《時代》周刊評出2014年度最佳發(fā)明

5. 3-D-Printed Everything

3D打印一切

A machine that can build any object. It sounds like a sci-fi fantasy, but thanks to the rise of 3-D printers—devices that can build objects from digital blueprints, usually by layering plastic or other materials—it is rapidly becoming reality. That’s a boon for consumers and corporations alike. In the past year alone, middle-school students have 3-D-printed stock cars for physics lessons, scientists have 3-D-printed tissues for human organs, and GE has used 3-D printing to improve the efficiency of its jet engines. “This is one of those technologies that literally touches everything we do,” says Avi Reichental, CEO of 3D Systems, whose 3-D printers produce candy (as shown above) and musical instruments, among other objects.

可以造出任何物品的機器。聽起來像是科學(xué)幻想，但隨著3D打印機的崛起，這正在迅速成為現(xiàn)實。能夠通過數(shù)字藍圖、多層塑料或其他材料制造物體的設(shè)備正快速變成現(xiàn)實。對消費者和企業(yè)而言，這是個福音。僅過去一年，中學(xué)生們的物理課上有了3D打印汽車、科學(xué)家用3D打印了人體器官、通用公司（GE）使用3D打印技術(shù)改善噴氣引擎效率等。 3D Systems公司的3D打印機可以打印糖果、樂器以及其他物品，該公司首席執(zhí)行官艾維?雷切托爾（Avi Reichental）說：“理論上說，這是能讓我們涉及所有領(lǐng)域的技術(shù)。”

6. Watches that Redefine Smart

改寫智能定義的手表

Most smart watches have proved to be anything but: they try to shrink down the experience of using a cell phone, with clunky results. Apple’s Watch, by contrast, wholly reimagines the computer for the wrist, using a novel interface that combines a touchscreen and physical buttons. Besides telling time, the Watch can send messages, give directions, track fitness and make wireless payments.

大多數(shù)智能手表已經(jīng)證明純屬雞肋：它們試圖濃縮手機的使用體驗，結(jié)果卻難以令人滿意。相比之下，蘋果手表體現(xiàn)了全新的手腕電腦理念，利用新穎的接口把觸摸屏與物理按鈕結(jié)合到一起。除了具備鐘表功能外，蘋果手表還可以發(fā)送信息、導(dǎo)航、跟蹤鍛煉情況及進行無線支付。