英语沙龙：信息就是力量（打印版）

Information is Power

In such a changing,

complex society formerly simple solutions to informational needs

become complicated.

Many of life’s problems which were solved by asking family members,

friends or colleagues

are beyond the capability of extended family to resolve.

Where to turn for expert information

and how to determine which expert advice to accept

are questions facing many people today.

Adding to societal changes today is an enormous supply of information.

The individual now has more information available than any generation,

and the task of finding that one piece of information

relevant to his or her specific problem is complicated,

time-consuming and sometimes even overwhelming.

Coupled with the growing quantity of information

is the development of technologies

which enable the storage and delivery of more information

with greater speed to more locations than has ever been possible before.

Computer technology makes it possible

to store vast amounts of data in machine-readable files,

and to program computers to locate specific information.

Telecommunication developments

enable the sending of messages via television, radio,

and very shortly,

electronic mail to bombard people with multitudes of messages.

Satellites have extended the power of communications

to report events at the instant occurrence.

Expertise can be shared world wide through teleconferencing,

and problems in dispute can be settled without participants

leaving their homes and/or jobs to travel to a distant conference site.

Technology has facilitated the sharing of information

and the storage and delivery of information,

thus making more information available to more people.

In this world of change and complexity,

the need for information is of greatest importance.

Those people who have accurate, reliable up-to-date information

to solve the day-to-day problems,

the critical problems of their business,

social and family life,

will survive and succeed.

“Knowledge is power”

may well be the most critical requirement of all people.