如果你相信來自矽谷的大肆宣傳的話，那麼下一個風靡技術界的大事件則將是“增強現實 AR”。雖然有些人對它的吸引力表示懷疑，但是像微軟和阿裡巴巴這樣的大公司正在對這一新技術投入大筆資金。這究竟是什麼東西呢？
課文內容
詞匯: innovation 創新
We’ve landed on the moon and sent spacecraft to Mars. But how would you like to take a stroll around the red planet itself, having a closer look at the rocky Martian surface from all angles?
Well, for those of us who can’t afford our own rocket ship, experiences like this are now a ‘virtual‘ step closer, thanks to AR technology.
The letters stand for ‘augmented reality’, and even if it’s not the most beautiful phrase in English, a lot of people in Silicon Valley think it will be the next big thing in tech.
AR refers to the process of displaying digital information on top of the physical world using an electronic device. The device could be a pair of smart glasses, a tablet or even a humble smartphone. And unlike ‘virtual reality’, or VR, users can physically move around and explore the digital world, instead of being restricted to a small area. This is particularly exciting for businesses.
Alex Kipman is the creator of the HoloLens – a headset which allows people to see and interact with holograms. During the 2016 TED Conference he even ‘teleported‘ a hologram of a NASA scientist onto the stage with him, a stage which was transformed into a virtual Martian landscape.
In time, AR advocates hope it will allow us to interact with a whole world that is enhanced by multimedia provided by very clever computers – transforming not only business, but also fields like healthcare. A doctor could see patients around the world from the comfort of her own home.
Not everyone is convinced that either the technology or the world at large is ready. Google’s pioneering pair of smart glasses Google Glass were deemed a “fascinating failure” by the AYYBLOG’s technology correspondent.
And Kipman himself thinks we still have a long way to go before AR reaches its potential: “We will look back at this decade as being like cavemen in terms of technology,” he said.
詞匯表
spacecraft 宇宙飛船
Martian 火星的
virtual （雙關語）幾乎的，虛擬的
augmented 增強、擴增的
Silicon Valley （美國）矽谷
the next big thing 下一個（將要來臨的）大事
tablet 平板電腦
headset （頭戴式）耳機
holograms 全息圖（一種三維圖像）
teleported （利用特殊技術）遠距離及時傳輸
advocates 倡導者
enhanced （被）增色，提高
at large 整體上，普遍的
pioneering 首創的，先驅性的
reaches its potential 充分釋放、發揮它的潛力
cavemen （史前時代的）穴居人
測驗與練習
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. Do Silicon Valley entrepreneurs think AR is the biggest thing in tech?
2. What is the main difference between AR and VR?
3. True or false: A NASA scientist stood on stage with Alex Kipman.
4. Which short word meaning ‘technology’ was used in the article?
5. What does Alex Kipman compare our stage of technological development to?
2. 請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處。
1. The _________ surface is very hot and dry.
Martian caveman Silicon Valley Mars
2. Many things are possible in _________ that you can’t do in the real world.
enhanced hologram virtual augmented
3. The policy was introduced six months ago but its benefits haven’t been felt by the population _________.
cavemen potential pioneering at large
4. Devices such as headsets, _________ and smartphones can be used to experience AR.
tablet hologram tablets holograms
5. You have to work hard if you want to _________.
reach potential reach your potential reaches its potential reaching your potential
答案
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. Do Silicon Valley entrepreneurs think AR is the biggest thing in tech?
Many believe it’s the ‘next big thing’, so although it’s not there yet, it will become very important.
2. What is the main difference between AR and VR?
AR allows people to move around the physical world while experiencing a virtual world, while VR restricts peoples’ movement in the physical world.
3. True or false: A NASA scientist stood on stage with Alex Kipman.
False. A hologram of a NASA scientist was on stage with Alex Kipman.
4. Which short word meaning ‘technology’ was used in the article?
Tech.
5. What does Alex Kipman compare our stage of technological development to?
He says we’re like “cavemen”, which means a very limited stage of development.
2. 請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處。
1. The Martian surface is very hot and dry.
2. Many things are possible in virtual that you can’t do in the real world.
3. The policy was introduced six months ago but its benefits haven’t been felt by the population at large.
4. Devices such as headsets, tablets and smartphones can be used to experience AR.
5. You have to work hard if you want to reach your potential.
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