《時代》周刊評出2014年度最佳發明

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。聽起來像是科學幻想，但隨著3D打印機的崛起，這正在迅速成為現實。能夠通過數字藍圖、多層塑料或其他材料制造物體的設備正快速變成現實。對消費者和企業而言，這是個福音。僅過去一年，中學生們的物理課上有了3D打印汽車、科學家用3D打印了人體器官、通用公司（GE）使用3D打印技術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域的技術。”

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.

大多數智能手表已經證明純屬雞肋：它們試圖濃縮手機的使用體驗，結果卻難以令人滿意。相比之下，蘋果手表體現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合到一起。除了具備鐘表功能外，蘋果手表還可以發送信息、導航、跟蹤鍛煉情況及進行無線支付。