手機(jī)版
Hoverboards, intelligent space craft, edible food wrappers, and much much more— Welcome to TIME’s annual round-up of the best inventions making the world better, smarter and—in some cases—a little more fun.
歡迎來到《時(shí)代周刊》年終最佳發(fā)明匯總，這里有懸浮滑板，智能航天器，可食用的食物包裝以及其他更多的發(fā)明，這些發(fā)明讓我們的生活更美好、更智能、甚至有時(shí)候變得更有趣。
1. The Real-Life Hoverboard
現(xiàn)實(shí)版磁懸滑板
The hoverboard—a type of skateboard that levitates like a magic carpet—had been a pipe dream since its fictional debut in 1989’sBack to the Future Part II. Now California-based tech firm Hendo has built the real thing.
懸浮滑板——一種像魔毯一樣懸浮在空中的滑板——自從在1989年的科幻影片《回到未來2》中出現(xiàn)以來就一直讓人可望而不可即�，F(xiàn)在美國加州技術(shù)公司Hendo已造出了實(shí)物。
Hondo’s hoverboard can float only an inch or so above the ground, and even then only over conductive material like copper or aluminum. Just 10 are being made to order (so far). And battery life is 15 minutes—barely enough time to zoom past your enemies à la Marty McFly. But the technology that powers it could be revolutionary. Hendo founders Jill and Greg Henderson plan to develop magnetic “hovering” tech to stabilize buildings during earthquakes, protect valuable works of art and more. “The hoverboard is the first step to bringing this technology to the world,” says Greg.
Hendo公司的懸浮滑板只能離地大約一英寸(2.54厘米)，即使這么低的高度也必須是在導(dǎo)電材料如銅質(zhì)或鋁質(zhì)的表面才行。目前為止，Hendo公司只定制了10臺。電池的續(xù)航時(shí)間為15分鐘——這點(diǎn)時(shí)間勉強(qiáng)夠從敵人à la Marty McFly身邊快速逃離。Hendo公司創(chuàng)始人吉爾和格雷格•亨德森計(jì)劃對磁“懸浮”技術(shù)進(jìn)行開發(fā)，以達(dá)到在地震中穩(wěn)定建筑物以及保護(hù)價(jià)值連城的藝術(shù)品等目的。格雷格稱：“懸浮滑板是把這項(xiàng)技術(shù)推向世界的第一步。”
2. The Supersmart Spacecraft
超智能太空船
Nobody gets Mars right on the first try. The U.S. didn’t, Russia didn’t, the Europeans didn’t. But on Sept.24, India did. Building the craft cost India just $74million, less than the budget for the film Gravity. It portends great things for the country’s space program—and for science in general.
印度空間研究組織研制的“曼加里安”號火星探測器。還沒有人第一次嘗試就能到達(dá)火星的。美國沒有，俄羅斯沒有，歐洲也沒有。但9月24日，印度卻做到了。制造該探測器只花了印度7400萬美元，還不及電影《地心引力》的預(yù)算。這對于印度航天計(jì)劃以及整個(gè)科學(xué)界具有重要的象征意義。
3. A Reactor that Could Realize Nuclear Fusion
可實(shí)現(xiàn)核聚變的反應(yīng)堆
Nuclear fusion has always been the holy grail of energy: it’s endlessly productive and largely clean—and so far, it’s remained elusive. But in October, Lockheed Martin said it had achieved a technological breakthrough that will enable it to make compact fusion reactors small enough to fit on the back of a truck within a decade. The design uses “magnetic mirror confinement” to control the reaction. Absent further details on how it works, some outside scientists are skeptical. But if Lockheed really can produce a workable fusion reactor, the world of energy may never be the same.
核聚變一直是能源中的圣杯：它取之不盡且基本上是潔凈的，而且到目前為止仍然難以把握。但在今年10 月，洛克希德•馬丁公司（Lockheed Martin）表示其實(shí)現(xiàn)了技術(shù)突破，從而將能在10年內(nèi)制造出小得足以安裝在卡車后部的緊湊型聚變反應(yīng)堆。其設(shè)計(jì)利用了“磁鏡約束”來控制反應(yīng)過程。由于缺乏有關(guān)其工作原理的更多細(xì)節(jié)，外部科學(xué)家持懷疑態(tài)度。但如果該公司真的能制造出可正常工作的聚變反應(yīng)堆，能源世界可能會為之徹底改觀。
4. Wireless Electricity
無線電力
We already have wireless Internet and wireless phones. Why, then, are everyday appliances still shackled to the wall? WiTricity’s technology—involving a plug-in coil that creates a magnetic field, which in turn powers objects as far away as 2.4 m — has been tested on Toyota electric cars, Intel PCs and more. Within 10 years, says CEO Alex Gruzen, rooms could be wired so that all appliances—lamps, TVs, stereos—pull power from a central charging base.
我們已有了無線網(wǎng)絡(luò)和無線電話。那么為什么日常家電仍要插入墻上的電源插座中？美國無線電力公司的技術(shù)——利用插入式線圈產(chǎn)生磁場為最遠(yuǎn)距離達(dá)2.4米的目標(biāo)供電——已在豐田電動(dòng)汽車、英特爾電腦及其他裝置上進(jìn)行了試驗(yàn)。無線電力公司首席執(zhí)行官阿歷克斯•格魯森稱，在10年之內(nèi)，房間里可以布設(shè)導(dǎo)線，這樣所有的電器(電燈、電視、音響等)都可以靠一個(gè)中央充電基座供電。
5. 3-D-Printed Everything
3D打印一切
A machine that can build any object. It sounds like a sci-fi fantasy, but thanks to the rise of 3-D printers—devices that can build objects from digital blueprints, usually by layering plastic or other materials—it is rapidly becoming reality. That’s a boon for consumers and corporations alike. In the past year alone, middle-school students have 3-D-printed stock cars for physics lessons, scientists have 3-D-printed tissues for human organs, and GE has used 3-D printing to improve the efficiency of its jet engines. “This is one of those technologies that literally touches everything we do,” says Avi Reichental, CEO of 3D Systems, whose 3-D printers produce candy (as shown above) and musical instruments, among other objects.
可以造出任何物品的機(jī)器。聽起來像是科學(xué)幻想，但隨著3D打印機(jī)的崛起，這正在迅速成為現(xiàn)實(shí)。能夠通過數(shù)字藍(lán)圖、多層塑料或其他材料制造物體的設(shè)備正快速變成現(xiàn)實(shí)。對消費(fèi)者和企業(yè)而言，這是個(gè)福音。僅過去一年，中學(xué)生們的物理課上有了3D打印汽車、科學(xué)家用3D打印了人體器官、通用公司（GE）使用3D打印技術(shù)改善噴氣引擎效率等。 3D Systems公司的3D打印機(jī)可以打印糖果、樂器以及其他物品，該公司首席執(zhí)行官艾維•雷切托爾（Avi Reichental）說：“理論上說，這是能讓我們涉及所有領(lǐng)域的技術(shù)。”
6. Watches that Redefine Smart
改寫智能定義的手表
Most smart watches have proved to be anything but: they try to shrink down the experience of using a cell phone, with clunky results. Apple’s Watch, by contrast, wholly reimagines the computer for the wrist, using a novel interface that combines a touchscreen and physical buttons. Besides telling time, the Watch can send messages, give directions, track fitness and make wireless payments.
