科技动态:科幻照进现实,新式机器手臂

A simple task taken for granted by most of us, but a challenge to an amputee. This is Ian Reid, a former fire fighter from Scotland opening a bag of potato chips with a latest bionic hand, one he hopes for getting back to work.

对我们大多数人来说很简单的一个动作，对于截肢者则是很难完成的。Ian Reid是一名来自苏格兰的前消防员，他正在试图用仿生手打开一袋马铃薯片，他希望有一天他能重回工作岗位。

"Thank you."

“谢谢”

A difference between this, the I-limb pulse, and dissolved prosthetic hand is the ability to grip something and then tighten¹ the grip some more or just by thinking about it.

这种名为I-limb pulse的仿生学手臂和普通假体的区别在于，用它抓取东西，再握紧，只需要脑子想一想就能办到。

"All my intentions hopefully will be getting back until operational duties and doing so I need to go through an operational assessment² of therapy. And one of the tasks that is very weak is the holes running. The i-limb pulse on there that I'm hoping most that get me another equip that I can left the holes to an effect like I have holes up here and run with it ."

“我的全部注意力都放在了我的断手上，因此，我需要对假体做出评估。其中一项评估就是打球。i-limb pulse手臂使得我能够重新打球，甚至打得更好。”

Touch bionics say the I-limb pulse offers amputees the ability to carry out the kind of everyday tasks, but otherwise pose a real problem.

Touch bionics公司表示，这种I-limb pulse假体使截肢者能够完成日常生活的基本活动，但也带来了许多麻烦。

"As I say, if you are looking at practicalities of doing up trousers, or doing up chilies³, things you are working in a kitchen, the grip forces is quite important part of that helping⁴ the patient achieve the level of functionality that they want. "

“如果你在做裤子或弄辣椒或厨房里的其他工作，那么，抓力的大小就成为帮助患者达成目标的关键了。”

The hand response to tiny electrical signals sent by the brain to muscles even after amputation⁵. Software also allows them to alter grip patterns using any combination of digits⁶. Playing the piano may be still some way off, but touch bionics say we're getting there.

虽然患者截肢了，但仿生手臂能够接受大脑传向手臂的微量电子信号。相关软件将信号转换成假体手臂需要的电子信号，继而完成假体手臂的动作。虽然这种假肢还不能弹钢琴，但生产公司表示这只是时间问题。

"And let's face there is a long way to go. The science fiction elements are having newly integrated patients is becoming science fact. There is a long way off for the average amputee. "

“让我们来面对现实，我们仍然有很长的路要走。科幻小说里的假体改造现在都成了科学研究的课题。但对于普通的截肢者来说，我们仍有许多工作要做。”

More than 1,000 I-limbs are in use around the world. The company hopes the cost of a new hand around 50,000 US dollars for the whole service including fitting and physiotherapy, tightening⁷ their grip on the market.

全世界现在有1千多支I-limbs投入使用。公司称，消费者花5万美元即可收获全套服务，包括假体调试，物理疗法，调整握力。

Stuart McDill, Reuters.

Stuart McDill报道，路透社消息。

1 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。

2 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

3 chilies   

n.红辣椒( chili的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Some people like to harvest the plants, when the chilies are green. 一些人喜欢在辣椒长成绿色的时候就采摘。 来自互联网
• Sprinkle with scallions and sliced chilies and served hot. 洒上葱粒、辣椒丝，趁热上桌。 来自互联网

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 amputation   

n.截肢

参考例句：

• In ancient India,adultery was punished by amputation of the nose.在古代印度，通奸要受到剖鼻的处罚。
• He lived only hours after the amputation.截肢后，他只活了几个小时。

6 digits   

n.数字( digit的名词复数 )；手指，足趾

参考例句：

• The number 1000 contains four digits. 1000是四位数。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The number 410 contains three digits. 数字 410 中包括三个数目字。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

7 tightening   

上紧，固定，紧密

参考例句：

• Make sure the washer is firmly seated before tightening the pipe. 旋紧水管之前，检查一下洗衣机是否已牢牢地固定在底座上了。
• It needs tightening up a little. 它还需要再收紧些。