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(duì)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)?!?/p>
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?cè)噲D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。