2月14日VOA聽力：紐約推出籠罩全市的免費Wi-Fi
Futuristic, 3-meter-tall Wi-Fi portals are replacingthousands of old payphones in New York city. Bysummer’s end, more than 500 will dot the citystreets; in 12 years, as many as 10,000.
The selling points are simple: They are free to use,providing high-speed internet to city’s residents and visitors,roughly 100 times faster than theaverage public Wi-Fi.
“It means you can upload pictures in a fraction of a second, you can download a movie beforeyou hop on the train in less than 30 seconds. ”
Each hot spot has a minimum radius of 45 meters before automatically connects you to thenext.Every unit is equipped with a charging device and Android tablet for Internet browsing,phone calls and easy access to information on city services, as well as a 911 emergency callbutton.
“The idea is to reach every New Yorker who might not otherwise have access to a broadbandconnection, either in their homes or at work.” Hensley describes the links as a “revolutionary”model for other cities worldwide.
“It’s a global economy.People are traveling more and more, and the services that they knowthey can rely on in New York. We expect them to want when they go to places like London andParis and Hong Kong.”
The unit’s infrastructure is built using a cast aluminum exterior, designed by CIVIQSmartscapes to withstand vandalism and severe weather.
Its look blend in with its surroundings.“It stands out on its own, but it doesn’t really jump outat you and stand out too much from the rest of the streetscape.”
At New York’s Union Square, many agree.
“It feels at home,and the landscape of the city, it doesn’t feel like would be out of place in abunch of different contexts, which I think is a testament to good design.”
“That’s why people are so comfortable because it looks just like something that would besupported in New York City.”
LinkNYC expects CityBridge, the consortium awarded the 12-year franchise, to generate morethan $500 million for the city of New York, primarily through digital screen advertisements, itsprimary source of revenue.
Ramon Taylor, VOA NEWS, New York.
點擊下一頁檢察譯文
市場價：HK$ 110
