VOA慢速英语:For Love's Sake...Hang Up the Phone!

This Valentine’s Day, February 14, perhaps the best gift you can give the love of your life is your undivided attention.Sadly, for many of us, that is easier said than done.
2月14日的情人节，你给一生所爱最好的礼物是你的一心一意。很遗憾，对大多数人来说，这个说起来容易，做起来难。

An international study of more than 13,000 adults foundthat many people say modern technology has affected relations with their partner.Almost 40 percent of those questioned said their partner paid more attention to their mobile device than to them.
针对13000名成年人的一项国际调查显示，许多人表示现代科技影响了和伴侣之间的关系。百分之四十的受访者表示他们的伴侣对移动设备的关注比对他们的关注多。

Intel Security Group, a private company, paid for the study.It examined how romantic relationships are affected by a person’s use of social media and the Internet.
一家私营公司，英特尔安全公司投资做了这项调查，调查一个人使用社交媒体和网络对恋爱关系有怎样的影响。

The research included both old and new relationships.Thirty-three percent of those asked reported that they had to compete against a mobile device for attention on a first date.
这项研究既调查了刚刚进入恋情的情侣，也调查了长久保持恋爱关系的情侣。百分之三十三的人表示在初次约会时，他们需要和移动设备竞争，获取对方的关注。

Apparently, we have as much love for our digital devices as for the people we love.Intel’s survey found that adults spend almost equal amounts of time online at home as they do interacting directly.
显然，我们对数字化设备的爱远超我们所爱的人了。英特尔的调查发现，成年人在家上网花费的时间和直接与人交流接触的时间一样多。

And a lot of married couples, friends and family members argue about time spent on mobile devices.
很多已婚夫妇、朋友和家人都抱怨在移动设备上花费的时间。

Gary Davis is the chief consumer security officer at Intel Security.He says recognition of our electronic device involvement is important.
加里·戴维斯是英特尔安全公司的消费者安全总监。他说意识到电子设备在恋爱关系中的影响很重要。

If you have a pattern where you’re at dinner, you’re out on a date,you’re home having a quiet evening, maybe watching a show, or just enjoying a fire some like thatand a device comes into play, it’s that awkward thing that I don’t think enough people think about.And when they don’t think about it, they don’t understand the wear and tear it’s causing on the relationship.
“如果你养成习惯，吃晚饭时，外出约会时，在家享受宁静夜晚时，看个电视剧，享受炉火，电子设备就登场了。我觉得很多人都没想过这很不好。当他们从未想过时，他们不理解电子设备会逐渐侵蚀恋爱关系。”

Edward Spector holds a similar opinion.
爱德华·斯佩克特也持类似的观点。

We’re not thoughtfully progressing in terms of how we’re using technology.
“我们还未深思过如何利用科技。”

Spector works as a psychologist in Bethesda, Maryland.He studies human behavior, and specializes in technology dependence.
斯佩克特是马里兰贝塞斯达的一名心理学家。他研究人类行为，并专注研究人类对科技的依赖性。

So, we have to be thoughtful about the consequences of connecting to a particular social network,or allowing yourself to have the habit of the last hour and a half of your evening be checking your Facebook,or always responding to a text immediately.
“我们要深思沉迷社交网络的结果，或者放任你自己养成习惯，晚上花费一个半小时时间查看Facebook，或时刻盯着手机回复信息所造成的后果。”

Rules or time limits on a device might be good, in theory.However, Intel’s survey found that 45 percent of those questioned do not set rules.Another 45 percent said they got into arguments about how much they are on their phones when spending time with loved ones.
理论上来说，制定时间表或规矩，约束自己在某一个设备上花费的时间是很好的。但英特尔的调查显示，百分之四十五的受访者都未制定计划。另外百分之四十五的受访者表示他们为和爱人在一起时多少时间花费在手机上而产生争论。

The lack of social rules about digital behavior might be the result of the newness of the issue.
缺少关于使用电子设备的社会规范可能是这个问题的结论。

Past generations did not have the technologies, said psychologist Spector.
过去的人没有这些科技，心理学家斯佩克特说道。

In this situation, our elders know nothing.In fact, the knowledge and competence is moving towards the youngest generation that’s using the technologybecause they’re the ones bounding forward fearlessly,and finding out what ways you can get in trouble.
“在这种情况下，老一辈人对此一无所知。事实上，相关的知识和能力都走向了使用技术的最年轻一代，因为是他们无畏地前进，并发现哪种方式会陷入麻烦。”

That trouble may include the sharing of sensitive information.Intel’s research found nearly 30 percent of couples share passwords to social media sites.This could be a problem when relationships end.
这种困扰也包括分享敏感信息。英特尔的研究发现近百分之三十的情侣共享社交媒体账号的密码。当感情结束时，这也是一个问题。

Intel’s Gary Davis advises that people step away from electronic devices to truly connect with other people.
英特尔的加里·戴维斯建议人们，在和其他人面对面接触时，远离电子设备。

Understand the value of distancing yourself from your deviceand allow yourself to be engaged with that person that means the most to you.
“意识到远离电子设备的重要性，让自己全心投入到重要的人身上，”戴维斯说道。

I’m Caty Weaver.
卡迪·韦弗为您报道。