《時代》周刊評出2014年度最佳發明

11. The Tablet that Replaces Laptops

取代筆記本電腦的平板電腦

Microsoft’s latest “hybrid” bundles the power of a laptop into a svelte 12-in tablet and can run desktop apps like Word, Excel and PowerPoint. That, as well as a slim, detachable keyboard cover and a built-in stand, makes it more suitable than other tablets for professionals like doctors and businesspeople.

微軟公司最新的跨界產品把筆記本電腦的性能融入了12英寸平板電腦內。它還能運行Word、Excel和PowerPoint等臺式機程序。這一特點及其修長的可拆式鍵盤蓋和方便在桌上使用的固定基座，使它比其他平板電腦更適合醫生和商務人員等專業人士。

12. The Ring that Alerts You in Style

優雅地發出提醒的戒指

Like many professional women, Christina Mercando keeps her smartphone in her purse, which meant she was constantly digging it out to check for important notifications. But what if she could get that info from something she was already wearing? That’s the thinking behind Ringly, a line of rings that can be programmed to glow when wearers get an email from their boss, a text from their Uber driver or any number of other can’t-miss communications. Mercando raised more than $1 million to realize her vision. So far, the concept is working: the first 1,000 Ringly rings, which debuted in June, sold out within 24 hours.

與許多職業婦女一樣，克里斯蒂娜?梅爾坎多總是把手機放在包里。這意味著她要不斷拿出手機查看重要消息。但如果她從某件自己佩戴的物件上獲得這些信息，會怎樣？這就是Ringly智能戒指的創意：通過設置，當佩戴者收到老板的電子郵件、出租司機的短信或是其他任何不能錯過的信息時，這種戒指可以發亮。梅爾坎多籌到100多萬美元實現自己的設想。這一想法奏效了：6月推出的首批1000枚Ringly戒指在24小時內即售罄。