又中又英 | Seen their day | 褚簡寧

　　Have mobile phones seen their day? An online news article I read said Elon Musk, the world's richest person who controls high-tech companies including SpaceX and Tesla, believes mobile phones have seen their day. So does Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, the world's second richest person. But Apple CEO Tim Cook believes mobile phones are here to stay and will get even better. If something, such as a mobile phone, has seen its day, it means it is outdated and losing popularity. If your jacket has seen its day, it means it is old or in poor condition.

　　When mobile phones came out in the 1990s, people could only use them to make phone calls. Smart phones were not yet on the horizon. If something is on the horizon it means it is likely to happen or exist soon. It took many years to develop smartphones that could access the internet, take pictures, videos, and stream movies. Producers have only recently added AI to mobile phones. Zuckerberg's Meta, Facebook’s parent company, is developing Augmented Reality (AR) glasses meant to replace mobile phones. AR is the technology that enhances the real world with computer-generated digital content, such as images and sounds onto a user's view.

　　Meta's AR glasses let users see 3D images, control apps, chats, and navigate just by voice, eye movements, or body gestures while they can still see their real surroundings. Meta plans to release AR glasses in 2027. Musk's plan is even more futuristic. His company Neuralink is developing a brain implant which lets people control tech using only their thoughts without the need for screens or buttons. I am not sure I want something put into my brain! Cook believes AR glasses and brain implants will co-exist with smart phones, not replace them.

　　流動電話是否已經風光不再（seen their day）？我讀到一個網上的新聞報道說，全球最富有、掌控高科技公司包括太空探索技術公司SpaceX與特斯拉的伊隆．馬斯克，認為流動電話已經走下坡（seen their day）了。全球第2富有的臉書聯合創辦人馬克．朱克伯格也是這樣看。但蘋果公司的行政總裁添．曲克卻相信，流動電話仍會存留，甚至會變得更好。若某事物，例如流動電話，has seen its day，意即它已經過時，不如往昔般受歡迎。若你的外套has seen its day，意即它已變得殘舊，狀態不佳。

　　當流動電話於1990年代面世時，人們只能用它來打電話。當時智能電話還未是on the horizon——若某事物是on the horizon，意即它即將發生，或快要面世。經過多年研發，終於有了能上網、拍照拍片、串流電影的智能電話。生產商到最近才將人工智能加進手機之中。朱克伯格的Meta，就是臉書的母公司，正在研發擴增實境（Augmented Reality，簡稱AR）眼鏡，用以取代手提電話。AR是將電腦生成的數碼內容，例如相片、聲音等，投射給用家看，以「增強」現實的技術。

　　Meta的AR眼鏡讓用家能看到3D畫面、操控應用程式、網絡對話，並且單靠聲音、眼球移動又或身體動作去瀏覽，同時他們仍能看到周遭真實的環境。Meta計劃於2027年發布AR眼鏡。馬斯克的計劃更加超前新奇。他的公司Neuralink正在研發一種植入大腦的晶片，讓用家單靠大腦思考，不需螢幕或按鍵，就能直接操控科技。我可不確定是否想放些東西在腦袋中！曲克則相信，AR眼鏡與大腦的植入技術可與智能電話並存，而非全面取代之。

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Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