大多數(shù)智能手表已經(jīng)證明純屬雞肋：它們試圖濃縮手機(jī)的使用體驗(yàn)，結(jié)果卻難以令人滿意。相比之下，蘋果手表體現(xiàn)了全新的手腕電腦理念，利用新穎的接口把觸摸屏與物理按鈕結(jié)合到一起。除了具備鐘表功能外，蘋果手表還可以發(fā)送信息、導(dǎo)航、跟蹤鍛煉情況及進(jìn)行無線支付。
7. The Smartphone that Puts Privacy First
把隱私放在首位的智能手機(jī)
Nearly half of Americans don’t feel safe sharing private information over a cell-phone call, according to Pew. So how can phone owners conceal their data? Enter the Blackphone, a smartphone designed to put privacy above all else. The device, developed by the company of the same name and accelerated after the Snowden leaks, runs a customized Android operating system stripped of features that might make data vulnerable, like calendar sync. It also comes with software that encrypts calls, texts and browsing history at levels far beyond normal smartphones.
皮尤研究中心稱，近一半美國人覺得在手機(jī)上談?wù)搨�(gè)人信息是不安全的。那么手機(jī)的主人怎樣才能藏好自己的信息？Blackphone應(yīng)運(yùn)而生，這是一款把隱私看得高于一切的智能手機(jī)。這款由同名公司研制并在斯諾登泄密事件后加速推出的手機(jī)，采用定制版安卓操作系統(tǒng)，其中剔除了可能造成安全漏洞的功能如日歷同步等。它還帶有以遠(yuǎn)高于普通智能手機(jī)的技術(shù)水平對通話、信息和瀏覽歷史進(jìn)行加密的軟件。
8. The Cooler that Powers Your Party
讓派對更加火熱的便攜冰箱
Coolest is the world’s smartest all-purpose party starter. It stores food and drinks, sure. But it also touts a blender, an LED lid light, a USB charger, a Bluetooth speaker and big wheels designed to navigate many terrains (beach, parking lot). Since Grepper’s prototype first appeared on Kickstarter earlier this year, roughly 63,000 backers have contributed $13.3 million to make it a reality. It’s now the most funded creation in the site’s history, besting hits like the Pebble smart watch and Oculus Rift’s virtual-reality glasses.
Coolest便攜冰箱是世界上最出色的多用途派對用品。當(dāng)然，它可以存放食物和飲料。但它還帶有攪拌器、LED門燈、USB充電器、藍(lán)牙揚(yáng)聲器以及便于在多種地形(包括海灘、停車場等)上搬運(yùn)的大輪子。自從樣機(jī)今年早些時(shí)候首次出現(xiàn)在眾籌網(wǎng)站“啟動(dòng)者”網(wǎng)站上以來，已有約6.3萬網(wǎng)友出資1330萬美元支持使之成為現(xiàn)實(shí)。它目前是該網(wǎng)站有史以來吸引投資最多的發(fā)明，戰(zhàn)勝了像Pebble智能手表和Oculus Rift虛擬現(xiàn)實(shí)眼鏡等熱門發(fā)明。
9. The Chip that Stops Your Slouching
糾正姿勢的小卡片
As we always forget to stop slouching, we created a ultimate reminder. Once users clip the Lumo Lift, a chiplike gadget about the size of a thumb, onto their shirt, it analyzes neck and spinal positions and vibrates when they’re less than ideal. The system has exceeded its internal sales goals. Half of its users are women, which is impressive given that early adopters for gadgets often tilt male.
我們總是忘了糾正懶散的姿勢，為此Lumo身體技術(shù)公司發(fā)明了Lumo Lift姿勢提醒器。一旦使用者在襯衫上別上像小卡片一樣的該裝置，它就會分析頸部和背部的位置，并在姿勢不理想時(shí)發(fā)出震動(dòng)。該系統(tǒng)的銷量已超出內(nèi)定目標(biāo)。有一半使用者是女性，鑒于電子產(chǎn)品的嘗鮮者通常以男性居多，這一點(diǎn)著實(shí)讓人印象深刻。
10. The Car that Makes Electric Enticing
令電動(dòng)車變得動(dòng)人的汽車
For the most part, electric cars have been slow, sexless and stolid to drive—or stunningly expensive. So when BMW announced it would start selling them, it had a high bar to clear. The I3 delivers. In addition to getting 113 to 177 km on a single 3-hour charge, its novel design allows drivers to use a single ¬pedal to both accelerate and brake (press down to go, ease up to stop), which results in more energy-efficient driving. And because so-called range anxiety remains a top reason people don’t buy electric, BMW is pioneering ways to ease customers’ doubts. Among them: an optional backup gas motor that can recharge its batteries in a pinch and a program that lends owners a gas-powered vehicle for longer trips.
電動(dòng)汽車大多行駛緩慢、毫無魅力和缺乏駕駛快感，要不就是貴得嚇人。因此當(dāng)寶馬公司宣布將開始銷售電動(dòng)車時(shí)，它需要跨越很高的標(biāo)桿。寶馬i3轎車做到了這一點(diǎn)。除充電3小時(shí)可行駛113-177公里外，其新穎的設(shè)計(jì)還使司機(jī)可用同一塊踏板實(shí)現(xiàn)加速或制動(dòng)(前進(jìn)時(shí)踩下，制動(dòng)時(shí)抬起)，這將會提高能源效率。而鑒于所謂的里程焦慮仍是人們不愿購買電動(dòng)車的頭號原因，寶馬公司將率先推出打消顧客疑慮的措施，包括選裝在緊急時(shí)刻能為汽車電池充電的汽油發(fā)動(dòng)機(jī)和為車主提供長途旅行時(shí)以汽油驅(qū)動(dòng)的程序。
11. The Tablet that Replaces Laptops
取代筆記本電腦的平板電腦
Microsoft’s latest “hybrid” bundles the power of a laptop into a svelte 12-in tablet and can run desktop apps like Word, Excel and PowerPoint. That, as well as a slim, detachable keyboard cover and a built-in stand, makes it more suitable than other tablets for professionals like doctors and businesspeople.
微軟公司最新的跨界產(chǎn)品把筆記本電腦的性能融入了12英寸平板電腦內(nèi)。它還能運(yùn)行Word、Excel和PowerPoint等臺式機(jī)程序。這一特點(diǎn)及其修長的可拆式鍵盤蓋和方便在桌上使用的固定基座，使它比其他平板電腦更適合醫(yī)生和商務(wù)人員等專業(yè)人士。
12. The Ring that Alerts You in Style
優(yōu)雅地發(fā)出提醒的戒指
Like many professional women, Christina Mercando keeps her smartphone in her purse, which meant she was constantly digging it out to check for important notifications. But what if she could get that info from something she was already wearing? That’s the thinking behind Ringly, a line of rings that can be programmed to glow when wearers get an email from their boss, a text from their Uber driver or any number of other can’t-miss communications. Mercando raised more than $1 million to realize her vision. So far, the concept is working: the first 1,000 Ringly rings, which debuted in June, sold out within 24 hours.
與許多職業(yè)婦女一樣，克里斯蒂娜•梅爾坎多總是把手機(jī)放在包里。這意味著她要不斷拿出手機(jī)查看重要消息。但如果她從某件自己佩戴的物件上獲得這些信息，會怎樣？這就是Ringly智能戒指的創(chuàng)意：通過設(shè)置，當(dāng)佩戴者收到老板的電子郵件、出租司機(jī)的短信或是其他任何不能錯(cuò)過的信息時(shí)，這種戒指可以發(fā)亮。梅爾坎多籌到100多萬美元實(shí)現(xiàn)自己的設(shè)想。這一想法奏效了：6月推出的首批1000枚Ringly戒指在24小時(shí)內(nèi)即售罄。
13.The Pillbox that Gets Personal
個(gè)性化藥盒
T.J. Parker grew up in a family that owned and operated a pharmacy, he knows firsthand how confusing it can be for people to track which meds to take when, especially if they fill multiple prescriptions. That’s why the e-pharmacy he runs now, PillPack, doesn’t traffic in bottles. Instead, every two weeks, patients are sent a dispenser, which has their medication—all of it—sorted into a ticker tape of tearable packets, organized by date and time.
