环球英语 — 391：Technology for Autism

　　Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight¹. I'm Joshua Leo.
Voice 2
And I'm Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Jesse can ride a bicycle. Jacob is not angry any more. And Zack can use the internet. What do these three boys have in common? They all have the brain condition autism. But with new technology, their lives have become easier. Today's Spotlight is on these new technologies.
Voice 2
Autism is a health problem that affects thousands of people around the world. In fact, it is a brain condition. It affects people in different ways. But most often, it affects a person's ability to communicate. A person with autism may not understand how to act around other people. And for children with autism, life can be very difficult.
Voice 1
When a child is autistic, parents may feel worried. They may not know how to best help their child. Sometimes, the behaviour of an autistic child is difficult to understand and control. Technology like the internet has helped parents share with each other. Much more information about autism exists today than just ten years ago. But the internet is not the only technology helping² autistic children and their parents.
Voice 2
In 2003 Barry Nelson bought a two-wheeled bicycle. But this bicycle was different than most bicycles. Two people could ride this bicycle instead of one. Barry bought it for himself and his son Jesse. Jesse has autism. He could not ride a bicycle alone. Jesse did not understand the danger of cars on the road.
Voice 1
So Barry bought this new bicycle to ride with Jesse. But there was a problem. On this bicycle, Jesse sat behind his father. Sometimes Jesse would stop moving his legs, sometimes he would take his hands off of the bicycle handles. Barry had to always look behind him to make sure Jesse was safe. Barry knew there must be a better way to ride with his son.
Voice 2
Barry searched all around for a bicycle that would work. Finally he found a bicycle invented by Robert Gardner. It was called the Buddy³ Bike. The Buddy Bike is a bicycle that lets the child sit in front of the adult. The child can push the bicycle pedals⁴ with his feet and have handlebars for his hands. Jesse could see everything in front of him. On the old bicycle, Jesse could only see his father's back. On the Buddy Bike, there was no longer a risk of crashing.
Voice 1
Barry enjoyed using the bicycle with his son so much that he started a business selling Buddy Bikes. He wanted to share the Buddy Bike with other families like his. He used his business skills to sell the Buddy Bike all over the world.
Voice 2
One man from Israel wrote to Barry thanking him for the bicycle.
Voice 3
"We received our Buddy Bike two months ago and we are having a great time with it. Our son, Nir, is sixteen [16] years old and is autistic. He loves our weekend bike rides so much that he is always ready to put on his helmet⁵ and shoes."
Voice 1
All over the world, children who have mental difficulties⁶ are enjoying the Buddy Bike. These children may have never ridden a bicycle before. Now, with the Buddy Bike, the roads are open to them.
Voice 2
But the Buddy Bike is not the only new invention helping Autistic children. Raffi Rembrand is an engineer in Israel. His son Jacob has autism. Often, Jacob would become angry or worried. Raffi and his wife did not know what to do when this happened. So Raffi started reading and learning⁷ all about autism. He learned⁸ that when an autistic child becomes angry or worried, deep strong physical pressure can calm him down. There were special clothes that put pressure on the body but they did not work very well. So Raffi decided⁹ to invent his own.
Voice 1
Raffi started working with vests, a kind of shirt that does not cover the arms. These vests became the BioHug. The BioHug had areas that held air. When the child becomes worried or angry, the vest fills with air and puts pressure on the child's body. Raffi tested the device¹⁰ on his son. The BioHug made Jacob more calm.
Voice 2
Other people had made machines that put pressure on the body. But these machines were very large and heavy. Raffi's BioHug can be worn¹¹ by a child. Raffi's son Jacob uses the Biohug when he feels angry or worried. Raffi hopes to make more BioHugs to help autistic children all over the world.
Voice 1
Anger can be a big problem for autistic children. If the child does not understand something, or if he cannot communicate well, he may become angry. Raffi used his engineering¹² skills to help his son's anger problems. John LeSieur used his skills in a similar way.
Voice 2
John LeSieur creates computer software programs. John's grandson, Zack, has autism. Every time Zack used a computer, he would become angry. He would throw parts of the computer across the room. So John started to think about how he could make the computer work better for Zack.
Voice 1
John created a special program for children to look at websites on the Internet. Zack liked this new program. He did not get angry at the computer any more. With Zack's help, John improved the program, to share with other children. When John made a change to the program, he would let Zack test it first. Today, John shares the ZAC Browser¹³ program for free on the internet. It was the first web-browser program designed for autistic children.
Voice 2
Over one hundred thousand [100,000] people have installed¹⁴ the ZAC Browser on their computers. John receives letters and emails every day from parents who are very thankful for the ZAC Browser. In the past, their children could not use the computer. But today, they have a new tool!
Voice 1
None of these technologies can solve all the problems of autism. But the Buddy Bike, the BioHug, and the ZAC Browser are making life a little easier for autistic children, with the love and support of their parents and communities.
 

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 buddy   

n.（美口）密友，伙伴

参考例句：

• Calm down,buddy.What's the trouble?压压气，老兄。有什么麻烦吗？
• Get out of my way,buddy!别挡道了，你这家伙！

4 pedals   

n.（自行车或其他机器的）踏板( pedal的名词复数 )；脚蹬子；（钢琴、风琴等的）踏板；踏瓣

参考例句：

• I couldn't reach the pedals on her bike. 我骑她的车够不到脚蹬子。
• The pedals of a cycle are attached to a crank. 自行车的踏板与曲柄相连。 来自辞典例句

5 helmet   

n.钢盔；头盔；安全帽；vt.给…戴头盔

参考例句：

• The man on the motorcycle wore a helmet.骑摩托车的人戴了一顶头盔。
• Wear your safety helmet when you go down.戴上安全帽再下去。

6 difficulties   

n.困难( difficulty的名词复数 )；难度；难事；麻烦

参考例句：

• I am acutely aware of the difficulties we face. 我十分清楚我们面临的困难。
• the difficulties of English syntax 英语句法的难点

7 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

8 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

9 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。

10 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。

11 worn   

adj.用旧的，疲倦的；vbl.wear的过去分词

参考例句：

• The child's trousers have worn through at the knees.孩子裤子的膝盖处磨破了。
• My shoes are worn out.我的鞋子穿坏了。

12 engineering   

n.工程，工程学，管理，操纵

参考例句：

• The science of engineering began as soon as man learned to use tools. 人类一学会使用工具,工程科学就开始了。
• It was the first great engineering works in the world. 这是世界上第一家大型的工程工厂。

13 browser   

n.浏览者

参考例句：

• View edits in a web browser.在浏览器中看编辑的效果。
• I think my browser has a list of shareware links.我想在浏览器中会有一系列的共享软件链接。

14 installed   

安装( install的过去式和过去分词 )； 安顿； 安置； 使…正式就职

参考例句：

• He's getting a phone installed tomorrow. 他明天要装电话。
• A professionally installed alarm will cost from about ￡500. 请专业人员安装的警报器要花费至少500 英镑。