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①Does that mean innovation is slowing? No. ②The latest phones contain amazingly clever technology, such as 3D face-scanners and cameras assisted by artificial intelligence. ③But as with mature technologies such as cars or washing machines, extra bells and whistles no longer make a deep impression.
词句精读:
②The latest phones contain amazingly clever technology, such as 3D face-scanners and cameras assisted by artificial intelligence.
1.assist:辅助、支持,在这里可以与support做同义替换,文中的cameras assisted by artificial intelligence指这种相机有AI技术做支撑。
③But as with mature technologies such as cars or washing machines, extra bells and whistles no longer make a deep impression.
2.make an impression:留下印象,引申为吸引人、吸睛。
比如说描述一个人吸引人,除了用attractive,也可以这么用:
He made quite an impression on the girls at the tennis club.
我们常见的“十种招让你成为万人迷”就可以说:10 tips to make a killer first impression with a woman
段落解析:
但是创新并没有因此慢下脚步,最新的手机还是配备了惊为天人的新科技,比如面容识别以及有AI技术支撑的摄像头。但就像汽车或者洗衣机这样成熟的技术,新增的铃声选择并没有给人留下太多印象。
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①More important is that smartphones support extra innovation in other areas. ②Deploying apps and services on an immature platform whose prospects are uncertain is risky; on a mature one it is not. ③Smartphones thus provide a foundation for today’s innovations, like mobile payments and video streaming, and for future ones, such as controlling “smart” home appliances or hailing robotaxis.
词句精读:
②Deploying apps and services on an immature platform whose prospects are uncertain is risky; on a mature one it is not.
1.deploy:这个词一指军事上的部署,指调度,部署士兵/军事力量等。
例句:NATO’s decision to deploy cruise missiles
第二层含义是指利用、调动,to use something for a particular purpose, especially ideas, arguments etc.
比如说一种职业要用到多项专业技术:a job in which a variety of professional skills will be deployed.
本句中deploy app and services on an immature platform的意思是在一个不成熟的平台上部署应用程序和服务。
2.prospect:在这里意为可能性、前景、希望,the possibility that something will happen,可以与future做同义替换。
如果想说在零售业会有很好的发展前景,可以说:There are good prospects for growth in the retail sector.
在本句中②Deploying apps and services on an immature platform whose prospects are uncertain is risky的意思是,在一个前景不明确、不成熟的平台上部署应用程序和服务有一定的风险。
prospect还有以下几个释义:
➡️很可能发生的事,a particular event which will probably or definitely happen in the future - used especially when you want to talk about how you feel about it.
ex.Greeks face the prospect of new general elections next month.
➡️将来成功的机会,前途,chances of future success.
ex.I had no job, no education, and no prospects.
➡️有前途的人,a person, job, plan etc that has a good chance of success in the future
ex.He was the hot young piano prospect in Jazz.
➡️in prospect:可能即将发生的事,likely to happen in the near future.
ex.A new round of trade talks is in prospect.
➡️景观,景色,a view of a wide area of land, especially from a high place.
ex.a beautiful prospect over the valley
③Smartphones thus provide a foundation for today’s innovations, like mobile payments and video streaming, and for future ones, such as controlling “smart” home appliances or hailing robotaxis.
3.thus:以这种方式,这样,in this manner or way.
例句:Thus the question was finally settled.
4.robotaxi:RoboTaxi,也称为Robo-Cab,自动驾驶出租车或无人驾驶出租车,是一种用于电子服务的自动驾驶汽车。
段落解析:
更重要的是智能手机还能在其他领域支持创新。在一个前景不明确、不成熟的平台上部署应用程序和服务有一定的风险,在成熟的平台上就不会有此担忧。智能手机以此为创新提供了基础,比如手机支付和流媒体视频,将来可能还会用来控制家庭应用或者呼叫无人出租车。
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①As computers become smaller, still more personal and closer to people’s bodies, many techies reckon that wearable devices, from smart watches to augmented-reality headsets, will be the next big thing. ②Even so, finding another product with the scope of the smartphone is a tall order. ③The smartphone retains its promise as the device that will make computing and communications universal. ④The recent slowing of smartphone sales is bad news for the industry, obviously. ⑤But for the rest of humanity it is a welcome sign that a transformative technology has become almost universal.
词句精读:
①As computers become smaller, still more personal and closer to people’s bodies, many techies reckon that wearable devices, from smart watches to augmented-reality headsets, will be the next big thing.
1.still more:表示更加,还有别的…used to emphasize that something increases more, there is more of something etc,可以与further/another做同义替换。
比如说Kevin变得更消沉了,可以说:Kevin grew still more depressed.
在本句中可以理解为,随着电脑越做越小,并且更加个人化以及便携。
2.augmented-reality headsets:增强现实头戴装备。
augmented是增强的意思,与reality组合成一个新的词:增强现实,简称AR。
②Even so, finding another product with the scope of the smartphone is a tall order.
3.scope:范围,领域,the range of things that a subject, activity, book etc deals with
本句中的scope of the smartphone可以理解为在智能手机领域。
4.tall order:很难实现的要求,a request or piece of work that is almost impossible.
tall还有一些短语搭配:
➡️tall story:难以置信的故事,a story that is so unlikely that it is difficult to believe.
➡️stand tall:信心十足,比如说:We will stand tall and fight for issues of concern to our community.
➡️walk tall:理直气壮,to be proud and confident because you know that you have not done anything wrong.
比如说赢了那场表演以后,她又可以挺起腰板了:After that winning performance, she can once again walk tall.
本文这句话可以理解为:即便这样,找到像智能手机一样的另外的产品也是难以实现的事情。
③The smartphone retains its promise as the device that will make computing and communications universal.
5.retain:保留,to keep something or continue to have something,可以与keep做同义替换。本文的retain its promise可以理解为信守/坚守诺言。
例句:They insisted on retaining old customs.
6.universal:这个词在每日一词中出现过,在这里看到感觉格外亲切,意为普遍的,true or suitable in every situation,可以与common进行同义替换。
这句话的意思为:智能手机实现了计算机应用和信息交流可以被广泛应用的承诺。
⑤But for the rest of humanity it is a welcome sign that a transformative technology has become almost universal.
7.transformative:有改革能力的,变化的,causing or able to cause an important and lasting change in someone or something,可以与experience,moments等连用.本句中的transformative technology指变革性技术。
本句的意思为:但对其他人来说这是个好消息,因为变革性的技术已经开始变得普遍了。
段落解析:随着电脑变得更小,并且更加个人化和便携,科技爱好者认为可以穿戴的科技设备-无论是数码手表还是AR设备-将会成为下一个热点。即便这样,找到另一个能与智能手机媲美的产品也实属不易,智能手机在普及计算机技术和信息交流方面实现了它的承诺。诚然,最近的手机销量下降对于整个行业并非利好,但是对其他人来说是个好消息,因为变革性的技术已经开始变得普遍了。