Computer and internet adoption on large US farms
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网络正面影响读写能力雅思大作文In today's digital age, the internet has become an integral part of our daily lives, influencing various aspects of human behavior and cognition. One of the areas that has been significantly impacted by the internet is the reading and writing abilities of individuals, especially those preparing for the IELTS exam. While the internet has undoubtedly brought about numerous positive changes, it has also posed challenges to the development and maintenance of strong reading and writing skills. This essay will explore the positive effects of the internet on reading and writing abilities, as well as the negative consequences, andultimately provide a balanced perspective on the issue. To begin with, the internet has undeniably facilitated access to a wide range of reading materials, thereby expanding the knowledge and vocabulary of individuals. With the click of a button, one can access countless articles, books, and academic papers on virtually any topic. This easy access to information has not only broadened people's horizons but has also improved their reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. Furthermore, the internet has provided a platform for individuals to practice and enhance their writing abilities through blogs, social media, and online forums. This constant exposure to diverse writing styles and perspectives has undoubtedly contributed to the improvement of writing skills for many individuals. Moreover, the internet has revolutionized the way people communicate and collaborate on written projects. With the advent of email, instant messaging, and collaborative writing platforms, individuals can now easily exchange ideas, provide feedback, and work together on writing assignments regardless of their geographical locations. This interconnectedness has not only enhanced the quality of writing through collective input but has also fostered a sense of community among writers and readers alike. Additionally, the internet has provided a platform for individuals to publish and share their writings with a global audience, thereby encouraging creativity and self-expression. However, despite these positive impacts, the internet has also brought about several challenges to the development of strong reading and writing abilities. The abundance of digital distractions, such as social media, online videos, and mobile games, has made it increasingly difficult for individuals to focus on reading lengthy texts or engagein sustained writing activities. This constant bombardment of stimuli has led to a decline in attention spans and the ability to concentrate on complex written materials. Furthermore, the informal and abbreviated language used in online communication has seeped into formal writing, leading to a deterioration of grammar, spelling, and overall writing quality among individuals. Another significant issue arising from the internet's influence on reading and writing abilities is the prevalence of misinformation and fake news. With the ease of publishing and sharing content online, individuals are often exposed to inaccurate and biased information, which can significantly impact their critical reading and thinking skills. The inability to discern credible sources from unreliable ones has led to a decline in the overall quality of reading and writing, as individuals may unknowingly incorporate false information into their writing or form misguided opinions based on faulty sources. In conclusion, while the internet has undoubtedly brought about positive changes in the development and enhancement of reading and writing abilities, it has also posed significant challenges to the maintenance of strong literacy skills. The easy access to information, the facilitation of communication and collaboration, and the encouragement ofcreativity are undeniably positive outcomes of the internet's influence. However, the prevalence of digital distractions, the deterioration of formal writing standards, and the spread of misinformation are issues that need to be addressed in order to mitigate the negative impact of the internet on reading and writing abilities. Ultimately, it is crucial for individuals to strike a balance between utilizing the internet as a valuable resource for literacy development and being mindful of its potential pitfalls.。
电脑和因特网英文作文Computer and the Internet have become an integral partof our daily lives. We use them for work, entertainment, communication, and so much more. It's hard to imagine a world without them.The computer has revolutionized the way we work. It has made tasks that were once time-consuming and tedious much easier and faster. We can now create documents, analyze data, and communicate with others with just a few clicks.The Internet has opened up a whole new world of possibilities. We can now connect with people from all over the globe, access a wealth of information, and even shopfor goods and services without ever leaving our homes.With the rise of social media, the Internet has also changed the way we communicate. We can now stay in touchwith friends and family, share our thoughts and experiences, and even meet new people, all with the click of a button.Of course, with all the benefits of the computer and the Internet come some drawbacks. We are now more reliant on technology than ever before, and this can lead to issues such as cyberbullying, privacy concerns, and addiction.Despite these challenges, it's clear that the computer and the Internet have had a profound impact on our lives. They have made the world a smaller, more connected place, and have opened up countless opportunities for work, play, and communication.。
