◎魏國金
The wearable computing craze went to the dogs with startup Whistle introducing a smart pendant that tracks physical activity levels and sleep patterns in canines.
穿戴式電腦風尚吹到狗狗身上，新創公司「哨子」推出一種可追蹤狗狗身體活動程度與睡眠模式的智慧型掛件。
"Whistle was inspired by my love of dogs," co-founder and chief executive Ben Jacobs said as his pooch, Duke, darted about a dog park near the company’s office in San Francisco.
「哨子的靈感來自我對狗的喜愛，」該公司共同創辦人兼執行長賓．賈克柏斯說，他的狗「杜克」當時就在舊金山該公司附近的狗公園亂跑。
"We’re introducing a window into their lives; creating a way for owners and veterinarians to take a preventative approach to our pets’ health."
「我們為牠們的生活打開一扇窗；替飼主與獸醫開闢了對我們寵物的健康採取防範性措施的管道。」
Whistle devices attached to dog collars or harnesses use movement-sensing accelerometers to track activity and even how well a pet is sleeping, then relay the information wirelessly to smartphones or Wi-Fi hotspots.
裝在狗狗項圈或胸肩背帶的哨子儀器，利用活動感應加速計追蹤寵物的活動力，甚至睡眠狀況，然後再透過無線傳輸將訊息傳到智慧型手機或Wi-Fi熱點。
An online database built in collaboration with researchers and veterinary groups allows individual dog activity patterns to be scrutinized for hints that something may be amiss.
研究人員與獸醫團體合作建置的線上資料庫，讓個別狗狗的活動模式被仔細觀察，以找出事有蹊蹺的蛛絲馬跡。
"You see this desire to take good care of our pets, but no information," Jacobs said, noting that dogs typically hide discomfort in an eagerness to please humans who have their devotion.
「你理解想好好照顧寵物的渴望，卻缺乏相關資訊，」賈克柏斯說。他還指出，基於取悅牠們所摯愛的人們的殷切，狗狗基本上會隱藏不適。
"We talked to veterinarians and found out there is no way to get that information other than to build the hardware." （AFP）
「我們徵詢獸醫師，發現除了打造硬體，別無獲取相關資訊的辦法。」（法新社）
新聞辭典
go to the dogs︰此處為雙關語，原為每況愈下、一蹶不振之意。例句︰The company has gone to the dogs since the boss’s son took over.（自從老闆的兒子接手後，公司每況愈下。）
scrutinize︰動詞，細看、仔細觀察。例句︰The jeweler scrutinized the diamond for flaws.（珠寶商仔細查看鑽石有沒有瑕疵。）
amiss︰形容詞、副詞，出錯的、有毛病的。例句︰Nothing comes amiss to a hungry man. （飢不擇食。）
本文引用自 自由時報電子報 http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/
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