视频时代的制胜指南(上)

疫情将视频嵌入了办公场所。以前从未出现在镜头前的员工突然要时刻习惯看到自己和同事出现在屏幕上。

双语精读

How to thrive in the video age: Screen presence is now a feature of the modern office.

视频时代制胜指南：如今屏幕的存在成为现代办公室的一个特征

The pandemic embedded video into the workplace. Workers who had never previously been on camera suddenly spent every hour of the day getting used to the sight of themselves and their colleagues on screen.

疫情将视频嵌入了办公场所。以前从未出现在镜头前的员工突然要时刻习惯看到自己和同事出现在屏幕上。

Executives realised that they could send video messages to their workforces rather than having to convene town halls.

高管们意识到，他们可以向员工发送视频信息，而不必召开员工大会。

There is no going back. Blogs have become vlogs. Meetings are now recorded as a matter of course, so that people can fail to watch them back later.

开弓没有回头箭。文字博客已经变成了视频博客。现在会议也被理所应当地录下来，这样之后人们就不会再看了。

Some firms routinely ask applicants to record answers to certain questions on video, so that people can see how well prospective recruits communicate.

一些公司经常要求应聘者录制视频来回答某些问题，这样人们就可以看到未来新员工的沟通能力如何。

Since video has become more central to work, it pays to be good at it. Being a star in the video age means having the right set-up, speaking well and listening well. Workers can improve under their own steam, but companies can help, too.

由于视频在工作中变得越来越重要，所以能玩转视频是有利的。成为视频时代的明星意味着要有正确的机位布景、良好的听说能力。员工可以自行提高这些能力，但公司也可以提供帮助。

To see what the right set-up looks like, just observe the range of images on your next video-conferencing call. It will probably be a complete mishmash.

要知道正确的机位布景是什么样子，只需在下一次视频会议中观察一下出现的一系列图像。画面可能是个大杂烩。

Some people will be bathed in the warm glow of a ring light; others will be emerging from the shadows like the Emperor Palpatine. Some will have high-definition cameras that show off every pore and follicle; others will be smeared across the screen.

一些人沐浴在环形补光灯的温暖光芒中，另一些人则像帕尔帕廷皇帝一样从阴影中浮现出来。一些人配备高清摄像头，展示着每一个毛孔和毛囊，另一些人则像被涂抹在屏幕上。

Some will be Hollywood types, observing the rule of thirds by positioning themselves slightly off-centre; others seem to have learned their craft from "The Blair Witch Project".

一些人是好莱坞范，他们遵守三分法构图规则，把自己放在略微偏离中心的位置，另一些人的构图技巧则像是从《女巫布莱尔》中学到的。

There is a limit to how level the playing-field between home offices can be, when living arrangements between employees differ so greatly.

在员工的生活安排差异非常大的情况下，居家办公室之间的竞争公平程度是有限的。

Not everyone needs to look like an A-lister: people who regularly make presentations or see clients have greater claim on fancier gear. Some people are photogenic, others less so. But this range in video quality can nonetheless be narrowed.

并不是每个人都需要看起来像一线明星：经常做展示或见客户的人对高级设备有更高的要求。有些人很上镜，有些人不那么上镜。但视频质量的这种差距仍然可以缩小。

A study published last year by Katherine Karl of the University of Tennessee and her co-authors looked at workers' most common complaints about video-conferencing meetings: camera angles, proximity to the screen and bad lighting all feature in the list of frustrations.

田纳西大学的凯瑟琳·卡尔和她的合著者去年发表了一项研究，调查了员工对视频会议最常见的抱怨：摄像头的角度、离屏幕太近以及光线不佳都在令人烦恼的清单上。

Whether providing decent home-working equipment or just giving feedback on how people appear on screen, employers can help everyone improve their video game.