The Internet has revolutionized the way we communicate,access information,and conduct business.Here are some key points to consider when writing an essay on the Internet:1.Introduction to the Internet:Begin by explaining what the Internet isa global network of interconnected computers that allows for the sharing of information and resources.2.History of the Internet:Provide a brief overview of the Internets development,from its origins in the ARPANET project in the late1960s to its widespread adoption in the1990s.3.Impact on Communication:Discuss how the Internet has transformed communication. Mention the rise of email,instant messaging,social media,and video conferencing as ways people stay connected.4.Access to Information:Highlight the vast amount of information available at our fingertips.Discuss the role of search engines like Google in facilitating this access.cational Opportunities:Explain how the Internet has opened up new avenues for learning,including online courses,educational resources,and collaborative projects.6.Ecommerce and Business:Describe the impact of the Internet on commerce,including online shopping,digital marketing,and the growth of the gig economy.7.Cultural Exchange:Discuss how the Internet has facilitated cultural exchange by allowing people from different parts of the world to share and access content from various cultures.8.Challenges and Concerns:Address the challenges posed by the Internet,such as privacy issues,cybercrime,misinformation,and the digital divide.9.The Future of the Internet:Conclude by speculating on the future of the Internet, including potential advancements in technology,such as the Internet of Things IoT,and the implications for society.10.Personal Reflection:End your essay with a personal reflection on how the Internet has affected your life,your work,or your education.Remember to structure your essay with a clear introduction,body paragraphs that explore each point in detail,and a conclusion that summarizes your main e evidence andexamples to support your arguments,and ensure that your essay is wellorganized and coherent.。
Computers and the InternetA computer is a machine that stores information in its memory, and does automated calculations on that knowledge. Computers can be used to do many things, from playing games, to solving very hard math. This allows people to use computers to do jobs, or just to have fun.The Internet is an international computer network linking together thousands of individual networks at military and government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, industrial and financial corporation. TEXT AThe Digital DivideOnce upon a time societies were organised around religion, farming, trade or industry. In many parts of the world today this is still true, but something else is becoming more important – the exchange of information, and the technology that we use to do this. Twenty-four hour news, e-commerce, international call-centres, mobile phones, Global Positioning Systems … all these are making the world smaller and faster. The growth in telecommunications is now giving more and more people access to democratic ideas, to the principles of international law and human rights, to the science that will help their country to develop or to the medical knowledge that can fight disease. It is starting a real global village which people only dreamed of a generation ago.But how can everybody in the world share the recent technological advances? Million of people cannot read these words because they don’t have access to a computer. They don’t understand English either, the language that 80% of the information is written in. They don’t even have a telephone. They are more worried about how far they will have to walk today to get clean water or if they can feed themselves and their families. For most people on this planet, information is not a priority.The contrast between countries that have information technology and those that don’t is called the ‘digital divide’. Scandinavia and South and East Asia have a high number of people who use Information Communication Technology (ICT). Central Africa and the Pacific have almost none.The United Nations is trying to make the information society a reality for more of the developing world. It wants to see rich countries transfer new technology and knowledge to poorer nations.Ten years from now, the plan is that everyone in the world will have a radio or television and that 50% of the world’s population will have access to the Internetfrom schools and universities, health centres and hospitals, libraries and museums. This will improve medical care and education, science and agriculture, business opportunities and employment. At the same time, they say, local communities, languages and cultures will become stronger.Just a dream? Certainly there are some contradictions. Does only good come with freedom of information? If information is power, why will people share it? Doesn’t more technology mean fewer jobs? And how can the exchange of information keep local cultures alive if most of that information is only in one language?It is much easier to get people connected to broadband or put government online in Europe than in South America or the Middle East. However, developing countries often leapfrog the process which richer nations went through, and avoid their mistakes. Brazil collects most of its taxes online these days. There are cyber cities in Dubai and Mauritius. And Taiwan and Hong Kong have better access to ICT than the United Kingdom. Maybe the English language isn’t so important after all.Perhaps the spread of technology means that the old centres of power are also changing. The United States introduced internet technology in the 1970s. But people are asking why they should continue to be in charge. Why should a small organisation in California tell the rest of the world how computers talk to each other?The US says it makes the rules, but it doesn’t control the flow of information. The domain name system (DNS) controls how internet addresses work, but not what a website or database contains. Many want a more international approach, however. But they also want the internet to remain open and free for all to use.Can the world create an information society for all? If a farmer in Bangladesh can read this in the year 2015, then maybe the answer is yes.。
