Magic Lanterns 宛如現代 Netflix 的魔法燈籠 These moving pictures were the Victorian Era’s version of Netflix. 這些移動的圖片是維多利亞時代版本的「網飛」。
Today, everyone can go online to see pictures and videos from around the world. In the days before television and the internet, communication wasn’t that easy. So, people used magic lanterns for amusement. Magic lanterns were devices that let people watch images on a wall. A lantern would shine light on photo slides to make the pictures appear bigger. Then, everyone in the room could look at the large images. Although the first magic lantern was invented in the 1500s, few people bought them because they were too costly. During the 1800s, brilliant businesspeople came upwith an idea. They began renting lanterns to customers for a few days. Families could then afford to use them. Many people started renting lanterns on holidays to watch the news, or see pictures of remote places. In the Victorian Era, new technology made it possible to see images in 3D. Some slideshows▼ even showed moving pictures that looked a lot like short videos. So, people would watch slideshows like people today stream their favorite Netflix series.
1. era n. 時代，年代 Man landing on the moon started a new era of space exploration. 人類登月這件事開啟了太空探測的新時代。 * exploration n. 探索
2. online adv. 在網路上地 Ryan watched that movie online because he missed it when it was playing in theaters. 萊恩在網路上看了那部電影，因為他錯過它在電影院的上映。
3. device n. 設備，裝置，儀器 This device was designed to be used in all sorts of weather conditions. 這臺儀器被設計成可以在各種天氣狀況下使用。
4. brilliant a. 聰明的；優秀的 I think Paul is brilliant for figuring out such a difficult math question. 我想保羅能解出這麼難的數學題目真的很聰明。
5. come up with... 想出／提出…… Experts from different fields gathered to come up with a solution to the problem. 來自不同領域的專家聚在一起以想出這個問題的解決方法。
6. afford vt. 買得起 Judy can’t afford this designer bag because it is over her budget. 茱蒂買不起這個名牌包，因為那超過她的預算了。
7. remote a. 遙遠的；偏僻的 Though Tim lives on a remote island, he keeps in touch with us through Facebook. 雖然提姆住在一座遙遠的小島上，但是他透過臉書與我們保持聯繫。
8. stream vt. 用串流（在網路上）收看 A smart TV gives you the ability to stream TV shows and movies on demand. 智慧型電視讓你在需要時能夠收看電視節目和電影串流。
◆ slideshow n. 幻燈片放映
shine 的相關用法 本文中的 shine 為常見動詞，表「照射」。shine 的相關片語 shine through 的意思比較不一樣，表「（某種品質）顯而易見」。shine 當名詞時則表「光澤，光亮」，有個相關的有趣片語為 take a shine to sb，表「一眼就／立刻喜歡上（某人）」。例：
Sarah is a quiet girl but her passion shines through in her music. （莎拉是一個安靜的女生，但是她的音樂中洋溢著熱情。）
I think Nick has taken a bit of a shine to Kelly. （我想尼克有點一眼就喜歡上凱莉了。）
