VOA慢速英语20060125b

EXPLORATIONS - International Consumer Electronics¹ Show Presents Latest Technology and Products from 2,500 CompaniesBy Dana Demange

Broadcast: Wednesday, January 25, 2006

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VOICE ONE:

I'm Pat² Bodnar.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Steve Ember with Explorations in VOA Special English. Today, we visit the International Consumer Electronics Show, or CES. This four-day gathering³ takes place every year in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is one of the most important events in the technology industry.


Bill Gates discusses a new electronic device⁴ at CES

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VOICE ONE:

The goal of CES is for companies to show their products before they are for sale to the general public. CES is the largest yearly⁵ consumer electronics show in the world. It is the largest trade show of any kind in America. This year, two thousand five hundred companies from more than one hundred countries attended the event. It is estimated⁶ that more than one hundred and fifty thousand people visited the show earlier this month.

VOICE TWO:

The Consumer Electronic Show started about thirty years ago in New York City. The Consumer Electronics Association⁷ organizes the event. At first, this show was small but it has grown a great deal. Many important products have been introduced at this event over the years. For example, the videocassette recorder made its first appearance at CES in nineteen seventy. The CD player was shown for the first time at CES in nineteen eighty-one.

VOICE ONE:

This year, the International Consumer Electronics Show took place from January fifth to the eighth. Visiting CES is an exciting experience. It is so large that two convention⁸ centers and three hotels are needed to show all of the products. There are so many flashing lights and big colorful signs that it is hard to know where to look first. As you explored the show, you were surrounded by thousands of people speaking in many different languages about one common idea -- technology.

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VOICE TWO:

To help visitors, the show is organized by color-coded areas. Each color represents one kind of product. For example, one area is just for electronic games. Another area contains digital televisions. Other kinds of products include home security⁹ systems, digital cars, and wireless¹⁰ communications.

This kind of organization is helpful because CES takes up almost one hundred fifty thousand square meters of space. Within each color-coded area are many booths¹². These booths are enclosed¹³ areas that companies pay for to show their products. Some booths are only a few square meters.

VOICE ONE:

Other companies like Sony of Japan had big booths that can fit hundreds of people. Sony showed many exciting entertainment products this year. One very interesting new technology is wireless television.

Sony showed how its service called location free television works¹⁴. With an Internet connection and a special Sony computer or television, you can watch TV programs from anywhere in your house. You can even watch movies and TV while you are traveling.

The company makes another new product called the Sony Reader. This small device permits you to store up to eighty electronic books. Instead of turning the pages of a book, you click on the screen to continue reading. You can hold your whole library in one hand! The Sony Reader will be for sale this spring.

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VOICE TWO:

Another area of the International Consumer Electronics Show was in a hotel called Alexis Park. Here, instead of going into a booth¹¹, you enter a hotel room to look at the electronics. The companies here mostly make high performance audio¹⁵ devices¹⁶. These products are designed to produce excellent sound quality when you listen to music and movies.

For example, in one room you could hear the speakers made by the Amphion company from Finland. Speakers are the devices that produce sound. Amphion speakers are carefully designed to produce a natural live sound when you listen to music.

To do this, the company's technology experts have studied the way the human ear works. Using these studies, they have made speakers that reproduce¹⁷ the sound the human ear hears best. When you listen to music on these speakers, the sound is clear and rich. It is as if the musician is sitting next to you.

VOICE ONE:

In another room, you could see a product called the Kaleidescape System from an American company. It looks like a large white box with blue lights. This product is able to store thousands of DVD movies and CD music albums. You simply have to load your movies and music and it stores them as digital information.

The device is linked by the Internet to the Kaleidescape company's database¹⁸. It provides you with an image and explanation of every movie and song. This way the Kaleidescape lets you search through hundreds of titles with the click of a button.

This system has a huge amount of memory. It can store more than five terabytes of information. This means you can have more than eight hundred DVD's stored in one place. But this big memory comes at a big price. The price for this system starts at more than twenty thousand dollars.

