VOA慢速英语2013 TECHNOLOGY REPORT - Now on the iPad: Apps for Orangutans

 

TECHNOLOGY REPORT - Now on the iPad: Apps for Orangutans

科技报道 - 面向猩猩提供的iPad应用程序

From VOA Learning English, this is the TECHNOLOGY REPORT in Special English.

这里是美国之音慢速英语科技报道。

Humans are not the only ones who like to use tablet computers. The nonprofit organization Orangutan Outreach has started a program called Apps for Apes using Apple’s iPad. Orangutan Outreach was started by Richard Zimmerman and is based in New York City. He began the organization six years ago with the goal of protecting orangutans in the wild.

人类并非是唯一喜欢玩平板电脑的物种。非营利性组织Orangutan Outreach（猩猩服务组织）创建了一个名为Apps for Apes（面向猩猩提供的应用程序)的iPad程序。Orangutan Outreach组织由理查德·齐默尔曼（Richard Zimmerman）创办，总部位于纽约市。他于6年前创办了这一组织，目的是保护野外的猩猩。

The organization started Apps for Apes one year ago. The program introduces the Apple iPad to orangutans in zoos. Apps for Apes has three goals. The first goal is to provide interesting activities for captive orangutans. The second goal is to raise awareness¹ among zoo visitors about how smart these animals are. The third goal is to urge people to visit Orangutan Outreach’s website, redapes.org, to learn how they can help protect orangutans in the wild. 

该组织于1年前创建了Apps for Apes程序。该程序将iPad介绍给了动物园的猩猩。Apps for Apes有三个目标。第一个目标是为圈养的猩猩提供有趣的活动。第二个目标是让动物园的游客们进一步认识到这些动物有多聪明。第三个目标是促进人们访问Orangutan Outreach组织的网站redapes.org学习如何协助保护野外的猩猩。

Orangutan Outreach says the iPad is a perfect device for the animal because of the touchscreen technology. With some assistance, the orangutans are able to use different apps to listen to music, play games and do other activities.

Orangutan Outreach组织表示，由于触摸屏技术，iPad是给动物们使用的一种非常完美的设备。通过帮助，猩猩们能够使用不同的应用程序来听歌、玩游戏以及做其它活动。

Mr. Zimmerman describes what has been reported by zoos on the reaction of the apes to seeing and using the tablets.

齐默尔曼先生介绍了动物园就猩猩看到和使用平板电脑的反应提供的反馈报告。

“The young orangutans are very curious, and they go to it immediately. The females seem to be the quickest learners. Some of the big males, they’re not scared, but they’re curious as to what this strange thing is. And they spend a little time watching it from a distance.”

“小猩猩很好奇，它们很快就走向平板电脑。母猩猩似乎学得最快。一些大的公猩猩不害怕平板电脑，但它们很想知道这个奇怪的东西是什么，它们在远处看了好一会。”

Mr. Zimmerman says the program could affect the behavior of orangutans, but it is too early to know. However, he tells us about one male orangutan at the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, zoo named Tommy.

齐默尔曼先生表示，这个程序可能会影响到猩猩的行为，但现在下结论还太早。但他为我们讲述了威斯康星州密尔沃基市动物园一只名为汤米的公猩猩。 

“First he didn’t want anything to do with it. But he would watch from the back of his enclosure as the zoo keepers worked with the other orangutans. He would gradually move closer. In general, Tommy is a very shy orangutan. But since the iPad has been introduced, his behavior has mellowed² in a way and he has gotten more accustomed to being near people. And he now actually likes the iPad, and he likes to use it. So there’s been a change in his actual personality, and we think it’s due to the iPad use.” 

他说，“一开始，它没想动平板电脑。但它会在饲养员和其它猩猩玩平板电脑时从它的围栏后面观看，并逐渐靠拢。一般情况下，汤米是一只非常害羞的猩猩。但自从iPad被引入进来之后，他的行为在某种程度上成熟了，对靠近人类日趋习惯。现在它很喜欢iPad，喜欢玩iPad。它的个性已经变了，我们认为这是由于使用iPad。”

The program was first launched at the Milwaukee County Zoo. It has expanded to more than 10 other zoos as well as a rescue center for apes in the United States and Canada, and is growing worldwide.

这个程序最初在密尔沃基市动物园推出，随后扩大到美国和加拿大的十多个动物园及类人猿救援中心，并发展到全球。

1 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

2 mellowed   

（使）成熟( mellow的过去式和过去分词 )； 使色彩更加柔和，使酒更加醇香

参考例句：

• She's mellowed over the years. 这些年来他变得成熟了。
• The colours mellowed as the sun went down. 随着太阳的落去，色泽变得柔和了。