VOA标准英语2010年-Research Shows 3-D Movies, TV Can Caus

Three dimensional movies, like Avatar, are wowing us with their visual display. The science fiction epic¹ Avatar won best drama and top director for filmmaker James Cameron at this year's Golden Globe awards.  But a study at the University of California Berkeley found that 3-D movies can cause eye strain. 

Normally, when we look at things nearby, our eyes converge². They do the opposite when we look at things in the distance.  Martin Banks, a professor of optometry at Berkeley, says 3-D doesn't allow our eyes to follow the rules because we're focusing on things both far and near at the same time.  That's called "vergence accommodation conflict."

"You have to concentrate your eyes to something near, but focus your eyes on something far," said Banks.  "So you have to break that normal coupling between avergence and accommodation."

And it can lead to headaches and blurred³ vision.

 

"You're taking that normal relationship which has been coupled in the brain for years and you're changing it. And what we showed is that can cause fatigue⁴," he added.

Banks says younger viewers are more vulnerable.

"When you hit your 50s and 60s, we think that concern is going to be reduced," noted⁵ Banks.  "So that is probably more problematic for young adults, teenagers, et cetera."

Banks tells VOA he has spoken with movie producers and they are receptive and willing to make adjustments to reduce the fatigue. But he says while adjustments can minimize the problem, they will not eliminate it.

No matter, 3-D is here to stay. Experts predict that 3-D television will be a major trend in about five years.

 

1 epic   

n.史诗，叙事诗；adj.史诗般的，壮丽的

参考例句：

• I gave up my epic and wrote this little tale instead.我放弃了写叙事诗，而写了这个小故事。
• They held a banquet of epic proportions.他们举行了盛大的宴会。

2 converge   

vi.会合；聚集，集中；(思想、观点等)趋近

参考例句：

• The results converge towards this truth.其结果趋近于这个真理。
• Parallel lines converge at infinity.平行线永不相交。

3 blurred   

v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离

参考例句：

• She suffered from dizziness and blurred vision. 她饱受头晕目眩之苦。
• Their lazy, blurred voices fell pleasantly on his ears. 他们那种慢吞吞、含糊不清的声音在他听起来却很悦耳。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 fatigue   

n.疲劳，劳累

参考例句：

• The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
• I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。