无论是提供像样的家庭办公设备，还是给人们在屏幕上的样子提出反馈，雇主都可以帮助每个人把这个视频游戏玩得更好。

词汇预习

presence [高考]
美[ˈprezns] | 英[ˈprezns]
n. 出席；存在；到场；【生】存在度
definition [高考]
美[ˌdefɪˈnɪʃn] | 英[ˌdefɪˈnɪʃn]
n. 定义；阐释；清晰度
claim [高考]
美[kleɪm] | 英[kleɪm]
n. 索赔；宣称；声明；断言 v. 声称；宣称；认领；索取
previously [高考]
美[ˈpriːviəsli] | 英[ˈpriːviəsli]
adv. 先前；在此之前
gear [高考]
美[ɡɪr] | 英[ɡɪə(r)]
n. 传动装置；齿轮；排挡；工具；装备 v. 调整；使适应于；以齿轮连起
feedback [高考]
美[ˈfiːdbæk] | 英[ˈfiːdbæk]
n. 反馈；反馈意见
glow [高考]
美[ɡloʊ] | 英[ɡləʊ]
n. 光辉；热情；赤热 vi. 发红光；红光焕发
prospective [高考]
美[prəˈspektɪv] | 英[prəˈspektɪv]
adj. 预期的；未来的
thrive [高考]
美[θraɪv] | 英[θraɪv]
vi. 兴旺；繁荣；茁壮成长
centre [高考]
美[ˈsentər] | 英[ˈsentə(r)]
n. 中心；集中点 v. 居中；使集中 adj. 中心的；中央的
observe [高考]
美[əbˈzɜːrv] | 英[əbˈzɜːv]
v. 观察；遵守；注意到；庆祝
range [高考]
美[reɪndʒ] | 英[reɪndʒ]
n.范围; 射程; 类别; （山脉，房屋等的）排列 vi.搜索; 变化; 延伸; 漫游 vt.排列; （按一定位置或顺序）排序; 把…分类; 徘徊 adj.牧场的，放牧区的
differ [高考]
美[ˈdɪfər] | 英[ˈdɪfə(r)]
vi.不同，相异，不同意，意见相左，争吵
means [高考]
美[miːnz] | 英[miːnz]
n. 方法；手段；收入；财产 v. 意思是，意味（动词mean的第三人称单数）
living [高考]
美[ˈlɪvɪŋ] | 英[ˈlɪvɪŋ]
adj. 活着的；生动的 n. 生活；生计
decent [高考]
美[ˈdiːsnt] | 英[ˈdiːsnt]
adj. 相当好的；体面的；适当的；正派的
workplace [高考]
美[ˈwɜːrkpleɪs] | 英[ˈwɜːkpleɪs]
n. 工作场所
routinely [四级]
美[ruˈtinlɪ] | 英[ru:'ti:nlɪ]
adv. 日常地；通常地；例行公事地
nonetheless [四级]
美[ˌnʌnðəˈles] | 英[ˌnʌnðəˈles]
adv. 尽管如此(仍然)
good at [四级]
美[ɡʊd æt] | 英[ɡʊd æt]
善于；擅长
a matter of [四级]
美[e ˈmætɚ ʌv] | 英[ə ˈmætə ɔv]
关于 ... 的问题；大约
learned [四级]
美[lɜːrnd , ˈlɜːrnɪd] | 英[lɜːnd , ˈlɜːnɪd]
adj. 有学问的；博学的
pore [六级]
美[pɔːr] | 英[pɔː(r)]
n. 毛孔；小孔 v. 熟读；钻研；沉思
as a matter of course [专四]
美[æz e ˈmætɚ ʌv kɔː(r)s] | 英[æz ə ˈmætə ɔv kɔː(r)s]
当然；势所必然
convene [专八]
美[kənˈviːn] | 英[kənˈviːn]
vi. 集合 vt. 集合；召集；召唤

重点讲解

How to thrive in the video age: Screen presence is now a feature of the modern office.

视频时代制胜指南：如今屏幕的存在成为现代办公室的一个特征

thrive v. 繁荣；蓬勃发展

【例】New businesses thrive in this area.

新企业在这一地区蓬勃兴起。

【拓展】thrive on 以某事为乐，因某事而有成（尤指别人不喜欢的事物）

【例】She seems to thrive on stress.

她似乎很擅长在压力下工作。

embed v.

1. 把…牢牢地嵌入（或插入、埋入）

【例】These attitudes are deeply embedded in our society.

这些看法在我们这个社会中根深蒂固。

2. 派遣（战地记者、摄影记者等）

【例】embedded reporters in the war zone战区特派记者

be/get used to (doing) something 习惯于(做)某事

【例】I can’t get used to the idea that you’re grown up now.

现在你已长大成人，但我不习惯这么想。

The pandemic embedded video into the workplace. Workers who had never previously been on camera suddenly spent every hour of the day getting used to the sight of themselves and their colleagues on screen.

疫情将视频嵌入了办公场所。以前从未出现在镜头前的员工突然要时刻习惯看到自己和同事出现在屏幕上。

thrive v. 繁荣；蓬勃发展

【例】New businesses thrive in this area.

新企业在这一地区蓬勃兴起。

【拓展】thrive on 以某事为乐，因某事而有成（尤指别人不喜欢的事物）

【例】She seems to thrive on stress.

