VOA常速英语2015--Uber应用给聋人提供收入机会

Uber应用给聋人提供收入机会

NAIROBI, KENYA— The taxi-like online company Uber has begun a first-of-its-kind African pilot project where deaf drivers in Nairobi use its app.

Driver Benard Mulama intently goes through his phone. For the past week he’s been getting familiar with the Uber App.

司机贝纳德·穆拉马认真地浏览着手机，过去一周他已经很熟悉优步(Uber)应用了。

Mulama, who is deaf, is in a pilot project encouraging the hearing impaired¹ to use the smartphone app that connects riders to drivers.

聋人穆拉马参加了一个试点项目，该项目鼓励听力受损人士使用连接打车人和司机的智能手机应用。

It's a collaboration² between Uber and the Kenya National Association of the Deaf (KNAD).

这是优步和肯尼亚全国聋人协会进行的合作项目。

Connecting drivers, riders

In the field, the Uber app works seamlessly with a flash prompt appearing on the smartphone alerting the driver of a potential client.

优步应用在这方面非常流畅，在智能手机上出现闪光提示来告诉司机潜在客户的出现。

For Mulama, the application means that more deaf drivers will overcome hurdles³ and venture into a business that was once the preserve of only the hearing.

对穆拉马来说，该应用意味着更多聋人司机能克服障碍，进入这个一度只为听力正常人士所保留的行业。

The chairman of KNAD said the Uber app helps to level the playing field somewhat.

肯尼亚全国聋人协会主席称优步应用在一定程度上帮助促进了公平竞争。

The Uber app is relatively⁴ easy to use. The rider keys in their pickup⁵ location and the driver accepts the request once the phone flashes. Once the rider is picked up the Uber App automatically charges the fare —75 cents per kilometer.

优步应用的使用相对较简单，打车者键入上车地点，司机在手机出现闪光提示后接受请求。一旦打车者上车，优步应用就会自动开始计费，每公里75美分。

Uber's manager in Kenya says the new revenue stream is a motivational factor.

优步公司驻肯尼亚经理称新的收入来源是个激励因素。

“We both see the power of technology to offer greater income opportunities to deaf and hard of hearing people who typically don’t have access to that many income opportunities, especially in cities like Nairobi," said Alastair Curtis, Uber general manager.

“我们看到技术的力量，能给无法获得更多收入来源的聋人和听力障碍者提供更多的收入机会，尤其是在像内罗毕这样的城市。”

 

According to the Kenya Sign Language Interpreters Association, there are more than 600,000 hearing-impaired people in Kenya.

肯尼亚手语翻译者协会称肯尼亚有60多万听力受损人士。

1 impaired   

adj.受损的；出毛病的；有（身体或智力）缺陷的v.损害，削弱( impair的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Much reading has impaired his vision. 大量读书损害了他的视力。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• His hearing is somewhat impaired. 他的听觉已受到一定程度的损害。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

3 hurdles   

n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛

参考例句：

• In starting a new company, many hurdles must be crossed. 刚开办一个公司时，必须克服许多障碍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There are several hurdles to be got over in this project. 在这项工程中有一些困难要克服。 来自辞典例句

4 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

5 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。