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VOICE TWO:

Outside the hotel, next to swimming pool, the American company Doron showed a very different device. Their large machine looks like a car without windows. The roof of the car opens up to show seats for several people. Once you get inside, the Doron representative closes the door. Inside, there is a large movie screen that plays a battle scene in space. As the actors and spaceships move around in the movie, the car you are in moves up, down and around.

It is as though you are living the movie, with all of its sights, sounds, and motions¹⁹. Doron makes these active entertainment devices for use in places like amusement parks.

VOICE ONE:

The International Consumer Electronics Show also has more traditional technologies. For example, a company called Eton showed its many shiny and colorful radios. This German company has been making high quality radios for years. Eton says that it is reinventing radios by centering on design and necessity²⁰. Their radios have excellent sound and also look great.

One model receives satellite radio. This kind of new digital radio permits listeners to have many choices of special channels. Another radio model represents an agreement between Eton and the American Red Cross.

This radio is powered by batteries so it can be useful during an emergency when there is no electricity. The radio even comes with an Emergency Preparedness Guide. Still another model combines AM, FM, digital and shortwave radio.

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VOICE TWO:

The International Consumer Electronics Show is not just about looking at electronics. You could listen to famous industry leaders talk about new devices and technologies. For example, Bill Gates, the chief of Microsoft Corporation²¹, gave a speech that opened CES. He talked about the sales growth of personal computers. He also talked about his company's newest software that will be for sale later this year. Bill Gates described a future where people are surrounded and connected by many useful technologies.

Companies at CES often invite well-known actors, singers, musicians and athletes to their events. For example, the company Monster Cable²² had a special concert for its guests. At this event the singer Stevie Wonder gave a live performance. The Internet company Yahoo invited the famous actor Tom Cruise²³ to one of its presentations. The actor Robin²⁴ Williams made an appearance at a talk by leaders of the company Google.

VOICE ONE:

This is the first time that Yahoo and Google have attended CES. These Internet companies have a big influence on the electronics market. For example, both companies are developing ways to provide television programs to computers and cell phones.

Companies that make cell phones and computer programs want to be part of this technology revolution. Television broadcast companies are also working to create partnerships²⁵ with Google and Yahoo. The Internet companies are changing the way people receive media. Experts say these changes are redefining the way the world uses technology and digital information.

CES has become one of the most important gatherings²⁶ of the technology industry. Each year, the industry leaders show their newest inventions. Who knows what technological²⁷ magic will be presented next year.

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VOICE TWO:

This program was written by Dana Demange. It was produced by Mario Ritter. I'm Steve Ember.

VOICE ONE:

And I'm Pat Bodnar. Join us again next week for Explorations in VOA Special English.

1 electronics   

n.电子器件，电子学，电子技术

参考例句：

• About 45000 people worked in electronics in Scotland.苏格兰约有4.5万人在电子行业工作。
• He wants to brush up his knowledge of electronics.他想温习他的电子学知识。

2 pat   

n.轻拍，拍打声；vt.轻拍，拍打；vi.轻跑，轻击；adv.适时，彻底；adj.油腔滑调的，恰好的，合适的

参考例句：

• Could you hear the pat?你能听到轻轻的拍击声吗？
• He gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. 他轻拍了一下她的肩膀让她放心。

3 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

4 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。

5 yearly   

adj.每年的，一年一度的；adv.一年一次地

参考例句：

• The flower show is a yearly event in our town.我们镇上的花展一年举行一次。
• The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。

6 estimated   

adj．根据估计的

参考例句：

• She estimated the breadth of the lake to be 500 metres. 她估计湖面大约有500米宽。
• The man estimated for the repair of the car. 那人估算了修理汽车的费用。

7 association   

n.联盟，协会，社团；交往，联合；联想

参考例句：

• Our long association with your company has brought great benefits.我方和贵公司的长期合作带来了巨大的利益。
• I broke away from the association ten years ago.我10年前就脱离了那个团体。

8 convention   

n.惯例，习俗，常规，会议，大会

参考例句：

• How many delegates have checked in at the convention?大会已有多少代表报到？
• He sets at naught every convention of society.他轻视所有的社会习俗。

