VOA慢速英语2014 Young Technology Expert Works to Stop Car Thefts

 

Young Technology Expert Works to Stop Car Thefts

Kenya is East Africa’s largest economy. Its capital Nairobi is growing quickly. But so is the city’s crime rate -- the Nairobi Metropolitan¹ Crime Observatory² says thieves steal an average of 10 cars each day.

Kelvin Macharia has invented a tracking, or following, device that uses computers and wireless³ technology to help owners know where their cars are, and find them if they are stolen. Mr. Macharia is just 24 years old. He is the chief executive officer of Sunrise Tracking.

He began working on his invention in 2012. Using $300 from his savings⁴, he improved a system that was already being used to find stolen cars. His surveillance system uses a computer or mobile phone to tell owners where their car is. Mr. Macharia says if a car is stolen, the owners can find it using his tracking device. Owners are able to send a command to the vehicle through a text message. It immediately stops the car from moving. Experts say this shows the power of security solutions that involve mobile technology. 

Mr. Macharia used material available in Kenya to make his first tracker devices. When he was satisfied with the design, he outsourced the building of the device to a factory in China. He says his company is now worth more than $100,000 and has more than 100 companies as clients.

Tony Wanga is one of those clients. He owns three minibus taxis. Car thieves in Nairobi have targeted these vehicles. Mr. Wanga bought trackers for each of his vehicles. The trackers cost $250 each. He says the tracker tells him where his vehicles are. He says when the tracker is placed in one of his vehicles, he can follow its travels as he sits in his office.

Mr. Macharia continues to develop other security products. His other security products include car alarms and a camera hidden inside a pen. And he says he is building a wireless security camera that will be able to store video information for long periods of time.

Mr. Macharia hopes his technological⁵ innovations give his clients the security and safety they want and need.

Words in This Story

client – n. a person who pays a professional person or organization for services

innovation – n. a new idea, device, or method

outsource – v. to send away some of a company’s work to be done by people outside the company

surveillance – n. the act of carefully watching someone or something, especially in order to prevent or detect a crime

1 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。

2 observatory   

n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台

参考例句：

• Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。
• Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。

3 wireless   

adj.无线的；n.无线电

参考例句：

• There are a lot of wireless links in a radio.收音机里有许多无线电线路。
• Wireless messages tell us that the ship was sinking.无线电报告知我们那艘船正在下沉。

4 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

5 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。