Computers Revolutionizing Communication In today's digital era, computers have become an integral part of our lives, revolutionizing the way we interact and communicate with each other. The advent of computers and the subsequent development of the internet have brought about significant changes in the communication landscape, allowing people to stay connected regardless of geographical distances.One of the most significant impacts of computers on communication is the emergence of social media platforms. These platforms have transformed the way we share information, express opinions, and stay connected with friends and family. Social media has made it possible for people to stay updated with the latest news and trends, share their daily lives, and connect with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.Another significant change brought by computers is the rise of video conferencing and online meetings. These technologies have made it possible for people to conduct meetings and conferences remotely, saving time and money. Whether it's a business meeting, a virtual classroom, or afamily gathering, video conferencing allows people to come together and interact in real-time, despite beingphysically apart.Computers have also revolutionized the way we access and share information. The internet has become a vast repository of knowledge, and computers provide us with the tools to search, retrieve, and share this information quickly and efficiently. This has led to a more informed and connected society, where people can access information from anywhere in the world at any time.Moreover, computers have enabled new forms of creative expression and communication. Digital art, animation, and gaming have become popular forms of entertainment and expression, allowing people to express their creativity and imagination in new and exciting ways. These digital media forms have also become powerful tools for storytelling and communication, bridging the gap between different cultures and generations.However, while computers have brought remarkable changes to communication, they have also presented some challenges. The rise of onlinebullying, privacy concerns,and the spread of misinformation have raised concerns about the ethical and social implications of computer-mediated communication. It is, therefore, crucial to develop responsible and ethical practices when using computers and other digital tools for communication.In conclusion, computers have revolutionized the way we communicate and interact with each other. They have brought about significant changes in the communication landscape, allowing us to stay connected, share information, and express ourselves in new and exciting ways. However, it is important to remember that while computers provide us with powerful tools for communication, it is our responsibility to use them ethically and responsibly.**计算机正在改变人们的交流方式**在当今数字化时代,计算机已成为我们生活中不可或缺的一部分,它们正在改变我们彼此交流和互动的方式。
计算机如何重塑我们的交流方式In the digital age, computers have revolutionized the way we communicate, transforming the landscape of human interaction in profound and unprecedented ways. From the earliest days of telegraphy to the present era of social media and instant messaging, technology has consistently altered the fabric of our conversations and connections.The advent of the computer marked a significant milestone in communication history. Initially, computers enabled the exchange of information through text-based interfaces, revolutionizing the speed and efficiency of data transmission. This shift away from traditional methods of communication, such as letters and telegrams, marked a significant leap forward in terms of speed and accessibility.As technology advanced, the internet emerged as a new medium for communication, connecting people across the globe. Email, in particular, became a ubiquitous tool for personal and professional communication, enabling messages to be sent and received instantaneously, regardless of physical location. This转变 in communication patterns notonly increased efficiency but also fostered new forms of interpersonal relationships, as people could stay in touch with friends and family members far away.Social media platforms further revolutionized communication by introducing new ways to share and consume information. These platforms allowed individuals to create profiles, connect with others, and share their thoughts, experiences, and creations with a wide audience. The rise of social media also gave rise to new forms of communication, such as tweeting, posting updates, and sharing photos and videos, all of which have become integral to modern-day communication.Moreover, the advent of messaging apps like WhatsApp, WeChat, and Messenger has further transformed the communication landscape. These apps enable real-time, instant messaging, voice calls, and video conferencing, effectively blurring the lines between personal and professional communication. The convenience and accessibility of these apps have made it possible for people to stay connected and communicate seamlessly, regardless of their location or time zone.The impact of computers on communication has also been felt in the realm of business and professional communication. Video conferencing tools like Zoom and Skype have made it possible for teams and organizations to collaborate and communicate effectively, regardless oftheir physical locations. This has led to a more globalized and interconnected workforce, where people can work together seamlessly, regardless of their geographical separations.In addition, the rise of chatbots and artificial intelligence (AI) has further transformed the communication landscape. These technologies enable automated responses and interactions, providing customers and users withinstant access to information and assistance. Chatbots and AI have revolutionized customer service, making it possible for companies to provide round-the-clock support and assistance, while also improving efficiency and reducing costs.The computer's influence on communication has not only transformed the way we interact but has also had profound impacts on our society and culture. The rise of the digitalage has given rise to new forms of expression and communication, such as memes, emojis, and digital art, all of which have become integral to modern-day communication. The computer has also enabled the creation and sharing of vast amounts of information and knowledge, fostering a more informed and connected society.In conclusion, computers have revolutionized the way we communicate, transforming the landscape of humaninteraction in profound and unprecedented ways. From the earliest days of telegraphy to the present era of social media and instant messaging, technology has consistently altered the fabric of our conversations and connections. The rise of the digital age has not only transformed the way we interact but has also had profound impacts on our society and culture, fostering a more connected, informed, and expressive world.**计算机如何重塑我们的交流方式**在数字时代,计算机彻底改变了我们的交流方式,以深刻而前所未有的方式重塑了人类互动的景观。
