环球英语 — 431：The Internet Umbrella

　　Voice 1
Hello, I’m Marina Santee.
Voice 2
And I’m Ruby¹ Jones. Welcome to Spotlight². This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
It is another cold day in Tokyo, Japan. Grey clouds hang above the city. Crowds hurry along the streets. They want to find shelter³ before rain starts to fall. Some people are carrying umbrellas to shelter them from the rain. An umbrella is such a useful device⁴! It is small to carry when you are not using it – closed just like a stick. But when you open it, it shelters⁵ you from sun and rain – like a huge hat on a stick. Sheltering⁶ under an umbrella with a friend can even make the rain fun! And umbrellas come in all sorts of colours. On a rainy day you can see many bright umbrellas moving through the streets!
Voice 2
At last, the rain begins to fall. People reach for their umbrellas as quickly as they can. Then, they continue hurrying towards their places of work. However, one young man does not worry about where he is going. He walks along very slowly, looking up at the inside of his umbrella. He has a very special kind of umbrella. Images are moving around on it – just like on a television screen. The young man seems to be enjoying his walk in the rain. But how does his umbrella manage to show pictures like that?
Voice 1
The young man is demonstrating⁷ the latest development in umbrella technology – the internet umbrella! The umbrella is called Pileus. It is the idea of two scientists who work at Keio University in Tokyo. The idea behind Pileus is to make walking in wet weather fun! The Pileus umbrella can connect to the internet without a wire. A small device in the umbrella stick then shines images from the internet on the underside of the umbrella. People can then watch films as they walk along in the rain!
Voice 2
And the Pileus has more than just the internet! People using this umbrella may see something that they would like to take a picture of. No problem, the Pileus also contains a camera! The Pileus’s camera can take the picture. It will then load it on to a photo–sharing website on the internet in only a few minutes!
Voice 1
But the Pileus umbrella is not just about fun. It does have a serious use too. It has in–built GPS – Global⁸ Positioning System. This uses links to satellites⁹ to record information about where the Pileus umbrella is exactly. Imagine somebody gets lost while they are out walking. But they are carrying a Pileus umbrella. The GPS information can show them a map or a picture of the area. The person can then discover where he is and return to the place where he should be.
Voice 2
However, when you use a Pileus umbrella, it may be good to remember one thing. Look around you as well as looking up. If you do not, you may walk into somebody and cause an accident!
Voice 1
All this technology is far away from the days when people first used umbrellas. Experts believe that umbrellas first appeared in Egypt at the time of the Pharoahs – over three thousand years ago! At that time, people did not use them when the weather was bad. Instead, Egyptian people saw umbrellas as symbols. They believed that the sky was part of a huge god – stretched out like an umbrella over the earth. So, slaves¹⁰ would hold small umbrellas over the heads of people in authority¹¹. The umbrella was a symbol of their god–given right to govern the land.
Voice 2
In ancient Greece, people also used umbrellas as symbols of authority. However, people later began to use them as protection¹² against strong sunlight¹³. People in ancient Rome also used umbrellas as shelter from the sun. In particular, women visiting the amphitheatre liked them. Umbrellas protected their heads as they sat watching the horse races. But the umbrellas also prevented other people from seeing the races – so they were not popular with everyone!
Voice 1
Historical¹⁴ evidence¹⁵ shows that umbrellas were widely used in early Chinese and Indian culture. But in Western Europe, only religious¹⁶ leaders used umbrellas – until the 16th century. At that time, European travellers¹⁷ who visited Africa and Asia brought back umbrellas from these places. They then started to use them in their own countries.
Voice 2
History experts believe that the Chinese made the first ever umbrella to keep people dry. But it was the English who designed the first modern water resisting¹⁸ umbrella. They developed the first model in the 1700s. This umbrella was large and not very good quality! But over the years, scientists developed the technology to improve the design. And, the umbrella industry began to grow and grow. Today, millions are sold around the world!
Voice 1
Over the years, people have tried to change the basic umbrella design to meet their needs. We have already heard about the Pileus Internet umbrella. But what about an umbrella that produces cool air? Anil Gupta is the founder¹⁹ of an international business aid group. This organisation²⁰ helps develop ideas that improve people’s way of life. One idea that Anil discovered concerned an umbrella. It came from a girl in India. She lives in a part of the country where the weather can be extremely²¹ hot. Anil says:
Voice 3
“A girl in Orissa thought, ‘we have umbrellas. And umbrellas are supposed to save us from the rain or from the sun. Now,’ this girl thought, ‘Why not have an umbrella that rains? So, what do you do? You attach²² a bottle to the umbrella. You press it. Then it spreads water onto the top of the umbrella. The umbrella becomes wet. And the air below the umbrella becomes cool. So, it is an umbrella that gives you cool air.’”
Voice 2
An umbrella that takes pictures in Japan. An umbrella that rains in India. It seems that even after three thousand years, there are still new ways to use this basic item²³. What will we think of next?!
 

