新奇事件簿 科技发展 睡眠时间缩短

People in Britain now spend more time watching TV, gaming, and using their mobile¹ phones and computers than sleeping. Research by the British communications agency² Ofcom found that Britons use technology for 20 minutes longer than they spend sleeping. The average U.K. adult uses technology for eight hours and 41 minutes a day. They sleep for an average of eight hours and 21 minutes. One of the biggest reasons for this is broadband and wi-fi. People can get online almost anywhere, so they spend more time online. Many people make telephone calls or surf the web while watching television. Television was the most popular activity. Adults watched an average of three hours a day.

在英国，与睡眠时间相比，人们花费更多的时间看电视，玩游戏，手机或者电脑。英国通讯管理局的调查表明，英国人使用高科技产品的时间比睡眠时间长20分钟。英国成年人使用高科技产品的时间平均约为每天8小时41分钟。他们的睡眠时间约为每天8小时21分钟。这种现象产生的原因是宽带和无线网络的出现。人们基本上可以在任何地方上网，所以他们会花更多的时间上网。许多人在看电视的同时，也会使用网络电话或者浏览网页。看电视是最普遍的活动。成年人平均每天花3小时看电视。

The study looked at technology and different age groups. It found that six-year-olds understand how to use technology at the same level as 45-year-olds. Another finding³ was that people understand digital technology most when they are 14 or 15. A doctor said technology is changing the way people communicate with each other. Dr Arthur Cassidy warned that we are becoming more and more anti-social. He said we are moving away from face-to-face conversations because of technology. He added that people are becoming addicted⁴ to their smart phones. Technology also means people are working at home after they get home from work.

研究对不同年龄阶段使用高科技产品的情况作了调查。研究表明3岁的孩子与45岁的成年人对于高科技产品的使用理解水平是相同的。研究的另一个发现就是，人们在14岁或者15岁的时候，对于数字科技的理解掌握能力是最强的。一名博士称，科技正在改变人与人之间交流的方式。亚瑟.凯西迪博士警告说，我们可能会变得越来越反社会。因为科技的出现，我们正在慢慢脱离面对面的交流方式。他补充说，人们越来越依赖于自己的智能手机。这也意味着人们在下班回家之后还得继续工作。

1 mobile   

adj.可移动的，易变的，机动的；n.运动物体

参考例句：

• The old lady sits on a mobile chair every morning.那位老妇人每天上午坐在一把可携带使用的椅子上。
• She's much more mobile now that she's bought a car.自从她买了汽车后，活动量就大多了。

2 agency   

n.经办；代理；代理处

参考例句：

• This disease is spread through the agency of insects.这种疾病是通过昆虫媒介传播的。
• He spoke in the person of Xinhua News Agency.他代表新华社讲话。

3 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

4 addicted   

adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的

参考例句：

• He was addicted to heroin at the age of 17.他17岁的时候对海洛因上了瘾。
• She's become addicted to love stories.她迷上了爱情小说。