Mr.Gray had been sent out to count the cars. The Highway Department wanted to know whether a new road was needed.
Mr. Gray looked up just in time to see three cars zip by. He put three lines in his book, "Ah, me !" he said out loud. I don't believe I am counting all the cars"
Just then Mr. Bean, an old friend of his, drove off the roadway and stopped, "How is the work going?" Mr. Bean asked.
Oh, the work is all right, answered Mr. Gray, "but there are too many cars for me to count They zip by too fast
"Well," said Mr. Bean. "What the Highway Department needs is an electric eye to count the cars that pass.
"What are you talking about, Benie?" asked Mr. Gray.
"Don't tell me you haven't heard of an electric eye" said Mr. Bean. "I suppose you would call it a machine. The eye is put in a post by the side of the road. It sends a beam of light to a post on the other side. When a car passed it, it stops the beam of light, then the machine records one more.
"That sounds fantastic!" said Mr. Gray in surprise, "Think of a post that can count!"
you should ask what else the electric eye can do, said Mr. Bean.
"Well, what?" asked Mr. Gray.
"An electric eye can record the speed of cars, too, said Mr. Bean, "And it can open doors and turn on lights when they are needed.
"Next you will tell me that the eye eats!" laughed Mr. Gray.
No, it doesn't eat. But the eye can smell." Mr. Bean answered,
"Up to now I have believed you. But when a machine gets a nose!" Mr. Gray shook his head.
I did not say it had a nose. I said the eye could smell or it seems that it can.
"Smell what?"
"The eye can smell smoke. Big ships and some buildings have electric eyes that sent off a signal when smoke is in the air. This signal often saves ships and buildings from burning," said Mr. Bean.
"What else can the electric eye do?" said Mr. Gray.
"It makes a good night-watchman too. Mr. Bean went on.
It never goes to sleep. Also, electric eyes are used to sort eggs, The eyes can make the brown eggs go into one place and the white one into another place.