VOA标准英语2013--Device Keeps Internet On When Power Goes Off

 

Device Keeps Internet On When Power Goes Off

Erik Hersman and his team in Nairobi have created what they say is the first router made especially for Africa. It's battery powered and rugged¹. And it's gaining attention in Europe and the United States. In just a week, the team has met half of its cash target on the fundraising website Kickstarter.com.

Hersman gave the keynote speech about the Brck at the Re:publica tech conference.

"What we have right here is the version six prototype. It will be decreasing in size. Already it's about this footprint and thinner."

Brck is rock solid

The Brck device works with unreliable power and unreliable Internet to provide connectivity to entire villages.

Blogger Al Banda of Cameroon said he saw the device for the first time this week in Berlin. The device drew his attention because it could solve an issue that he has experienced.

"In Cameroon, in my community, we constantly have power outages, and you won't get access to the Internet. We constantly have the ISPs for any random² reason just not providing the service they claim they're providing us, so a solution like that is an African answer to an African problem," said Banda.

James Clardy, a venture consultant³ from Texas, said he's already bought a Brck and thinks it might be a hit in developed countries as well.

"I'm exploring uses of these technologies for building telehealth, building telemedicine. So having a portable device that can connect to the Internet is of as much value to me as a technology developer," said Clardy.

Production stage nears

Hersman said the device works on any available Internet or power sources.

"If you have an Internet connection problem, it will "fail over" to the sim card, so you'll have 3G connectivity, which means that you can completely unplug it and take it with you wherever you want to go, and have connectivity along the way," he said.

Hersman told audiences at Re:publica that production will start when the company meets its Kickstarter goal of $125,000.   

The company plans to make 500 to 1,500 devices during the first production run, with most going to Africa and India.  

Each device is slated⁴ to cost about $100. 

1 rugged   

adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的

参考例句：

• Football players must be rugged.足球运动员必须健壮。
• The Rocky Mountains have rugged mountains and roads.落基山脉有崇山峻岭和崎岖不平的道路。

2 random   

adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动

参考例句：

• The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。
• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

3 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

4 slated   

用石板瓦盖( slate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Yuki is working up an in-home phonics program slated for Thursdays, and I'm drilling her on English conversation at dinnertime. Yuki每周四还有一次家庭语音课。我在晚餐时训练她的英语口语。
• Bromfield was slated to become U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. 布罗姆菲尔德被提名为美国农业部长。