智能家居重新定义生活

导读：扫地机器人、智能音箱、安防系統……现如今，人们的家中出现了越来越多的高科技产品，而这些智能家居，也重新定义了我们的生活。

Most of us have been in this situation. Youre halfway to meet friends for dinner， then you suddenly think to yourself， “did I remember to turn the iron off？” For those with “smart homes”， however， this isnt something that would ruin their night.

我们大多数人都遇到过这种情况：你正赶去和朋友共进晚餐，却忽然想起，“我刚刚关掉熨斗了吗？”然而，对于拥有“智能家居”的人来说，这点小事根本不会让他们整晚都坐立难安。

Over the last few years， smart home technology has become more prominent and is now more affordable than ever. Thanks to user-friendly products such as intelligent lighting， heating controllers and motion sensors， being able to control nearly every electrical item in your home from anywhere in the world is no longer confined to science fiction stories.

在过去的几年里，智能家居技术日渐突显，如今在价格上也比以往更加经济实惠。由于智能照明设备、加热控制器、运动传感器等人性化产品的出现，在世界上的任何一个角落控制家中几乎所有的电子设备，不再仅仅出现于科幻故事中。

While smart home tech isnt new—the concept has been around for decades—companies like Philips， with its Hue lighting technology， as well as Amazon and Google， which have released speakers that control the home with the help of AI （artificial intelligence）， are finally putting home automation into easier reach of everyday people.

尽管智能家居技术并不是什么新鲜事——这一概念已经出现了几十年——但各家企业如今才令家居自动化对于老百姓而言更为触手可得，如飞利浦的Hue照明技术，亚马孙和谷歌推出的用以控制家居设备的人工智能音箱。

“All of our light switches are controllable via our phones and computers. Our home security system， our TV and our heating and cooling controls are all linked together too，” says Mike Poulson， a senior program manager from Seattle， US， whose high-tech home even greets him and his family when they enter.

“我们生产的所有照明开关都能通过手机和电脑进行操控。我们的家居安防系统、电视，以及制冷制热控制系统都是关联在一起的。”高级项目经理迈克·波尔森表示。 在他位于美国西雅图的家中，高科技家居设备甚至还能在他和家人进门时欢迎他们。

“The obvious message to consumers is that you can stop wasting energy.” Tom Kerber， director of research for US-based digital analysis firm Park Associates， told The Guardian.

“智能技术传达给消费者们很直观的信息是：你能停止浪费资源。”美国数据分析公司Park Associates 的研究总监汤姆·克贝尔在接受《卫报》采访时表示。

“Automation gives you an opportunity to optimize the settings.”

“自动化给了人们优化设置的机会。”

And while being able to automate tasks like having the kettle boiled and ready when you wake in the morning leaves time to focus on other tasks， the technology has more meaningful uses.

尽管智能技术能够完成一些自动化的任务，比如，在你早晨醒来时准备好一壶烧好的开水，这也让你有时间去专注于其他事情，但智能技术还有更有意义的用途。

In Norway， for example， one company is using smart tech to make life easier for its elderly customers. The firm， Abilia， has designed a system that allows carers to check up on patients through a Skype-enabled tablet thats mounted on a wall inside their homes.endprint

比如， 挪威的一家公司正运用智能技术以使老年消费者的生活更加简便。这家名为Abilia的公司设计了一个系统，通过安装在病人家中墙上的平板电脑，护理人员能够与病人进行网络通话，了解病人的情况。

The device， which also sends patients spoken reminders about tasks， such as when they need to take medication， is even connected to a series of sensors which alert carers if theres any unusual activity in the home that could be potentially life-threatening.

这一设备还能给病人们发送语音任务提醒，如他们什么时候需要吃药。此外，它还连接了一系列传感器，如果家中出现了可能危及生命的特殊状况，该设备就会向护理人员发送警报。

“With this kind of system， it allows people to take care of themselves， which is the most important thing，” Abilias vice president， Oystein Johnsen， told the BBC.

“有了这样的系统，人们就能够照顾好自己，这是最重要的事，”Abilia副总裁奥伊斯坦·约翰森在接受BBC采访时表示。

So， for those who have already “gone smart”， would it ever be possible to go back to doing things the old-fashioned way？

所以，对于已经“走向智能”的人们来说，还有可能回到过去，用一些老办法做事吗？

“I think it would be difficult. When we go to a friends house or on vacation we find ourselves expecting the house to do things for us that ours does. Its not the end of the world but just annoying that things dont work as expected，” Poulson explains.

“我认为这会很困难。当我们去朋友家里或者出门度假时，我们发现自己会希望别人的房子也能像自己家的一样，能为我们做很多事。这并非是世界末日，但事情不能如我们所愿，那会令人感到心烦，”波尔森解释道。

“It would be like going back to a world without cell phones. Not impossible， just different.”

“就像是回到一个没有手机的世界。不是不可能，而是会相当不同。”

Word Study

prominent /'pr?m?n?nt/ adj. 显著的；突出的；卓越的

The story was given a prominent position on the front page.

security /s?'kj??r?ti/ n. 安全；保护措施

They carried out security checks at the airport.

release /r?'li?s/ v. 發行；公布

Police have released no further details about the accident.

potentially /p?'ten??li/ adv. 潜在地；可能地

Maybe this study will potentially change the way we see the environment.endprint