英闻天下——106 Smartphone-related Toys at HKG Toy Fair

 　　The fair has attracted about 1,900 exhibitors from 41 countries and regions, and this year includes first-time participants from Iran.

 

　　Although the fair is still dominated by the traditional toys such as dolls, model cars and plastic toys, smartphone-related toys are under the spotlight¹ at this year's event.

 

　　A toy tank controlled by a smartphone is attracting a lot of attention at the 39th Toys and Games Fair in Hong Kong. To stage a battle with the vehicles you need to download the correct app from iTunes, charge up your tanks and then let the fun begin.

 

　　Kevin Mak, the CEO of Maksco Toy Ltd., is playing with a smartphone attached to a toy gaming gun. With the help of the phone's built-in camera, the game allows players to shoot aliens in a "real-world" environment.

 

　　Mak says his company is working hard to combine new technologies with traditional toys.

 

　　"Of course, we see the potential of augmented-reality, and we thought this technology would enhance the playing level or enhance the game of the toy. So, we thought, you know, we want to put this all together into this AR (augmented-reality) gun."

 

　　Mak says he has noticed more games and toys featuring smartphones being designed.

 

　　"One of the reasons is the smartphone is getting very popular, and apps (application) are almost free for everybody. So, the penetration³ of using smartphones and apps is becoming like a trend."

 

　　Allen Cheng, the marketing⁴ manager of Zhongshan Subor Educational Electronics, is playing an interactive⁵ video game produced by his company, which allows users to play sports games at home. Cheng says he believes the product will be very popular in China.

 

　　"We think our game will do better in China because now everybody is working hard, so need to do sports. So everybody has no time, just go back home to do the sports. This is why our game will be better selling in the mainland market."

 

　　Daniel Poon is principal economist⁶ from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. He says technology will influence many toys in the future.

 

　　"Right now, the global macro trend is to integrate the technology and electronics with the toys in order to explore more playing possibilities."

 

　　According to figures from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, from January 2012 to November 2012, toys exported from Hong Kong dropped almost seven percent while toys exported to European markets dropped 29 percent compared to the same period in 2011. Here is Poon again.

 

　　"In the year 2013, I think it will be a better year for our toys exports. Right now, we are seeing some signs of bottoming out of the Chinese economy. The U.S. economy is also doing better because of the improving housing market and employment. And then, the European debt crisis has also stabilized⁷ a bit. So, this year will be a better year for our toy exports."

 

　　Poon says emerging markets such as Russia, India and Brazil will see better performance in 2013 because of the growing middle classes there and increased domestic demand for toys.

 

　　Lillian Fung, toy buyer from Brazil, says the toy market in Brazil is improving all the time.

 

　　"I think purchasing power in Brazil is quite good. It is better than it is in other countries. I know because I live there. Brazilians will not have to apply for a visa to go shopping in America soon because of their purchasing power."

 

　　The toy fair runs from January 7th to January 10th.

 

　　For CRI, I am Zhang Wan².

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 wan   

(wide area network)广域网

参考例句：

• The shared connection can be an Ethernet,wireless LAN,or wireless WAN connection.提供共享的网络连接可以是以太网、无线局域网或无线广域网。

3 penetration   

n.穿透，穿人，渗透

参考例句：

• He is a man of penetration.他是一个富有洞察力的人。
• Our aim is to achieve greater market penetration.我们的目标是进一步打入市场。

4 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

5 interactive   

adj.相互作用的，互相影响的，（电脑）交互的

参考例句：

• The psychotherapy is carried out in small interactive groups.这种心理治疗是在互动的小组之间进行的。
• This will make videogames more interactive than ever.这将使电子游戏的互动性更胜以往。

6 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

7 stabilized   

v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The patient's condition stabilized. 患者的病情稳定下来。
• His blood pressure has stabilized. 他的血压已经稳定下来了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》