VOA慢速英语2017 谷歌新推出的“像素芽”提供实时翻译

Google’s New ‘Pixel Buds’ Offer Real-Time Translation

American company Google recently announced the release of its Google Pixel 2 phone and other products that work together with the phone.

美国的谷歌公司最近宣布发布其谷歌像素2手机以及其他与手机一起工作的产品。 

One of the new products is a pair of wireless earphones Google calls Pixel Buds.

其中一款新产品是一副无线耳机，谷歌称之为像素芽。 

The earphones are seen as the company’s answer to competitor Apple’s popular AirPod headphones.

耳机被视为谷歌公司对其竞争对手苹果的流行Airpod耳机的回应。 

At a launch event on October 4, Google said its Pixel Buds were built to provide high-quality sound and hands-free use.All of their operations can be controlled by simply touching the right earphone.

在10月4日的一次发布会上，谷歌称其像素芽是为了提供高质量的声音和免提服务。所有操作只要通过触摸右边的耳机来控制。

Once the headphones are paired with a Pixel phone, its many features can be used through the Pixel Buds.

一旦耳机与像素手机配对，它的许多功能可以通过像素芽来实现。 

One example is Google Assistant, the company’s artificial intelligence, or AI, service.Users can now talk directly to Pixel Buds to ask Google Assistant questions, get information or other help.This all can be done without touching the telephone.

以谷歌助手为例，这是该公司的人工智能服务，即AL服务。用户现在可以直接同像素芽对话，询问谷歌助手问题，获取信息或其他帮助。这都可以不通过触摸手机来实现。

The Pixel Buds also can work with Google Translate, the service that provides words and expressions in over 100 languages.

像素芽还可以与谷歌翻译一起使用，该服务提供超过100种语言的词语和表达。 

Google product manager Juston Payne demonstrated this feature during the launch event.He was able to talk with someone whose native language is Swedish.

谷歌产品经理加斯顿·佩恩在发布会期间演示了这个特点。他能和母语是瑞典语的人交谈。 

When the person spoke Swedish into the Pixel Buds, the phone’s speakers provided the translation in English.The English speaker’s response was then translated in real time into Swedish and heard through the Pixel Buds.

当这个人将瑞典语说进像素芽时，手机的扬声器提供了英文翻译。然后英语说话者的回应被实时翻译成瑞典语，并通过像素芽听到。

“Hey Isabelle, how’s it going? (Swedish translation) Absolutely! Ok, thank you. What do you think of these cool headphones? (Swedish translation) My team designed them, so I think they’re pretty cool…”

“嘿，伊莎贝尔，最近怎么样？（瑞典语翻译）当然了！好的，谢谢你。你觉得这些超酷的耳机怎么样？（瑞典翻译）我的团队设计了它们，所以我觉得它们很酷……”

Juston Payne said the feature was created to provide a more natural language experience for users of Google Translate.He added that it was “like having a personal translator by your side.”

加斯顿·佩恩说，这个功能旨在为谷歌翻译的用户提供更自然的语言体验。他补充说，“就像在你身边有一个私人翻译。”

Pixel Buds are made in three colors: Just Black, Clearly White and Kinda Blue.They come with a charging case that Google says provides up to 24 hours of listening time.

像素芽有三种颜色：黑色，亮白色和淡蓝色。其还配备一个充电箱，谷歌说可以提供长达24小时的听力时间。

Pixel Buds are selling for $159 and can be ordered now.They will be available, beginning in November, in six countries: Australia, Britain, Canada, Germany, Singapore and the United States.

像素芽的售价为159美元，现在可以订购。它们将于十一月开始在六个国家可以买到：澳大利亚、英国、加拿大、德国、新加坡和美国。

I’m Bryan Lynn.

Words in This Story

task – n. piece of work given to someone to complete

artificial intelligence – n. the development of computers to perform intelligence-related tasks without human involvement

feature – n. an interesting or important part of something

pair – n. two things designed to be used together

response – n. a reaction or answer