[英文 怎麼說] 3D列印遇上公益─整合和執行的果實

3D列印遇上公益─整合和執行的果實
3D列印機這幾年很熱門，直覺式的製造似乎標榜新工業時代的來臨，本文介紹的人物Mick Ebeling就是帶著3D列印機到非洲，替戰亂中手臂遭到炸毀的青少年製備義肢，給受創的人們重回基礎生活能力一線曙光。特別的是Ebeling本身為好萊塢製作人，教育背景是政治學，完全沒有3D列印相關的設計、工程和科技背景。現在，他創了一個團隊叫"Not Impossible"，致力於改善眼疾、癱瘓等身體活動受限的情形，幫助身心障礙人士恢復生活機能。Ebeling團隊做的另一個設計:Eye Writer，讓得到漸凍症(ALS)的藝術家，可以用眼球在電腦螢幕上作畫。EyeWriter獲選時代雜誌(Time)2010年50大發明之一。

本文的有兩件事情可以想想和討論。一個就是3D列印究竟可以帶給我們什麼改變。每一項新科技常常都有兩極化的評論，內文提到消極者認為3D列印只能做一些新奇廉價的小物或玩具、積極者則覺得它有朝一日會像電視一樣普及，可以像Star Trek裡頭的replicator一樣，印製食物、衣服甚至是珠寶。Ebeling遇到最大的問題，就是3D印表機本身還是太貴了，而且印製出來的義肢，雖然可以有骨頭關節，但還是無法做出複雜的動作。看樣子，突破性的發展還需要其他科技幫助，但對列印製造這一步驟來說，也許真的拓展了更多可能性。

另一方面，為什麼一位製片最後可以創立一個創新科技團隊。這個例子也透漏著:我們不需要學會所有的技能。根據文章的介紹，Ebeling是一個很厲害的整合者(好像也是製片必備的能力)，他提出一個新的想法，接著開始尋找擁有不同技術的人，接洽可能贊助的企業提供資金，藉由自己在好萊塢的人脈拍紀錄片回饋給企業當宣傳。某種程度，他依然從事自己的專業，只是在不同領域而已。難得的是Ebeling的內在動機，一開始他只是在雜誌上看到被炸跳雙手的孩子，四個月後他就帶著3D印表機飛到非洲去了；一開始他只是要捐錢給慈善機構而已，接著他決定著手付出更多。動機在這裡，對於Ebeling、對於Not Impossible、對於他所達成的成就，扮演著很重要的角色!

最後就引用Ebeling的一些想法當作本文的經典句吧!

"Ebeling sees the world simply: 
If there is a problem, he wants to fix it."

"To me, this is technology for the sake of humanity. 
The kid's regaining his independence. 
Now he is one step closr to self-sufficiency"

原文報導:GREAT READ WITH INGENUITY AND A 3-D PRINTER, GROUP CHANGES LIVES

大家也可以看看Ebeling在TED的演講
關於Eyewriter的發明起源和成效
讓所有「潛水鐘與蝴蝶」的主角可以再次和外界溝通





Interesting Word:
1. set out to: 以...為目標開始進行、打算
set out to是開始
特別是有從原點開始往某一個目標前進
內文是說Ebling一開始並沒有打算要當發明家
中文翻譯就是 原先打算、一開始計劃要做
Ex: Ebeling didn't set out to be an inventor.

2.pitch: 推銷 
投、擲的意思，在棒球術語裡是投球數
pitch an idea引申為推銷說明以企圖說服
Ex: He pitched them on the idea of building a low-cost eye-tracking system.

3. out of questions: 不可能、想都別想 = not possible/ not allowed
很直覺的意思，連問都不要問，完全不在考慮範圍內
指表示完全不可能
Ex: For the prostheses, precise movements are out of questions.


Vocabulary List (Data Base):
1. airstrike: 空襲
His hands were blown off during an airstrike.

2. plight 困境、窘境
The boy's plight resonated with Ebling.

3. resonate with: 引起共鳴
The boy's plight resonated with Ebling.

4. shed: 棚子、庫房
They rested in a small shed.

5. join together: 拼、裝、組合
He join those Lego pieces together.

6. work off sth: 根據某事物為基礎做
He work off a design created by a carpenter.

7. sever: 切斷、割斷 = cut
He accidently sever his four fingers with a saw.

8. prosthesis: 義肢
He buikt his own prosthesis.

9. bolt:栓、鎖、以螺絲固定住
A skeletal plastic hand was bolted to an arem-like cylinder.

10. apparatus:裝置、設備

11. flex: 活動、彎曲
When the wearer flexed her elbow, 
the cords tightened and pulled the finger into a fist.

12.toss: 丟、扔
toos a coin/ your worries

13. feat: 難以達成的成就、傑作
The design was a major feat for someone who relied on others for the most basic tasks.

14. political science 政治學
A degree in political science

15. tackle: 克服、處理 (問題)
He dedicates to tackle the physical limitation.

16. bungalow: (只有一樓層)平房

17. shelf: 架子
A 3-D printer aits on a shelf.

18.tack: 用圖釘釘
A piece of paper is tacked to a wall

19.scrawl: 潦草的寫、胡亂塗
Someone has scrwaled the word "impossible" on a paper.

20.foray: 初步嘗試、涉足
Ebeling's foray into making medical devices began in 2007.

21.benefit: 募款晚會
He attended a bennefit fot Lou Gehrig;s disease (ALS).

22. graffiti: 牆上塗鴉(常是嘻哈塗鴨)
a graffiti artist

23. pledge to: 立誓要、保證
He pledge to do more.

24. reach out to: 聯繫、尋找、號召
He reached out to engineers, pitching them on the idea.

25. affixed: 固定 
A pair of glasses were affixed to a Web camera.

26. drop by: 拜訪 = visit

27.relegated: 淪為、貶值、降級
The machine would be relegated to producing cheap novelty items.

28. novelty: 廉價的小物
The machine would be relegated to producing cheap novelty items.

29. tout: 宣傳、吹捧、讚揚
Enthusiasts have youted the possibilities.

30. ubiquitous: 無所不在、盛行、普及
The printers could one day become as ubiquitous as television tes.

31. pelvis:骨盆

32. rudimentary= basic= simple 基本的、簡單的
The protheses are able to perform rudimentary tasks.

33. tricky: 困難的、難以辦到的
More precise movements are tricky.

34. self-sufficient: 自給自足的
Now he is one step closer to self-sufficiency.

(Reading article is Making the Impossible Possible from Advanced, Nov. 6-8, 2014)