对互联网语言使用的建议英语作文The internet has revolutionized the way we communicate and interact with one another. It has become an integral part of our daily lives, enabling us to connect with people across the globe, access information instantly, and express ourselves in ways that were once unimaginable. However, the widespread use of the internet has also given rise to a unique form of language that is often referred to as "internet language." This language is characterized by its informality, abbreviations, and the incorporation of visual elements such as emojis and memes.While the use of internet language can be a fun and expressive way to communicate, it is important to recognize that it may not always be appropriate or effective in all contexts. As such, it is important to consider the following recommendations for the use of internet language:Firstly, it is crucial to understand the context in which one is communicating. Internet language is often best suited for informal, casual conversations, such as those that take place on social mediaplatforms or in online forums. However, in more formal settings, such as professional emails or academic writing, it is important to use more traditional and standardized forms of language. Failure to do so may be perceived as unprofessional or inappropriate, and could potentially undermine one's credibility or authority.Secondly, it is important to be mindful of one's audience when using internet language. While some individuals may be comfortable with and even prefer the use of internet language, others may find it confusing or even offensive. It is important to consider the preferences and expectations of one's audience and to adjust one's language accordingly. For example, when communicating with older individuals or those who are less familiar with internet culture, it may be best to use more traditional forms of language.Thirdly, it is important to be aware of the potential for misunderstanding when using internet language. The use of abbreviations, emojis, and other visual elements can sometimes be ambiguous or open to interpretation, and this can lead to miscommunications or misunderstandings. It is important to be clear and concise in one's communication, and to avoid using language that could be easily misinterpreted.Fourthly, it is important to be mindful of the potential for internet language to be perceived as unprofessional or inappropriate incertain contexts. While the use of internet language may be acceptable or even encouraged in some settings, such as social media or online forums, it may be viewed as inappropriate or unprofessional in more formal settings, such as professional emails or job applications. It is important to be aware of these expectations and to adjust one's language accordingly.Finally, it is important to recognize that the use of internet language can have implications for one's personal and professional reputation. The way in which one communicates online can be a reflection of one's character and values, and it is important to be mindful of the impression that one is creating. It is important to use internet language responsibly and to avoid using language that could be perceived as offensive, inappropriate, or unprofessional.In conclusion, the use of internet language can be a fun and expressive way to communicate, but it is important to be mindful of the context in which it is used, the preferences and expectations of one's audience, the potential for misunderstanding, and the implications for one's personal and professional reputation. By following these recommendations, individuals can ensure that they are using internet language in a responsible and effective manner.。
The Internet has become an integral part of modern life,transforming the way we communicate,learn,and access information.Here are some key points to consider when discussing the impact of the Internet in an English essay:munication:The Internet has revolutionized communication methods.Email, social media,and instant messaging platforms have made it possible to connect with people across the globe instantly.This has not only facilitated personal relationships but also business and diplomatic relations.rmation Access:With a vast amount of information available at our fingertips,the Internet has become the primary source for research and learning.Students can access educational resources,scholars can collaborate on research,and the general public can stay informed about global events.3.Ecommerce:The rise of online shopping has transformed the retail industry. Consumers can purchase goods and services from anywhere in the world without leaving their homes,and businesses can reach a global market.cation:Online learning platforms and courses have made education more accessible.Students can learn at their own pace,and professionals can upskill or retrain without disrupting their work or personal lives.5.Cultural Exchange:The Internet has broken down geographical barriers,allowing for the exchange of cultures,ideas,and traditions.This has led to a greater understanding and appreciation of diversity.6.Employment:The Internet has created new job opportunities in various sectors such as IT,digital marketing,and ecommerce.It has also enabled remote work,providing flexibility for employees and reducing overhead costs for employers.7.Social Movements:Social media platforms have become powerful tools for social movements.They allow for the rapid dissemination of information and the organization of events,leading to increased awareness and participation in social and political issues.8.Privacy Concerns:While the Internet offers many benefits,it also raises concerns about privacy and data security.The collection and misuse of personal information by companies and governments is a significant issue.9.Digital Divide:Despite its widespread use,not everyone has equal access to the Internet.The digital divide refers to the gap between those who have access to digitaltechnology and those who do not,often exacerbated by economic and educational disparities.10.Mental Health:The Internet can have both positive and negative effects on mental health.While it can provide support networks and resources,excessive use can lead to issues such as anxiety,depression,and social isolation.11.Fake News and Misinformation:The ease of sharing information on the Internet has also led to the spread of fake news and misinformation,which can have serious consequences for individuals and society.12.Innovation:The Internet has been a catalyst for innovation in various fields,from technology and science to art and entertainment.It provides a platform for new ideas and creative expression.In conclusion,the Internet has a profound impact on our lives,offering numerous benefits but also presenting challenges that need to be addressed.It is essential to use this powerful tool responsibly and to work towards a more inclusive and secure digital environment.。
