LYRICS
From VOA Learning English,
this is the Technology Report.
You could find all the latest technology products
at the International Consumer Electronics Show
in Las Vegas, Nevada.
[Sound]
The show took place in early January.
It was a major event for technology lovers
and product manufacturers alike.
Thousands of people travelled to Las Vegas for the show.
Many businesses were showing products with curved displays,
the rounded edges were on everything,
from televisions to mobile phones.
Sony, Samsung, and LG all displayed
curved ultra-high definition televisions,
some models as big as 279 centimeters.
Bridget Carey is with CNET, an electronics website.
"You can buy a curved TV,
but if you can't decide if you want it flat or not,
you can choose a flexible one.
Curved is supposed to be a more immersive experience
when it surrounds you.
But maybe not everyone wants curved all the time," said Bridget Carey.
Another hot idea was wearable technology.
Sony, Intel, and others demonstrated smart watches
that interact wirelessly with your telephone.
Samsung's Galaxy Gear watch can connect with an automobile
- the BMW i3 electric car.
Bridget Carey says a smart watch is a good idea.
"It has apps now that can give you a quick glance
at the sports score with an ESPN app.
You can see who texted you, what calls you missed," she said.
Self-driving shuttles and solar cars were also on display at the 2014 show.
Car maker Renault demonstrated an electric race car,
that trick excite automobile fans worldwide.
Audi was showing a self-driving A7.
Last year, the technology needed for their driver-less A7
took up the whole rear end of the car.
This year, the computer is about the size of an Apple iPad.
Another company called Induct showed off its self-piloted shuttle,
called the Navia.
The vehicle is 100 percent electric.
Ford Motors made news with its solar powered car
- the C-MAX Solar Energi.
Ford's Dave McCreadie says the trick is the vehicle's solar canopy.
"It boosts the power of the solar panels by essentially magnifying the sun.
So it takes a larger square footprint area of the sun
and concentrates down onto the solar panels.
The purpose of this is to enable the customer
to recharge their vehicle off the grid," he said.
Three dimensional printers at the show produced more complex,
high-quality designs than other 3D printers on the market.
And the price of 3D printers is falling. Some cost less than $500.
One company, 3D Systems has created something new: 3D-printed food.
ChefJet and ChefJetPro use melted sugar to create sweet creations.
The sugary 3D printers are expected to cost
between $5,000 and $10,000 when they go on sale.
And that is the Technology Report from VOA Learning English.
I'm June Simms.