T•J•帕克在一個(gè)經(jīng)營藥房的家庭中長大。對于人們要記住什么時(shí)候該吃什么藥是多么難的一件事——尤其是如果同時(shí)要吃多種藥，他有切身感受。這便是為什么他現(xiàn)在經(jīng)營的電子藥房不銷售整瓶藥的原因。作為替代，藥房每兩周會向患者寄送一個(gè)分藥器Pillpack藥盒，里面的藥物都按日期和時(shí)間分裝在一撕即開的紙袋中。
14. Bananas that Prevent Blindness
預(yù)防失明的香蕉
In sub-Saharan Africa, up to 30% of kids under age 5 are at risk of going blind—among other conditions—for one simple reason: they don’t get enough eye-nurturing vitamin A. But what if the bananas that make up a lot of their diet could be re-engineered to deliver it? Australian biogeneticist James Dale and his team began developing a vitamin-A-enriched “superbanana”. “These bananas could potentially solve” a major health problem, Dale says.
在撒哈拉以南的非洲地區(qū)，多達(dá)30%的5歲以下兒童存在失明危險(xiǎn)，原因包括一個(gè)簡單的事實(shí)：他們攝入可保護(hù)視力的維生素A不夠多。如果在他們飲食中占很大比重的香蕉被改造為含有維生素A，情況會怎樣呢？澳大利亞遺傳生物學(xué)家詹姆斯•戴爾和他的團(tuán)隊(duì)開始培育一種富含維生素A的“超級香蕉”。戴爾稱，“這些香蕉有可能解決”一個(gè)重大的健康問題。
15. The Wheel that Gives Bikers a Boost
為騎車人提供助力的輪子
We know that biking is good for us and good for the environment. But getting around on a bicycle can seem daunting, especially in a large city with a hilly terrain. To lessen that burden, Cambridge, Mass.–based Superpedestrian has developed the Copenhagen Wheel, a standard-size wheel—it can be attached to the back of most bicycles—that boasts a rechargeable, battery-powered motor. Depending on rider preferences, entered through a smartphone app, the motor can kick in power throughout the ride or just on hills. Sensors also track road conditions, air temperature and potholes, so cyclists can share real-time information about best routes.
我們知道騎自行車對身體和環(huán)境都有好處。但騎著車到處奔波似乎是件苦差事，尤其在擁有丘陵地形的大城市。為減輕這種負(fù)擔(dān)，美國馬薩諸塞州的超級步行者公司開發(fā)了可加裝到大多數(shù)自行車后輪上的“哥本哈根輪”，它帶有可重復(fù)充電的電動(dòng)馬達(dá)。根據(jù)由智能手機(jī)應(yīng)用輸入的騎車人偏好，馬達(dá)可在整個(gè)騎行過程或僅在上坡時(shí)提供助力。傳感器對道路狀況、氣溫和坑洼進(jìn)行監(jiān)測，以便與騎車的人分享有關(guān)最佳線路的實(shí)時(shí)信息。
16. The Seamless Sign-Language Translator
天衣無縫的手語翻譯器
For the millions of deaf people who cannot speak, everyday communication often requires costly human translators and tedious note writing. Enter the Uni, a tablet and attachment that leverages motion-sensing cameras and voice recognition to translate American Sign Language into spoken words—and spoken words into text—in real time.
對千百萬聾啞人來說，日常交流通常需要昂貴的人工手語翻譯和冗長的書寫。Uni裝置是一臺帶專用附件的平板電腦，它利用運(yùn)動(dòng)感應(yīng)攝像頭和語音識別技術(shù)，把美式手語實(shí)時(shí)翻譯成口語，并把口語轉(zhuǎn)換成文字。
17. The Filter that Fights Ebola
抗埃博拉過濾器
What makes the Ebola virus so frightening is its speed. In a matter of days, it can pump out enough copies of itself to overtake the immune system. But the Hemopurifier, a specially designed cartridge that attaches to a dialysis machine, can tip the balance back in the body’s favor: its lectin filter attracts Ebola viruses and sucks them from the blood as it flows through. It’s been used only once, on a patient in Germany, but it did the trick—effectively curing his Ebola infection.
埃博拉病毒的可怕之處是它的傳播速度。它可以在幾天之內(nèi)進(jìn)行大量自我復(fù)制，攻破免疫系統(tǒng)。但Aethlon醫(yī)療公司開發(fā)的Hemopurifier過濾筒可加裝到血液透析機(jī)上，能讓機(jī)體恢復(fù)應(yīng)有的平衡：其植物凝血素過濾劑可吸收埃博拉病毒，并在血液流經(jīng)時(shí)把病毒清除。該產(chǎn)品僅在德國一名患者身上用過一次，但它產(chǎn)生了奇效，真的治愈了他的埃博拉感染。
18. The Selfie Stick (and Hairbrush)
自拍助手
If 2013 was the year in which selfie became a buzzword, then 2014 was the year selfies became a cultural phenomenon. Look no further than a recent Pew report, which found that at least a quarter of Americans have shared a selfie on a social-networking site. Sensing a new market, several companies have launched devices designed to streamline the selfie-taking experience. Many of them, like a hairbrush that holds your smartphone, are more goofy than game changing. But the selfie stick (produced by multiple brands), which enables users to position their smartphone beyond arms’ reach to get better photo angles adds genuine value.
如果說2013是“自拍”成為熱詞的一年，那么2014便是自拍成為一種文化現(xiàn)象的一年。最近的皮尤調(diào)查顯示，至少有1/4的美國人在社交網(wǎng)站上分享過自拍。感覺到新商機(jī)的幾家公司推出了優(yōu)化自拍體驗(yàn)的專門裝置。大部分像發(fā)梳一樣的自拍裝置形式大于實(shí)際意義。不過，讓用戶能把手機(jī)放到雙手夠得著的范圍之外取景的(多種品牌的)自拍助手真正達(dá)到了增值效果。
19. The AC that Lowers Your Energy Bills
幫你節(jié)省電費(fèi)的空調(diào)
The Aros air conditioner, which is developed by Quirky, the GE-backed site that turns people’s concepts into creations. It’s smart. Thanks to a companion mobile app, Aros can track owners’ movements via GPS and turn itself on and off depending on their proximity to home. It also tells people exactly how much money they’re spending to cool their residences. That’s how Quirky knows it’s working: so far, the company says, Aros owners who use the “smart away” feature that turns the unit on and off automatically have trimmed their energy use by nearly 10%.
Aros空調(diào)是由通用電氣公司自助的創(chuàng)意網(wǎng)站Quirky研發(fā)的。它是智能化的。利用一款配套的手機(jī)應(yīng)用，Aros空調(diào)可以通過GPS跟蹤主人行蹤，并根據(jù)他們離家的遠(yuǎn)近自動(dòng)開關(guān)機(jī)。它還能告訴用戶他們正在花多少錢來給屋子降溫。Quirky網(wǎng)站稱，使用自動(dòng)開關(guān)機(jī)功能的Aros空調(diào)為用戶節(jié)省了近10%的電費(fèi)。
20. The Prison Room that Helps Inmates Relax
有助于囚犯放松情緒的監(jiān)獄活動(dòng)室
For 23 hours a day, the 200 inmates in solitary confinement at Oregon’s largest prison see nothing but a tiny, white-walled cell—an experience some research suggests can heighten mental illness and make prisoners prone to suicide attempts and violence. Last year, officials began letting some of them spend their free hour in a first-of-its-kind “blue room,” an exercise space where a projector plays video of open deserts, streaming waterfalls and other outdoor scenes. That imagery, says creator Nalini Nadkarni, who studies how nature affects behavior, is designed to calm prisoners.