Using computers and the internet has become an integral part of our daily lives, transforming the way we communicate,learn,and work.Heres an essay that explores the various aspects of this digital revolution.Title:The Impact of Computers and the Internet on Modern SocietyIn the modern era,the advent of computers and the internet has revolutionized the way we live,work,and interact.This essay delves into the profound impact these technologies have had on various facets of society,from education to business,and from socialization to entertainment.IntroductionThe digital age has ushered in a new era of connectivity and information access. Computers,once bulky and limited to a few,are now sleek,powerful,and accessible to the masses.The internet,a global network of interconnected computers,has further amplified this accessibility,allowing for instant communication and the sharing of vast amounts of data.This essay will discuss the benefits and challenges that come with the widespread use of computers and the internet.Education and LearningOne of the most significant impacts of computers and the internet is on education.Online learning platforms have made education more accessible,allowing students to learn at their own pace and from anywhere in the world.Elearning resources such as Massive Open Online Courses MOOCs and educational apps have democratized knowledge, making it possible for anyone with an internet connection to acquire new skills and knowledge.Business and EconomyThe business world has also been transformed by digital puters have automated many tasks,increasing efficiency and productivity.The internet has facilitated global trade,allowing businesses to reach customers and partners across the globe with ease.Ecommerce platforms have revolutionized retail,providing consumers with a convenient way to shop and businesses with a platform to sell their products.Socialization and CommunicationSocial media platforms have changed the way we socialize and communicate.They have made it possible to stay connected with friends and family,regardless of geographical distance.However,this constant connectivity has also raised concerns about privacy and the quality of relationships formed online.EntertainmentThe entertainment industry has been significantly impacted by the internet.Streaming services have made it possible to watch movies and TV shows on demand,while online gaming has become a popular pastime.However,the ease of access to content has also led to issues such as piracy and the spread of misinformation.ChallengesWhile the benefits of computers and the internet are numerous,they also come with challenges.Cybersecurity threats,such as hacking and identity theft,are a growing concern.The digital divide,where access to technology is unequal,exacerbates social and economic inequalities.Additionally,the reliance on technology can lead to issues such as addiction and decreased physical activity.ConclusionIn conclusion,computers and the internet have undeniably changed the world in ways that were unimaginable just a few decades ago.They have brought about incredible advancements in education,business,socialization,and entertainment.However,it is crucial to address the challenges that accompany this digital revolution to ensure that its benefits are accessible and enjoyed by all.This essay provides a comprehensive overview of how computers and the internet have permeated and transformed various aspects of our lives,highlighting both the opportunities they present and the challenges they pose.。
课时质量评价(九)必修第二册UNIT 3 THE INTERNET题型组合练——阅读理解+七选五Ⅰ. 阅读理解AThere are many apps that can benefit students both in their life and study. Below are some examples that you may find helpful.◆ Remember the Milk (iOS and Android)This is the ultimate todo list app. You can create lists of things you need to accomplish on a specific day and organise these lists. The app breaks down all your tasks by the day, and you can set reminders and recurring (重复出现的) tasks.Price: Monthly Fee: $4◆ AppDetox (Android)AppDetox blocks your access to the Internet or to apps of your choosing for a certain period of time to allow you to get things done without distractions.Price: $3 per month◆ Studious (iOS)You can input your class schedules in Studious, and set it to remind you when homework assignments are due and when your tests are scheduled.Price: $20 per month◆ Streaks (iOS and Android)This awardwinning app is an addicting goaltracking app that challenges you to achieve a “streak” by tracking the number of consecutive days you've stayed focused and completed specific tasks. It works well for goals like turning in homework on time or reading chapters in assigned books.Price: Yearly Fee: $24【语篇解读】本文是一篇应用文。