她似乎很擅长在压力下工作。

embed v.

1. 把…牢牢地嵌入（或插入、埋入）

【例】These attitudes are deeply embedded in our society.

这些看法在我们这个社会中根深蒂固。

2. 派遣（战地记者、摄影记者等）

【例】embedded reporters in the war zone战区特派记者

be/get used to (doing) something 习惯于(做)某事

【例】I can’t get used to the idea that you’re grown up now.

现在你已长大成人，但我不习惯这么想。

Executives realised that they could send video messages to their workforces rather than having to convene town halls.

高管们意识到，他们可以向员工发送视频信息，而不必召开员工大会。

convene v.

1. 召集，召开（正式会议）

【例】to convene a meeting召开会议

2. （为正式会议而）聚集，集合

【例】The committee will convene at 11:30 next Thursday.

委员会将在下星期四上午 11:30 集合开会。

as a matter of course 作为理所当然的事

【例】We always check people's addresses as a matter of course.

我们总是照例检查一下人们的地址。

【拓展】as a matter of fact 事实上；其实

【例】It's a nice place. We've stayed there ourselves, as a matter of fact.

那个地方不错。事实上，我们在那儿待过。

There is no going back. Blogs have become vlogs. Meetings are now recorded as a matter of course, so that people can fail to watch them back later.

开弓没有回头箭。文字博客已经变成了视频博客。现在会议也被理所应当地录下来，这样之后人们就不会再看了。

convene v.

1. 召集，召开（正式会议）

【例】to convene a meeting召开会议

2. （为正式会议而）聚集，集合

【例】The committee will convene at 11:30 next Thursday.

委员会将在下星期四上午 11:30 集合开会。

as a matter of course 作为理所当然的事

【例】We always check people's addresses as a matter of course.

我们总是照例检查一下人们的地址。

【拓展】as a matter of fact 事实上；其实

【例】It's a nice place. We've stayed there ourselves, as a matter of fact.

那个地方不错。事实上，我们在那儿待过。

Some firms routinely ask applicants to record answers to certain questions on video, so that people can see how well prospective recruits communicate.

一些公司经常要求应聘者录制视频来回答某些问题，这样人们就可以看到未来新员工的沟通能力如何。

recruit n. & v.

1.作名词

（1）新成员

【例】It's difficult to attract recruits when working conditions are so poor.

工作条件如此恶劣，引进新人极为困难。

（2）新兵；新警员

【例】He spoke of us scornfully as raw recruits.

他轻蔑地称我们是新兵娃娃。

2. 作动词

（1）吸收（新成员）；征募（新兵）

【例】They recruited several new members to the club.

他们吸收了几名新成员进入俱乐部。

（2）动员，说服

【例】I recruited three of my friends to help me move.

我动员了三个朋友帮我搬家。

under one’s own steam 靠自己的力量

【例】I’ll get to the restaurant under my own steam.

我会自己去餐馆的。

【拓展】steam n. & v.

1.作名词

（1）水蒸气；水汽

【例】Steam rose from the boiling kettle.

壶里的水开了，冒着蒸汽。

（2）蒸汽动力

【例】the steam age 蒸汽时代

2. 作动词

（1）蒸发；散发蒸汽

【例】Our damp clothes steamed in the heat.

我们潮湿的衣服在热气中蒸腾了。

（2）蒸（食物）

【例】steam the fish蒸鱼

Since video has become more central to work, it pays to be good at it. Being a star in the video age means having the right set-up, speaking well and listening well. Workers can improve under their own steam, but companies can help, too.

由于视频在工作中变得越来越重要，所以能玩转视频是有利的。成为视频时代的明星意味着要有正确的机位布景、良好的听说能力。员工可以自行提高这些能力，但公司也可以提供帮助。

recruit n. & v.

1.作名词

（1）新成员

【例】It's difficult to attract recruits when working conditions are so poor.

工作条件如此恶劣，引进新人极为困难。

（2）新兵；新警员

【例】He spoke of us scornfully as raw recruits.

他轻蔑地称我们是新兵娃娃。

2. 作动词

（1）吸收（新成员）；征募（新兵）

【例】They recruited several new members to the club.

他们吸收了几名新成员进入俱乐部。

（2）动员，说服

【例】I recruited three of my friends to help me move.

我动员了三个朋友帮我搬家。

under one’s own steam 靠自己的力量

【例】I’ll get to the restaurant under my own steam.

我会自己去餐馆的。

【拓展】steam n. & v.

