2011年7月22日「モバイル英語学習」第108号(エッセイ): Hello. Is Anyone Home?

Notes:
fool into〈人〉をだまして…させる;
burglar 強盗;
fed up 飽き飽きして、うんざりして;
collect 取ってくる;
device 装置;

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A young British boy aged 13, could win a prize of 250,000 pounds (32 million yen) for inventing a doorbell that fools burglars into thinking that someone is home. The invention is called the ‘Smart Bell’ which calls your cell phone when someone rings on the door bell. This allows for a conversation with anyone who comes to your door. As well as tricking burglars the invention can also talk to delivery people. He thought of the invention after his school had a competition asking students for ideas based on a popular TV program. The teenager, said: “At first I designed the idea because my mum was fed up going to the Post Office to collect deliveries made when we were not at home.” The device has already sold more than 20,000 units and could sell many more, making him a very rich young boy. (by Prof. Simon Smith)
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