VOA慢速英语2018 利用虚拟现实增强用户锻炼欲望

Using Virtual Reality to Make Users Want to Exercise

Businesses are finding more uses for Virtual Reality (VR) as the technology develops.

随着技术的发展，企业开始寻找虚拟现实技术的更多应用。

VR is no longer only for gaming or enjoyment¹. An American company called Blue Goji is using VR to improve one’s health by making exercise more fun.

虚拟现实技术不再仅限于游戏或娱乐。一家名为Blue Goji的美国公司正在使用虚拟现实技术，通过让锻炼更加有趣来改善人们的健康状况。

Blue Goji has offices in Austin, the capital of Texas. The company demonstrated its cardiovascular workout machine, called the Infinity² treadmill³, at the recent South by Southwest festival. The event is held every year in Austin.

Blue Goji公司在德克萨斯州首府奥斯汀市设有办事处。该公司在最近的西南偏南音乐节上展示了一款名为Infinity treadmill的心血管健身机器。该音乐节每年在奥斯汀市举办。

A person using the treadmill wears a virtual reality headset when exercising. Before starting, the user is connected to a belt to prevent falls. Then, the user plays a VR game while running on the machine. The game can transport the user into the virtual world, where he or she can be racing⁴ against virtual people.

人们在使用这款跑步机锻炼时会佩戴虚拟现实头盔。在开始跑步之前，用户要绑上皮带以防止摔倒。然后，用户在跑步时玩虚拟现实游戏。这款游戏会将用户带入虚拟世界，在那里，他（她）可以与虚拟人竞赛。

The cost of the hardware and computer software program is $12,000. That is a lot of money for most people. But Kyra Constam of Blue Goji says the virtual reality treadmill is ideal for places where people go to exercise, like a high-end gymnasium or recreation center. She added that people seeking treatment at physical therapy or rehabilitation⁵ centers would find the equipment useful.

这些硬件和软件成本为1.2万美元，这对大多数人来说都太贵。但是Blue Goji公司的吉拉·康斯坦姆（Kyra Constam）表示，这款虚拟现实跑步机非常适合像高端健身房或娱乐中心等运动场所。她补充说，在理疗或康复中心寻求治疗的人们会发现这些设备很有用。

Recently, Leonardo Mattiazzi tested the Infinity treadmill. Mattiazzi said he had a strong feeling to actually get running and do something that pushed his limits. He said the experience was more interesting than running inside the gym without actually going anywhere.

最近，莱昂纳多·马提亚兹（Leonardo Mattiazzi)测试了Infinity跑步机。Mattiazzi表示，他感到更有动力去跑步，去做一些提升自己极限的活动。他称这种体验比在健身房原地跑步更有意思。

Motion sickness less likely

更不容易犯晕动症

Constam said the active use of virtual reality helps solve a common problem while wearing a VR headset. She noted⁶ that a lot of VR experiences cause motion sickness because people are in motion during the game, but not moving in real life. But when the user is moving on the treadmill and in the game, the chances of motion sickness are reduced, she said.

康斯坦姆表示，虚拟现实技术的有效应用有助于解决佩戴虚拟现实头盔的一种常见问题。她指出，很多虚拟显示体验会导致晕动症，因为人们在游戏中移动，但是在现实中没动。但是当用户在这款跑步机和游戏中移动时，发生晕动症的可能性有所降低。

However, users who tested the treadmill while wearing the VR headset each had a different experience. It took Leonardo Mattiazzi 10 seconds to set the controls to running in the virtual world.

然而，佩戴虚拟现实头盔测试这款跑步机的用户各自有着不同的体验。马提亚兹只花了10秒钟调整控制器就开始在虚拟世界中跑步。

VR learning curve

虚拟现实学习曲线

Kyra Constam said there generally is a learning curve for VR. The first time users feel lost, but “the more you do it, the more you get used to it,” she said.

康斯坦姆表示，虚拟现实技术通常存在一条学习曲线。她说，用户第一次感觉不知所措，但是“用得越多就会越习惯。”

Mark Sackler was a first time user. He said he felt a little sick at one point during the game. But he thought the experience was surprisingly realistic.

马克·萨克勒（Mark Sackler）是初次使用者。他说，他在游戏中一度感到难受。但他认为这次体验真实得令人惊讶。

After carefully studying the users’ experiences, Blue Goji plans to begin selling the Infinity treadmill to the public in 2019.

在仔细研究用户体验之后，Blue Goji公司计划于2019年开始公开销售Infinity跑步机。

Words in This Story

virtual – adj. involving computer programs or the internet

hardware – n. the electronic equipment and other physical parts of a device

belt – n. a piece of material worn or tied around a person’s waist

learning curve – n. the time it takes to learn a new skill

therapy – n. treatment for a physical or other disorder⁷

rehabilitation – n. the process of repairing a physical disability

1 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。

2 infinity   

n.无限，无穷，大量

参考例句：

• It is impossible to count up to infinity.不可能数到无穷大。
• Theoretically,a line can extend into infinity.从理论上来说直线可以无限地延伸。

3 treadmill   

n.踏车；单调的工作

参考例句：

• The treadmill has a heart rate monitor.跑步机上有个脉搏监视器。
• Drugs remove man from the treadmill of routine.药物可以使人摆脱日常单调的工作带来的疲劳。

4 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

5 rehabilitation   

n.康复，悔过自新，修复，复兴，复职，复位

参考例句：

• He's booked himself into a rehabilitation clinic.他自己联系了一家康复诊所。
• No one can really make me rehabilitation of injuries.已经没有人可以真正令我的伤康复了。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。