《时代》周刊评出2014年度最佳发明

15. The Wheel that Gives Bikers a Boost

为骑车人提供助力的轮子

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.

我们知道骑自行车对身体和环境都有好处。但骑着车到处奔波似乎是件苦差事，尤其在拥有丘陵地形的大城市。为减轻这种负担，美国马萨诸塞州的超级步行者公司开发了可加装到大多数自行车后轮上的“哥本哈根轮”，它带有可重复充电的电动马达。根据由智能手机应用输入的骑车人偏好，马达可在整个骑行过程或仅在上坡时提供助力。传感器对道路状况、气温和坑洼进行监测，以便与骑车的人分享有关最佳线路的实时信息。

16. The Seamless Sign-Language Translator

天衣无缝的手语翻译器

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.

对千百万聋哑人来说，日常交流通常需要昂贵的人工手语翻译和冗长的书写。Uni装置是一台带专用附件的平板电脑，它利用运动感应摄像头和语音识别技术，把美式手语实时翻译成口语，并把口语转换成文字。