1.作名词

（1）水蒸气；水汽

【例】Steam rose from the boiling kettle.

壶里的水开了，冒着蒸汽。

（2）蒸汽动力

【例】the steam age 蒸汽时代

2. 作动词

（1）蒸发；散发蒸汽

【例】Our damp clothes steamed in the heat.

我们潮湿的衣服在热气中蒸腾了。

（2）蒸（食物）

【例】steam the fish蒸鱼

To see what the right set-up looks like, just observe the range of images on your next video-conferencing call. It will probably be a complete mishmash.

要知道正确的机位布景是什么样子，只需在下一次视频会议中观察一下出现的一系列图像。画面可能是个大杂烩。

definition n.

1. 清晰度

【例】The definition of this TV is very good.

这台电视的清晰度非常好。

2. 定义，释义

【例】There are many definitions of the word ‘feminism’.

“女权主义” 一词有许多定义。

smear v. & n.

1. 作动词

（1）（用油性或稀软物质）胡乱涂抹

【例】The children had smeared mud on the walls.

那几个孩子往墙上抹了泥巴。

（2）诽谤；诋毁

【例】The story was an attempt to smear the party leader.

这篇报道是企图玷污该党领袖的声誉。

（3）把（字迹、图画等）蹭得模糊不清

【例】The last few words of the letter were smeared.

信的最后几个字蹭得看不清了。

2. 作名词

（1）污迹；污渍

【例】a smear of jam果酱渍

（2）（尤指政治上的）抹黑，丑化

【例】He was the victim of a smear campaign.

他是一场诽谤运动的受害者。

Some people will be bathed in the warm glow of a ring light; others will be emerging from the shadows like the Emperor Palpatine. Some will have high-definition cameras that show off every pore and follicle; others will be smeared across the screen.

一些人沐浴在环形补光灯的温暖光芒中，另一些人则像帕尔帕廷皇帝一样从阴影中浮现出来。一些人配备高清摄像头，展示着每一个毛孔和毛囊，另一些人则像被涂抹在屏幕上。

definition n.

1. 清晰度

【例】The definition of this TV is very good.

这台电视的清晰度非常好。

2. 定义，释义

【例】There are many definitions of the word ‘feminism’.

“女权主义” 一词有许多定义。

smear v. & n.

1. 作动词

（1）（用油性或稀软物质）胡乱涂抹

【例】The children had smeared mud on the walls.

那几个孩子往墙上抹了泥巴。

（2）诽谤；诋毁

【例】The story was an attempt to smear the party leader.

这篇报道是企图玷污该党领袖的声誉。

（3）把（字迹、图画等）蹭得模糊不清

【例】The last few words of the letter were smeared.

信的最后几个字蹭得看不清了。

2. 作名词

（1）污迹；污渍

【例】a smear of jam果酱渍

（2）（尤指政治上的）抹黑，丑化

【例】He was the victim of a smear campaign.

他是一场诽谤运动的受害者。

Some will be Hollywood types, observing the rule of thirds by positioning themselves slightly off-centre; others seem to have learned their craft from "The Blair Witch Project".

一些人是好莱坞范，他们遵守三分法构图规则，把自己放在略微偏离中心的位置，另一些人的构图技巧则像是从《女巫布莱尔》中学到的。

a level playing field 人人机会均等，公平竞争

（英文释义：a situation in which everyone has the same opportunities）

【拓展】level a. & n. & v.

1. 作形容词

（1）相同的，相等的

【例】This latest rise is intended to keep wages level with inflation.

最近这次加薪目的是使工资与通货膨胀保持相同的水平。

（2）平的，平坦的

【例】The floor has got to be absolutely level.

地板必须完全平整。

2. 作名词

（1）水平，程度

【例】Few athletes can compete at international level.

能参与国际水平比赛的运动员很少。

（2）看待（或应对、理解）事物的方式、角度

【例】On a more personal level, I would like to thank Jean for all the help she has given me.从较为个人的角度我要感谢琼所给予我的一切帮助。

（3）楼层；高度

【例】Take the elevator to Level Four.

乘电梯到四层。

3. 作动词

（1）使平坦；使平整

【例】If you're laying tiles, the floor will need to be levelled first.

你如果要铺瓷砖，得先整平地面。

（2）使相等；使平等

【例】Davies levelled the score at 2 all.

戴维斯把比分拉成 2:2 平。

（3）摧毁，夷平（建筑物或树林）

【例】The blast levelled several buildings in the area.

