Botanicalls

A Device For Plants To Send Text Messages

Interactive telecommunications researchers designed a soil-moisture sensor device that can allow a house plant to communicate with its owner. The device can send short messages to a mobile phone or, by using a service called Twitter, it can send short messages to the Internet. The messages can range from reminders to water the plant, a thank you or a warning that you over- or under-watered it.

1) Como as plantas se comunicam com as pessoas?

2) Quais as mensagens que o comunicador envia aos donos das plantas?

House plants look good, brighten a room, produce oxygen, purify indoor air, eliminate noxious gases and reduce carbon monoxide levels. So why do so many of us forget to water them? Now, there may be a solution to solve that problem. Thirsty plants can now let you know they need water.

Knowing what your plants need isn't always this simple. For most of us, it's more of a guessing game. Phyllis Bilowich believes her porch plants like sharing her morning cup of water.

"The hibiscus has grown taller than me," said Bilowich.

Now she can not only see the results, but Phyllis' plants can tell her exactly what they need.

3) Quais as vantagens das plantas em casa?

4) Por que as necessidades das plantas são um “guessing game”?

A new system called Botanicalls, developed by interactive telecommunications researchers, allows your plants to send "tweets," or short text messages, to your mobile phone or messages to the Internet.

"They'll recognize when they've been watered, and they'll say thank you, and they'll also let you know if you've over-watered or under-watered," said Botanicalls developer Katie London.

Botanicalls researchers have created units with a soil-moisture sensor.

"We have a little micro-controller unit that's basically a little computer that's hooked up to your plant," said developer Kate Hartman.

Probes in the soil send out electrical waves. Based on amount of moisture in the soil, a voltage level is sent through two wires to a circuit board that compares current moisture levels to the optimum moisture level. This data is received by a local network, which allows the plant to send a message for help. It can send a wireless signal to an internet-connected computer that can send a prerecorded message to the owner. These messages might include a thank-you when plants are watered, or a warning if the watering is too much.

"We decided to tap into existing communication systems and allow them to talk like people," Hartman said.

5) Como funciona o sistema Botanicalls?

6) O nome “Botanicalls” é formado pela junção de duas palavras. Quais são elas?

Each Botanicalls kit is $99. Developers say it's worth it if you like your plants but don't always remember to take care of them. The new kit is the third generation of the Botanicalls system. The team is continuing to innovate and hopes to make it smaller, cheaper and easier to use.

House plants benefit air quality. It may not be an obvious benefit, but house plants can help improve the air quality inside homes. In addition to absorbing carbon dioxide, plants can absorb gases such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. As builders construct more energy efficient homes, the improved insulation limits the exchange of air with the outside, keeping heat, and some pollutants inside. Many common houseplants that are used to add a bit of life to home interiors will also benefit residents by cleaning up the air they breathe.

7) Para que tipo de pessoa o Botanicalls é indicado?

8) Quais os benefícios de se ter plantas em casa?

9) Copie frases, agrupando-as nas seguintes categorias:

a) Frases no presente – to be b) Frases no presente – verbos principais

c) Frases no passado – to be d) Frases no passado – verbos principais

e) Frases no futuro – to be F) Frases no futuro – verbos principais