每天有23個(gè)小時(shí)，美國俄勒岡州最大監(jiān)獄里被單獨(dú)關(guān)押的200名囚犯除了白色的牢房墻壁什么也看不到。有研究稱這種體驗(yàn)會提高精神疾病發(fā)病率，使囚犯容易具有自殺和暴力傾向。去年，監(jiān)獄官員們開始讓一些囚犯在獨(dú)創(chuàng)的“藍(lán)屋”里度過1小時(shí)放風(fēng)時(shí)間，這是一個(gè)內(nèi)有放映機(jī)播放空曠的沙漠、奔流的瀑布和其他室外景色視頻的活動(dòng)室。這個(gè)屋子的設(shè)計(jì)者納利尼•納德卡爾尼的專業(yè)是研究自然界如何影響人類行為，而這個(gè)屋子也意在使囚犯平靜下來。
21. The Tablet Toy that Gets Physical
讓孩子動(dòng)起來的平板電腦玩具配件
Like many kids, Pramod Sharma’s daughter loves the iPad. But “when her face is glued to the screen, six inches away, all day long—I wasn’t too happy,” he says. (Studies have shown that too much screen time can lead to attention problems and obesity.) So the ex-Google engineer and his former colleague, Jérôme Scholler, devised a way to bring virtual play back into the real world. Osmo’s “reflective AI” attachment enables the iPad camera to interpret physical objects—allowing kids to mimic an onscreen pattern with colored tiles, for example, and get rewarded for doing it correctly (while also refining their motor skills).
與許多孩子一樣，普拉莫德•夏爾馬的女兒喜歡玩iPad。但是他說：“每當(dāng)她目不轉(zhuǎn)睛地盯著屏幕，距離只有6英寸(約合15厘米)，而且整天都是這樣的時(shí)候，我就不是太高興。”于是這名前谷歌工程師和他以前的同事杰羅姆•舍勒想出了一種讓虛擬游戲回歸現(xiàn)實(shí)世界的方法。Osmo公司的“反射式人工智能”附件使iPad上的攝像頭可以捕捉實(shí)物目標(biāo)，從而使孩子可以仿照屏幕上顯示的圖案擺放彩色模塊，并在擺放正確的時(shí)候獲得獎(jiǎng)勵(lì)(這同時(shí)也能提高他們的運(yùn)動(dòng)能力)。
22. The Coaching Basketball
智能化教練籃球
This basketball comes embedded with nine sensors and a Bluetooth chip that sends performance data to a mobile app—allowing players to measure, say, the arc of their jumpshot. If something’s off during game play, the voice of a coach (via the app) can even implore you to “go faster” or “snap your wrist.” “We get excited when we see someone improve,” says Michael Crowley, whose company, InfoMotion Sports Technologies Inc., makes the 94Fifty Smart Sensor.
這種籃球內(nèi)置了9塊傳感器和1塊藍(lán)牙芯片，后者可把表現(xiàn)數(shù)據(jù)傳送給一款手機(jī)應(yīng)用，從而使打球者可以作出自我評估——例如他們投籃的弧線等。如果比賽不順利，那么手機(jī)應(yīng)用里甚至?xí)幸粋�(gè)教練的聲音要求你“加快速度”或“手腕用點(diǎn)勁”。生產(chǎn)94Fifty智能傳感籃球的InfoMotion體育技術(shù)公司的邁克爾•克勞利說：“看到有人提高了球技，我們就覺得興奮。”
23. Wrappers You Can Eat
可食用的包裝
“Edible wrapper” sounds like an oxymoron—unless you’re WikiFoods founder David Edwards, who has devised a way to encase yogurt, cheese, ice cream and more in shells strong enough to hold their shape (in water, heat and cold) until you take your first bite. The secret lies in science: Each shell is made of particles of dried fruit or other natural substances that are tiny enough to be electrically attracted to one another; they are combined with calcium and sugar to strengthen the form.
“可食用的包裝”聽起來自相矛盾——除非你是WikiFoods公司首席執(zhí)行官戴維•愛德華茲。他發(fā)明一種(在遇水、遇熱和遇冷時(shí))保持不變形的外殼，可以把酸奶、奶酪、冰激凌及其他食物裝入其中，在你張口咬開之前不會變形。這其中的奧秘來自科學(xué)：每個(gè)外殼都用水果干或其他天然物質(zhì)的顆粒制成，這些顆粒小得足以因?yàn)閹щ姴煌嗷ノ核鼈冇峙c鈣和糖混合起來，以加固外殼。
24. Screens that Showcase Digital Art
數(shù)字藝術(shù)展示屏
“There are so many artists” making beautiful works on and for computers, says digital artist Jake Levine, referencing the burgeoning Tumblr community (among others). But putting that art on physical walls has been nearly impossible. Levine’s Electric Objects, which has raised almost $3 million in funding, aims to change that. The sleek, 22-by-13-in. flatscreens are wired specifically to display art. Their brightness dims in tandem with sunlight, and their matte finish blocks glare so they resemble actual paintings. And a companion smartphone app lets users switch what is displayed on a whim.
數(shù)字藝術(shù)家杰克•萊文說，“有如此多的畫家”在電腦上或在為電腦創(chuàng)作美麗的作品，他指的是日益紅火的Tumblr等網(wǎng)上社區(qū)。但把這種藝術(shù)掛到墻上卻一直幾乎是不可能的。萊文的Eletric Objects公司旨在改變這一現(xiàn)狀。該公司生產(chǎn)的光滑的平板顯示屏規(guī)格為22×13英寸，內(nèi)置了網(wǎng)絡(luò)連接，可用來顯示畫作。它們的亮度可與陽光同步變化，表面的磨砂處理可消除反光，從而營造油畫般的質(zhì)感。配套的手機(jī)應(yīng)用使用戶可隨意切換顯示的內(nèi)容。
25. Action Figures that Empower Girls
讓女孩變得強(qiáng)大的動(dòng)作玩偶
Studies have shown that girls’ career ambitions can be heavily influenced by their playthings. But when moms Dawn Nadeau and Julie Kerwin started searching for female action figures that were athletic and empowering—as opposed to dolls like Barbie, most of which cannot even bend their limbs—they were dismayed to find … none. So using funds they raised on Kickstarter—$162,906 to be exact, more than quadruple their goal—they designed and commissioned a firm to build their IAmElemental series of action figures, meant to portray women as heroes with strong personalities. Each figure embodies a different “element” of heroism, like persistence or honesty. “The idea that girls could save the world—that’s a very powerful fantasy,” says Nadeau.
研究顯示，女孩的職業(yè)抱負(fù)在很大程度上會受到玩具的影響。然而，當(dāng)唐•納多和朱莉•克爾溫兩位母親開始尋找與芭比娃娃截然相反的健壯、強(qiáng)勢的女性動(dòng)作玩偶時(shí)，她們卻沮喪地一無所獲。于是，她們籌集了16.2萬多美元，設(shè)計(jì)了自己的“我是強(qiáng)者”系列動(dòng)作玩偶并委托一家企業(yè)生產(chǎn)，這些玩偶意在把女性塑造為具有強(qiáng)勢性格的英雄。每款玩偶都代表一種不同的“英雄主義”要素，例如恒心或誠實(shí)。納多說：“女孩可以拯救世界的概念是一種非常有力的想象。”
歡迎來到《時(shí)代周刊》年終最佳發(fā)明匯總，這里有懸浮滑板，智能航天器，可食用的食物包裝以及其他更多的發(fā)明，這些發(fā)明讓我們的生活更美好、更智能、甚至有時(shí)候變得更有趣。
1. The Real-Life Hoverboard
現(xiàn)實(shí)版磁懸滑板
The hoverboard—a type of skateboard that levitates like a magic carpet—had been a pipe dream since its fictional debut in 1989’sBack to the Future Part II. Now California-based tech firm Hendo has built the real thing.
