新奇事件簿 互联网改变记忆方式

New research suggests the Internet is changing our memory. Researchers from Colombia University presented people with different questions and found many began to think of computers. Lead researcher Dr Betsy Sparrow said that when test participants knew the answers would be available on a computer, they did less well on the memory tests. She said we use the Internet as a new “transactive memory”. We rely on this to do the remembering for us. It’s similar to our personal data being backed up on a hard disk. The Internet acts as a huge storage device¹ for all the world's knowledge, that is there when we need it. Dr Sparrow said computers were not making us less intelligent. “I don't think Google is making us stupid. We're just changing the way that we're remembering things,” she said.

新研究表明互联网改变记忆方式。来自哥伦比亚大学的研究人员对受试者进行提问，发现许多人在面对问题时首先想到求助电脑。研究主任贝特西·斯帕罗教授认为，当他们得知能够在网上找到答案时，记忆水平测试就会降低。她认为我们将互联网看成是新“交互记忆”。我们依靠它来帮助记忆。这就好比是存入个人资料的硬盘。当我们需要求助时，互联网就是知识的“存储器”。斯帕罗教授认为电脑不会让我们变傻。她认为：“我不认为“谷歌”会让我们变笨。我们只是换了一种记忆方式而已。”

Dr Sparrow believes we are becoming very good at remembering where we keep information in different folders² on our computers. She said: "This suggests that for the things we can find online, we tend to keep it online as far as memory is concerned, we keep it externally³ stored." She explained that because we are remembering the location of the information, rather than the information itself, we are becoming better at organising huge quantities of data and facts in a more accessible way. She also said the way we use technology is changing our need to remember things, saying: “If you can find stuff⁴ online even while you're walking down the street these days, then the skill to have, the thing to remember, is where to go to find the information."

斯帕罗教授认为人们擅长记忆电脑文件夹。她认为；“这意味着对于能够从网上找到的信息，我们会将记忆保留在网上，让外界帮助存储。”她解释道人们更擅长记忆信息的存储地，而不是信息本身，我们更擅长有组织地归纳大量信息。她认为现代技术改变了我们对记忆的需求，称：“人们即使外出散步也能够上网查阅信息，人们只需要记住在哪查就行。”

1 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。

2 folders   

n.文件夹( folder的名词复数 )；纸夹；（某些计算机系统中的）文件夹；页面叠

参考例句：

• Encrypt and compress individual files and folders. The program is compact, efficient and user friendly. 加密和压缩的个人档案和folders.the计划是紧凑，高效和用户友好。 来自互联网
• By insertion of photocopies,all folders can be maintained complete with little extra effort. 插入它的复制本，不费多大力量就能使所有文件夹保持完整。 来自辞典例句

3 externally   

adv.在（或从）外部，在（或从）外面，外表上

参考例句：

• The course is externally examined. 这门课程受校外考核。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This medicine is to be applied externally. 这药是用于外敷的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 stuff   

n.原料，材料，东西；vt.填满；吃饱

参考例句：

• We could supply you with the stuff in the raw tomorrow.明天我们可以供应你原材料。
• He is not the stuff.他不是这个材料。