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VOA慢速英语2020 日本公司开发出智能口罩以改善疫情新常态下的沟通质量

时间:2020-08-10 23:51:37

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(单词翻译)

A Japanese company has created a "smart" mask that aims to improve communication for people wearing face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

一家日本公司开发出了一种智能口罩,旨在改善戴口罩防止新冠肺炎传播的人群的沟通。

The use of face masks has become the new normal in parts of the world still struggling to reduce spread of the coronavirus. However, masks and other kinds of coverings can affect the quality of communication between wearers.

在世界上仍在努力减少新冠病毒传播的地区,戴口罩已经成为了一种新的常态。然而,口罩等物品会影响佩戴者之间的沟通质量。

It can be more difficult to hear voices through the coverings. Many business and public spaces also have social distancing barriers in place, which also make it harder for people to be heard and understood.

声音通过口罩之后更难以被听到。许多商业和公共场所也存在社交隔离防范措施,这使得人们更难被听到和听懂。

The wearable electronic device1 is designed to help improve speech interactions2 in such conditions.

这款可穿戴电子设备旨在帮助改善这种状况下的语言交流。

The Japanese startup company Donut Robotics calls its invention the "c-mask." The device is meant to fit over other kinds of face masks commonly worn by the public.

日本初创公司Donut Robotics把他们的这种发明称为c-mask。该设备可戴在公众日常佩戴的其它类型的口罩上。

The c-mask is made of soft plastic material. It contains a built-in microphone3 and has holes in the front to let air in. When it is turned on, the mask uses Bluetooth technology to connect to a mobile4 device.

这款智能口罩是由软塑料制成。它包含一个内置麦克风,口罩正面设有允许空气进入的孔。这款口罩在打开之后利用蓝牙技术与移动设备连接。

An app then helps users5 perform several actions, including turning speech into text, completing telephone calls and making the user's voice louder. The device can also translate a person's voice from Japanese into eight other languages.

然后通过一款应用程序帮助用户执行多种操作,包括将语音转换为文本、完成通话以及放大用户的声音。该设备还可以将用户的声音从日语翻译为其它8种语言。

The engineers who developed the smart mask had already built robots for use in Japanese airports to provide guidance and translation services to travelers.

开发出这款智能口罩的工程师之前已经造出了一款机器人,可以在日本机场使用,为旅客提供指导和翻译服务。

But with the travel industry currently6 suffering big losses, the future of the robots became unclear. So, engineers sought to come up with a new product to fill a need.

但是随着目前旅游业遭受巨大损失,这款机器人的未来变得不清晰。所以工程师试图造出一种新产品来满足需求。

Taisuke Ono is the head of Donut Robotics. He told the Reuters news agency7, "We worked hard for years to develop a robot and we have used that technology to create a product that responds to how the coronavirus has reshaped society."

小野泰介是Donut Robotics公司的负责人。他对路透社表示:“我们为开发机器人付出了多年的努力,并且我们已经利用该技术造出了一种产品,来应对已经被新冠病毒重塑的这个社会。”

Ono told international broadcaster CNN that the company was able to raise money to develop the smart mask through a campaign on the Japanese crowdfunding service Fundinno.

小野泰介对CNN表示,该公司通过日本众筹服务机构Fundinno得以筹集到资金用于开发这款智能口罩。

He noted8 that the effort raised $265,000 in just the first 37 minutes. "It was very surprising, because it would usually take three or four months to get that kind of money," Ono said.

他指出,此举仅花了37分钟就筹集到了26.5万美元。小野泰介表示:“这非常令人惊讶,因为通常需要花三四个月时间才能筹到这么多钱。”

The company produced a working model of the mask within a month by using software developed for its other robot products. The mask design was similar to one created years ago by one of the company's engineers that mapped facial muscles to interpret9 speech.

该公司利用其为其它机器人产品开发的软件,在一个月内就造出了这款口罩的工作模型。该面罩的设计类似于该公司一位工程师多年前开发出来的一种绘制面部肌肉转换为语音的设计。

Ono said the company plans to ship its first 5,000 c-masks to buyers in Japan starting in September. He is also looking to sell the devices10 in China, the United States and Europe and says he has received strong interest in the product.

小野泰介表示,该公司计划在今年9月份开始向日本买家发出首批5000个智能口罩。他还希望把该产品售往中国、美国和欧洲,并表示收到了这些地方对该产品的浓厚兴趣。

Donut Robotics plans to sell the devices for about $40 per mask, in an effort to capture11 a mass market that did not exist until a few months ago.

Donut Robotics公司计划以每个口罩40美元的价格出售该设备,以占领几个月前还不存在的这个大规模市场。

"We hope that our device will be useful in a society where people naturally practice social distancing," the company states on its website.

该公司在其网站上表示:“我们希望这种设备在人们本能地进行社交隔离的这个社会中发挥作用。”

I'm Bryan Lynn.

我是布莱恩·琳恩。


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 device Bv8x6     
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。
2 interactions 85aa9c704a544e104741012bf72b6572     
一起活动( interaction的名词复数 ); 合作; 互相影响; 互动
参考例句:
  • Only then will we be able to design appropriate interactions and interfaces. 只有那时,我们才能够设计合适的交互行为和界面。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
  • These interactions are typically supported by clear cursor hinting. 一般来说,清晰的光标暗示辅助支持这样的交互。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
3 microphone UDwxt     
n.扩音器,麦克风,话筒
参考例句:
  • He gave a tap at the microphone before speaking.他在讲话前先轻叩了一下扩音器。
  • She behaved naturally before the microphone.她在话筒前表现自然。
4 mobile l6dzu     
adj.可移动的,易变的,机动的;n.运动物体
参考例句:
  • The old lady sits on a mobile chair every morning.那位老妇人每天上午坐在一把可携带使用的椅子上。
  • She's much more mobile now that she's bought a car.自从她买了汽车后,活动量就大多了。
5 users 9bc65c2abec141778ffaa729489f3e87     
用户,使用者( user的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The new software will prove a boon to Internet users. 这种新软件将会对互联网用户大有益处。
  • Ramps should be provided for wheelchair users. 应该给轮椅使用者提供坡道。
6 currently SvMzI2     
adv.通常地,普遍地,当前
参考例句:
  • Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
  • Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。
7 agency iKcy0     
n.经办;代理;代理处
参考例句:
  • This disease is spread through the agency of insects.这种疾病是通过昆虫媒介传播的。
  • He spoke in the person of Xinhua News Agency.他代表新华社讲话。
8 noted 5n4zXc     
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。
9 interpret G5lxP     
vt.解释,说明,理解;vi.作口译
参考例句:
  • We have to interpret his words in a modern light.我们不得不用现代观点来解释他的话。
  • Please interpret the comments of our foreign guest.请把外宾的话翻译一下。
10 devices e0212e54ec3a2a120ca0d321b3a60c78     
n.设备;装置( device的名词复数 );花招;(为实现某种目的的)计划;手段
参考例句:
  • electrical labour-saving devices around the home 节省劳力的各种家用电器
  • modern labour-saving devices such as washing machines and dishwashers 诸如洗衣机和洗碗机之类的现代化省力设备
11 capture xTny1     
vt.捕获,俘获;占领,夺得;n.抓住,捕获
参考例句:
  • The company is out to capture the European market.这家公司希望占据欧洲市场。
  • With the capture of the escaped tiger,everyone felt relieved.逃出来的老虎被捕获后,大家都松了一口气。

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