懸浮滑板——一種像魔毯一樣懸浮在空中的滑板——自從在1989年的科幻影片《回到未來2》中出現(xiàn)以來就一直讓人可望而不可即�，F(xiàn)在美國加州技術(shù)公司Hendo已造出了實(shí)物。
Hondo’s hoverboard can float only an inch or so above the ground, and even then only over conductive material like copper or aluminum. Just 10 are being made to order (so far). And battery life is 15 minutes—barely enough time to zoom past your enemies à la Marty McFly. But the technology that powers it could be revolutionary. Hendo founders Jill and Greg Henderson plan to develop magnetic “hovering” tech to stabilize buildings during earthquakes, protect valuable works of art and more. “The hoverboard is the first step to bringing this technology to the world,” says Greg.
Hendo公司的懸浮滑板只能離地大約一英寸(2.54厘米)，即使這么低的高度也必須是在導(dǎo)電材料如銅質(zhì)或鋁質(zhì)的表面才行。目前為止，Hendo公司只定制了10臺。電池的續(xù)航時(shí)間為15分鐘——這點(diǎn)時(shí)間勉強(qiáng)夠從敵人à la Marty McFly身邊快速逃離。Hendo公司創(chuàng)始人吉爾和格雷格•亨德森計(jì)劃對磁“懸浮”技術(shù)進(jìn)行開發(fā)，以達(dá)到在地震中穩(wěn)定建筑物以及保護(hù)價(jià)值連城的藝術(shù)品等目的。格雷格稱：“懸浮滑板是把這項(xiàng)技術(shù)推向世界的第一步。”
2. The Supersmart Spacecraft
超智能太空船
Nobody gets Mars right on the first try. The U.S. didn’t, Russia didn’t, the Europeans didn’t. But on Sept.24, India did. Building the craft cost India just $74million, less than the budget for the film Gravity. It portends great things for the country’s space program—and for science in general.
印度空間研究組織研制的“曼加里安”號火星探測器。還沒有人第一次嘗試就能到達(dá)火星的。美國沒有，俄羅斯沒有，歐洲也沒有。但9月24日，印度卻做到了。制造該探測器只花了印度7400萬美元，還不及電影《地心引力》的預(yù)算。這對于印度航天計(jì)劃以及整個(gè)科學(xué)界具有重要的象征意義。
3. A Reactor that Could Realize Nuclear Fusion
可實(shí)現(xiàn)核聚變的反應(yīng)堆
Nuclear fusion has always been the holy grail of energy: it’s endlessly productive and largely clean—and so far, it’s remained elusive. But in October, Lockheed Martin said it had achieved a technological breakthrough that will enable it to make compact fusion reactors small enough to fit on the back of a truck within a decade. The design uses “magnetic mirror confinement” to control the reaction. Absent further details on how it works, some outside scientists are skeptical. But if Lockheed really can produce a workable fusion reactor, the world of energy may never be the same.
核聚變一直是能源中的圣杯：它取之不盡且基本上是潔凈的，而且到目前為止仍然難以把握。但在今年10 月，洛克希德•馬丁公司（Lockheed Martin）表示其實(shí)現(xiàn)了技術(shù)突破，從而將能在10年內(nèi)制造出小得足以安裝在卡車后部的緊湊型聚變反應(yīng)堆。其設(shè)計(jì)利用了“磁鏡約束”來控制反應(yīng)過程。由于缺乏有關(guān)其工作原理的更多細(xì)節(jié)，外部科學(xué)家持懷疑態(tài)度。但如果該公司真的能制造出可正常工作的聚變反應(yīng)堆，能源世界可能會為之徹底改觀。
4. Wireless Electricity
無線電力
We already have wireless Internet and wireless phones. Why, then, are everyday appliances still shackled to the wall? WiTricity’s technology—involving a plug-in coil that creates a magnetic field, which in turn powers objects as far away as 2.4 m — has been tested on Toyota electric cars, Intel PCs and more. Within 10 years, says CEO Alex Gruzen, rooms could be wired so that all appliances—lamps, TVs, stereos—pull power from a central charging base.
我們已有了無線網(wǎng)絡(luò)和無線電話。那么為什么日常家電仍要插入墻上的電源插座中？美國無線電力公司的技術(shù)——利用插入式線圈產(chǎn)生磁場為最遠(yuǎn)距離達(dá)2.4米的目標(biāo)供電——已在豐田電動(dòng)汽車、英特爾電腦及其他裝置上進(jìn)行了試驗(yàn)。無線電力公司首席執(zhí)行官阿歷克斯•格魯森稱，在10年之內(nèi)，房間里可以布設(shè)導(dǎo)線，這樣所有的電器(電燈、電視、音響等)都可以靠一個(gè)中央充電基座供電。
5. 3-D-Printed Everything
3D打印一切
A machine that can build any object. It sounds like a sci-fi fantasy, but thanks to the rise of 3-D printers—devices that can build objects from digital blueprints, usually by layering plastic or other materials—it is rapidly becoming reality. That’s a boon for consumers and corporations alike. In the past year alone, middle-school students have 3-D-printed stock cars for physics lessons, scientists have 3-D-printed tissues for human organs, and GE has used 3-D printing to improve the efficiency of its jet engines. “This is one of those technologies that literally touches everything we do,” says Avi Reichental, CEO of 3D Systems, whose 3-D printers produce candy (as shown above) and musical instruments, among other objects.
可以造出任何物品的機(jī)器。聽起來像是科學(xué)幻想，但隨著3D打印機(jī)的崛起，這正在迅速成為現(xiàn)實(shí)。能夠通過數(shù)字藍(lán)圖、多層塑料或其他材料制造物體的設(shè)備正快速變成現(xiàn)實(shí)。對消費(fèi)者和企業(yè)而言，這是個(gè)福音。僅過去一年，中學(xué)生們的物理課上有了3D打印汽車、科學(xué)家用3D打印了人體器官、通用公司（GE）使用3D打印技術(shù)改善噴氣引擎效率等。 3D Systems公司的3D打印機(jī)可以打印糖果、樂器以及其他物品，該公司首席執(zhí)行官艾維•雷切托爾（Avi Reichental）說：“理論上說，這是能讓我們涉及所有領(lǐng)域的技術(shù)。”
6. Watches that Redefine Smart
改寫智能定義的手表
Most smart watches have proved to be anything but: they try to shrink down the experience of using a cell phone, with clunky results. Apple’s Watch, by contrast, wholly reimagines the computer for the wrist, using a novel interface that combines a touchscreen and physical buttons. Besides telling time, the Watch can send messages, give directions, track fitness and make wireless payments.
