2018年的最佳发明

张倩云

Each year， TIME magazine picks the best of the inventions that will change how we live， work， and play. Here， we have selected some that we think will improve the world. Some help people overcome obstacles. Others help protect the environment. A few just help us have fun.

Read on to learn about these amazing objects. Which will make the biggest difference in your life， or in the lives of people around you？

每年，《時代》杂志都会挑选出能改变我们生活、工作和娱乐方式的最佳发明。下面，我们选出了一些我们认为会改善世界的发明。有一些可以帮助人们克服障碍，有一些可以帮助保护环境，还有一些只是让我们玩得开心。

继续往下读来了解一下这些神奇的东西吧。哪一个会让你或者你周围的人的生活变得大不一样呢？

Eyes on Demand

For people who are blind， everyday tasks such as walking to school or doing laundry can be a challenge. But what if they could “borrow” the eyes of someone who can see？

Thats the thinking behind AIRA. With this service， users send live video of their surroundings to an AIRA agent through special glasses or a smartphone app. The agents， who are available at all times， can then answer questions， describe objects， or guide users through a location.

随需而变的眼睛

对于盲人来说，每天的任务，比如步行上学或洗衣服，都是一个挑战。但是如果他们能“借用”一个能看见的人的眼睛会怎么样呢？

这就是AIRA背后的想法。通过这项服务，用户可以通过特制眼镜或智能手机应用程序向AIRA代理商发送他们周围环境的实时视频。然后，代理商可以随时回答问题、描述对象或指引用户穿过某个位置。

Smog Solution

Smog is air pollution that comes mostly from automobile and factory emissions. Breathing in too much smog can cause a person to become sick.

The company 3M has created a new material for roofing shingles. When 3M SMOG-REDUCING GRANULES are exposed to the sun， the granules break down smog particles in the air. The broken-down particles are then washed away by rainfall. This product will help reduce air pollution.

雾霾解决方案

雾霾主要来自汽车和工厂排放的空气污染。吸入过多的雾霾会导致人生病。

3M公司为屋顶瓦创造了一种新材料。当“3M除霾颗粒”暴露在阳光下时，这些颗粒会分解空气中的雾霾颗粒。这些破碎的颗粒随后被雨水冲走。这种产品有助于减少空气污染。

Now Hear This

About 48 million Americans suffer from hearing loss. Though many of them could benefit from a hearing aid， some people dont want to wear one because of how theyll look.

A traditional hearing aid wraps around the ear. EARGO MAX works almost entirely out of sight. It is a rechargeable hearing aid that fits comfortably inside the ear. Its expected to end 2018 with 20，000 users.

现在听听这个

大约有4800万美国人听力受损。虽然他们中的许多人可以使用助听器，但有些人因为助听器的外形而并不想戴助听器。

传统的助听器包裹着耳朵，而“EARGO MAX”则几乎完全看不见。它是一种可充电的助听器，能舒适地安装在耳朵里。在2018年底之前，预计使用“EARGO MAX”的人达到20000名。

Bright Idea

Biking in the dark can be dangerous. When inventor forgot his lights， cars almost hit him. So he started thinking about a better way to ride.

Eventually， he created the LUMOS KICKSTART HELMET. Its bright LED lights make a cyclist more visible. They also blink to indicate a turn. Riders can activate the signal by clicking a wireless remote1 on their handlebars.

閃亮的主意

在黑暗中骑自行车可能很危险。因为忘记带灯时几乎被汽车撞到，所以该发明者开始考虑更好的骑行方式。

最后，他发明了“Lumos讯号灯头盔”。它明亮的LED灯使骑自行车的人更显眼。它们也会闪烁表示转弯。骑手可以通过按下车把手上的无线遥控器来激活信号灯。

Better Wheels

More than 3 million Americans use wheelchairs to get around. But most wheelchairs are bulky2 and hard to move on many surfaces.

The WHILL MODEL CI is a new electric wheelchair. Its specially engineered front “omni3-wheels” allow it to go 10 miles indoors or out and climb obstacles two inches high. The wheelchair can also be taken apart， in minutes. This makes it easy to transport.

更好的轮椅

超过300万美国人借助轮椅四处走动。但大多数轮椅都是笨重的，在许多种地面上难以移动。

“WHILL MODEL CI”是一种新的电动轮椅。它特别设计的前轮“万能轮”使它能够在室内或室外行驶10英里，翻过2英寸高的障碍物。该轮椅也可以在几分钟内被拆卸开来，这样便于运输。

Sweet Shoes

Many shoe parts are not eco-friendly4. Allbirds is trying to change that. It is testing a new material called SWEETFOAM， which is made from parts of sugarcane5 that would otherwise be thrown away. Allbirds launched SweetFoam in a line of flip-flops. The company plans to use the material across all of its product lines. To encourage others to do the same， Allbirds has made the technical know-how behind SweetFoam available to all.

甜美鞋

许多鞋的部件并不环保。Allbirds在努力改变这一点。它正在测试一种新材料，叫做“甜泡沫”，这种材料是由甘蔗通常被扔掉的一部分制成的。Allbirds启动了使用“甜美泡沫”的人字拖生产线。该公司计划在其所有产品线中使用该材料。为了鼓励其他厂商也这么做，Allbirds已经向所有厂商提供了“甜美泡沫”背后的技术诀窍。

Homes for All

The ICON VULCAN 3D PRINTER is a groundbreaking machine. In 2018， it built a 350-square-foot home in 48 hours. It erects6 the structure of the home， layer by layer， from concrete. This process costs much less than traditional building methods. ICON is the company behind the printer. It hopes to print a 2，000-square-foot home in just 24 hours. It is also working to take the printer to places where cheap， durable7 houses are needed.

所有人的家

“ICON Vulcan 3D打印机”是一个突破性的机器。2018年，它在48小时内建造了一座350平方英尺的住宅。它用混凝土逐层安装房屋结构。这一过程的成本比传统的建筑方法要低得多。ICON是该打印机制造商。它希望能在24小时内打印出一个2000平方英尺的房子。它还致力于把打印机带到需要廉价耐用的房屋的地方去。

Ready to Fly

Gravity Industries， a London-based company， has developed the coolest flying suit since Iron Man. The GRAVITY JET SUIT includes five mini jet engines. Two are built into each of the hand units， and one is built into the backpack. It can fly at 50 miles per hour. For now， the suits are extremely expensive and extremely loud. Inventor and company founder Richard Browning hopes to raise money to develop a quieter， cheaper version.

准备起飞

总部位于伦敦的重力工业公司研发出了《钢铁侠》问世以来最酷的飞行服。“重力喷气式飞行装备”包括五个微型喷气式发动机。每只手部装备上都有两个，一个装在背包里。它能以每小时50英里的速度飞行。目前，这种套装造价非常昂贵，而且声音非常大。发明者兼公司创始人理查德·布朗宁希望筹集资金开发一种更安静、更便宜的装备。

1. remote [ ] n. 遥控器

2. bulky [ ] adj. 体积大的；庞大的；笨重的

3. omni [ ] n. 全方位；泛光灯

4. eco-friendly [ ] adj. 对生态环境友好的，不妨害生态环境的

5. sugarcane [ ] n. 甘蔗

6. erect [ ] vt. 使竖立；建造；安装

7. durable [ ] adj. 耐用的，持久的