The tech sector¹ is booming, and we're experiencing game-changing innovations, like self-driving cars and virtual reality, firsthand.

科技日新月异，我们见证着许多革命性的技术创新，比如无人驾驶汽车，虚拟现实等等就是近在咫尺的例子。

Of course many of these developments are still in their nascence, which means the time is ripe for aspiring² techies to get in on the ground floor and steer³ these discoveries in the right direction.

当然这些新技术中许多还在起步阶段，这意味着这些新兴技术开始勃发的时机已经成熟，人们应该引导它们进入正确的轨道。

To get you started, here are five of the most important new technologies out there and how you can explore them:

作为入门介绍，如下是五种已出现的最重要的新技术，以及你学习探索它们的方法：

1. Virtual Reality

虚拟现实

Virtual Reality, or VR, has been around since as early as the 1960s, but it's only recently become a major powerhouse in the tech sector as more companies explore its potential for futuristic entertainment.

虚拟现实，或简称VR,早在20世纪60年代就已经问世了，但知道最近它才成为科技领域的一股大潮流，原因是越来越多的公司尝试在未来娱乐业中发挥它的潜力。

In fact, with Facebook buying Oculus (the creators of the Oculus Rift⁴ headset) for more than US$2 billion, it's clear that industry leaders see major potential in VR.

脸书网以超过20亿美元的巨资买下了Oculus公司（发明Oculus Rift头盔的公司），由此看来，行业巨头们实际上都对虚拟现实技术非常看好。

2. Machine Learning

机器学习

Machine learning is the study of pattern recognition and prediction within the field of computer science, and it's chiefly responsible for the strides made with self-driving cars and speech-recognition technology, like Siri.

机器学习是计算机科学的一个分支，即研究模式识别与模式预测。它主要负责无人驾驶汽车的道路建设，以及Siri这样的语音识别技术。

So, it should come as no surprise that machine learning experts are in high demand. Pick up the Complete Machine Learning Bundle, and you can get one step closer to a nearly six-figure salary by mastering the tools these professionals use to build tomorrow's AI innovations.

所以，并不令人感到意外的是，机器学习专家非常抢手。学习了相关知识，你就能操纵起那些专家们创造明日科技所使用的工具，也就能离将近六位数的薪水更近一步了。

3. Ethical⁵ Hacking⁶

道德黑客

Everyone is at risk of getting hacked⁷ online, but companies are getting hit particularly hard by malicious⁸ cybercriminals, which is why many are taking their security into their own hands and offering big paydays for those who can keep their products secure.

人人都面临着被网络黑客袭击的危险，但大公司受这些邪恶的网络罪犯之苦尤为惨烈。这就是为什么许多公司愿意花大价钱保证自己的产品安全，将安保工作掌握在自己手中。

In fact, Facebook has paid out more than US$5 million to ethical hackers⁹ who have uncovered and reported vulnerabilities in its site before they can be exploited.

事实上，脸书网已经花费超过500万美金聘请道德黑客，后者则为它找到了网站上的薄弱环节，并趁其尚未被利用时汇报给了老板。

4. Blockchain Technology

区块链技术

Most commonly associated with Bitcoin, blockchain technology allows developers to create decentralised apps that boast unrivaled security and transparency on the web - which makes it great for cyrptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

区块链技术主要和比克币相关，它让应用开发人员能够开发出具有无与伦比的安全性和网页透明度的去中心化应用——对比克币这样的加密货币非常有用。

5. Internet of Things

物联网

In layman's terms, the Internet of Things is the idea of essentially¹⁰ connecting any device with an on/off switch that's linked to the internet, which can give way to pretty neat innovations, like an alarm clock that tells your coffee machine to start brewing¹¹ coffee when it wakes you up in the morning.

用通俗的话来说，物联网的理念即通过网络让任何电器——一切有开/关键的东西——相互连接。这让许多巧妙的造物成为可能，例如一只闹钟可以告诉你的咖啡机，它叫你起床的时间到了，该煮咖啡了。