1 ruby   

n.红宝石，红宝石色

参考例句：

• She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
• On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。

2 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。

3 shelter   

n.掩蔽，掩蔽处，避身处；庇护所，避难所，庇护；vt.庇护，保护，隐匿；vi.躲避

参考例句：

• We took shelter from the rain in a cave.我们在一个山洞里避雨。
• Trees are a shelter from the sun.树木可以遮挡阳光。

4 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。

5 shelters   

n.居所( shelter的名词复数 )；避难所；（无家可归者或受虐待者的）收容所；遮蔽

参考例句：

• During the blitz we spent the night in underground shelters. 空袭期间，我们在防空洞过夜。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The wall shelters the garden from the north wind. 围墙给园子挡住了北风。 来自辞典例句

6 sheltering   

vt.掩蔽（shelter的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• They are sheltering under the thatch. 他们在茅草屋顶下避雨。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He backed the Jaguar out of the sheltering trees. 他把杰格尔汽车倒出树丛。 来自辞典例句

7 demonstrating   

举行示威游行（或集会）( demonstrate的现在分词 )； 示范。展示； 显示； 论证

参考例句：

• The reactionary police made a baton charge on the demonstrating crowd. 反动警察用警棍驱散示威的人群。
• I'm having a hell of a wild time demonstrating this car. 为展示这种车子，把我搞得狼狈不堪。

8 global   

adj.全球的；球形的；世界的

参考例句：

• A global environmental meeting is going to be held here.一个全球环境会议将在这里举行。
• The report takes a global view of the company's problems.这份报告对公司的问题作了综合性的论述。

9 satellites   

n.卫星( satellite的名词复数 )；人造卫星；卫星国；附庸国

参考例句：

• Many countries have sent up man-made satellites to circle the earth. 许多国家已经发射人造卫星围绕地球运转。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The previously unidentified objects have now been definitely ascertained as being satellites. 原来所说的不明飞行物现在已证实是卫星。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 slaves   

n.奴隶( slave的名词复数 )；苦工；完全受（某事物）控制的人；完全依赖（某事物）的人v.奴隶般地工作，做苦工( slave的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Slaves were not emancipated until 1863 in the United States. 美国奴隶直到1863年才获得自由。
• fashionistas who are slaves to the latest trends 被潮流牵着鼻子走的赶时髦者

11 authority   

n.当局，官方；权力，权威，威信；当权者

参考例句：

• He is recognized internationally as an authority in this field.国际上承认他是这方面的一个权威。
• Professor White is looked upon as an authority on mathematics.怀特教授被看成数学权威。

12 protection   

n.保护，防卫，保护制度

参考例句：

• The protection of the country is the duty of everyone.保卫国家是每个人的责任。
• The young in our society need care and protection.我们社会的年轻人需要关怀和照顾。

13 sunlight   

n.日光，阳光，日照

参考例句：

• The room was flooded with warm and golden sunlight.房间充满着温暖、金色的阳光。
• In the bright sunlight she had to narrow her eyes.在强烈阳光下她必须眯着双眼。

14 historical   

adj.历史的，史实的，历史上的

参考例句：

• The book is based on historical events.这本书是根据历史事件写成的。
• We have shared the same historical experiences.咱们有着共同的历史遭遇。

15 evidence   

n.明显，显著，明白，迹象，根据，[物]证据，证物

参考例句：

• The first signs of spring are in evidence.春天的最初迹象已显然可见。
• From the evidence I must conclude that you are wrong.从证据看，我敢断定你错了。

16 religious   

adj.宗教性的，虔诚的，宗教上的；n.修道士，出家人

参考例句：

• She is very religious person who goes to church every Sunday.她十分虔诚，每个星期天都上教堂。
• It is hard for me to reject religious beliefs.要我抛弃自己的宗教信仰是困难的。

17 travellers   

n.旅行者( traveller的名词复数 )；旅游者；旅客；游客

参考例句：

• The unusually heavy rainfall was an ill omen for the travellers. 异乎寻常的大雨是旅行者的不祥之兆。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The travellers looked weather-beaten, there was little spit and polish. 旅客们满面风尘，仪容不整。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 resisting   

使用武力阻止（某事）发生[取得成功]( resist的现在分词 )； 抵抗； 对抗； 阻挡

参考例句：

• She described in detail their resisting the invaders. 她详细叙述了他们抵抗侵略者的事迹。
• He did not fight back, he never thought of resisting. 他不反抗，也想不到反抗。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）

19 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

20 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

21 extremely   

adv.极其，非常，极度

参考例句：

• The film is extremely good,I just cannot miss it.这部电影太精彩了，我非看不可。
• The old man was extremely difficult to get along with.这个老人极难相与。

22 attach   

v.附上，使依恋，爱慕

参考例句：

• I do not attach much weight to the theory.我不十分重视这学说。
• I advise you not to attach yourself to the party.我劝你不要参加这个党。

23 item   

n.项目；条款；（消息，情报等的）一条

参考例句：

• We should go on to the next item for time is short.时间不多了，我们应该谈下一项内容。
• Put this item on our daily work schedule.把这项工作提到议事日程上来。