新高级阅读前（双语）72（972）

PASSAGE SEVENTY-TWO

long-distance signing device

1.A world-famous Canadian author, Margaret Atwood, has created the world’s first long-distance signing device, the LongPen.

2.After many tiring book-signing tours from city to city, Atwood thought there must be a better way to do them. 

3.She hired some technical experts and started her own company in 2004. Together they designed the LongPen. 

4.Here’s how it works: The author writes a personal message and signature on a computer tablet using a special pen. 

5.On the receiving end, in another city, a robotic arm fitted with a regular pen signs the book. The author and fan can talk with each other via webcams and computer screens.

6.Work on the LongPen began in Atwood’s basement. At first, they had no idea it would be as hard as it turned out to be. The device went through several versions, including one that actually had smoke coming out of it. 

7.The investing finally completed, teat runs were made in Ottawa, and the LongPen was officially launched at the 2006 London Book Fair. 

8.From here, Atwood conducted two transatlantic book signings of her latest book for fans in Toronto and New York City.

9.The LongPen produces a unique signature each time because it copies the movement of the author in real time. It has several other potential applications. 

10.It could increase credit card security and allow people to sign contracts from another province. The video exchange between signer and receiver can be recorded on DVD for proof when legal documents are used.

11.“It’s really fun,” said the owner of a bookstore, who was present for one of the test runs.

“Obviously you can’t shake hands with the author but there are chances for a connection that you don’t get from a regular book signing.”

12.The response to the invention hasn’t been all favorable. Atwood has received criticism from authors who think she is trying to end book tours. 

13.But she said, “It will be possible to go to places that you never got sent to before because the publishers couldn’t afford it.”

第七十二篇

远程签名设备

1.世界著名的加拿大作家玛格丽特·阿特伍德发明了世界上第一台远距离签名设备，LongPen。

2.在经历了从一个城市到另一个城市的签名售书之旅之后，阿特伍德认为一定有更好的方式来做这些事。

3.她聘请了一些技术专家，并于2004年创办了自己的公司。他们一起设计了LongPen。

4.它的工作原理是这样的:作者用一种特殊的笔在平板电脑上写下个人信息和签名。

5.在另一个城市的接收端，安装了一支普通钢笔的机械臂在书上签名。作者和粉丝可以通过网络摄像头和电脑屏幕互相交谈。

6.“长笔”号的建造工作是从阿特伍德的地下室开始的。起初，他们不知道会有这么难的结果。该装置经历了几个版本，其中一个版本真的会冒烟。

7.投资最终完成，在渥太华进行了两次试运行，并在2006年伦敦书展上正式推出了LongPen。

8.从这里开始，阿特伍德在多伦多和纽约为她的粉丝举办了两场跨大西洋的新书签售会。

9.龙笔每次都会产生一个独特的签名，因为它实时复制了作者的动作。它还有其他几个潜在的应用。

10.它可以提高信用卡的安全性，并允许人们从另一个省签订合同。签名者和接收者之间的视频交流可以记录在DVD上，作为使用法律文件时的证明。

11.“这真的很有趣，”一家书店的老板说，他参加了其中一次试运行。

“显然，你不能和作者握手，但你有机会建立一种联系，这是你在常规的签售会上得不到的。”

12.人们对这项发明的反应并不都是正面的。阿特伍德受到了一些作家的批评，他们认为她在试图结束巡回售书活动。

13.但她说，“你有可能去那些以前因为出版商付不起钱而没人送你去的地方。”