硅谷不仅仅是一个地方更是一种文化

AS IT IS 2016-08-07 More Than a Place, Silicon¹ Valley Is a Culture 硅谷不仅仅是一个地方更是一种文化

Monisha Perkash and her parents moved to the United States from Nepal.

She never imagined that one day she would be heading a company in California’s Silicon Valley. In fact, she once had plans to become a doctor.

Perkash is the chief executive officer of a new business, or start-up company, called Lumo Bodytech. It creates sensors³ people can wear while running, walking or working. These wearable sensors can judge a person’s posture⁴ and help prevent back pain or other injuries.

Silicon Valley stretches from San Francisco to San Jose in northern California. The area is home to many technology companies, such as Apple, Google and Facebook.

Yahoo, which recently made news for being sold to Verizon Communications, started at a small office building in Silicon Valley.

Perkash remembers her father once tried to find the area on a map. She says he called her and said “I can’t find the Silicon Valley anywhere!”

But Perkash says the Silicon Valley community is not just a location, it is also an attitude and a culture.

People who are interested in creating technology businesses move to the area. Once they are there, they find a culture that helps businesses find success.

People work together to help businesses grow.

Perkash says she and her partners started Lumo Bodytech so they could use technology to help improve people’s lives. Their system is called Lumo Life. One of the wearable sensors, called Lumo Lift, will shake when the user is slouching in a chair. Another sensor² can be used to give runners feedback and send the information to a software program for mobile phones.

Andrew Chang is one of the start-up company’s founders⁵, with Perkash and Charles Wang. Chang says a start-up’s small size helps it when making decisions and providing products.

“You can’t even compare the speed that you move at, the speed at which you make decisions … and so on, because there is a lot less bureaucracy.”

However, Wang says that fast-paced environment can also create problems. You have to learn quickly and respond to challenges every day.

“I’ve learned so many different things in the role that I’ve had here.”

Perkash says her business is proving to be a success. But what about her plan to be a doctor?

It seems her parents are happy as long as she’s successful.

“I want to make them proud and I want them to know that by giving us this opportunity to pursue anything we want, pursue our dreams, that I’m carrying that on. So in a lot of ways, it’s honoring them that I do what I do.”

Words in This Story

attitude – n. a feeling or way of thinking that affects a person's behavior

posture – n. the way in which your body is positioned when you are sitting or standing⁶

slouch – v. to walk, sit, or stand lazily with your head and shoulders bent⁷ forward

feedback – n. helpful information or criticism that is given to someone to say what can be done to improve a performance, product, etc.

pursue – v. to try to get or do (something) over a period of time

challenge – n. a call to take part in a competition; a problem or issue

1 silicon   

n.硅(旧名矽)

参考例句：

• This company pioneered the use of silicon chip.这家公司开创了使用硅片的方法。
• A chip is a piece of silicon about the size of a postage stamp.芯片就是一枚邮票大小的硅片。

2 sensor   

n.传感器，探测设备，感觉器（官）

参考例句：

• The temperature sensor is enclosed in a protective well.温度传感器密封在保护套管中。
• He plugged the sensor into a outlet.他把传感器插进电源插座。

3 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

4 posture   

n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势

参考例句：

• The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
• He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。

5 founders   

n.创始人( founder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He was one of the founders of the university's medical faculty. 他是该大学医学院的创建人之一。 来自辞典例句
• The founders of our religion made this a cornerstone of morality. 我们宗教的创始人把这看作是道德的基石。 来自辞典例句

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。