8．A selfie stick is a monopod（單腳架）used to take selfie photographs by positioning a smartphone or camera beyond the normal range of the arm．The metal sticks are typically extendable，with a handle on one end and an adjustable clamp（夾子）on the other end to hold a phone in place．Some have remote or Bluetooth controls，letting the user decide when to take the picture，and models designed for cameras have a mirror behind the viewscreen so that the shot can be lined up．In contrast to a monopod for stabilizing a camera on the ground，a selfie stick's arm is thickest and strongest at the opposite end from the camera in order to provide better grip（控制）and balance when held high up in the air．
Homemade selfie sticks could date back as early as 1925．A photo from that year shows a man taking a photograph of himself and his wife，with the aid of a long pole which is pointed towards the camera and out of frame．Amateur box cameras of the period would not have been able to capture a self-portrait in focus when held at arm's length，requiring photographers to use remote shutter （快門） devices such as cables or sticks．
The 1983 Minolta Disc film"Disc-7"camera had a convex mirror on its front to allow the composition of self-portraits，and its packaging showed the camera mounted on a stick while used for such a purpose．A"telescopic extender"for compact handheld cameras was patented in U．S．in 1983．Canadian inventor Wayne Fromm patented his Quik Pod in 2005，and it became commercially available in the United States the following year．Despite positive reviews for the Quik Pod over the next few years in mainstream press，the term"selfie stick"itself did not become widely used until 2014．
People attach their cell phone or camera to the end of the selfie stick，raise it in front of themselves and then make a sound or press a Shutter button"shutter button on the stick handle which is connected to the camera （usually using a port such as a Phone connector （audio）"headphone jack），or press a button on a wireless remote （often via Bluetooth"Bluetooth），or use the camera's built-in timer to take a photo after a number of seconds have passed．The first two methods usually adapt the device's physical means of pressing the camera shutter such as the volume controls or the dedicated camera button of the device，which are replicated（復(fù)制）on Headphones"headphones with on-cord controls，and are seen by the device as headphone devices．
The device gives more practical use in situations that require assistance for difficult photographs．It allows the user to take photographs in otherwise dangerous situations such as taking a photo over a cliff or from the door of an airplane．The device is sometimes used to take selfies that involve the photographer inside a moving vehicle．
Enlarge"Bans and restrictions on the use of selfie sticks have been imposed across a range of public venues（場(chǎng)所）generally on the grounds of safety and inconvenience to others．
Several concert venues in Australia and the United Kingdom have banned the use of selfie sticks，along with some music festivals in the United States．Organisers have cited their role in the"illegal recording"of bands'sets，and the inconvenience and safety issues to fellow audience members．The sticks have been banned in some museums，galleries and historical sites because of concerns about possible damage to artworks and other objects．
Theme parks including Walt Disney World Resort"Walt Disney World Resortand Six Flags"Six Flags have banned selfie sticks．The sticks have always been banned on rides at Disney World for safety reasons，but after a number of instances where rides had to be stopped because of a guest pulling out a selfie stick in mid-ride，such as incidents on California Screamin'"California Screamin'and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad"Big Thunder Mountain Railroad，Disney issued a park-wide ban on the accessorie（配件）．
| Some Aspects of a Selfie Stick |
| Definition | ●A selfie stick is a one-legged support for a smartphone or camera．It is made of metal and can be made （71）longer/extended/extendable． |
| ●A selfie stick's arm is thickest and strongest at the opposite end when compared to a monopod for keeping a camera （72）stable/steady/stabiliz（s）ed/balancedon the ground |
| History | ●Homemade selfie sticks could date from 1925 when amateur box cameras required photographers （73）makeuse of remote shutter devices． |
●A"telescopic extender"for compact handheld cameras was granted a
（74）patentin 1983． |
| ●Although Quik Pod got excellent reviews，the term"selfie stick"was not in （75）fashion/style/popularityuntil 2014． |
Usage
| ●When taking photos，people can press a shutter button on the stick handle or press a button on a wireless （76）remotecontrol，or use the camera's built-in timer． |
| ●When taking difficult photos，people can use selfie sticks to （77）keepthemselves away from dangerous situations． |
Bans and restrictions
| ●（78）Considering/Givensafety issues and inconvenience，lots of public places restrict the use of selfie sticks． |
| ●The sticks have been prohibited in a wide （79）range/varietyof sites in case they cause possible damage to other objects． |
| ●After a number of （80）instances/incidents/accidents/caseswhere rides had to be stopped，Disney issued a park-wide ban on the sticks． |
