How Tech Improves Life
Paralyzed people can now control artificial limbs by thought alone. This is possible because of the development of technologies which involve connecting the brain to a computer or other electronic devices. One well-known use of such technology enables deaf people to hear. The device has several parts. One part is surgically implanted into the inner ear. There it stimulates nerves to cause the sensation of sound. The other part sits behind the ear and works like a miniature microphone.
ps:瘫痪的人现在可以通过单独思考来控制假肢。这是可能的，因为技术的发展涉及到将大脑连接到计算机或其他电子设备。这种技术的一个众所周知的用途是使聋人能够听到。这个装置有几个部件。一部分通过手术植入内耳。在那里它刺激神经引起声音的感觉。另一部分坐在耳朵后面，工作起来像一个微型麦克风。
limbs 英 [lɪmz] 美 [lɪmz] n. 肢;臂;腿;翼;翅膀;有…肢(或翼、翅膀)的;(树的)大枝，主枝 limb的第三人称单数和复数
deaf聋的; 耳聋的人; 聋子; 不愿听; 不去注意
surgically外科手术上; 如外科手术般地
inner ear内耳，内耳迷路
stimulates 英 [ˈstɪmjuleɪts] 美 [ˈstɪmjuleɪts] v. 促进;激发;激励;刺激;使兴奋;促进(身体某部分)的功能 stimulate的第三人称单数
nerves神经; 神经质; 神经紧张; 勇气; 气魄; 鼓足勇气; 振作精神; nerve的第三人称单数和复数
microphone麦克风; 话筒; 传声器
paralyzed 英 [ˈpærəlaɪzd] 美 [ˈpɛrəˌlaɪzd] v. 使瘫痪或麻痹;使不能正常活动;使惊愕；（因恐怖等）使（人）吓得发呆 paralyze的过去分词和过去式
implant植入
sensation 英 [senˈseɪʃn] 美 [senˈseɪʃn] n. 感觉;知觉;感觉能力;知觉能力;直觉;莫名其妙的感觉;经历;回忆
miniature 英 [ˈmɪnətʃə(r)] 美 [ˈmɪnətʃər] adj. 很小的;微型的;小型的 n. 微型画;小画像;缩微模型;微型复制品
Another new device allows those who have lost an arm or a leg to control their artificial limb just by thinking. The first human volunteer to try this out was Matt Nagel. Matt was paralyzed from the neck down due to a vicious knife attack.
ps:另一种新装置允许那些失去手臂或腿的人通过思考来控制他们的假肢。第一个尝试这个的人类志愿者是马特·内格尔。马特因一次凶残的刀伤而颈部以下瘫痪。
paralyzed使瘫痪或麻痹; 使不能正常活动; 使惊愕；使吓得发呆; paralyze的过去分词和过去式
from从…起，始于; 从…开始; 寄自，得自
due to由于，应付
vicious 英 [ˈvɪʃəs] 美 [ˈvɪʃəs] adj. 狂暴的;残酷的;凶猛危险的;充满仇恨的;严厉的
The process of implanting the device into Matt was quite involved. First, a circular piece of his skull was removed. Then a tiny plate with hair-thin electrodes was inserted into his brain. It was placed in the motor cortex, the brain region that controls movement. This plate detects the electrical signals in the brain that usually control hand movement. From the plate, thin cables were connected to a small computer which decodes the signals from the plate and converts them into commands. Hopefully, these commands would control the artificial hand attached to Matt’s arm.
ps:将设备植入马特的过程相当复杂。首先，一块圆形的头骨被切除。然后，他把一个带有毛发细电极的小盘子插入大脑。它被放置在运动皮层，控制运动的大脑区域。这个板检测大脑中通常控制手部运动的电信号。从板上，细电缆被连接到一台小型计算机上，该计算机对板上的信号进行解码并将其转换为命令。希望这些指令能控制马特手臂上的假手。
plate with把…镀上…
electrodes电极; electrode的复数
motor cortex皮层运动区
hand movement手动
connected to与…相连接; 连接到…
small computer小型计算机
decodes解; 破译; 译解; 译解，理解; decode的第三人称单数
attached to附属于; 隶属于; 依恋
involved 复杂难懂的
hair-thin头发粗细的
electrode 电极
cortex皮质
Shortly after the operation, Matt was surrounded by the surgeons as he stared at his artificial hand with hope. To the delight of the crowd, the hand started moving, and the fingers closed, becoming a fist. At that moment Matt made history, he became the first person to control an artificial limb by using a device surgically inserted into his brain.