9 security   

n.安全，安全感；防护措施；保证(金)，抵押(品)；债券，证券

参考例句：

• A security guard brought him down with a flying tackle.一名保安人员飞身把他抱倒。
• There was tight security at the airport when the President's plane landed.总统的专机降落时，机场的保安措施很严密。

10 wireless   

adj.无线的；n.无线电

参考例句：

• There are a lot of wireless links in a radio.收音机里有许多无线电线路。
• Wireless messages tell us that the ship was sinking.无线电报告知我们那艘船正在下沉。

11 booth   

n.小房间，公用电话亭，岗亭；货摊

参考例句：

• Where can I find a telephone booth?我在哪儿可以找到电话亭？
• Let's walk around to each booth.我们到每个摊子转一转吧！

12 booths   

售货棚，摊位( booth的名词复数 )； 小房间

参考例句：

• There're many booths at the exhibition. 展览会上有许多摊位。
• The market people peer at him from their booths and stalls. 集市上的人从他们的货棚和摊子里凝视着他。

13 enclosed   

adj.被附上的；（用墙等）围住的；封闭的；与外界隔绝的v.（用墙、篱笆等）把…围起来( enclose的过去式和过去分词 )；把…装入信封；附入；（尤指墙、篱笆等 ）围住

参考例句：

• The yard had been enclosed with iron railings. 院子用铁栅栏围了起来。
• Do not use this substance in an enclosed space. 切勿在不透气的地方使用此物质。

14 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

15 audio   

n./adj.音频(响)(的)；声音(的)，听觉(的)

参考例句：

• Often,the meeting is recorded on audio or video media for later reference.通常这种会议会以视频或者音频形式记录下来，供以后查阅。
• You don't even have to pay for audio programs.你大可不必为自己听这些节目付费。

16 devices   

n.设备；装置( device的名词复数 )；花招；（为实现某种目的的）计划；手段

参考例句：

• electrical labour-saving devices around the home 节省劳力的各种家用电器
• modern labour-saving devices such as washing machines and dishwashers 诸如洗衣机和洗碗机之类的现代化省力设备

17 reproduce   

v.生育，繁殖，复制，重做

参考例句：

• The machine can reproduce a key in two minutes.这机器能在两分钟内复制一把钥匙。
• The picture will reproduce well.这照片会印得很清楚。

18 database   

n.数据库 （=databank）

参考例句：

• I discovered some new information in the database.我在资料库里发现了一些新信息。
• We planned to build an online database.我们计划建一个联机数据库。

19 motions   

n.（物体的）运动( motion的名词复数 )；提议；通便

参考例句：

• She just went through the motions of being a poetess. 她只不过装成一个女诗人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He always accompanied his speech with motions. 他讲演时总是伴以手势。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 necessity   

n.必要性，需要；必需品

参考例句：

• I look upon this as an absolute necessity.我认为这是绝对必要的。
• You must understand the necessity of education.你必须懂得教育的必要性。

21 corporation   

n.公司，企业&n.社团，团体

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation. 这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• The inflation did the corporation up. 通货膨胀使这个公司破产了。

22 cable   

n.缆绳，索；电缆；电报；vt.电汇，打电报

参考例句：

• Don't forget to cable us as soon as you arrive.别忘了一到就给我发个电报。
• The worker attached a cable.工人连接电缆。

23 cruise   

v.巡航，航游，缓慢巡行；n.海上航游

参考例句：

• They went on a cruise to Tenerife.他们乘船去特纳利夫岛。
• She wants to cruise the canals of France in a barge.她想乘驳船游览法国的运河。

24 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

25 partnerships   

n.伙伴关系( partnership的名词复数 )；合伙人身份；合作关系

参考例句：

• Partnerships suffer another major disadvantage: decision-making is shared. 合伙企业的另一主要缺点是决定要由大家来作。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• It involved selling off limited partnerships. 它涉及到售出有限的合伙权。 来自辞典例句

26 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

27 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。