Tech that refuses to die
Technology is always changing! Or is it...?
Last updated
Technology is always changing! Or is it...?
Last updated
Phil Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Phil.
Georgie And I’m Georgie.
Phil The exciting thing about technology is that it’s always changing. Can you remember when computer floppy disks, hand-held Game Boys, and fax machines were in fashion? Do you still have a Walkman cassette player from the 1980s?
Georgie Today technology progresses so quickly that old tech soon becomes obsolete, no longer in use having been replaced by something better or more fashionable.
Phil So, you might be surprised to hear that until recently the government of Japan still used three and-a-half inch floppy disks to store official documents; that around the world, music cassettes and Walkmans are making a comeback; and that even the world-famous Swiss CERN physics laboratory uses old-fashioned magnetic tape reels to record its data.
Georgie Yes, it seems that some old technology just refuses to die - maybe because people still love it, or maybe because of the old English proverb, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, meaning that things should only be changed if they don’t work. So, in this programme, we’ll be hearing about old tech which continues to be used today. And, as usual, we’ll be learning some useful new vocabulary as well.
Phil But first I have a question for you, Georgie. Computers have seen some of the biggest advances in technology. But what was the name of the first computer developed for home use in the UK? Was it:
a) the Commodore 64? b) the Sinclair ZX80? or, c) the BBC Micro?
Georgie Hmm, I’ll guess it was the Commodore 64.
Phil OK, Georgie, we'll find out if that's the correct answer later in the programme. One reason for not updating tech is if the original design still works well. NASA engineer, Jonathan Sauder, designed HAR-V, a mechanical rover able to survive the inhospitable conditions on Venus where temperatures reach 460C. Here’s Jonathan talking to BBC World Service programme, Tech Life:
Jonathan Sauder …Venus has a very long night. It's actually about 60 days long that you're in total darkness. So that's where we came up with the concept for HAR-V: a mechanical clockwork rover that could be powered by Venus’s winds in order to allow it to survive Venus’s long hot nights.
Georgie Conditions on Venus mean that ordinary electronics simply won’t work. That’s why Jonathan built a clockwork rover, a machine with springs and wheels inside which works when it’s wound up with a key. Clockwork technology from the 1st century being used in 2024 by NASA!
Phil Other tech which refuses to die is just too much trouble to change. For example, countries around the world use different electrical plugs which would be better to standardise – but imagine the work involved! Here, Chris Vallance, presenter of BBC World Service’s, Tech Life, discusses a similar example with Dr Tacye Phillipson, science curator at the National Museum of Scotland:
Chris Vallance Another piece of tech that people say has sort of refused to die is the QWERTY keyboard, the layout of keyboards that we all have, and is perhaps not the most efficient layout in terms of the speed of typing.
Dr Tacye Phillipson It's the layout we're all really, really used to though, and if you see court reporters, stenographers, they have special keyboards and can type so fast to takedown verbatim, but they also look very complicated, I don't actually want to learn to use one of those so I'll stick with QWERTY for the moment.
Georgie Chris and Tacye discussed QWERTY, the traditional typewriter arrangement of keys on a computer keyboard in which the top line begins with the letters q, w, e, r, t and y. In terms of being able to type quickly, QWERTY isn’t the best - in fact, court reporters type much faster with alternative keyboards. Court reporters need to type fast to record cases verbatim, using exactly the same words that were originally spoken.
Phil But because everyone is used to QWERTY keyboards, the tech lives on. That’s why Tacye says she’ll stick with QWERTY, she’ll continue using it and not change to something else. And speaking of QWERTY keyboards has reminded me of my question, Georgie.
Georgie Yes, you asked me the name of the first home computer released in the UK, and I guessed it was the Commodore 64…
Phil Which was… the wrong answer, I’m afraid. In fact, the UK’s first home computer was the Sinclair ZX80 which was released in 1980 and used a whopping 4 kilobyte memory, that’s about half an email! OK, it’s time to recap the vocabulary we've learned in this programme starting with obsolete, meaning no longer in use, having been replaced by something newer or better.
Georgie The idiom, if it ain’t (or isn’t) broke, don’t fix it, is used to say that if something is working, there is no reason to try to change it.
Phil Clockwork machinery uses metal springs and wheels which move when they are wound up with a key.
Georgie QWERTY refers to the traditional typewriter arrangement of keys in which the top line begins with the letters q,w,e,r, t and y
Phil If you say something verbatim, you use exactly the same words which that originally used.
Georgie And finally, to stick with something means to continue using or doing it. Once again our six minutes are up, but remember to join us again next time for more trending topics and useful vocabulary, here at 6 Minute English. Goodbye for now!
Phil Bye!
