VOA标准英语2013--Google Tests Wearable Computer谷歌试验可穿戴计算机

 

 

Google Tests Wearable Computer谷歌试验可穿戴计算机

“这是一款神奇的眼镜，它将我们带到了刚刚起步却异乎寻常的增强现实型穿戴式计算机时代，它，就是  Google Glass 。”

 

Most of the Google Glass technology is already incorporated in smart phones.  But Google researchers thought of using it in an unprecedented¹ way.

"Google Glass is a tiny computer that sits in a lightweight frame, just like this, and rests neatly² above your eye and it makes exploring and sharing the world around you a lot easier," explained Chris Dale, Senior Manager of Communications for Google Glass.

The frame has a tiny video screen and a camera that connect wirelessly³ to the Internet through a smartphone.

But what can you actually DO with Google Glass?

"That's the million-dollar question, I guess," Dale said.

Unsure about how Google Glass could or would be used, or how people would react to it, Google decided⁴ to enlist⁵ volunteers to test the new device. The goal was twofold -- see what innovative⁶ ways people would come up with to use it, and to attract developers to create new apps.

"We look at Glass and wearable computing⁷ in general as the next platform in computing," said Dale.

Dale says an average person uses a smartphone 150 times a day and Google Glass makes that technology available more quickly because it can respond to voice commands.

The device is turned on by tapping one side of the frame. When you say "Okay Glass" the screen shows a range of options, including search the web, take a picture, take video, send a message, and search for directions. Swiping the frame with a finger scrolls⁸ the menu up and down.

Google Glass transmits sound through vibration⁹ against the head. It has a medium-resolution camera -- about five megapixels -- and the projected image is like watching an iPhone screen.

Seth Rosenblatt, senior writer for Cnet News, says while it's interesting to be able to do Internet-related tasks with nothing in your hand, wearing the device in public attracts a lot of attention.

"They've done something very interesting with technology, but in terms of social interactions they've got a very long way ahead of them," he said.

Rosenblatt says its real potential will be tested by the public.

"I think the real test for Google Glass is going to be out on the street," he said. "How are average people going to react when they're forced to interact with somebody wearing Google Glass?"

Google says it is still testing the wearable computer, which runs on Google's Android operating system, and is expected to be available by early next year.

 

 

1 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

2 neatly   

adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地

参考例句：

• Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
• The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。

3 wirelessly   

不用电线的，用无线电波传送的

参考例句：

• I heard it on the wireless. 我是从无线电收音机里听到的。
• There are a lot of wireless links in a radio. 收音机里有许多无线电线路。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 enlist   

vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍

参考例句：

• They come here to enlist men for the army.他们来这儿是为了召兵。
• The conference will make further efforts to enlist the support of the international community for their just struggle. 会议必将进一步动员国际社会，支持他们的正义斗争。

6 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

7 computing   

n.计算

参考例句：

• to work in computing 从事信息处理
• Back in the dark ages of computing, in about 1980, they started a software company. 早在计算机尚未普及的时代（约1980年），他们就创办了软件公司。

8 scrolls   

n.（常用于录写正式文件的）纸卷( scroll的名词复数 )；卷轴；涡卷形（装饰）；卷形花纹v.（电脑屏幕上）从上到下移动（资料等），卷页( scroll的第三人称单数 )；（似卷轴般）卷起；（像展开卷轴般地）将文字显示于屏幕

参考例句：

• Either turn it off or only pick up selected stuff like wands, rings and scrolls. 把他关掉然后只捡你需要的物品，像是魔杖(wand)，戒指(rings)和滚动条(scrolls)。 来自互联网
• Ancient scrolls were found in caves by the Dead Sea. 死海旁边的山洞里发现了古代的卷轴。 来自辞典例句

9 vibration   

n.颤动，振动；摆动

参考例句：

• There is so much vibration on a ship that one cannot write.船上的震动大得使人无法书写。
• The vibration of the window woke me up.窗子的震动把我惊醒了。