大多數(shù)智能手表已經(jīng)證明純屬雞肋：它們試圖濃縮手機(jī)的使用體驗(yàn)，結(jié)果卻難以令人滿意。相比之下，蘋果手表體現(xiàn)了全新的手腕電腦理念，利用新穎的接口把觸摸屏與物理按鈕結(jié)合到一起。除了具備鐘表功能外，蘋果手表還可以發(fā)送信息、導(dǎo)航、跟蹤鍛煉情況及進(jìn)行無線支付。
7. The Smartphone that Puts Privacy First
把隱私放在首位的智能手機(jī)
Nearly half of Americans don’t feel safe sharing private information over a cell-phone call, according to Pew. So how can phone owners conceal their data? Enter the Blackphone, a smartphone designed to put privacy above all else. The device, developed by the company of the same name and accelerated after the Snowden leaks, runs a customized Android operating system stripped of features that might make data vulnerable, like calendar sync. It also comes with software that encrypts calls, texts and browsing history at levels far beyond normal smartphones.
皮尤研究中心稱，近一半美國人覺得在手機(jī)上談?wù)搨�(gè)人信息是不安全的。那么手機(jī)的主人怎樣才能藏好自己的信息？Blackphone應(yīng)運(yùn)而生，這是一款把隱私看得高于一切的智能手機(jī)。這款由同名公司研制并在斯諾登泄密事件后加速推出的手機(jī)，采用定制版安卓操作系統(tǒng)，其中剔除了可能造成安全漏洞的功能如日歷同步等。它還帶有以遠(yuǎn)高于普通智能手機(jī)的技術(shù)水平對通話、信息和瀏覽歷史進(jìn)行加密的軟件。
8. The Cooler that Powers Your Party
讓派對更加火熱的便攜冰箱
Coolest is the world’s smartest all-purpose party starter. It stores food and drinks, sure. But it also touts a blender, an LED lid light, a USB charger, a Bluetooth speaker and big wheels designed to navigate many terrains (beach, parking lot). Since Grepper’s prototype first appeared on Kickstarter earlier this year, roughly 63,000 backers have contributed $13.3 million to make it a reality. It’s now the most funded creation in the site’s history, besting hits like the Pebble smart watch and Oculus Rift’s virtual-reality glasses.
Coolest便攜冰箱是世界上最出色的多用途派對用品。當(dāng)然，它可以存放食物和飲料。但它還帶有攪拌器、LED門燈、USB充電器、藍(lán)牙揚(yáng)聲器以及便于在多種地形(包括海灘、停車場等)上搬運(yùn)的大輪子。自從樣機(jī)今年早些時(shí)候首次出現(xiàn)在眾籌網(wǎng)站“啟動(dòng)者”網(wǎng)站上以來，已有約6.3萬網(wǎng)友出資1330萬美元支持使之成為現(xiàn)實(shí)。它目前是該網(wǎng)站有史以來吸引投資最多的發(fā)明，戰(zhàn)勝了像Pebble智能手表和Oculus Rift虛擬現(xiàn)實(shí)眼鏡等熱門發(fā)明。
9. The Chip that Stops Your Slouching
糾正姿勢的小卡片
As we always forget to stop slouching, we created a ultimate reminder. Once users clip the Lumo Lift, a chiplike gadget about the size of a thumb, onto their shirt, it analyzes neck and spinal positions and vibrates when they’re less than ideal. The system has exceeded its internal sales goals. Half of its users are women, which is impressive given that early adopters for gadgets often tilt male.
我們總是忘了糾正懶散的姿勢，為此Lumo身體技術(shù)公司發(fā)明了Lumo Lift姿勢提醒器。一旦使用者在襯衫上別上像小卡片一樣的該裝置，它就會分析頸部和背部的位置，并在姿勢不理想時(shí)發(fā)出震動(dòng)。該系統(tǒng)的銷量已超出內(nèi)定目標(biāo)。有一半使用者是女性，鑒于電子產(chǎn)品的嘗鮮者通常以男性居多，這一點(diǎn)著實(shí)讓人印象深刻。
10. The Car that Makes Electric Enticing
令電動(dòng)車變得動(dòng)人的汽車
For the most part, electric cars have been slow, sexless and stolid to drive—or stunningly expensive. So when BMW announced it would start selling them, it had a high bar to clear. The I3 delivers. In addition to getting 113 to 177 km on a single 3-hour charge, its novel design allows drivers to use a single ¬pedal to both accelerate and brake (press down to go, ease up to stop), which results in more energy-efficient driving. And because so-called range anxiety remains a top reason people don’t buy electric, BMW is pioneering ways to ease customers’ doubts. Among them: an optional backup gas motor that can recharge its batteries in a pinch and a program that lends owners a gas-powered vehicle for longer trips.
電動(dòng)汽車大多行駛緩慢、毫無魅力和缺乏駕駛快感，要不就是貴得嚇人。因此當(dāng)寶馬公司宣布將開始銷售電動(dòng)車時(shí)，它需要跨越很高的標(biāo)桿。寶馬i3轎車做到了這一點(diǎn)。除充電3小時(shí)可行駛113-177公里外，其新穎的設(shè)計(jì)還使司機(jī)可用同一塊踏板實(shí)現(xiàn)加速或制動(dòng)(前進(jìn)時(shí)踩下，制動(dòng)時(shí)抬起)，這將會提高能源效率。而鑒于所謂的里程焦慮仍是人們不愿購買電動(dòng)車的頭號原因，寶馬公司將率先推出打消顧客疑慮的措施，包括選裝在緊急時(shí)刻能為汽車電池充電的汽油發(fā)動(dòng)機(jī)和為車主提供長途旅行時(shí)以汽油驅(qū)動(dòng)的程序。
11. The Tablet that Replaces Laptops
取代筆記本電腦的平板電腦
Microsoft’s latest “hybrid” bundles the power of a laptop into a svelte 12-in tablet and can run desktop apps like Word, Excel and PowerPoint. That, as well as a slim, detachable keyboard cover and a built-in stand, makes it more suitable than other tablets for professionals like doctors and businesspeople.
微軟公司最新的跨界產(chǎn)品把筆記本電腦的性能融入了12英寸平板電腦內(nèi)。它還能運(yùn)行Word、Excel和PowerPoint等臺式機(jī)程序。這一特點(diǎn)及其修長的可拆式鍵盤蓋和方便在桌上使用的固定基座，使它比其他平板電腦更適合醫(yī)生和商務(wù)人員等專業(yè)人士。
12. The Ring that Alerts You in Style
優(yōu)雅地發(fā)出提醒的戒指
Like many professional women, Christina Mercando keeps her smartphone in her purse, which meant she was constantly digging it out to check for important notifications. But what if she could get that info from something she was already wearing? That’s the thinking behind Ringly, a line of rings that can be programmed to glow when wearers get an email from their boss, a text from their Uber driver or any number of other can’t-miss communications. Mercando raised more than $1 million to realize her vision. So far, the concept is working: the first 1,000 Ringly rings, which debuted in June, sold out within 24 hours.
與許多職業(yè)婦女一樣，克里斯蒂娜•梅爾坎多總是把手機(jī)放在包里。這意味著她要不斷拿出手機(jī)查看重要消息。但如果她從某件自己佩戴的物件上獲得這些信息，會怎樣？這就是Ringly智能戒指的創(chuàng)意：通過設(shè)置，當(dāng)佩戴者收到老板的電子郵件、出租司機(jī)的短信或是其他任何不能錯(cuò)過的信息時(shí)，這種戒指可以發(fā)亮。梅爾坎多籌到100多萬美元實(shí)現(xiàn)自己的設(shè)想。這一想法奏效了：6月推出的首批1000枚Ringly戒指在24小時(shí)內(nèi)即售罄。
13.The Pillbox that Gets Personal
個(gè)性化藥盒
T.J. Parker grew up in a family that owned and operated a pharmacy, he knows firsthand how confusing it can be for people to track which meds to take when, especially if they fill multiple prescriptions. That’s why the e-pharmacy he runs now, PillPack, doesn’t traffic in bottles. Instead, every two weeks, patients are sent a dispenser, which has their medication—all of it—sorted into a ticker tape of tearable packets, organized by date and time.
