又中又英 | Seen their day | 褚简宁

　　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 If something, such as a mobile phone, has seen its day, it means it is outdated and losing popularity.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.

　　流动电话是否已经风光不再（seen their day）？我读到一个网上的新闻报道说，全球最富有、掌控高科技公司包括太空探索技术公司SpaceX与特斯拉的伊隆．马斯克，认为流动电话已经走下坡（seen their day）了。全球第2富有的脸书联合创办人马克．朱克伯格也是这样看。但苹果公司的行政总裁添．曲克却相信，流动电话仍会存留，甚至会变得更好。若某事物，例如流动电话，has seen its day，意即它已经过时，不如往昔般受欢迎。若你的外套has seen its day，意即它已变得残旧，状态不佳。

　　当流动电话于1990年代面世时，人们只能用它来打电话。当时智能电话还未是on the horizon——若某事物是on the horizon，意即它即将发生，或快要面世。经过多年研发，终于有了能上网、拍照拍片、串流电影的智能电话。生产商到最近才将人工智能加进手机之中。朱克伯格的Meta，就是脸书的母公司，正在研发扩增实境（Augmented Reality，简称AR）眼镜，用以取代手提电话。AR是将电脑生成的数码内容，例如相片、声音等，投射给用家看，以「增强」现实的技术。

　　Meta的AR眼镜让用家能看到3D画面、操控应用程式、网络对话，并且单靠声音、眼球移动又或身体动作去浏览，同时他们仍能看到周遭真实的环境。Meta计划于2027年发布AR眼镜。马斯克的计划更加超前新奇。他的公司Neuralink正在研发一种植入大脑的晶片，让用家单靠大脑思考，不需萤幕或按键，就能直接操控科技。我可不确定是否想放些东西在脑袋中！曲克则相信，AR眼镜与大脑的植入技术可与智能电话并存，而非全面取代之。

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Michael Chugani褚简宁
中译：七刻