Phil 大家好，这里是 BBC 学英语的《六分钟英语》。我是 Phil。
Georgie 我是 Georgie。
Phil 技术的魅力就在于它总是在变化。你还记得当年流行的软盘、掌上游戏机 Game Boy 和传真机吗？你是否还留着一台 1980 年代的随身听？
Georgie 如今，技术发展得如此之快，以至于旧的技术很快就会变得过时，不再被使用，因为它们已经被更好或更时尚的东西取代了。
Phil 所以，你可能会惊讶地发现，直到最近，日本政府还在使用三寸半的软盘存储官方文件；而在全球范围内，磁带和随身听正在卷土重来；甚至世界著名的瑞士 CERN 物理实验室仍在使用老式的磁带盘记录数据。
Georgie 是的，有些老旧技术似乎就是拒绝退出历史舞台——可能是因为人们仍然喜欢它，或者是因为一句老英语谚语：“如果没坏，就别修。” 意思是，只有在东西坏了的时候才需要更换。因此，在本期节目中，我们将探讨那些至今仍在使用的旧技术，并学习一些有用的新词汇。
Phil 不过首先，我有个问题要问你，Georgie。计算机技术取得了巨大的进步，但你知道英国第一台面向家庭用户的计算机叫什么吗？是：
a) Commodore 64？ b) Sinclair ZX80？ c) BBC Micro？
Georgie 嗯，我猜是 Commodore 64。
Phil 好的，Georgie，稍后我们会揭晓正确答案。某些技术之所以没有被更新，是因为它们的原始设计仍然很好用。NASA 工程师 Jonathan Sauder 设计了一款名为 HAR-V 的机械探测器，它能够在金星恶劣的环境下生存，那里温度高达 460 摄氏度。以下是他在 BBC 世界服务节目《科技生活》中的讲话：
Jonathan Sauder ……金星有一个非常漫长的夜晚，大约有 60 天处于完全黑暗中。因此我们提出了 HAR-V 的概念：一种由金星风力驱动的机械发条探测器，使其能够在金星漫长而炽热的夜晚中生存。
Georgie 金星上的环境使普通电子设备无法工作。因此 Jonathan 制造了一个发条探测器，这是一种内部有弹簧和齿轮的机器，靠钥匙上发条来工作。来自公元一世纪的发条技术如今竟然被 NASA 用在 2024 年的任务中！
Phil 还有一些老旧技术因为更换代价太高，所以一直没有被淘汰。比如，世界各国使用的电插头标准不同，虽然统一标准会更好，但想想涉及的工作量吧！在这里，BBC 世界服务的《科技生活》主持人 Chris Vallance 与苏格兰国家博物馆的科学策展人 Tacye Phillipson 博士讨论了一个类似的例子：
Chris Vallance 另一个似乎“拒绝退出历史舞台”的技术是 QWERTY 键盘布局，这种布局广泛使用，但在打字速度方面并不是最高效的。
Tacye Phillipson 但这是我们大家都非常习惯的布局。如果你看法庭速记员，他们使用的是特殊键盘，打字速度非常快，可以逐字记录，但这些键盘看起来也非常复杂，我其实不想学会使用那种键盘，所以我会继续用 QWERTY 键盘。
Georgie Chris 和 Tacye 讨论的是 QWERTY 键盘，这种传统的键盘布局上排以 q、w、e、r、t 和 y 开头。就打字速度而言，QWERTY 其实并不是最好的——事实上，法庭速记员使用的替代键盘可以打得更快。法庭速记员需要逐字记录案件，使用的词语与原话一字不差。
Phil 但由于大家都已经习惯了 QWERTY 键盘，这种技术依然存在。这就是为什么 Tacye 说她会继续使用 QWERTY 键盘，而不会改用其他的键盘布局。说到 QWERTY 键盘，这让我想起了我的问题，Georgie。
Georgie 是的，你问我英国发布的第一台家用计算机叫什么，我猜是 Commodore 64……
Phil 可惜，这是错误答案。实际上，英国的第一台家用计算机是 Sinclair ZX80，于 1980 年发布，拥有 4 KB 的内存，仅相当于半封电子邮件的大小！好吧，现在我们来回顾一下本期节目中学到的词汇。
Georgie 首先是“obsolete”，意思是过时的，已被更新或更好的事物取代。
Phil 接着是谚语“if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”，意思是如果东西没有坏，就不要去更改它。
Georgie “Clockwork” 指的是使用金属弹簧和齿轮的机械装置，通过上发条工作。
Phil “QWERTY” 指的是传统的键盘布局，上排从 q、w、e、r、t 和 y 开始。
Georgie “Verbatim” 表示逐字逐句地使用完全相同的词汇。
Phil 最后，“to stick with something” 意思是继续使用或坚持某事物。我们的六分钟时间又到了，但别忘了下次再来和我们一起学习更多热门话题和有用的词汇，这里是《六分钟英语》。再见！
Georgie 再见！
Why is some old technology still used? Georgie and Phil discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary.
1.
The title "Tech that refuses to die" suggests the episode will discuss technologies that are considered outdated but are still in use today. I expect it to cover devices like floppy disks, cassette players, and older storage methods. The vocabulary I associate with this topic includes words like "obsolete," "retro," "comeback," and "clockwork."
cn: 这一集的标题是 "Tech that refuses to die"（那些拒绝消失的技术），从标题来看，这一集可能会讨论一些尽管看似过时但仍在被使用的技术。这类话题通常涉及老旧设备或机械设计，例如软盘、随身听、磁带等。我会联想到的词汇有 "obsolete"（过时的）、"retro"（复古的）、"comeback"（卷土重来）和 "clockwork"（发条机械）。
2.
