隨身英語
Digital memories might not last forever “數字記憶” 可能不會永存
數碼產品在不斷地更新換代。雖然數字化為日常生活提供了便利，但隨著數碼產品逐漸老化、數字文件格式相繼被淘汰，人們可能再也無法訪問曾儲存在電子設備上的 “數字記憶”，從而失去了一段段寶貴的人生回憶。本文探討有哪些方法可以更好地保護自己免受因數字科技更新換代而產生的影響。
詞匯：digital content 數字內容
Having thousands of photos, songs and films available at our fingertips would have seemed amazing just a few decades ago, but how long will these files last for and be available? Could the digitalisation of cultural artefacts now be putting a time limit on our memories?
The materials that phones and computers are made of can decay over time, impacting the data that they store. Images can still be seen in faded photographs, but when digital data degrades, it can quickly make it impossible to even open a file. Also, as formats and devices become obsolete, it may become impossible to read files from previous decades.
Storing information in the cloud can also present problems. Large companies can still lose data. In 2019, social media platform MySpace admitted losing more than 12 years' worth of users' music uploads. The widespread use of streaming services for music, TV and film means that people no longer own the content that they watch and listen to, they just pay for the right to access it. If streaming companies decide to remove content, or go out of business, users will lose access.
Licencing rather than buying content is an example of how our behaviour towards digital content has changed. Another example is that we take far more pictures than people did in the past. This means that, added to the challenge of keeping our data safe, people have to consider what to preserve and what can be discarded.
So, what can we do? Technology writer Jack Schofield said that "data doesn't really exist unless you have at least two copies of it", so it's important that we keep backup copies of what is important to us – probably more than one. Academic Paul Royster suggests that we should all take time to consider what content we personally believe is worth saving. Perhaps the answer is just to avoid digital altogether. Science and Technology writer Chris Baranaiuk calls for a cultural movement towards buying analogue copies of cultural content.
詞匯表
digitalisation 數字化
artefact 人工制品
material 材料
decay 腐蝕
data 數據
faded 褪色的
degrade 降質
format （計算機信息的）格式
obsolete 淘汰的，過時的
the cloud （網絡）云
upload 上傳的信息
streaming service 流媒體服務，在線收聽或收看內容的服務
content 內容
go out of business 倒閉
licence 授予
preserve 保存，保留
discard 扔掉
backup copy 備份，備用副本
analogue （相對數字而言）實體的
測驗與練習
1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。
1. What can physically happen to our computers and phones over time?
2. What is different in the way that a digital photograph decays compared to a physical photograph?
3. Why can some formats become impossible to read?
4. When can people lose access to content on streaming services?
5. What has changed in the way that we take photographs?
2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。
1. _______ has made it much easier to share content with other people.
Formats Digitalisation Data Licenses
2. Hard drives can _______ over time, leading to corrupted files.
preserve discard fade decay
3. Old devices can become _______.
obsolete decay degrade discard
4. Photographs, books and films are all kinds of _______.
digitalisation content format licence
5. Storing your _______ on a cloud service can help preserve them.
analogues formats uploads streaming services
答案
1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。
1. What can physically happen to our computers and phones over time?
The materials that phones and computers are made of decay over time.
2. What is different in the way that a digital photograph decays compared to a physical photograph?
Physical photographs can still be seen, even when the colours have faded. Digital photograph files may quickly become impossible to open.
3. Why can some formats become impossible to read?
Formats can become obsolete over time.
4. When can people lose access to content on streaming services?
Streaming services can decide to remove content, or they can go out of business.
5. What has changed in the way that we take photographs?
We take far more photographs than people did in the past.
2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。
1. Digitalisation has made it much easier to share content with other people.
2. Hard drives can decay over time, leading to corrupted files.
3. Old devices can become obsolete.
4. Photographs, books and films are all kinds of content.
5. Storing your uploads on a cloud service can help preserve them.
