财富精英励志演讲58：信息技术的力量(13)

 　　This only escalates¹ all these issues, only escalates as the network world marches on.We have already talked about the first milestone² that is the Net connecting, say a billion people to perhaps a million E-businesses. The next milestone is what we and IBM call pervasive³ computing⁴. Fifty years ago where did you find electric motors? Big factories, power plants, and they were big and expensive. Today you might find a hundred electric motors in the typical home - they are in the appliances, heating, ventilation systems, CD player, the VCR, and, if you are so fortunate, the electric tooth-brush. We do not buy electric motors any more. They come inside of all the things we use and do every day. The same thing is going to happen with computing devices. Chips are getting so small and so inexpensive, (that) they are being embedded⁵ in every thing - cars, appliances, tools, doorknobs, clothes. Most significantly all of these tiny intelligent devices will be interwoven in the fabric⁶ of the computing and communications network. And what will this mean for consumers and enterprises?

　　这只会在网络世界前进的道路上加剧这些问题。我们谈到第一个里程碑是 Internet 的连接，比方说将 10 亿人连接到 100 万个电子商务企业上。下一个里程碑是我们 IBM 所说的普遍计算 (pervasive computing)。五十年前，你在哪儿能见到电机？只能在工厂、电厂，它们非常庞大而且很贵。现在你在家里便可以看到上百个电机，各种电器设备，加热装置、通风系统、CD 播放机、录像机，如果你足够幸运的话，你还可能用到电动牙刷。今天我们不再直接购买电机了。它们跟随日常用品来到我们的生活中。类似的事情也将要在计算设备中发生。芯片越来越小，越来越便宜，能够被嵌入到各种产品中 -- 汽车、器械、工具、门把手、衣服。其中最为引人注目的是将小型智能设备交织进计算和通信网络的结构中。那么这对消费者和企业来说将意味着什么呢？

　　知识点：

　　1. march on 行进，向前进；向…推进；进入检阅场地

　　eg They are holding their ground even after more than 700 of them were arrested Saturday during a march on the Brooklyn Bridge in a tense confrontation⁷ with police.

　　在礼拜六的布鲁克林大桥游行期间，700人因为与警方的激烈冲突而被捕，但其他人现在仍然坚守著他们的立场。

　　2. ventilation system 通风系统

　　eg We did consider a heat recovery ventilation system, a box and pipes that bring in fresh air.

　　我们的确曾经考虑过热回收通风系统，用一个机箱和一些管道引入新鲜空气。

　　3. VCR 录像机（Video Cassette Recorder）

　　人物背景

　　路易斯·郭士纳曾经是君临天下的企业霸主——IBM公司总裁。 路易斯·郭士纳郭士纳从小生长在纽约长岛的一个贫穷家庭里，在一所教会中学渡过全部的少年时光。毕业于哈佛大学商业学院。13年的麦肯锡咨询公司实践磨炼，使他成为一名光芒夺目的商界奇才。郭士纳其璀璨、罕见的管理与经营才干，是这个时代的先锋和佼佼者。美国《时代》周刊这样评价郭士纳——“IBM公司董事长兼首席执行官，被称为电子商务巨子”。

1 escalates   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的第三人称单数 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• As the challenge escalates, the need for teamwork elevates. 面临的挑战越大，越需要团队协同合作。 来自互联网
• I cannot understand why a minor disagreement escalates into a fist-fight. 我真不明白为什么一点意见不合就变成了拳头相见。 来自互联网

2 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

3 pervasive   

adj.普遍的；遍布的，(到处)弥漫的；渗透性的

参考例句：

• It is the most pervasive compound on earth.它是地球上最普遍的化合物。
• The adverse health effects of car exhaust are pervasive and difficult to measure.汽车尾气对人类健康所构成的有害影响是普遍的，并且难以估算。

4 computing   

n.计算

参考例句：

• to work in computing 从事信息处理
• Back in the dark ages of computing, in about 1980, they started a software company. 早在计算机尚未普及的时代（约1980年），他们就创办了软件公司。

5 embedded   

a.扎牢的

参考例句：

• an operation to remove glass that was embedded in his leg 取出扎入他腿部玻璃的手术
• He has embedded his name in the minds of millions of people. 他的名字铭刻在数百万人民心中。

6 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。

7 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。