《時代》周刊評出2014年度最佳發(fā)明 （三）

你糾正姿勢的小卡片

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，并在姿勢不理想時發(fā)出震動。該系統(tǒng)的銷量已超出內(nèi)定目標。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，這一點著實讓人印象深刻。

10. The Car that Makes Electric Enticing

令電動車變得動人的汽車

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。因此當寶馬公司宣布將開始銷售電動車時，它需要跨越很高的標桿。寶馬i3轎車做到了這一點。除充電3小時可行駛113-177公里外，其新穎的設(shè)計還使司機可用同一塊踏板實現(xiàn)加速或制動(前進時踩下，制動時抬起)，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，包括選裝在緊急時刻能為汽車電池充電的汽油發(fā)動機和為車主提供長途旅行時以汽油驅(qū)動的程序。

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)。它還能運行Word、Excel和PowerPoint等臺式機程序。這一特點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放在包里。這意味著她要不斷拿出手機查看重要消息。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，當佩戴者收到老板的電子郵件、出租司機的短信或是其他任何不能錯過的信息時，這種戒指可以發(fā)亮。梅爾坎多籌到100多萬美元實現(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小時內(nèi)即售罄。