VOA慢速英语--研究表明科技问题与员工压力相关

A new study shows a link between bad technology and higher stress levels of employees.

Researchers from American computer company Dell Technologies led the study. Dell partnered with neuroscience company EMOTIV on the study.

The research involved experiments in which brainwaves were measured as people were put through a series of bad technology experiences. The experiments involved adults of many ages with different levels of computer skills.

Subjects were tested with simple computer problems, like troubled sign-in operations. Others dealt with slow-speed connections to the internet. Still others experienced system crashes.

"The moment people started using bad technology, we saw a doubling of their levels of stress," said Olivier Oullier, president of EMOTIV. "I was a bit surprised by that, because you rarely see those levels going so high," he told Reuters news agency.

The experiments showed that technology-related stress had a lasting¹ effect, Oullier added. "People don't relax back into calmness quickly. It takes a long time."

In addition to tech failures affecting the mental health of employees, the problems can also affect a company's business, the research found.

For example, bad problems can reduce productivity², especially that of younger workers. The research showed a thirty percent production drop among study subjects under age 40.

"Bad experiences affect you regardless of computer literacy³," said Cile Montgomery, who leads customer experience efforts for Dell. "But young people seem to be even more impacted, because they expect technology to work."

As stressful as the tech problems were for those in the study, Oullier said, such effects were likely to be even more severe in the real world. He said the subjects knew they were involved in an experiment so they may not have been as personally affected⁴ by the results.

Oullier also said the continuing coronavirus crisis⁵ has sharply⁶ increased stress levels around the world. So real tech problems drive up those already high stress levels.

Another issue is that many employees are working remotely and this can also add to tech difficulties. In an office, computer support helpers are usually available to help workers solve tech problems. But working from a kitchen or home office, employees are often on their own.

"When you're stuck at home and all you have is a computer provided by your employer, you might not have access to tech support," Oullier said. "That's why it's so important when you're remote, to have technology that works."

Here are some specific findings of the study:

The amount of work an employee can get done in a day can increase as much as 37 percent when effective technology is used, along with supporting software and services.

Using good technology can save employees 23 minutes per hour.

And on average, bad tech was found to interfere⁷ with employee performance by up to 30 percent.

Words in This Story

stress – n. a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life, work, etc.

a bit – n. a small amount

relax – v. to become happy and comfortable because nothing is worrying you

regardless – adv. without paying attention to the present situation

literacy – n. having a good amount of knowledge or understanding about a subject

impact – n. to affect someone or something

remote – adj. far away, from a distance

access – n. the ability to use or take part in something

specific – adj. clearly and exactly presented or stated : precise or exact

1 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

2 productivity   

n.生产力，生产率，多产

参考例句：

• Farmers are introducing in novations which increase the productivity.农民们正引进提高生产力的新方法。
• The workers try to put up productivity.工人设法提高生产率。

3 literacy   

n.识字，有文化，读写能力

参考例句：

• I can't believe that he failed the literacy test.我无法相信他识字测试不及格。
• The literacy rate there is the highest in Central America.那里的识字率居中美洲之首。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。

6 sharply   

adj.锐利地，急速；adv.严厉地，鲜明地

参考例句：

• The plane dived sharply and rose again.飞机猛然俯冲而后又拉了起来。
• Demand for personal computers has risen sharply.对个人电脑的需求急剧增长。

7 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。