ps:手术后不久，马特被外科医生包围，他满怀希望地盯着自己的人造手。令群众高兴的是，手开始移动，手指合拢，成了拳头。在那一刻，马特创造了历史，他成为第一个使用外科植入大脑的装置控制假肢的人。
surgeons外科医生; surgeon的复数
stared盯着看; 凝视; 注视; stare的过去分词和过去式
delight高兴; 愉快; 快乐; 令人高兴的事; 乐事; 乐趣; 使高兴; 使愉快; 使快乐
fist拳; 拳头; 紧握; 握成拳; 用拳打
first person第一人称; 以第一人称叙述的文体
artificial limb义肢，假肢
surgically外科手术上; 如外科手术般
delight 快乐，高兴
Since the operation, Nagel has continued to test the technology and further investigate its capabilities. Using thought alone, he can now perform a variety of tasks. He can control a TV and even open emails. Such uses of technology are inspiring and bring joy to our hearts. It is powerful evidence that technological advancements will improve our lives.
ps:自运营以来，纳格尔一直在继续测试这项技术，并进一步调查其能力。单凭思考，他现在就可以完成各种任务。他可以控制电视甚至打开电子邮件。这种技术的使用是鼓舞人心的，给我们的心灵带来欢乐。这有力地证明了技术进步将改善我们的生活。
investigate侦查; 调查; 研究
capabilities能力; 才能; 军事力量，军事武器; capability的复数
a variety of种种; 形形色色
tasks任务，工作; 活动; 交给某人; 派给某人; task的第三人称单数和复数
inspiring鼓舞人心的; 激励的; 启发灵感的; 激励; 鼓舞; 赋予灵感; 引起联想; 启发思考; 使产生; inspire的现在分词
hearts心; 心脏; 胸部心脏的部位; 内心; 心肠; 爱心; heart的第三人称单数和复数
technological科技的;工艺的;技术的
advancements促进; 推动; 发展; 前进; 提升，晋升; advancement的复数
investigate 研究
capability 功能，性能，能力
Exercises:
1. What is the purpose of this article?
to educate the general public
2. How do the new devices implanted into people with artificial limbs operate?
by converting thoughts into commands
3. Something which is artificial is not natural.
4. When something emerges, it appears.
5.when you stare at someone or something, you look too hard or intently.
Please tap the first correct sentence to appear:
1. What can technology enable paralyzed people to do?
Paralyzed people can now control artificial limbs by thought alone.
2. To what can the scientists connect Matt’s brain?
From the plate, thin cables were connected to a small computer which decodes the signals from the plate and converts them into commands.
Fill in the blanks:
1. Paralyzed people can now control artificial limbs by thought alone. This is possible because of the development of technologies which involve connecting the brain to a computer or other electronic devices.
2.One well-known use of such technology enables deaf people to hear. The device has several parts.
3. The process of implanting the device into Matt was quite involved. First, a circular piece of his skull was removed. Then a tiny plate with hair-thin electrodes was inserted into his brain. It was placed in the motor cortex, the brain region that controls movement. This plate detects the electrical signals in the brain that usually control hand movement.
Put the sentences below in order:
The process of implanting the device into Matt was quite involved.First, a circular piece of his skull was removed.Then a tiny plate with hair-thin electrodes was inserted into his brain.It was placed in the motor cortex, the brain region that controls movement.This plate detects the electrical signals in the brain that usually control hand movement.
Repeat & Read Sentences:
1. One part is surgically implanted into the inner ear.
2. Matt was paralyzed from the neck down due to a vicious knife attack.
3. Using thought alone, he can now perform a variety of tasks.
4. It was placed in the motor cortex, the brain region that controls movement.
5. Shortly after the operation, Matt was surrounded by the surgeons as he stared at his artificial hand with hope.
6. Such uses of technology are inspiring and bring joy to our hearts.
7. To the delight of the crowd, the hand started moving, and the fingers closed, becoming a fist.
8. One well-known use of such technology enables deaf people to hear.