The Hottest Spot　　無線上網樂無窮

You're sitting in a café drinking your coffee, watching the lady at the next table as she pulls out her laptop and connects to the Internet. Without seeing any cables or wires, it dawns on you that you actually have no idea how this technology works. In the same thought, you also realize that you are sitting in what you've heard some of your friends call a "hotspot"—a public area that has been fitted with wireless technology which allows users to gain access to the Internet.

Almost all modern laptops, PDAs (personal data assistants), and other hand-held devices are now equipped with an internal Network Interface Card (NIC), which allows the owner to connect to a wireless network. A network that generates a hotspot basically consists of a modem, a device that encrypts and stores information, and a wireless router which forwards the information to a specific destination. When trying to establish a connection, the NIC sends out radio waves and when it receives a signal strong enough, it asks permission to log onto the network.

Let's look at it this way. Think of a hotspot as a conversation. The speaker, who has infinite knowledge (the Internet), is hosting a conversation in which a select group of people (anyone with a wireless-enabled device) is able to join in, listen, and share their thoughts. Admission to this conversation may be free or it may cost you a small access fee.

1. laptop n. 筆記型電腦

2. cable n. 電纜

3. wire n. 電線

4. hotspot n. 無線上網據點

5. wireless a. 無線的

6. hand-held a. 手提式的

7. interface n. 界面

8. modem n. 數據機

9. encrypt vt. 編碼，將……譯成密碼

10.router n. 路由器

11. forward vt. 發送；轉寄

12. radio wave n. 無線電波（一般用複數）

13. signal n. 信號

14. infinite a. 無限的

15. select a. 挑選出來的

16. admission n. 許可


1. connect to...　　與……連接

2. in the same thought　　同時

3. allow sb to V　　允許某人做……

4. log onto...　　登入……

5. join in...　　加入…


1. it dawns on sb + that 子句　　
某人突然明白／想起……
例: It dawned on me that I forgot to pay my phone bill this month.
（我突然想起我這個月忘了繳電話費。）

2. be fitted with...　　安裝／配備……
例: The women's restrooms in this building have been fitted with new sinks.
（這棟大樓的女廁都裝了新的水槽。）

3. gain access to...　　得以進入……
例: The spy gained access to the room by pretending to be a janitor.
（那名間諜佯裝成警衛進到屋裡。）

4. be equipped with...　配備有……
例: The soldiers were equipped with gear that would protect them from chemical attacks.
（那些軍人配有抵擋化學攻擊的衣服。）
The studio was equipped with state-of-the-art computers.
（工作室配有最先進的電腦。）

5. generate vt. 產生
例: Mr. Davis generated a lot of publicity for his company by promoting wisely.
（戴維斯先生藉著睿智的宣傳為公司打響名聲。）

6. consist of...　　由……組成
= be made up of...
例: The book consists of articles written by young business people.
（這本書由年輕實業家所寫的文章集結而成。）

7. permission n. 許可
give sb permission to V　　允許某人做……
例: The owner of the theater gave us permission to perform our show on a regular basis.
（劇院老闆讓我們定期演出。）


　　你正在咖啡廳喝咖啡，看著鄰座的女人拿出她的筆記型電腦上網。沒看到任何電線，才突然發現自己完全不了解這項科技是如何運作。你同時也想到自己所處的地方正是朋友所說的『無線上網據點』，一個安裝了無線科技，讓使用者能夠暢遊網路的地方。

　　幾乎所有的現代筆記型電腦、PDA（個人數位助理），和其他手提式裝置都配有內建網路卡，讓使用者能連上無線網路。建立無線上網據點的網路最基本由一 台能加密儲存訊息的數據機，和一台傳輸訊息至某個特定據點的無線路由器構成。要連線時，網路卡會發送無線電波，在接收到夠強的信號時，便會要求登入網路。

　　這麼說吧。將一個無線上網據點想像成一段對話。學識淵博的說話者（網際網路）正主導一段對話，而一群被挑選出來的人（任何擁有可連上無線網路裝置的人）都能參與、聆聽對話，並分享各自的想法。進入這段對話也許是免費，也可能需要一筆小額的登入費。

from 常春藤解析英語雜誌