The presenters say the episode is about old technology that continues to be used today despite seeming outdated. This week's question: What was the first computer developed for home use in the UK? Options:
a) Commodore 64
b) Sinclair ZX80
c) BBC Micro
Georgie’s guess: Commodore 64. Correct answer: Sinclair ZX80.
cn:
节目内容： 主持人讨论的是一些旧技术即使在现代也依然被使用的现象，并解释了为什么这些技术没有被淘汰。
本周的问题： 英国推出的第一台家用计算机是什么名字？ 选项： a) Commodore 64 b) Sinclair ZX80 c) BBC Micro
Georgie 的回答： 她猜是 Commodore 64。
正确答案： Sinclair ZX80。
3.
a. obsolete - no longer in use, having been replaced by something newer, better or more fashionable
b. if it ain't broke, don't fix it - (idiom) used to say that if something is working satisfactorily, there is no reason to try to change it
c. clockwork - machinery using metal springs and wheels which move when wound up with a key
d. QWERTY - the traditional typewriter arrangement of keys in which the top line begins with the letters q,w,e,r, t and y
e. verbatim - using exactly the same words as were originally used
f. stick with - continue using or doing something
cn:
六个词汇及其意思：
a) obsolete 意思：过时的，已经被更新的或更好的东西取代了。
b) if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it 意思：一种谚语，表示如果某物工作正常，就没有必要去更改它。
c) clockwork 意思：使用金属弹簧和齿轮的机械装置，通过上发条工作。
d) QWERTY 意思：传统的键盘布局，上排从字母 q、w、e、r、t 和 y 开始。
e) verbatim 意思：逐字逐句，使用完全相同的词汇。
f) stick with 意思：继续使用或坚持某事物。
4.
It was surprising to learn that the CERN laboratory in Switzerland still uses magnetic tape reels to store data. It’s also unexpected that Japan’s government used floppy disks for official documents until recently. Additionally, I found it fascinating that NASA created a clockwork rover for exploring Venus, relying on ancient mechanical technology combined with modern space exploration needs.
cn:
让我感到惊讶的是，瑞士的 CERN 实验室竟然还在使用磁带卷来存储数据，这种看似古老的存储技术如今仍然被应用在最前沿的科学研究中。此外，日本政府直到最近还在使用软盘存储官方文件，这也是出乎意料的，毕竟软盘已经在市场上消失多年了。最后，NASA 居然设计了一款发条驱动的探测器用于金星探索，这种结合古老机械技术和现代太空探索的方式非常创新。
5.
Which old tech is still used by the CERN physics laboratory in Switzerland? a) floppy disks b) magnetic tape reels c) music cassette
What is the meaning of the idiom 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'? a) you can't mend old technology b) it's good to keep your devices up-to-date c) only change something if it doesn't work
What does 'QWERTY' refer to? a) a computer or typewriter keyboard b) a type of computer chip c) a smartphone
"Brad has an amazing memory. He can remember whole conversations______." a) verbatim b) verbally c) virtually
Which phrasal verb means 'to continue using or doing something'? a) stick up b) stick over c) stick with
What is the meaning of 'obsolete'? a) no longer in use b) very fat c) egg shap
6.
My old smartphone is now obsolete because it can’t run the latest apps.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – that’s why I’m still using my old laptop.
The antique clock in my house is clockwork and needs to be wound up daily.
I’m so used to the QWERTY layout that I don’t want to switch to any other keyboard.
The court stenographer had to type the witness's statement verbatim.
I decided to stick with my current phone because it still works well.
7.
Answer the following questions:
What are three things you have learnt from this episode?
The Japanese government recently used floppy disks for official documents.
CERN still relies on magnetic tape reels for data storage.
NASA designed a clockwork rover for Venus exploration.
How does this topic make you feel? It makes me appreciate that not all technological progress means abandoning older inventions. Some classic designs are still very practical and reliable, even in modern contexts.
Give three examples relevant to your life using the vocabulary.
My first gaming console is now obsolete, but I still keep it for nostalgic reasons.
I stick with my old QWERTY keyboard because it’s what I’m used to.
My grandfather’s clock is a beautiful piece of clockwork technology that still works perfectly.
cn:
学习到的新内容：
日本政府直到最近还在使用软盘存储官方文件。
NASA 在 2024 年设计了一款机械发条探测器，用于金星探索。
法庭速记员使用特殊键盘，可以比 QWERTY 键盘更快地记录文字。
感受： 这个话题让我觉得有趣，因为有些我们认为过时的技术居然还在被使用，说明它们的设计非常经典。
结合自己生活的例子：
我的旧手机虽然已经过时，但我还是继续使用它（stick with it）。
我使用的键盘是 QWERTY 布局的，虽然知道其他布局更快，但我还是习惯了这个。
有些古董钟表是发条驱动的（clockwork），它们在现代依然能正常工作