VOA常速英语2008年-UN: Digital Divide Threatens to Leave Developin

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
06 February 2008

A new report argues developing countries will be left behind unless they master new Information and communication technology.  Lisa Schlein reports from Geneva the report by the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development says technological¹ innovation is a major engine for growth. 

The report says globalization is here to stay and poor countries will not be able to fully² benefit from it, unless they become adept³ at using the new information and communication technology (ICT).

It says the creative use of ICT can increase the productivity of enterprises.  For example, in Thailand, UNCTAD has found that a 10 percent increase in the share of employees using computers was associated with 3.5 percent higher productivity.

Although the ICT industry has shown dynamic and positive results in several developing countries, mainly in Asia, the report says the digital divide between rich and poor countries remains⁴ great. 

UNCTAD's Anh-Nga Tran-Nguyen says mobile phone subscribers are increasing rapidly in developing countries.  She says they have almost tripled during the past five years and make up nearly 60 percent of mobile subscribers around the world.

"But, compared with the developed countries, this is still very low, because developed countries have reached saturation⁵ with over 100 percent in the rate of penetration⁶ of the mobile phone," she said.  "And, this rate is similar to countries with economies in transition.  With respect to Internet penetration rates, we estimate that in 2008, developed countries will have reached 65 percent, while developing countries remain at the very low level of 13 percent." 

Tran-Nguyen says the situation is even worse in respect to broadband computer access where developed countries have a penetration rate of 28 percent compared to three percent in the poor countries.

The report says the rapid pace of innovation in the ICT sector⁷ has brought down the price of these products and is making them more accessible to poorer people. 

Two examples of this are the establishment of telecenters, which are relatively⁸ cheap to use.  And, it says the use of mobile telephones has been a boon⁹ to micro-businesses, which operate on a tiny budget.

UNCTAD says governments in developing countries must lead the way in educating and training their people to use the new information and communication technology. 

The U.N. economists¹⁰ say industrialized nations have made major efficiency gains and significantly reduced costs by using these services.  What works for the rich countries, they say can also work for the poor countries.

1 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

2 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

3 adept   

adj.老练的，精通的

参考例句：

• When it comes to photography,I'm not an adept.要说照相，我不是内行。
• He was highly adept at avoiding trouble.他十分善于避开麻烦。

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 saturation   

n.饱和(状态)；浸透

参考例句：

• The company's sales are now close to saturation in many western countries.这家公司的产品销售量在许多西方国家已接近饱和。
• Road traffic has reached saturation point.公路交通已达到饱和点。

6 penetration   

n.穿透，穿人，渗透

参考例句：

• He is a man of penetration.他是一个富有洞察力的人。
• Our aim is to achieve greater market penetration.我们的目标是进一步打入市场。

7 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

8 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

9 boon   

n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠

参考例句：

• A car is a real boon when you live in the country.在郊外居住，有辆汽车确实极为方便。
• These machines have proved a real boon to disabled people.事实证明这些机器让残疾人受益匪浅。

10 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》