那次爆炸把当地几座建筑物夷为平地。

（4）（尤指用枪）瞄准，对准

【例】I had a gun levelled at my head.

有一支枪对准了我的头。

There is a limit to how level the playing-field between home offices can be, when living arrangements between employees differ so greatly.

在员工的生活安排差异非常大的情况下，居家办公室之间的竞争公平程度是有限的。

a level playing field 人人机会均等，公平竞争

（英文释义：a situation in which everyone has the same opportunities）

【拓展】level a. & n. & v.

1. 作形容词

（1）相同的，相等的

【例】This latest rise is intended to keep wages level with inflation.

最近这次加薪目的是使工资与通货膨胀保持相同的水平。

（2）平的，平坦的

【例】The floor has got to be absolutely level.

地板必须完全平整。

2. 作名词

（1）水平，程度

【例】Few athletes can compete at international level.

能参与国际水平比赛的运动员很少。

（2）看待（或应对、理解）事物的方式、角度

【例】On a more personal level, I would like to thank Jean for all the help she has given me.从较为个人的角度我要感谢琼所给予我的一切帮助。

（3）楼层；高度

【例】Take the elevator to Level Four.

乘电梯到四层。

3. 作动词

（1）使平坦；使平整

【例】If you're laying tiles, the floor will need to be levelled first.

你如果要铺瓷砖，得先整平地面。

（2）使相等；使平等

【例】Davies levelled the score at 2 all.

戴维斯把比分拉成 2:2 平。

（3）摧毁，夷平（建筑物或树林）

【例】The blast levelled several buildings in the area.

那次爆炸把当地几座建筑物夷为平地。

（4）（尤指用枪）瞄准，对准

【例】I had a gun levelled at my head.

有一支枪对准了我的头。

并不是每个人都需要看起来像一线明星：经常做展示或见客户的人对高级设备有更高的要求。有些人很上镜，有些人不那么上镜。但视频质量的这种差距仍然可以缩小。

feature v. & n.
1. 作动词

（1）起重要作用；占重要地位

【例】Olive oil and garlic feature prominently in his recipes.

橄榄油和大蒜在他的食谱中是重要的材料。

（2）以…为特色；是…的特征

【例】The exhibition features paintings by Picasso.

这次展览重点展出毕加索的画作。

2. 作名词

（1）特点，特征

【例】Teamwork is a key feature of the training programme.

团队合作是这项训练计划的重要特点。

（2）（报纸、电视等的）特写，专题节目

【例】In today's programme we have a special feature on education.

今天我们的节目里有一个关于教育的专题报道。

田纳西大学的凯瑟琳·卡尔和她的合著者去年发表了一项研究，调查了员工对视频会议最常见的抱怨：摄像头的角度、离屏幕太近以及光线不佳都在令人烦恼的清单上。

feature v. & n.
1. 作动词

（1）起重要作用；占重要地位

【例】Olive oil and garlic feature prominently in his recipes.

橄榄油和大蒜在他的食谱中是重要的材料。

（2）以…为特色；是…的特征

【例】The exhibition features paintings by Picasso.

这次展览重点展出毕加索的画作。

2. 作名词

（1）特点，特征

【例】Teamwork is a key feature of the training programme.

团队合作是这项训练计划的重要特点。

（2）（报纸、电视等的）特写，专题节目

【例】In today's programme we have a special feature on education.

今天我们的节目里有一个关于教育的专题报道。

Whether providing decent**** home****-working equipment or**** just**** giving**** feedback**** on**** how people**** appear**** on**** screen****,**** employers can help**** everyone**** improve their video game****.****

无论是提供像样的家庭办公设备，还是给人们在屏幕上的样子提出反馈，雇主都可以帮助每个人把这个视频游戏玩得更好。

课后练习

What can be learned about the workplace after the pandemic?
A. Workers cannot concentrate due to digital devices.
B. Workers spend more time communicating online.
C. Executives use video messages to extend working hours.
D. Meetings have become less efficient and less important.
The description of the images on a video conference shows that ____.
A. many people are uneasy about being on screen
B. video conferences are less formal than face-to-face meetings
C. many people don’t know how to get the right set-up
D. filming craft can help people look better on screen
What does the author think about being on screen?
A. Workers should try their best to look good on screen.
B. There should be a uniform standard for video quality.
C. The content matters more than appearance in video conferences.
D. The gap between different video qualities can be narrowed.
According to the text, one of the solutions to video quality is to ____.
A. reduce the frequency of video conferences
B. learn about camera angles and lighting
C. share relevant tips among colleagues
D. seek help and guidance from employers