Losing your keys is bad enough, but having to replace the entire lock because you dont have a key to copy makes things even worse - not to mention expensive.
弄丢钥匙已是惨事一桩，要是因为没有备用钥匙而必须重新换锁，那更是雪上加霜了，还不算其昂贵的成本。
The KeyMe app promises to take the hassle and cost out of this by letting you store photos of your keys online, and order duplicates in the post.
应用软件keyme的诞生，将会解决这一难题和成本问题：只需在线储存你钥匙的照片，再邮递下单配钥匙即可。
Alternatively, the US service has kiosks that let you copy keys in an emergency, or share photos with a locksmith in person.
除此之外，在美国，也有小摊亭可在紧急情况下为你提供复制钥匙服务。你还可以亲自把照片分享给锁匠。
KeyMe is free on iOS but is currently only available in the US. The New York-based startup is looking to expand the service, and an Android version of the app is in development.
目前，KeyMe仅能在美国的iOS上免费下载。这家位于纽约的公司才刚那刚起步，正努力拓宽服务范围。该软件的安卓版正在研发中。
After setting up an account, homeowners use their smartphone camera to take a photo of each side of the key.
房主设立账户后，需通过其智能手机的摄像头给钥匙的每一面都拍张照片。
The photo must be taken on a white background, from a distance of up to 4 inches (10cm), in order to avoid what the app calls fly-by scans.
为避免出现扫描失败的情况，照片背景须为白底，并要从距钥匙4英尺(10厘米)处进行拍摄。
This doesnt, in theory, protect people from criminals taking photos of other people's keys though.
从理论上说，这么做不能保证犯罪分子拍不到别人钥匙的照片。
However, KeyMe does notify users whenever there is activity on their account, but this only applies if a potential thief is using that persons account.
不过，KeyMe账户无论何时出现任何操作都会通知用户。但是只有小偷用了此人的账户，用户才能收到通知。
It is unknown whether KeyMe can recognize if the same key is scanned and added to a different account.
目前，尚不能确定如果同一把钥匙被添加入不同账户时，系统是否能够识别出来。
As an extra security measure, however, the app requires user verification, a credit card, a verified mailing address and an Apple-verified device and ID to purchase a key.
作为额外的安全措施，KeyMe还要求用户提供信用卡、通过邮件地址和苹果经验证的设备和ID进行验证，才能购买钥匙。
Michael Harbolt, vice president of marketing at KeyMe told MailOnline that if a thief, hypothetically, did want to steal a key and order a new one using the app, they 'would then have to use an Apple registered device, Apple ID and wireless carrier to download the app and provide user verification to access the app.
KeyMe市场运营副总裁迈克尔哈伯特向MailOnline表示，假设小偷想通过软件来盗用钥匙，用该应用定制一把新锁，他们则必须使用注册了的苹果设备、苹果ID和无线运营商下载应用，并提供用户验证信息登录该应用。
'[They] would then have to provide a valid credit card to purchase these keys and a mailing address. All of the data provided during this exchange could be used to easily identify [them].'
之后他们购买这些钥匙时必须提供有效信用卡和邮件地址，这中间交换的所有数据都能够轻易鉴别出他们的身份。
As an alternative, Mr Harbolt explained that a thief could 'simply walk down to a local locksmith and get a copy made by paying cash' without providing any method of identification.
相反用另一种方法，小偷只要付现金就能找锁匠配钥匙，完全不用进行身份验证。
'Given a choice of the these two options - one where you can easily be identified, and one where there is no risk of being identified - as a criminal, which option are you more likely to pursue when attempting to commit a crime?,' continued Mr Harbolt.
哈伯特先生表示，如果让你二选一，一种会让你很容易暴露身份，另一种则完全没有被认出来的风险，作为要犯罪的小偷，你更可能选择哪一种呢？
In terms of protecting the keys stored in the cloud, the company said: We use commercial grade security to protect your key data.
在保护储存在云端的钥匙方面，该公司表示，他们会用商业级安全措施保护你钥匙的数据。
Additionally, we do not store any personally identifiable information except for an email address and password.
除了邮件地址和密码之外，我们不会储存任何可识别个人信息。
But, these security concerns only apply to ordering keys in the post.
不过，只有邮递下单定制钥匙，才存在这类安全隐患。
If a key is ordered from a locksmith in person, the user can verify their identity by having the phone, app and another form of physical ID.
如果用户亲自找锁匠定制钥匙，则可以通过电话、应用和其他实物ID进行身份核查。
Equally, the app asks for a fingerprint to be used when printing a key from a physical kiosk.
同样，当在小摊亭打印钥匙时，应用会要求用户提供指纹。
To order a key from a locksmith, the app produces a code that the locksmith can use to create the duplicate.
要直接向锁匠下单，应用会生成一个代码供锁匠配制钥匙。
This code reveals the type of key, as well as its 'biting' code, which gives details about the shape and cut of the key.
这个代码内含钥匙类型和包含其形状、切割等细节的齿纹代码信息。
Once a key is successfully scanned and stored, users can send their digital keychain to friends, family and housemates over email, using the apps Share button.
一旦应用成功扫描和储存了钥匙信息，用户可通过应用的分享键将其数字钥匙链发送给亲朋好友和室友。
KeyMe sends an email confirmation when the recipient has accepted the key, but shared keys cant be deactivated. The owner and recipient can then order duplicates from within the app.
一旦钥匙被接收，KeyMe会向用户发一封确认邮件。但是被分享的钥匙不能停用，主人和接受者都能通过应用配备用钥匙。
Storing keys is free, but the cost of ordering duplicates depends on the type of key being copied.
储存钥匙不产生任何费用，但是定制备用钥匙的费用则因钥匙类型而异。
As an example, a basic version starts at $10 (6).
例如，制作基本款钥匙起价10美元（约为人民币60元）。
Postal orders take up to five business days to arrive, but the service also offers 3D printed keys with various designs, and these take up to five weeks to arrive.
邮递下单最多需要5个工作日能寄到。不过这项服务也提供3D打印不同形状的钥匙，最多要5周寄到。
Vocabulary
hassle: 困难，麻烦
kiosk: 报摊，电话亭
recipient: 接收人
deactivate: 使无效
duplicate: 复制品