T•J•帕克在一個(gè)經(jīng)營藥房的家庭中長大。對于人們要記住什么時(shí)候該吃什么藥是多么難的一件事——尤其是如果同時(shí)要吃多種藥，他有切身感受。這便是為什么他現(xiàn)在經(jīng)營的電子藥房不銷售整瓶藥的原因。作為替代，藥房每兩周會向患者寄送一個(gè)分藥器Pillpack藥盒，里面的藥物都按日期和時(shí)間分裝在一撕即開的紙袋中。
14. Bananas that Prevent Blindness
預(yù)防失明的香蕉
In sub-Saharan Africa, up to 30% of kids under age 5 are at risk of going blind—among other conditions—for one simple reason: they don’t get enough eye-nurturing vitamin A. But what if the bananas that make up a lot of their diet could be re-engineered to deliver it? Australian biogeneticist James Dale and his team began developing a vitamin-A-enriched “superbanana”. “These bananas could potentially solve” a major health problem, Dale says.
在撒哈拉以南的非洲地區(qū)，多達(dá)30%的5歲以下兒童存在失明危險(xiǎn)，原因包括一個(gè)簡單的事實(shí)：他們攝入可保護(hù)視力的維生素A不夠多。如果在他們飲食中占很大比重的香蕉被改造為含有維生素A，情況會怎樣呢？澳大利亞遺傳生物學(xué)家詹姆斯•戴爾和他的團(tuán)隊(duì)開始培育一種富含維生素A的“超級香蕉”。戴爾稱，“這些香蕉有可能解決”一個(gè)重大的健康問題。
15. The Wheel that Gives Bikers a Boost
為騎車人提供助力的輪子
We know that biking is good for us and good for the environment. But getting around on a bicycle can seem daunting, especially in a large city with a hilly terrain. To lessen that burden, Cambridge, Mass.–based Superpedestrian has developed the Copenhagen Wheel, a standard-size wheel—it can be attached to the back of most bicycles—that boasts a rechargeable, battery-powered motor. Depending on rider preferences, entered through a smartphone app, the motor can kick in power throughout the ride or just on hills. Sensors also track road conditions, air temperature and potholes, so cyclists can share real-time information about best routes.
我們知道騎自行車對身體和環(huán)境都有好處。但騎著車到處奔波似乎是件苦差事，尤其在擁有丘陵地形的大城市。為減輕這種負(fù)擔(dān)，美國馬薩諸塞州的超級步行者公司開發(fā)了可加裝到大多數(shù)自行車后輪上的“哥本哈根輪”，它帶有可重復(fù)充電的電動(dòng)馬達(dá)。根據(jù)由智能手機(jī)應(yīng)用輸入的騎車人偏好，馬達(dá)可在整個(gè)騎行過程或僅在上坡時(shí)提供助力。傳感器對道路狀況、氣溫和坑洼進(jìn)行監(jiān)測，以便與騎車的人分享有關(guān)最佳線路的實(shí)時(shí)信息。
16. The Seamless Sign-Language Translator
天衣無縫的手語翻譯器
For the millions of deaf people who cannot speak, everyday communication often requires costly human translators and tedious note writing. Enter the Uni, a tablet and attachment that leverages motion-sensing cameras and voice recognition to translate American Sign Language into spoken words—and spoken words into text—in real time.
對千百萬聾啞人來說，日常交流通常需要昂貴的人工手語翻譯和冗長的書寫。Uni裝置是一臺帶專用附件的平板電腦，它利用運(yùn)動(dòng)感應(yīng)攝像頭和語音識別技術(shù)，把美式手語實(shí)時(shí)翻譯成口語，并把口語轉(zhuǎn)換成文字。
17. The Filter that Fights Ebola
抗埃博拉過濾器
What makes the Ebola virus so frightening is its speed. In a matter of days, it can pump out enough copies of itself to overtake the immune system. But the Hemopurifier, a specially designed cartridge that attaches to a dialysis machine, can tip the balance back in the body’s favor: its lectin filter attracts Ebola viruses and sucks them from the blood as it flows through. It’s been used only once, on a patient in Germany, but it did the trick—effectively curing his Ebola infection.
埃博拉病毒的可怕之處是它的傳播速度。它可以在幾天之內(nèi)進(jìn)行大量自我復(fù)制，攻破免疫系統(tǒng)。但Aethlon醫(yī)療公司開發(fā)的Hemopurifier過濾筒可加裝到血液透析機(jī)上，能讓機(jī)體恢復(fù)應(yīng)有的平衡：其植物凝血素過濾劑可吸收埃博拉病毒，并在血液流經(jīng)時(shí)把病毒清除。該產(chǎn)品僅在德國一名患者身上用過一次，但它產(chǎn)生了奇效，真的治愈了他的埃博拉感染。
18. The Selfie Stick (and Hairbrush)
自拍助手
If 2013 was the year in which selfie became a buzzword, then 2014 was the year selfies became a cultural phenomenon. Look no further than a recent Pew report, which found that at least a quarter of Americans have shared a selfie on a social-networking site. Sensing a new market, several companies have launched devices designed to streamline the selfie-taking experience. Many of them, like a hairbrush that holds your smartphone, are more goofy than game changing. But the selfie stick (produced by multiple brands), which enables users to position their smartphone beyond arms’ reach to get better photo angles adds genuine value.
如果說2013是“自拍”成為熱詞的一年，那么2014便是自拍成為一種文化現(xiàn)象的一年。最近的皮尤調(diào)查顯示，至少有1/4的美國人在社交網(wǎng)站上分享過自拍。感覺到新商機(jī)的幾家公司推出了優(yōu)化自拍體驗(yàn)的專門裝置。大部分像發(fā)梳一樣的自拍裝置形式大于實(shí)際意義。不過，讓用戶能把手機(jī)放到雙手夠得著的范圍之外取景的(多種品牌的)自拍助手真正達(dá)到了增值效果。
19. The AC that Lowers Your Energy Bills
幫你節(jié)省電費(fèi)的空調(diào)
The Aros air conditioner, which is developed by Quirky, the GE-backed site that turns people’s concepts into creations. It’s smart. Thanks to a companion mobile app, Aros can track owners’ movements via GPS and turn itself on and off depending on their proximity to home. It also tells people exactly how much money they’re spending to cool their residences. That’s how Quirky knows it’s working: so far, the company says, Aros owners who use the “smart away” feature that turns the unit on and off automatically have trimmed their energy use by nearly 10%.
Aros空調(diào)是由通用電氣公司自助的創(chuàng)意網(wǎng)站Quirky研發(fā)的。它是智能化的。利用一款配套的手機(jī)應(yīng)用，Aros空調(diào)可以通過GPS跟蹤主人行蹤，并根據(jù)他們離家的遠(yuǎn)近自動(dòng)開關(guān)機(jī)。它還能告訴用戶他們正在花多少錢來給屋子降溫。Quirky網(wǎng)站稱，使用自動(dòng)開關(guān)機(jī)功能的Aros空調(diào)為用戶節(jié)省了近10%的電費(fèi)。
20. The Prison Room that Helps Inmates Relax
有助于囚犯放松情緒的監(jiān)獄活動(dòng)室
For 23 hours a day, the 200 inmates in solitary confinement at Oregon’s largest prison see nothing but a tiny, white-walled cell—an experience some research suggests can heighten mental illness and make prisoners prone to suicide attempts and violence. Last year, officials began letting some of them spend their free hour in a first-of-its-kind “blue room,” an exercise space where a projector plays video of open deserts, streaming waterfalls and other outdoor scenes. That imagery, says creator Nalini Nadkarni, who studies how nature affects behavior, is designed to calm prisoners.