Alienation and the InternetIntroductionWith the rapid development of technology, the Internet has become an integral part of our daily lives. It provides us with a wealth of information, communication tools, and entertainment. However, along with the numerous benefits, the internet also brings about a sense of alienation among individuals. This article aims to explore the relationship between alienation and the internet, shedding light on the various aspects that contribute to this phenomenon.The Alienating Effects of Social MediaThe Illusion of Connection1.Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter,create an illusion of connection. While they provide us with theability to connect with others, the nature of these connections is often shallow and superficial.2.Scrolling through endless feeds of curated posts and carefullyselected snippets of others’ lives can lead to feelings ofinadequacy and loneliness. Comparing our own lives to theseemingly perfect lives of others can leave us feeling alienatedand disconnected.The Disruption of Face-to-Face Interactions1.Spending excessive amounts of time online can result in a reducedemphasis on face-to-face interactions. People may opt for chatting online rather than meeting in person, leading to a lack of genuine human connection.2.The convenience of digital communication may lead to a decline insocial skills, making it more difficult for individuals to engage in meaningful conversations or form deep connections with others.Cyberbullying and AlienationThe Dark Side of the Internet1.Cyberbullying is one of the most prevalent issues associated withthe internet. The anonymity provided by online platforms oftenleads to an increase in online harassment, resulting in feelingsof alienation and vulnerability.2.Victims of cyberbullying may experience a withdrawal from socialactivities and relationships, fearing further online attacks. This isolation can lead to a deep sense of alienation from society.Internet Addiction and Social IsolationEscaping Reality in the Digital World1.Internet addiction is a growing concern, with individuals becomingincreasingly reliant on the internet for entertainment,information, and escape from reality.2.Excessive internet use can lead to a neglect of offlinerelationships and activities, resulting in social isolation and a sense of alienation from the physical world.The Vicious Cycle1.Social isolation caused by internet addiction can furtherexacerbate feelings of alienation. Individuals may find itchallenging to reintegrate into society, leading to a self-perpetuating cycle of isolation and alienation.2.The virtual world of the internet becomes a comfort zone, furtherdistancing individuals from meaningful connections and genuineexperiences.Alienation and the Digital DivideInequality in Access1.The digital divide refers to the unequal distribution of internetaccess and technological resources among different social groupsand regions.2.Those without access to the internet often face feelings ofalienation and exclusion from the opportunities and benefits that the online world offers.The Impact on Education and Employment1.Limited access to the internet can hinder educationalopportunities and hinder the acquisition of necessary digitalskills. This leads to a sense of alienation from the modernworkforce and disadvantages individuals in the job market.2.The digital divide perpetuates existing social inequalities,reinforcing the alienation and marginalization of disadvantagedcommunities.ConclusionDespite its numerous advantages, the internet can contribute to feelings of alienation among individuals. The illusory nature of social media connections, the prevalence of cyberbullying, internet addiction, and the digital divide all play a role in this phenomenon. It is crucial to recognize these issues and find ways to create a more inclusive and connected online environment that fosters genuine human connections and reduces the sense of alienation often associated with the internet.。
学号:2015250215 姓名:张雪松专业:农业科技组织与服务Computer and The InternetIt is said that the 21st century is the Internet age. I think it is true and the computer plays an important role, Internet has changed our life. It makes our life faster and better. Some people may say the world become smaller when they use modern machine, such as TV, computer and so on. I think the reason is that we can watch the news on the internet from all o ver the world, and we needn’t go to other countries to go on a visit. We can just surf on the internet to find what we need and what we want to know.Internet is very useful in our daily life. On the Internet, we can get as much information as we can. We can use the Internet to send e-mails to friends and talk with friends online. Besides, on the Internet we can read books, enjoy music and watch ball games. We can also do shopping without leaving our homes. However, some of us only use the Internet to play computer games. Playing computer games can make us relaxed, but playing computer games too much is bad for our studies and heart. They waste a lot of time on it. We must make good use of the Internet.The Internet can both help us and hurt us. So we should be careful when we enjoy the Internet.。
因特网对语言的影响的英语作文The internet has revolutionized the way we communicate and use language. It's like a giant melting pot where different cultures and languages mix and create new expressions.Online, people talk in abbreviations and emojis. You see things like "LOL" for laughing out loud or a heart emoji to express affection. This kind of shorthand has become part of our daily conversations, even offline.Another big impact is the spread of memes and viral phrases. Something funny or catchy can go viral in seconds, and everyone starts using it. It's like having a shared language that evolves rapidly.The internet has also made it easier for people to learn new languages. There are tons of resources and tools available, from language-learning apps to online communities where native speakers help you out. The barrierto learning a new language has been lowered significantly.And let's not forget about slang and dialects. The internet has given a voice to regional dialects and unique ways of speaking that were once confined to specific areas. Now, people from all over the world can discover and appreciate these unique linguistic flavors.So yeah, the internet has had a massive impact on language. It's made communication faster, more diverse, and more fun. Who knows what new linguistic trends will emerge next?。
