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Smartphones About to Make Leap, Carry Basic Senses

Long-distance communication contains mostly sounds and pictures. For now. But scientists in Britain say they are close to creating additions for our smartphones that will make it possible to send taste, smell and even a basic touch.

Many people around the world enjoy one of the greatest marvels of modern technology every day -- instant audio-visual communication.

But professor Adrian David Cheok, from City University in London, said he wants to transcend what he calls the 'glass barrier'.

“In the real world, we can open up the glass, open the window. We can touch, we can taste, we can smell in the real world,” said Cheok.

Mobile taste

Let’s start with the sense of taste. Cheok said different tastes are triggered by molecules that cause chemical ionization on the surface of the tongue, sending the brain electrical signals of a specific amplitude and frequency that are possible to reproduce with two electrodes.

“You put these two silver electrodes in your mouth, you put your tongue in between and then it stimulates electrically your tongue and you get a virtual taste perception in your brain,” he said.

So far, scientists have reproduced sour, salty, sweet and bitter tastes.

Another device, called ‘Scentee,’ plugs into a smartphone, and can spray tiny clouds of selected fragrances, such as lavender or jasmine, smells of fruits or even coffee, when prompted by the other side of the conversation.

“Basically what happens, we have an app, it connects to the Internet and then this will release scent from your mobile phone,” said Cheok.

Long-distance smell, touch

Scentee holds a cartridge with about 100 different smells, but has to be replaced once it's been used up.

The sense of touch comes through a ring-like device. Connected wirelessly to the smartphone, it transmits a gentle squeeze when the other person does the same during a conversation.

“I can be in London and my friend can be in Tokyo, and I can squeeze my finger and then they'll get a squeeze on their finger through the Internet. It's a way of touch communication with small mobile devices,” said Cheok.

Cheok said he hopes devices such as these will someday be added to smartphones and even smart houses, transcending the current limitations of long-distance communication.

詞匯解析

directly

難度：3星常用詞匯，屬常用6000詞

英漢解釋

adv.直接地；立即；正好地；完全

conj.<英>一...就...

參考例句

用作副詞 (adv.)

They bought the machine directly from the manufacturer.

他們直接從廠商那里購買了這臺機器。

His private actions are in direct contradiction with his publicly expressed opinions.

他私下的行為跟公開的言論完全是兩碼事。

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launch

難度：4星核心詞匯，屬常用3000詞

英漢解釋

v.發(fā)起；推出（新產(chǎn)品）；發(fā)射；使(船)下水

n.發(fā)射；產(chǎn)品推介

參考例句

用作動詞 (v.)

The company researched the market demand and decided to launch their new product.

這家公司調(diào)查了市場需求，決定推出新產(chǎn)品。

The people all over the country exulted in the success in launching a new satellite.

全國人民為成功地發(fā)射了一顆新的人造衛(wèi)星而歡欣鼓舞。

用作名詞 (n.)

We have got good media coverage for the launch of the new model.

傳播媒介對我們的新型產(chǎn)品投放市場作了有利的報導。

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global

難度：4星核心詞匯，屬常用3000詞

英漢解釋

adj.全球性的；總的；球狀的

參考例句

用作形容詞 (adj.)

The green campaign is a global phenomenon.

綠色運動是全球性的現(xiàn)象。

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strike

難度：5星基本詞匯，屬常用1000詞

英漢解釋

n.罷工；打擊；毆打

v.打；撞；罷工；劃燃

參考例句

用作名詞 (n.)

The coalminers have been out on strike for several weeks now.

煤礦工人已罷工了幾個星期。

Next, the local press carried an order by the city's garrison commander forbidding soldiers to strike students.

接著報紙上又刊出了城防司令部嚴禁軍人毆打?qū)W生的布告。

用作動詞 (v.)

Be careful not to strike your head against the mantel.

小心不要使你的頭撞到壁爐架。

The girl struck a match to light a cigarette.

那女孩劃火柴點燃一根煙。

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natural

難度：5星基本詞匯，屬常用1000詞

英漢解釋

adj.自然的；天然的；私生的

參考例句

用作形容詞 (adj.)

It is natural that he should fall in love with such a beautiful girl.

他愛上那位美麗的姑娘是很自然的事。

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likelihood

難度：3星常用詞匯，屬常用6000詞

英漢解釋

n.可能性

參考例句

用作名詞 (n.)

The likelihood for peace in the Middle East remains questionable.

中東和平的可能性仍讓人懷疑。

The likelihood of completing the research on schedule is low.

按時完成任務的可能性很校

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bacteria

pinlv: hanyin:

英漢解釋

n.(復數(shù))細菌

參考例句

用作名詞 (n.)

It is possible to multiply bacteria and other living organisms in the laboratory.

在實驗室能夠繁殖細菌和其他生物。

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