Over the decades, computers have permeated our lives to an astonishing degree. When the first modern computer was conceptualized and built in the 20th century, it was so large that it took up a whole room. Over time, the technology shrank.
First, computers became small enough to sit on a desk and be brought into the home. Then, they were made lightweight and portable, giving us the laptop. Today, most people have something even smaller: a smartphone that can fit into a pocket. Though that’s as compact as most people are used to, computers and technology are getting even tinier!
One of the tiniest forms of technology available today is the microbot. A microbot is a very tiny robot—a machine programmable by a computer—that is built to perform specific tasks. You might be inclined to refer to this as just a small robot, but the size and dimensions of microbots are actually quite precise. A microbot is less than one millimeter in width, approximately the size of the tip of a pencil. In comparison, a small robot, which can be up to 100 centimeters in width, would be absolutely gigantic. If you think that microbots are as small as you can get, think again. Nanobots smaller than one micrometer exist, but these are so small that they aren’t visible to the naked eye.
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Since microbots are so small, they are potentially very cheap. Scientists and engineers working to develop these microbots believe that they could be useful to explore environments or areas that are too small or dangerous for people. And because the computing power of one single microbot isn’t that large, microbots could be deployed in large groups or swarms of microbots. At the moment, the biggest obstacle to the development of these tiny machines is figuring out how to power a robot that can only contain a minuscule battery.
幾十年來，電腦充斥在我們的生活中，幾乎已到了無處不在的程度。在二十世紀，人們構想並建造出第一臺現代電腦時，其體積大到占據了一整個房間。隨著時間的推移，電腦科技越變越小。
首先，電腦尺寸變小到能夠被放置在桌上，且能被人們帶回家中。接著，它們變得輕巧且方便攜帶，為我們提供了筆記型電腦。如今，大多數人擁有更小的電腦科技：可以放入口袋中的智慧型手機。儘管大多數人習慣了那樣小巧的電腦科技，但電腦和科技仍持續變得越來越小！
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當今可以取得的最小科技形式之一是微型機器人。微型機器人是一種非常微小的機器人—可由電腦程式控制的機器—被打造來執行特定的任務。你可能只想稱它為小型機器人，但微型機器人的大小和尺寸實際上非常精確。一個微型機器人的寬度不到一毫米，那大約是一支鉛筆筆尖的大小。相較之下，一臺尺寸可達一百公分寬的小型機器人可說是極其巨大。如果你認為微型機器人是最小的電腦科技，那你就錯了。尺寸小於一微米的奈米機器人存在於世，但它們太小了，肉眼無法看見。
由於微型機器人是如此地小，它們可能非常便宜。致力於開發這些微型機器人的科學家和工程師認為，它們可能有助於探索對人類來說太小或太危險的環境或區域。而且由於單一個微型機器人的計算能力沒有那麼大，微型機器人可以被部署成大群或成群的形式。目前，開發這些微型機器的最大障礙是，得要想出如何為這種只能容納極小電池的機器人供電。
What Did You Learn?
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1. What can we learn about computers from the first paragraph in Day 1?
(A) People prefer smartphones or laptops to desktop computers.
(B) The earliest computers used to require much more space.
(C) Computer technology has become much cheaper over time.
(D) Smaller computer technology only exists in science fiction.
2. Which of the following statements is NOT true about microbots?
(A) They may one day be affordable for most people.
(B) Compared to nanobots, they are quite large in size.
(C) They are so small that they cannot be seen without a microscope.
(D) One big challenge for researchers to develop microbots is power supply.
答案： 1. (B) 2. (C)
Words in Use
1. astonishing a. 驚人的，令人驚訝的
It was astonishing to us that Sarah suddenly resigned as general manager.
令我們驚訝的是，莎拉突然辭去了總經理的職務。
2. shrink vi. 縮小，縮水
（三態：shrink, shrank, shrunk）
The sweater has shrunk in the dryer.
這件毛衣在烘衣機中縮水了。
3. portable a. 易攜帶的
This portable radio player is not expensive.
這臺手提收音機並不貴。
4. compact a. 小巧的
The compact laptop is convenient to use.
這臺小巧的筆電使用上很方便。
5. dimension n. 尺寸，大小（常用複數）
? Bob measured the dimensions of the refrigerator to see if it could fit in his kitchen.
鮑伯測量了這個冰箱的尺寸，看是否能放進他的廚房。
Practical Phrases
1. take up. . . 占去…（空間或時間）
The king-sized bed takes up too much space in my brother’s room.
這張加大雙人床占去我哥房間太多空間了。
2. fit into. . . 裝得進／放得下…
? The white cabinet can perfectly fit into the small space beside the fridge.
那個白色的櫃子恰好放得進去冰箱旁的小空間。
3. be inclined to V 想要做…；往往會／傾向於…
If it doesn’t rain, Ben is inclined to go to the beach this weekend.
如果沒有下雨，阿班這週末想要去海邊。
4. In comparison, S + V 相較之下，…
In comparison, Ed’s sister is much quieter.
相比之下，艾德的姐姐文靜許多。
5. think again 你想錯了（字面意思「你再想想」，實則指某人所認為的是錯的）
If you think such a scam can never happen to you, think again.
如果你認為這類詐騙不可能發生在你身上，那你就錯了。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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