98/10/12-10/16徐薇英文教室教材

取材自CNN互動英語教室
◎今日主題:

Green Screens-Sony Paves the Way to More Eco-Friendly Technology

 This week we are going green as we look at how people are helping the planet and helping themselves make a profit in the process. Today we focus on Sony. The electronics giant has set off [on] an ambitious path to create the most eco-friendly televisions on the market. Our Morgan Neill visited the Sony lab in Tokyo.

 With[an]LCD TV reducing, like, power consumption by 40 percent to 50 percent, that's a big thing. I believe this is a big step in our industry.

 Investors may groan when they look at Sony's bottom line these days, but when this number goes down, it may mean things are looking up. The screen monitors energy consumption, in this case, watts used by the new Bravia LCD sets.

 The lower energy use is partly due to a new backlighting technology, partly to a presence sensor. When no one's around, then screen turns off while the sound stays on. Now what's driving these innovations? Sony says, in part it's a growing sense from its customers that green is cool. And in a marketplace that─as you can see─offers a bewildering variety of options, anything you can do to set your brand apart gives you an edge.

 Of course, Sony's competitors are looking for that edge as well, and that's the kind of competition Greenpeace wants to encourage. Every three months it publishes its Guide to Greener Electronics. It ranks the top 17 electronics makes on their policies regarding toxic chemicals, recycling and climate change. The latest edition downgrades. Sony from fifth to 12th place.

重要字彙

1. set off 使...開始、使發生

2. groan 呻吟、抱怨 v.

3. look up 前景看好、情勢轉好

4. consumption 消耗量 n.

5. watt [電]瓦特 n.

6.bewilder 使迷惑 v.

7.edge 優勢 n.

8. regarding 關於 prep.

9.toxic 有毒的 adj.

10.downgrade 降低等級 v.