Technological gains in the next 14 years will deliver the greatest benefits not to countries currently lagging, but to those already on technology's cutting edge, a new study has found.
"Where people live will have a big impact on how technology applications affect their personal health and standard of living, and will also play a part in determining the ability of their countries to protect them and their environment," said Richard Silberglitt, one of the lead authors of the RAND Corporation study.
The study found that by 2020, "people in the US, Canada, Germany (representing western Europe), South Korea, Japan, Australia and Israel will benefit the most from advances in technology."
As examples of potential high-tech advances, it cited creating sensor networks in public areas to conduct real-time surveillance; providing access to information any time and anywhere; and creating wearable computers.
Scientifically developing countries "are poised to take advantage of modestly sophisticated technology applications, including devices to constantly track the movement of everything from products to people; easy-to-use health diagnostic tests that give immediate results for a large range of infections; and environmentally friendly manufacturing methods," the study also found.
But the authors of the study were not without hope for the scientifically "lagging" countries -- Fiji, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Nepal, Pakistan, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Cameroon and Chad. "When such countries have the will to make changes ... they can improve the lives of their citizens," the study added, citing examples such as cheap solar energy, simpler, effective ways to purify water, and rural wireless communications. (AFP)
閱讀測驗
1. The study looked at technology over the next ___ years.
a. 10.
b. 14.
c. 15.
2. Where will people benefit the most from technology?
a. Germany.
b. China.
c. Africa.
3. Which is NOT one of the possible technological advances cited in the study?
a. Cars that use less fuel.
b. Wearable computers.
c. Better surveillance.
4. What is a simple way for "lagging" countries to improve?
a. Making cellphones more convenient.
b. Better water purification systems.
c. Buying only solar energy.
一份新研究報告發現，未來十四年內，科技利益的最大受惠者不是目前科技落後的國家，而是已擁有尖端技術的國家。
蘭德公司研究的一位執筆李察*席柏利表示：「人們所居住的國家，對於科技應用如何影響他們的個人健康和生活水平有很大的影響，那也是決定該國是否有能力保護人民和環境的因素之一。」
這份研究發現二○二○年以前，「美國、加拿大、德國（代表西歐）、南韓、日本、澳洲，以及以色列的人民是進步科技的最大受惠者」。
研究列舉了幾項高科技發展的可能，例如：在公共場所架設感應網路以進行即時監視；提供隨時隨地取得資訊的途徑，以及製造穿戴式電腦。
研究亦發現，科技發展中國家準備要利用中等複雜的科技技術，包括：可持續追蹤從產品到人民等每樣物品動態的儀器；為人體大範圍感染所設計，能立即顯示結果又方便使用的健診試劑，以及環保的生產方式。
不過此研究的作者們對科技落後國─斐濟、多明尼加共和國、喬治亞、尼泊爾、巴基斯坦、埃及、伊朗、約旦、肯亞、喀麥隆和查德─仍不放棄希望，還說「上述國家若願意改變，便能改善其人民的生活」，研究中也列舉了低廉的太陽能、更簡單有效的淨水方式和鄉村無線通訊等改善方法。 （法新社／翻譯：鄭湘儀）
RSS