h.	from others

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	Sony kept its watch	a.	for our concept
2.	It made the design	b.	company
3.	using a pretend	c.	value of the product
4.	It didn't want people to	d.	a big secret
5.	test the real	e.	in total
6.	there will be demand	f.	would be a good idea
7.	see how many people thought it	g.	public last September
8.	It raised $30,000	h.	know its name

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Sony is preparing (1) ___________________ watch made out of electronic paper. (2) ___________________ next year. The watch will be different from others because it will focus on looks and style (3) ___________________. A special paper material will mean the (4) ___________________ act as a display. The wearer can change the (5) ___________________ the watch. Analysts say that the watch may not sell well. It is stylish, but it isn't a (6) ___________________ as it cannot connect to the Internet.

Sony kept its (7) ___________________. It made the design public last September using (8) ___________________. It didn't want people to know its name. A spokesman said: "We hid Sony's (9) ___________________ we wanted to test the (10) ___________________ product, whether there will be demand for our concept." Sony (11) ___________________ to see how many people thought it would (12) ___________________. It got more than its $17,000 goal. It raised $30,000 in total.

SMART WATCH SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about smart watches in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about smart watches for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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