VOA常速英语2013--断电仍可进行网络连接的设备

Device Keeps Internet On When Power Goes Off 断电仍可进行网络连接的设备

BERLIN — A team of Americans and Kenyans has developed a new Internet router - and it's creating buzz. That's because it is an affordable 1, reliable solution for people without consistent Internet access. It can run while plugged in or on battery power, jump between networks at will, and become a mobile hotspot for multiple devices. The team presented the device - called the Brck [pronounced Brick] - at the Re:publica tech conference in Berlin.

柏林——美国和肯尼亚的一个团队研制出的一种新的互联网路由器引发了强烈的反响。因为它价格公道、为经常断网的人们提供了可靠的解决方法。它可通过连接电源工作也可以使用电池供电，并且可在各种网络系统之间任意跳转，因此已经成为了多个设备的移动热点。该团队在柏林的国家科技会议上展示了该设备，他们称之为—Brck(与Brick的发音相同)。

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 rugged 2. 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.

艾瑞克·赫斯曼和他在内罗毕的团队已经发明了他们首次专为非洲特制的路由器。它由电池供电而且很耐用，在欧洲和美国也备受关注。仅仅是一周的时间，该团队在其Kickstarter资金筹集网站上，就完成了其一半的资金筹措目标。

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

赫斯曼在本次国家科技会议上发表了关于Brck的主题演讲。

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

“我们现在有的是第六版的原型，它尺寸将会越来越小越来越薄。”

Brck is rock solid

Brck非常结实

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

该Brck可在不稳定的电力和网络环境下工作，使整个村庄都能连接到互联网。

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.

来自喀麦隆的布罗格阿尔班达亚齐说他这周在柏林第一次看到这一设备，对它很感兴趣，因为用它可以解决他曾经遇到的一个问题。

"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 random 3 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.

在喀麦隆，我住的那个社区里，经常断电，无法上网。声称为我们提供网络服务的网络提供商总是会随便找个理由不为我们提供这项服务。所以像这样一种解决办法的出现使一个非洲问题找到了答案。

James Clardy, a venture consultant 4 from Texas, said he's already bought a Brck and thinks it might be a hit in developed countries as well.

来自得克萨斯的一名风险投资顾问，詹姆斯·卡拉迪说他已经购买了一套Brck设备，并且认为它在发达国家也会颇受欢迎。

"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.

卡拉迪说：“我正在研究这些远程卫生建设和远程医疗建设技术的用途，因此对于作为一个技术开发商的我来说，拥有一个便携的网络连接装置对我来说是很有利用价值的。”

Production stage nears

将进入生产阶段

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

赫斯曼说这一装置在任何的网络和电力环境下都可以工作。

"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.

他说：“如果你遇到了网络连接问题，它将进行“故障转移”，通过SIM卡进行3G网络连接，这就意味着你可以完全拔掉电源，将它带到任何地方并且一直都可连接到网络。”

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

赫斯曼告诉与会的人说，该设备将会在其Kickstarter网站的资金筹达12.5万美元的时候投入生产。

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

该公司计划在其第一批生产中，制造500到1500套这样的设备，并大部分将销往非洲和印度。

Each device is slated 5 to cost about $100.

每套设备初步定价为100美元。