访谈录 2008-11-06&11-08 家庭高科技，拉近彼此距离

We are living in a hi-tech world, cell phones, the Internet video games; the list of gadgets¹ that keep invading² our lives keeps growing. You’d think that all those distractions³ would pull families apart but that may not be the case. Here’s CBS News Science and Technology Correspondent⁴ Daniel Sieberg.

Maybe the best example of Ozzie and Harriet living in the digital age is the Romoser family from Seattle.

Ha…my grandma just texted me, my dad, my grandma, my friend Katie …that was in like two minutes. Whether it’s 15-year-old Katie who defines⁵ multi-tasker, to a 13-year-old David engrossed⁶ in video games.

Don’t do it, don’t take it

To Mom Tracy and Dad Michael  trying to keep track of it all.

I will text them or else I‘ll …get dinner started and practise your trombone, so we know where they are at all times, which it’s really great.

Cell phones, e-mail, instant messaging -- It’s part of nearly every busy family's life on the go. But does that technology actually bring them closer together.

It’s just different. I think we are just as close uh, but, but it’s in a different way. According to a new study, 25% said their family is closer today than when they were growing up. Thanks to all the new tech-gadgets that connect us, the Web and cell phones; just 11% said their families were just close and 60% said the technologies made no difference.

Maybe parents uh, need, need to feel like they can reach their kids more, you know, than our parents did. The study also found that some families gather around the computer together, watch like ball games of the past.

Experts like Jeffery Cole who was not part of the study says while hi-tech communication lacks face-to-face time, it can still be meaningful.

As far as it’s affecting family relationships in almost every meaningful way, it makes people feel better connected.

The Romosers who set limits for their kids worry about a larger impact⁷.

Here we are raising a generation of people that are, you know, texting on their phones and on line with chatting and all that and I wonder about the societal impact of their communication skills.

In the meantime⁸ it’s back to being plugged in. For The Early Show, Daniel Sieberg CBS news, Los Angeles

1 gadgets   

n.小机械，小器具（ gadget的名词复数 ）

参考例句：

• Certainly. The idea is not to have a house full of gadgets. 当然。设想是房屋不再充满小配件。 来自超越目标英语 第4册
• This meant more gadgets and more experiments. 这意味着要设计出更多的装置，做更多的实验。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史

2 invading   

v.侵入，侵略( invade的现在分词 )；涌入；侵袭；侵犯

参考例句：

• The invading troops were guilty of rape and pillage. 侵略军犯了抢劫和强奸的罪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The invading army desecrated this holy place when they camped here. 侵略军在这块圣地上扎营就是对这块圣地的亵渎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 distractions   

n.使人分心的事[人]( distraction的名词复数 )；娱乐，消遣；心烦意乱；精神错乱

参考例句：

• I find it hard to work at home because there are too many distractions. 我发觉在家里工作很难，因为使人分心的事太多。
• There are too many distractions here to work properly. 这里叫人分心的事太多，使人无法好好工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 correspondent   

n.记者，通信者；adj.符合的，一致的，相当的

参考例句：

• He volunteered as a correspondent for the war.他自愿担任作报道这次战争的记者。
• The result was correspondent with my wishes.结果与我的愿望是一致的。

5 defines   

规定( define的第三人称单数 )； 使明确； 精确地解释； 画出…的线条

参考例句：

• This name defines us all. 这个名字造就了我们。 来自演讲部分
• The range of incomes over which this happens defines the 'poverty trap'. 发生在这种情况的收入范围，称为“贫困陷阱。”

6 engrossed   

adj.全神贯注的

参考例句：

• The student is engrossed in his book.这名学生正在专心致志地看书。
• No one had ever been quite so engrossed in an evening paper.没人会对一份晚报如此全神贯注。

7 impact   

n.冲击，碰撞；影响；vt.装紧，压紧

参考例句：

• The computer had made a great impact on modern life.计算机对现代生活产生了巨大的影响.
• How will the war impact on such a poet?战争对这样一个诗人会产生什么影响？

8 meantime   

n.其时，其间；adv.同时，当时

参考例句：

• I continued working,meantime,he went out shopping.我继续工作，这期间他出去买东西。
• In the meantime we pressed on with the airlift.与此同时，我们加紧进行空运。