英语沙龙：智能家居的时代正在到来

The Time of Smart Homes Is Coming

The year is 2005．Imagine this scenario：B．J．Rogers is woken up in the morning as usual by his computer which has been preprogrammed1)．In front of him is a to－do list supplied by the computer emphasizing the important events for the day．In response to Rogers’ request，the nearest video display is filled with a list of possible dishes．Rogers notices that all dishes are meatless．At this time，Rex，the computer，might respond to his inquiry¹ about ingredients2) by checking the home inventory3) and ordering as needed．Rex is then required to order the dishes electronically and ask the retailer4) to hold them for pickup²．

By 2005，high－speed data communications links will connect you，your computer，the supermarket，and the rest of the country．

As Rogers eats breakfast，Rex prompts him again to respond to Lucy’s request．Before Rogers finishes his next bite，Lucy’s computer receives the message．Then Rogers goes to the supermarket．The store’s system identifies his car as he drives to the pickup area and greets him by name．“Good morning，Mr．Rogers，your order is in Bin³ ４．Thank you for shopping．”When Rogers removes his order from Bin４，all monetary5) transactions6) are completed automatically over the information superhighway．That is，funds are electronically transferred from his account to a bank account．Soon after arriving at the office，Rogers reads another message from Lucy telling him that she will go to dinner with him．

Much of this futuristic story is within the grasp of today’s technology．Even today，millions of people carry computers with them much of the day．Many of these people routinely use speech recognition technology to communicate．Electronic smart homes are now deemed an economically sound investment．Few will argue that we are rapidly approaching the age of automation，an era when computers participate in or help us with all we do．

智能家居的时代正在到来

这一年是2005年。想像一下这种情景：B．J．罗杰斯早上像往常一样被他那预编好程序的计算机唤醒。在他面前出现的是一份计算机提供的一日所有要做的重要事务清单。按罗杰斯的要求，离他最近的显示器列出了备选菜单。罗杰斯注意到所有的菜肴都是无肉的。这时，电脑雷克斯或许通过检查家中存货和所需的订单的方式向主人报告他所想了解的各菜的成分。然后雷克斯受命通过电子方式将菜预定，并请零售商把菜留下待取。

到2005年，高速数据通讯将把你、你的电脑、超市和全国各地连为一体。

当罗杰斯吃早饭的时候，雷克斯再一次催促他给露西回话。罗杰斯还没有咽完下一口饭，他的信息已经传到了露西的计算机中。然后罗杰斯前往超市。当他开车来到提取处时，超市的系统识别出了他的汽车，并向他问候道：“早晨好，罗杰斯先生，您的订货在４号箱中。谢谢您的惠顾。”罗杰斯从４号箱中提走他的订货。这功夫，货币交易已全部自动通过信息高速公路处理完毕。换句话说，资金已从他的账户中转到了另一银行的账户上。到达办公室后不久，罗杰斯又收到了露西发来的另一条信息，告诉他今天她将和他共进晚餐。

上面这个未来故事中的许多方面已经能够用今日的技术实现了。即使是现在，已有数百万的人整天都与电脑形影相随了。其中很多人每日通过声音识别系统进行交流。电子智能家居注定要成为一项经济合理的投资。几乎没有人会反对这种说法，即我们正向自动化时代迅速迈进，这是一个计算机全方位参与或者协助人类的时代。

1 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

2 pickup   

n.拾起，获得

参考例句：

• I would love to trade this car for a pickup truck.我愿意用这辆汽车换一辆小型轻便卡车。||The luck guy is a choice pickup for the girls.那位幸运的男孩是女孩子们想勾搭上的人。

3 bin   

n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件

参考例句：

• He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
• He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。