VOA标准英语2015--新型轮椅易于使用可增加流动性

New Wheelchair Is Easier to Use, Increases Mobility 新型轮椅易于使用可增加流动性

For many disabled people, the only way to move around is by using a wheelchair. Those who cannot afford powered wheelchairs propel themselves with their arms, which often leads to fatigue¹, pain, and even permanent damage to arms and shoulders.

In 2007, a group of mechanical engineering students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology decided² that the wheelchair needed a new design.

Amos Winter, now an MIT professor, came up with an innovative³ idea for a wheelchair propelled by levers. The group formed a company called Global Research and Innovation Technology (GRIT⁴) and started manufacturing what they call the Leveraged⁵ Freedom Chair.

GRIT’s chief technology officer, Mario Bollini, said that "instead of grabbing on the wheels, like you would with the regular wheelchair, you grab these levers that you can push with either hand — kind of like a bench press. And it uses a bicycle drivetrain, very similar to what you have on your bike, to transfer power from these levers to the wheels.”

Other wheelchairs are also based on push-lever technology, but Bollini said GRIT's design is unique in at least two important areas.

“Our core technology is this lever drivetrain that you’re able to make entirely⁶ out of bike parts," he said. "And so that lets us have a really low-cost design, especially compared to the other competitors in the U.S., for about half the price of the next closest chair on the market, with, I think, better performance in our drivetrain. In addition to that, we’re the only drivetrain that lets you change the mechanical advantage by where you grab the lever.”

Bollini said the leveraged wheelchairs are especially useful for moving over the rugged⁷ surfaces often encountered in developing countries.

“We’ve had chairs in India for multiple years that are still performing great, and chairs in sub-Saharan Africa that are also doing very well out in the field," he said. "And most importantly, we have designed the chair so that every part is easily found on the local markets.”

If a wheel or a chain breaks, it can be replaced with a regular bike wheel and regular bike chain.

The production started in 2011, and Bollini said that last year, GRIT shipped almost 1,200 Leveraged Freedom Chairs to 17 countries. They are mostly sold to aid agencies and NGOs, which distribute them free of charge.

The company plans to design an equally affordable⁸ folding model.

1 fatigue   

n.疲劳，劳累

参考例句：

• The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
• I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

4 grit   

n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关

参考例句：

• The soldiers showed that they had plenty of grit. 士兵们表现得很有勇气。
• I've got some grit in my shoe.我的鞋子里弄进了一些砂子。

5 leveraged   

促使…改变( leverage的过去式和过去分词 )； [美国英语]杠杆式投机，（使）举债经营，（使）利用贷款进行投机

参考例句：

• Chrysler has traditionally been a highly leveraged company. 克莱斯勒一向是一家周转十分灵活的公司。
• Leveraged recaps have become popular for a number of reasons. 杠杆资本重组的大行其道有好几个原因。

6 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

7 rugged   

adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的

参考例句：

• Football players must be rugged.足球运动员必须健壮。
• The Rocky Mountains have rugged mountains and roads.落基山脉有崇山峻岭和崎岖不平的道路。

8 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。