VOA慢速英语2021--'Futures' Exhibit Looks at Possibilities

'Futures¹' Exhibit Looks at Possibilities

The "Futures" exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., gives viewers a look at what may happen in the years to come. It is open November 20, 2021 through July 6, 2022.

The exhibit opened as part of the 175th anniversary of the Smithsonian. It is being held at the Arts and Industries Building, which reopened in November after being closed for almost 20 years.

With more than 150 ideas, improvements, technologies and historical pieces, the installation permits viewers to think about how they will live in the future.

Some of those exhibits include how human remains² can be put to good ecological³ use by using them to grow a tree. Another is a "taxi," but unlike a normal car, it flies, and it can fly itself.

The Virgin⁴ Hyperloop is also exhibited. It is a futuristic transport tube that could become a new form of train-like transportation. Virgin said on its hyperloop website that it could have "a lower environmental impact" than other forms of mass transportation. Virgin said it could transport people at speeds of more than 1,000 kph.

The exhibit also provides chances for thought by looking back to past technological⁵ improvements, like an 1800s experimental telephone.

The exhibit was designed by the Lab of Rockwell Group, a building and exhibit design firm in New York.

David Tracy is the director of creative technology at Rockwell. He said, "The exhibition opens up many different possible forms that the future can take..." The exhibits are several, small looks at possible futures.

The company designed the newest technology installations called beacons⁶. They have questions that help "... people's imaginations and get them to think about the kind of future they want to see," Tracy told VOA.

Tracy said to answer the questions, people use hand movements, holding their hand over an answer. This provides health and safety measures since people do not have to touch anything.

Not surprisingly, there are more questions than answers.

Jane McGonigal is the director of game research and development at the Institute for the Future in Palo Alto, California. She said it's difficult for people "to imagine how the future may be different and the technologies that might make it different."

McGonigal told VOA she provided the questions for visitors to help them imagine the future more clearly.

One question asks viewers when they think moon tourism will happen. Another looks at what the future might be like if meat does not come from an animal, but is grown in a laboratory.

Viewer Raj Goel from New York got a taste of what that might be like as he looked at an exhibit that was set up like a store with possible food in the future.

Goel said he is concerned about meat being grown in a lab. But he said he liked the idea of mushrooms, a plant-like food, being used as a sort of meatless meat.

Goel said "Futures" makes him feel a bit like he's walked into a science movie.

He said he was hopeful "because many things I saw here made me think the future is bright."

Words in This Story

exhibit – n. an object or a collection of objects that have been put out in a public space for people to look at

installation – n. a work of art that usually has several parts (such as a sculpture, lights, and sound) and that is usually shown in a large space

taxi – n. a car that carries passengers to a place for an amount of money that is based on the distance traveled

impact – n. a powerful or major influence or effect

tourism – n. the activity of traveling to a place for pleasure

1 futures   

n.期货，期货交易

参考例句：

• He continued his operations in cotton futures.他继续进行棉花期货交易。
• Cotton futures are selling at high prices.棉花期货交易的卖价是很高的。

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 ecological   

adj.生态的，生态学的

参考例句：

• The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
• Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.

4 virgin   

n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的

参考例句：

• Have you ever been to a virgin forest?你去过原始森林吗？
• There are vast expanses of virgin land in the remote regions.在边远地区有大片大片未开垦的土地。

5 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

6 beacons   

灯塔( beacon的名词复数 )； 烽火； 指路明灯； 无线电台或发射台

参考例句：

• A chain of beacons was lit across the region. 整个地区点起了一系列灯塔。
• Lighthouse and beacons flash at night. 晚上灯塔与信号台闪着光。