高中英语Computers and the Internet(考试总分:100 分考试时间: 120 分钟)一、阅读理解(本题共计 10 小题,每题 10 分,共计100分)1、People have been influenced to become technology addicted. One survey reported that “addicted” was the word most commonly used by people to describe their relationship to iPad and similar devices. One study found that people had a harder time resisting the allure (诱惑) of social media than they did for sleep, cigarettes and alcohol.The main goal of technology companies is to get people to spend more money and time on their products, not to actually improve our quality of life. They have successfully created a cultural disease. Consumers willingly give up their freedom, money and time to catch up on the latest information, to keep pace with their peers or to appear modern.I see people trapped in a pathological (病态的) relationship with time-sucking technology, where they serve technology more than technology serves them. I call this technology servitude (奴役). I am referring to a loss of personal freedom and independence because of uncontrolled consumption of many kinds of devices that eat up time and money.What is a healthy use of technology devices? That is the vital question. Who is really in charge of my life? That is what people need to ask themselves if we are to have any chance of breaking up false beliefs about their use of technology. When we can live happily without using so much technology for a day or a week, then we can regain control and personal freedom, become the master of technology and discover what there is to enjoy in life free of technology. Mae West is famous for proclaiming the wisdom that “too much of a good thing is wonderful.” But it's time to discover that it does not work for technology.Richard Fernandez, an executive coach at Google ack nowledged that “we can be swept away by our technologies.” To break the grand digital connection people must consider how life long ago could be fantastic without today's overused technology.54. From the passage, technology companies aim to ______.A. attract people to buy their productsB. provide the latest informationC. improve people's quality of lifeD. deal with cultural diseases55. It can be inferred from this passage that people ______.A. consider too much technology wonderfulB. have realized the harm of high-tech devicesC. can regain freedom without high-tech devicesD. may enjoy life better without overused technology56. What's the author's attitude towards the overusing of high-tech devices?A. Neutral (中立的).B. Skeptical (怀疑的).C. Disapproving.D. Sympathetic.2、It’s hair-raising news for criminals on the run. Scientists behind a new study have worked out how to identify individuals only based on the proteins (蛋白质) in a single piece of their hair.While the police already look at DNA from hair as part of investigations, the technique is far from ideal: DNA is easily changeable, meaning it can only be analyzed within a certain time period after the crime. But the new technique could even be used to solve historical or archaeological cases, making it far superior to DNA arrangement in many ways.DNA change depends on several environmental factors including temperature, humidity and PH. It is also affected by the activity of bacteria and other microorganisms. In contrast, actual hairs can survive for a long time—sometimes centuries. After bones and teeth, hair is in fact one of the most resistant structures of the human body.In order to understand how the protein can be used to identify individuals, it is important to understand proteins are coded by DNA. This means that a certain level of the genetic variation that we see in different people’s DNA passes into their proteins. In fact, genetic information in the DNA is translated into chains that make up proteins.The method not only allows for human identification but it can also show how old the sample is and what region it comes from, so that we can distinguish between current and ancient samples. But while the discovery is exciting, the technique is not quite polished enough to be used in the court room. The main task now will be to analyze hair samples from all over the world, which will make it a lot more reliable.The new discovery will promote the significance of hair as evidence in courts, at a time when some forensic (司法鉴定的) disciplines have been criticized in the US. It will also be of great use in archaeology.1. What’s the main idea of the passage?A. DNA evidence is far from ideal.B. Criminals on the run get hair-raising news.C. Scientists are planning a test of human hair.D. Humans can be identified by proteins in hair.2. Which evidence is more reliable for the police to identify a criminal?A. Lost teethB. The footprint.C. Personal belongingsD. Damaged DNA.3. In what way is the new technique superior to DNA test?A. Serving as evidence in courts.B. Possessing genetic information.C. Inferring the height of a person.D. Distinguishing the region of a person.4. What will scientists do in the following few years?A. Test hair samples worldwide.B. Legalize the hair evidence.C. Apply protein-test to archaeology.D. Map the structure of DNA.5. Who will welcome the discovery?A. CriminalsB. EmployersC. HairdressersD. Archaeologists3、Facebook is an Internet-based social network site that lets people get in touch with family and friends and reach out to people with common interests around the world, all through computer. It is very popular, with more than 900 million users. If Facebook were a country, it would have about three times the population of the United States.Documents filed with US. financial regulators say Facebook has hundreds of millions of active users who send billions of messages each day and upload 250 million photographs on their personal pages. Facebook users have registered 100 billion “friends.”On Facebook, “Friending” someone means you add the person to your list of people you can communicate with directly, which often allows the person to see more information about you than you share with the general public.Facebook was started by Mark Zuckerberg and other students at Harvard University in 2004, and has grown at an amazingly fast pace.Facebook makes money when advertisers pay to get access to hundreds of millions of Facebook users. Advertisers can often direct their messages to the people most interested in their products because Facebook computers keep track of information that users place on their pages. For example, a person interested in diving, planning a wedding, looking for work, or suffering from diabetes (糖尿病) may see advertisements related to those topics.Facebook has become so much a part of the culture of the United States and other nations that it has been the subject of a Hollywood movie. It is a key marketing tool for many businesses, and its users’ content has been used as evidence in some divorce or criminal cases.185. From the first paragraph, we can learn that ______.A. about 900 million Americans are using FacebookB. Facebook is widely used in the worldC. Facebook is a country in the InternetD. Facebook is a place where people can