每天有23個(gè)小時(shí)，美國俄勒岡州最大監(jiān)獄里被單獨(dú)關(guān)押的200名囚犯除了白色的牢房墻壁什么也看不到。有研究稱這種體驗(yàn)會提高精神疾病發(fā)病率，使囚犯容易具有自殺和暴力傾向。去年，監(jiān)獄官員們開始讓一些囚犯在獨(dú)創(chuàng)的“藍(lán)屋”里度過1小時(shí)放風(fēng)時(shí)間，這是一個(gè)內(nèi)有放映機(jī)播放空曠的沙漠、奔流的瀑布和其他室外景色視頻的活動(dòng)室。這個(gè)屋子的設(shè)計(jì)者納利尼•納德卡爾尼的專業(yè)是研究自然界如何影響人類行為，而這個(gè)屋子也意在使囚犯平靜下來。
21. The Tablet Toy that Gets Physical
讓孩子動(dòng)起來的平板電腦玩具配件
Like many kids, Pramod Sharma’s daughter loves the iPad. But “when her face is glued to the screen, six inches away, all day long—I wasn’t too happy,” he says. (Studies have shown that too much screen time can lead to attention problems and obesity.) So the ex-Google engineer and his former colleague, Jérôme Scholler, devised a way to bring virtual play back into the real world. Osmo’s “reflective AI” attachment enables the iPad camera to interpret physical objects—allowing kids to mimic an onscreen pattern with colored tiles, for example, and get rewarded for doing it correctly (while also refining their motor skills).
與許多孩子一樣，普拉莫德•夏爾馬的女兒喜歡玩iPad。但是他說：“每當(dāng)她目不轉(zhuǎn)睛地盯著屏幕，距離只有6英寸(約合15厘米)，而且整天都是這樣的時(shí)候，我就不是太高興。”于是這名前谷歌工程師和他以前的同事杰羅姆•舍勒想出了一種讓虛擬游戲回歸現(xiàn)實(shí)世界的方法。Osmo公司的“反射式人工智能”附件使iPad上的攝像頭可以捕捉實(shí)物目標(biāo)，從而使孩子可以仿照屏幕上顯示的圖案擺放彩色模塊，并在擺放正確的時(shí)候獲得獎(jiǎng)勵(lì)(這同時(shí)也能提高他們的運(yùn)動(dòng)能力)。
22. The Coaching Basketball
智能化教練籃球
This basketball comes embedded with nine sensors and a Bluetooth chip that sends performance data to a mobile app—allowing players to measure, say, the arc of their jumpshot. If something’s off during game play, the voice of a coach (via the app) can even implore you to “go faster” or “snap your wrist.” “We get excited when we see someone improve,” says Michael Crowley, whose company, InfoMotion Sports Technologies Inc., makes the 94Fifty Smart Sensor.
這種籃球內(nèi)置了9塊傳感器和1塊藍(lán)牙芯片，后者可把表現(xiàn)數(shù)據(jù)傳送給一款手機(jī)應(yīng)用，從而使打球者可以作出自我評估——例如他們投籃的弧線等。如果比賽不順利，那么手機(jī)應(yīng)用里甚至?xí)幸粋�(gè)教練的聲音要求你“加快速度”或“手腕用點(diǎn)勁”。生產(chǎn)94Fifty智能傳感籃球的InfoMotion體育技術(shù)公司的邁克爾•克勞利說：“看到有人提高了球技，我們就覺得興奮。”
23. Wrappers You Can Eat
可食用的包裝
“Edible wrapper” sounds like an oxymoron—unless you’re WikiFoods founder David Edwards, who has devised a way to encase yogurt, cheese, ice cream and more in shells strong enough to hold their shape (in water, heat and cold) until you take your first bite. The secret lies in science: Each shell is made of particles of dried fruit or other natural substances that are tiny enough to be electrically attracted to one another; they are combined with calcium and sugar to strengthen the form.
“可食用的包裝”聽起來自相矛盾——除非你是WikiFoods公司首席執(zhí)行官戴維•愛德華茲。他發(fā)明一種(在遇水、遇熱和遇冷時(shí))保持不變形的外殼，可以把酸奶、奶酪、冰激凌及其他食物裝入其中，在你張口咬開之前不會變形。這其中的奧秘來自科學(xué)：每個(gè)外殼都用水果干或其他天然物質(zhì)的顆粒制成，這些顆粒小得足以因?yàn)閹щ姴煌嗷ノ核鼈冇峙c鈣和糖混合起來，以加固外殼。
24. Screens that Showcase Digital Art
數(shù)字藝術(shù)展示屏
“There are so many artists” making beautiful works on and for computers, says digital artist Jake Levine, referencing the burgeoning Tumblr community (among others). But putting that art on physical walls has been nearly impossible. Levine’s Electric Objects, which has raised almost $3 million in funding, aims to change that. The sleek, 22-by-13-in. flatscreens are wired specifically to display art. Their brightness dims in tandem with sunlight, and their matte finish blocks glare so they resemble actual paintings. And a companion smartphone app lets users switch what is displayed on a whim.
數(shù)字藝術(shù)家杰克•萊文說，“有如此多的畫家”在電腦上或在為電腦創(chuàng)作美麗的作品，他指的是日益紅火的Tumblr等網(wǎng)上社區(qū)。但把這種藝術(shù)掛到墻上卻一直幾乎是不可能的。萊文的Eletric Objects公司旨在改變這一現(xiàn)狀。該公司生產(chǎn)的光滑的平板顯示屏規(guī)格為22×13英寸，內(nèi)置了網(wǎng)絡(luò)連接，可用來顯示畫作。它們的亮度可與陽光同步變化，表面的磨砂處理可消除反光，從而營造油畫般的質(zhì)感。配套的手機(jī)應(yīng)用使用戶可隨意切換顯示的內(nèi)容。
25. Action Figures that Empower Girls
讓女孩變得強(qiáng)大的動(dòng)作玩偶
Studies have shown that girls’ career ambitions can be heavily influenced by their playthings. But when moms Dawn Nadeau and Julie Kerwin started searching for female action figures that were athletic and empowering—as opposed to dolls like Barbie, most of which cannot even bend their limbs—they were dismayed to find … none. So using funds they raised on Kickstarter—$162,906 to be exact, more than quadruple their goal—they designed and commissioned a firm to build their IAmElemental series of action figures, meant to portray women as heroes with strong personalities. Each figure embodies a different “element” of heroism, like persistence or honesty. “The idea that girls could save the world—that’s a very powerful fantasy,” says Nadeau.
研究顯示，女孩的職業(yè)抱負(fù)在很大程度上會受到玩具的影響。然而，當(dāng)唐•納多和朱莉•克爾溫兩位母親開始尋找與芭比娃娃截然相反的健壯、強(qiáng)勢的女性動(dòng)作玩偶時(shí)，她們卻沮喪地一無所獲。于是，她們籌集了16.2萬多美元，設(shè)計(jì)了自己的“我是強(qiáng)者”系列動(dòng)作玩偶并委托一家企業(yè)生產(chǎn)，這些玩偶意在把女性塑造為具有強(qiáng)勢性格的英雄。每款玩偶都代表一種不同的“英雄主義”要素，例如恒心或誠實(shí)。納多說：“女孩可以拯救世界的概念是一種非常有力的想象。”
