VOA慢速英语2012 Technology Report - Technology Designed to Take Paralympians to New Levels

 

Technology Report - Technology Designed to Take Paralympians to New Levels

科技报道 - 科技引领残奥会进入新高度

This is the VOA Special English Technology Report.

这里是美国之音慢速英语科技报道。

The Paralympic Games in London have been called the “greatest Paralympic Games ever.” International Paralympic Committee President Sir Phillip Craven made the statement to a crowd at the games’ closing ceremony earlier this month. He said the athletic¹ event had found its pathway to the future.

伦敦残奥会被称为“有史以来最伟大的一届残奥会。”国际残奥委员会主席菲利普·克雷文（Phillip Craven）爵士本月初在残奥会闭幕式上对公众这样表示。他说，这一赛事找到了自己未来的方向。

Paralympic athletes were not the only ones making news this year. The attention was also on improvements² in technology that helped those men and women compete.

残奥会运动员并非今年唯一的主角。注意力还集中在包括帮助这些运动员比赛的技术进步。

Engineers David Sheffield and Doug Watt³ volunteer for a charity group called Remap. It designs technology to help disabled people.

工程师大卫·谢菲尔德（David Sheffield）和道格·瓦特（Doug Watt）自愿参加了一个名为Remap的慈善组织。该组织开发技术来帮助残疾人。

The two engineers are designing a wheelchair for Shot Put thrower Shaun Sewell. He lost the use of his legs thirteen years ago in a motorcycle accident. David Sheffield predicts the new wheelchair design will be used as a model for future athletes. 

这两名工程师正在为轮椅铅球运动员肖恩·休厄尔（Shaun Sewell）设计轮椅。休厄尔13年前在一次摩托车事故中失去了他的腿。谢菲尔德预计这一新的轮椅设计将被用作未来奥运选手的模版。

DAVID SHEFFIELD: “We were asked to make a chair which was totally adjustable⁴ in every way so that we could then use it not only just for Shaun but for other athletes. And then we could find the exact correct positions for the way they sit, the way they hold the pole, the way they lean back and so on.”

谢菲尔德：“有人让我们制造一种可以全方位调节的椅子，这样它不仅可以让休厄尔，还可以让其它运动员使用。那么我们就可以找到他们怎么坐，怎么握杆，怎么往后靠等等的精确状态。”

The engineers took all of Shaun Sewell’s measurements⁵ so that the chair was perfectly⁶ designed for his body. They also spent time watching him throw, to see how his body moves and where extra support was needed.

工程师测量了休厄尔的所有尺寸，这样椅子就能根据他的身体完美设计出来。他们还花时间观看他投球，来看他的身体如何移动，哪里需要额外支撑。

Shaun Sewell almost went to the Paralympic Games in Beijing in two thousand eight. But, he was unable to compete because of a life-threatening infection. He hopes to attend the twenty-sixteen games in Rio de Janiero. And he says the new wheelchair could help him get there.

休厄尔差一点就去2008年北京残奥会了。但他因为一次危及生命的感染无法参加比赛。他希望参加2016年里约热内卢残奥会。他说，这款新轮椅可以帮助他去那里参加比赛。

SHAUN SEWELL: “I believe it's going to make a huge difference. I'm throwing really well with the frame⁷ that I have now, which is not right for me. So to have something right is only going to help improve my distance.”

休厄尔：“我相信它会带来巨大的差异。使用现在这个不适合我的装备我都扔得非常好。所以有了适合我的装备，更会帮助提高我的投掷距离。”

Peter Parry is chairman of the trustees at Remap. He says its volunteers built devices⁹ for three of the athletes at the Paralympic Games in London. He says there are many rules about what technology is permitted.

彼得·帕里（Peter Parry）是Remap组织的董事会主席。他说该组织自愿为伦敦残奥会的3名运动员制造了装备。他表示在允许的技术方面有很多规则。

PETER PARRY: “We can help them support themselves. We can provide them with the pole to help them balance their body. But what we can’t do is have things like springs or hydraulics also, which would give them an unfair advantage. Because then it becomes a battle of who can make the best device⁸ rather than who is the best athlete.”

帕里：“我们可以帮助他们自力更生。我们可以为他们提供杆子帮助他们平衡身体。但我们不能用那些会给他们不公平优势的弹簧或液压装置。因为那样就会变成谁可以制造最好装备，而不是谁是最好运动员的竞争。”

Jason Regier is a wheelchair rugby player. He helped the American team win a bronze medal in London. He says his team’s members have the same goals as any other athlete.

贾森·雷吉尔（Jason Regier）是一名轮椅橄榄球运动员。他在伦敦帮助美国队赢得了一枚铜牌。他说他团队的成员和其他运动员有着相同的目标。

JASON REGIER: “I would say most of the Paralympic athletes just want to be treated as athletes. And it's not about just going 'oh, this is my poor situation,' it's about what you can do, not what you can't do.”

雷吉尔：“我想说大多数残奥会运动员只想被当作运动员。这和身体状况无关。在于你能做什么，而不在于你不能做什么。”

And that's the VOA Special English Technology Report, written by June Simms with additional¹⁰ reporting by Seleh Hennessy. I'm Steve Ember.

1 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

2 improvements   

增加或修改( improvement的名词复数 )； 改进； 改善； 改良

参考例句：

• improvements in efficiency at the factory 工厂效率的提高
• They've spent a lot of money on home improvements. 他们花了很多钱装修家居。

3 watt   

n.瓦，瓦特

参考例句：

• The invention of the engine is creditable to Watt.发动机的发明归功于瓦特。
• The unit of power is watt.功率的单位是瓦特。

4 adjustable   

adj.可调整的，可校准的

参考例句：

• More expensive cameras have adjustable focusing.比较贵的照相机有可调焦距。
• The chair has the virtue of being adjustable.这种椅子具有可调节的优点。

5 measurements   

n.量度( measurement的名词复数 )；测量；衡量；（量得的）尺寸

参考例句：

• The second group of measurements had a high correlation with the first. 第二组测量数据与第一组高度相关。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• In the metric system, measurements are made in metres and liters. 在公制中，用米和升作计量单位。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

7 frame   

n.框架，结构，体格；vt.构成，设计，制定，使适合，陷害； 框架，（是指在数据链路层中，将网络层数据包加上开始与结尾信息包组成一个框架）

参考例句：

• The house has a wooden frame which is faced with brick.这个房子是木质结构的砖瓦房。
• We must frame up that picture.我们必须给那幅画装上框。

8 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。

9 devices   

n.设备；装置( device的名词复数 )；花招；（为实现某种目的的）计划；手段

参考例句：

• electrical labour-saving devices around the home 节省劳力的各种家用电器
• modern labour-saving devices such as washing machines and dishwashers 诸如洗衣机和洗碗机之类的现代化省力设备

10 additional   

adj.添加的，额外的，另外的

参考例句：

• It is necessary to set down these additional rules.有必要制定这些补充规则。
• I think we can fit in an additional room.我想我们可以再加建一间房子。