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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.

词汇解析

directly

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

adv.直接地；立即；正好地；完全

conj.<英>一...就...

参考例句

用作副词 (adv.)

They bought the machine directly from the manufacturer.

他们直接从厂商那里购买了这台机器。

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

他私下的行为跟公开的言论完全是两码事。

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launch

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

v.发起；推出（新产品）；发射；使(船)下水

n.发射；产品推介

参考例句

用作动词 (v.)

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

这家公司调查了市场需求，决定推出新产品。

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

全国人民为成功地发射了一颗新的人造卫星而欢欣鼓舞。

用作名词 (n.)

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

传播媒介对我们的新型产品投放市场作了有利的报导。

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global

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.全球性的；总的；球状的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

The green campaign is a global phenomenon.

绿色运动是全球性的现象。

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strike

难度：5星基本词汇，属常用1000词

英汉解释

n.罢工；打击；殴打

v.打；撞；罢工；划燃

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

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

煤矿工人已罢工了几个星期。

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

接着报纸上又刊出了城防司令部严禁军人殴打学生的布告。

用作动词 (v.)

Be careful not to strike your head against the mantel.

小心不要使你的头撞到壁炉架。

The girl struck a match to light a cigarette.

那女孩划火柴点燃一根烟。

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natural

难度：5星基本词汇，属常用1000词

英汉解释

adj.自然的；天然的；私生的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

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

他爱上那位美丽的姑娘是很自然的事。

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likelihood

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.可能性

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The likelihood for peace in the Middle East remains questionable.

中东和平的可能性仍让人怀疑。

The likelihood of completing the research on schedule is low.

按时完成任务的可能性很校

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bacteria

pinlv: hanyin:

英汉解释

n.(复数)细菌

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

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

在实验室能够繁殖细菌和其他生物。

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