英语听力精选进阶版 6317（在线收听）

Imagine having a tattoo that vibrates every time you receive an SMS or another mobile phone alert.

It might sound like something out of a sci-fi film, but Nokia think the idea has a nice ring to it.

The Finnish company has filed a patent for the idea of tattooing, stamping or spraying ferromagnetic material on skin, which would be connected to a mobile phone.

The patent application suggests the tattoo could vibrate for any kind of alert, from a top-up to an answer phone message: "Examples of... applications may be low battery indication, received message, received call, calendar alert, change of profile, e.g. based on timing, change of time zone, or any other."

The word coverage in the world of mobile phones could come to mean more that the geographical area in which you can use your mobile: what part of your body would the tattoo cover? Options suggested so far are a person's arm, abdominal area, finger or fingernail.

Getting a tattoo would no longer be an aesthetic choice as the tattoos may even be invisible. People might also get charged up about the possibility of using the tattoo as an identity check and as a password to use devices such as laptops.

But is it right to let technology invade not only our lives but also our bodies? Or do we need a wake-up call? For those who like to relax and switch off, the idea may need to be put on hold.

Quiz 测验

What idea has Nokia filed a patent for?

Nokia has filed a patent for the idea of tattoos that would vibrate when a user receives an alert on their mobile phone.

True, false or not given: The tattoo would only vibrate when a user receives a text message or phone call.

False. The tattoo would vibrate for any type of alert, from text messages to a low battery alert.

Why might the tattoos be useful for a person's online security?

It might be possible to use the tattoos to check a person's identity. For instance, a laptop might only display content when it recognises the user's tattoo.

Which phrasal verb in the article means 'to stop thinking or concentrating'?

To 'switch off'. This can be used in a negative way: The lecture was so boring that I completely switched off! Or in a positive way: I can't wait to go on holiday to forget about work and switch off.

Look at the article. Which phrasal verb means both 'to make someone wait on the telephone' and 'to stop the progress of something'?

The phrasal verb 'to put on hold'.

Glossary 词汇表

to vibrate 震动

an SMS 一条短信

an alert 提醒

a (nice) ring to something 听起来还不错

a patent 一项专利

ferromagnetic 强磁性的

a mobile phone 一部手机

a top-up 一次充值

an answer phone message 电话留言

an application 申请

low battery 低电量

profile 个人信息

coverage 覆盖面

charged up 引起担忧或紧张

a wake-up call 敲响警钟

to switch off 完全放松

to put on hold 搁置，停下了