John La Grou plugs smart power outlets

譯者: Dennis Lin 審譯者: Yung Hsiang Tseng

This is a world-changing invention.

這是個足以改變世界的發明

The smoke alarm has saved perhaps hundreds of thousands

煙霧偵測器在全世界

of lives, worldwide.

拯救了上千萬條生命

But smoke alarms don't prevent fires.

但它們並不能預防火災的發生

Every year in the USA, over 20,000 are killed or injured

在美國 每年有三十五萬起家庭火警

with 350,000 home fires.

造成兩萬人受傷 甚至喪命

And one of the main causes of all these fires is electricity.

最主要的一項原因 是電線走火

What if we could prevent electrical fires

如果我們能夠預防

before they start?

那該會有多好

Well, a couple of friends and I figured out how to do this.

有幾個朋友和我想出了一個辦法

So how does electricity ignite residential fires?

造成電線走火的原因是什麼?

Well it turns out that the main causes

最主要的原因

are faulty and misused appliances and electrical wiring.

來自於線路 和電器的不當使用

Our invention had to address all of these issues.

我們的發明 能夠解決這些問題

So what about circuit breakers?

那斷路器呢?

Well, Thomas Edison invented the circuit breaker in 1879.

愛迪生在1879年發明了斷路器

This is 130-year-old technology,

這是個有了130年歷史的科技

and this is a problem, because over 80 percent

而這也是個問題

of all home electrical fires

有百分之80的家庭火警

start below the safety threshold of circuit breakers.

發生於斷路器偵測到之前

Hmmm ...

嗯...

So we considered all of this. And we realized

經過思考 我們了解到

that electrical appliances

電器用品

must be able to communicate directly

必須能夠和電容器

with the power receptacle itself.

產生即時的反應

Any electrical device -- an appliance, an extension cord, whatever --

任何的電器用品 家電 延長線等等

must be able to tell the power outlet,

必須能夠通知插座

"Hey, power outlet,

"嘿 插座"

I'm drawing too much current. Shut me off now, before I start a fire."

"電流太多了! 在我起火之前趕快關掉!"

And the power outlet needs to be smart enough to do it.

而插座也要能夠有所反應

So here is what we did. We put a 10-cent digital transponder,

我們在電器用品的插頭中

a data tag, in the appliance plug.

放置了一個數位轉換器和數據標籤

And we put an inexpensive, wireless data reader inside the receptacle

並在電容器中 裝置了一個無線的數據讀取器

so they could communicate.

所以它們能夠做出即時的反應

Now, every home electrical system

現在 家中的每個電路系統

becomes an intelligent network.

成為了一套智慧型的網路

The appliance's safe operating parameters

電器用品的安全電量範圍

are embedded into its plug.

由數據標籤掌控

If too much current is flowing,

如果電流過量的話

the intelligent receptacle turns itself off,

這種智慧型的電容器將會自行關閉

and prevents another fire from starting.

來避免電線走火

We call this technology EFCI,

我們把這項技術稱為EFCI

Electrical Fault Circuit Interrupter.

電氣異常斷路器

Okay, two more points. Every year in the USA,

還有兩件事 每年在美國

roughly 2,500 children

約有2500名孩童

are admitted to emergency rooms for shock and burn injuries

因為電器的關係 而造成休克 燒傷

related to electrical receptacles. And this is crazy.

而被送進急診室 這真是太糟糕了

An intelligent receptacle prevents injuries

而智慧型的電容器能夠防止這些傷害

because the power is always off,

因為一旦電流過量

until an intelligent plug is detected. Simple.

電源就馬上被切斷了 就是這麼簡單

Now, besides saving lives,

現在 除了提供安全之外

perhaps the greatest benefit of intelligent power

這項技術最大的好處就是

is in its energy savings.

能夠節省能源

This invention will reduce global energy consumption

這項發明

by allowing remote control and automation

能夠從遠端遙控和自動控制

of every outlet in every home and business.

家裡和公司中的任何一個插座

Now you can choose to reduce your home energy bill

現在你可以使家裡高耗能的家電如冷氣 暖氣

by automatically cycling heavy loads

自動循環

like air conditioners and heaters.

來省下許多電費

Hotels and businesses can shut down unused rooms

飯店或是公司可以從中央控制系統或是手機

from a central location, or even a cell phone.

關掉沒人房間的電源

There are 10 billion electrical outlets

光是在北美地區

in North America alone.

就有100億個插座

The potential energy savings is very, very significant.

因此節約能源是非常重要的

So far we've applied for 414 patent claims.

我們申請了414項專利

Of those, 186 have been granted:

其中有186項已被批准

228 are in process.

228項正在審核當中

And I'm pleased to announce that just three weeks ago

另外 我很高興能夠宣布說

we received our first international recognition,

在三個禮拜之前 我們得到了我們第一項的國際認證

the 2009 CES Innovation Award.

2009CES創新獎

So, to conclude,

所以 總而言之

intelligent power can, globally, save thousands of lives,

以智慧型的方式管理電器 能夠拯救許多生命

prevent tens of thousands of injuries,

和預防傷亡

and eliminate tens of billions of dollars in property damage

並在每一年之中

every single year,

減少許多財物損失

while significantly reducing global energy consumption.

還能同時減少能源消耗

In the spirit of this year's TED Conference,

我們這項發明

we think this is a powerful, world-changing invention.

符合了今年TED會議的精神

And I'd like to thank Chris for this opportunity

另外我還要謝謝Chris

to unveil our technology with you, and soon the world.

讓我們有機會和大家分享我們的發明

Thank you.

謝謝!

(Applause)

(掌聲)