VOA慢速英语2019 Top Tech 2019: Quantum Computing, Facebook’s Libra, Internet Inventor’s Warning

 

During 2019, we covered some big developments involving computer and device technology. We also reported on growing opposition¹ to facial recognition systems and warnings by the inventor of the World Wide Web about the internet's future.

This handout² photo from October 2019 shows a component³ of Google's quantum computer in a Santa Barbara lab, California, U.S. (Google/Handout via REUTERS)

This handout photo from October 2019 shows a component of Google's quantum computer in a Santa Barbara lab, California, U.S. (Google/Handout via REUTERS)

Quantum computing⁴

Google announced it had completed successful experiments that led to a major development in quantum computing technology.

In one test, the team said its quantum computer processor was able to complete a complex mathematical problem in just 200 seconds. The scientists said the same problem would have taken the world's fastest supercomputer 10,000 years to finish.

The researchers described the new progress as "quantum supremacy⁵." This term describes a point at which a quantum computer can perform a calculation that a traditional computer could never complete within its lifetime.

3D printed heart

Israeli researchers reported they had built the world's first 3D-printed heart using a patient's own cells. The scientists said the small "printed" heart was the first-ever 3D printed heart created to include both tissue and blood vessels⁷.

The team expressed excitement at the progress made, but said much more research is needed to come up with a fully⁸ working 3D-printed human heart that can effectively pump blood.

Solar roof car

South Korea's Hyundai Motor Group announced the launch of its first vehicle with a solar top, or roof, charging system. The new system became available for Hyundai's new Sonata⁹ Hybrid¹⁰ model. The vehicle has a structure of solar equipment on top of the car to capture energy from the sun to help charge the battery.

Facebook Libra

Facebook announced the launch of its own cryptocurrency in a major new push into the worldwide financial services industry. The U.S.-based social media company said its digital currency, called Libra, could become available publicly in the first half of 2020.

Facebook said Libra will be available to anyone with a smartphone and internet connection. The company said the service is designed to make moving money around the world just as easy as sending a text message.

Drone deliveries

Several American companies announced new delivery services involving drone aircraft. CVS Health Corporation is partnering with international shipping¹¹ company UPS to bring drugs and other products directly to people's home by drone. Other companies also said they also plan to carry out major drone delivery tests or launch new services in 2020.

Facial recognition opposition

San Francisco became the first major U.S. city to ban facial recognition technology by local law enforcement and all other city agencies. The ban was part of a bill that restricts surveillance technologies. The measure also ordered San Francisco agencies to describe any current or future facial recognition activities.

Internet inventor warns

The man credited with inventing the World Wide Web called for major changes to make the internet better for humanity. Tim Berners-Lee first proposed the internet system 30 years ago.

Berners-Lee spoke¹² several times during 2019 about the current state of the internet, now used by about half the world's population.

In an open letter, Berners-Lee said the web had clearly created great opportunities for humanity to progress and made life easier for millions of people. It also gave groups traditionally not heard a new voice in society. However, he added that the web had also provided new ways for "scammers" to carry out crimes and "given a voice to those who spread hatred¹³."

I'm Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit 51VOA.COM.

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Words in This Story

vessel⁶ – n. a small tube that carries blood through the body

cryptocurrency – n. a money that only exists electronically

digital – adj. related to computer technology, especially the internet

delivery – n. the act of taking goods to a person or place

drone – n. an unmanned aircraft guided by computers or human operators from a distance

surveillance – n. the activity of watching people carefully, often secretly, especially by an army or police force

opportunity – n. a good possibility or chance for progress

scammer – n. someone who makes money by using illegal methods or tricking people

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 handout   

n.散发的文字材料；救济品

参考例句：

• I read the handout carefully.我仔细看了这份分发的资料。
• His job was distributing handout at the street-corner.他的工作是在街头发传单。

3 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

4 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。

5 supremacy   

n.至上；至高权力

参考例句：

• No one could challenge her supremacy in gymnastics.她是最优秀的体操运动员，无人能胜过她。
• Theoretically,she holds supremacy as the head of the state.从理论上说，她作为国家的最高元首拥有至高无上的权力。

6 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

7 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

9 sonata   

n.奏鸣曲

参考例句：

• He played a piano sonata of his own composition.他弹奏了一首自作的钢琴奏鸣曲。
• The young boy played the violin sonata masterfully.那个小男孩的小提琴奏鸣曲拉得很熟练。

10 hybrid   

n.(动，植）杂种，混合物

参考例句：

• That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
• The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。

11 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

12 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

13 hatred   

n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨

参考例句：

• He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
• The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。