meet face to face186. If you are a friend of someone on Facebook, you ______.A. will have 100 billion friendsB. can download 250 million photographsC. will share more private informationD. have to send message every day187. Advertisers use Facebook because they can know ______.A. who are interested in their productsB. how to keep track of informationC. what products are popular with the youngD. where their products are sold well188. What might be the most suitable title for the passage?A. Who starts Facebook?B. How to use Facebook?C. When is Facebook on?D. What is Facebook?4、Food storing is common in members of the crow (乌鸦) family. A new study tested the birds outside this naturally occurring behaviour, which may have evolved (进化) specifically because it gives crows a survival advantage. Some crow species are known to naturally use tools to recover food. So the researchers tested whether the birds could store and recover a tool so they could get it at their food after a gap of 17 hours—something we wouldn’t expect them to do naturally. But they were able to instantly select the tool out of a number of unnecessary items.In another experiment, the researchers taught crows to select a token (礼品券) from a number of items so that they could then exchange for food. Again, the birds then showed that they could plan for the future using this new behaviour. This is different from all of the previous studies in future planning, which have focused on naturally occurring behaviour. For example, we know that chimpanzees select, transport and save appropriate tools for future needs.These studies have shown that animals can plan for the future—but they left an important question open for debate. Are animals only able to plan to use abilities that have evolved to give them a specific advantage, or can they flexibly and intelligently apply planning behaviour across various actions? Most critics would say the former, as the animals were tested in naturally occurring behaviours.But the new research provides the first evidence that animal species can plan for the future using behaviour that doesn’t typically occur in nature. This supports the view that at least some recognitive abilities in animals don’t evolve just in response to specific problems. Instead, it suggests that animals can apply these behaviours flexibly across problems in a similar way to humans. We need to investigate how flexible behaviour evolved. Then we might be able to see how crows’ ability to plan for the future fits in with their broader cognitive powers.153. What’s the new finding about some crows according to Paragraph 1?A. They can store food.B. They can use tools to recover food.C. They can store and recover tools.D. They can select and store food.154. What are crows trained by scientists to do when given a token?A. Reject it casually.B. Exchange it for food.C. Save it as their food.D. Build a nest with it.155. What do scientists think of the studies that animals can plan for the future?A. They are controversial.B. They are disappointing.C. They are contradictory.D. They are convincing.156. What can be inferred about recognitive abilities in animals?A. They develop only with age.B. It is unclear how they’ve evolved now.C. No animals but crows benefit from them.D. Planning for the future helps their evolution.5、The days of glancing at a map or the screen of your smart phone when you’re lost will soon be over, thanks to new shoes that tell you which way to turn to. The shoes use a Bluetooth link to communicate with your mobile’s mapping system. The mobile works out which route you should be following and the shoes then produce a slight shaking in either foot telling you when and where to change direction.The shoes will also count the number of steps you’ve taken and the calories you’ve burned, and they’ll even buzz to warn you you’ve left your phone behind, or to tell you when you’re travelling past an interesting landmark.“They are as easy to use as a tap on the shoulder,” said Krispian Lawrence, 30, who developed the shoes with partner Anirudh Sharma, 28, in Hyderabad, India. “You can even communicate with them using hand gestures and finger snaps because the shoes have sensors that can pick up movement and sound.”The Lechal sh oes go on sale worldwide in June but Lawrence and Sharma’s company, Ducere Technologies, has already taken more than 3,000 pre-orders. Lawrence believes the shoes will also improve road safety. “If I’m on my bike or motorbike, I don’t want to stare at my p hone ---it’s dangerous,” he says. “I’d rather be guided by my footwear.” He believes his invention will prove invaluable for the visually impaired and has promised that every mainstream pair sold by Ducere will subsidize (资助) a cheaper pair for a visually damaged person.Footnav technology does not impress explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, however. “What’s wrong with a good old-fashioned map?” said the 70-year-old when told of the shoes. “If you rely too heavily on technology, you’re heading for trouble. Too ma ny people have forgotten the basics: how to read a map and a compass.”279. According to the passage, which of the following can smart shoes NOT do?A. Guiding your road.B. Warning of the loss of your wallet.C. Counting your steps and calories.D. Reminding you of landmarks.280. Smart shoes can be used as a map mainly because ______.A. they can talk to peopleB. they can produce a slight shakingC. they are guided by a remote controlD. they are linked to mobiles’ mapping system281. What’s the possible meaning of the underlined word “impaired”?A. Discouraged.B. Disabled.C. Disappointed.D. Disliked. 282. What is Sir Ranulph’s attitude towards this invention?A. PositiveB. Negative.C. Disturbing.D. Confused.6、More than four decades ago, British scientist Robert Edwards first witnessed the miracle of human life growing inside a test tube at his Cambridge lab. Since that ground-breaking moment, more than four million babies have been born through IVF (体外受精) and in 2010 his great contribution to science was finally recognized as he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine.The prize for Dr. Edwards, who was given a Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Award in 2008, includes a £900,000 cheque. The Nobel Assembly described IVF as “a milestone in modern medicine”.With the help of fellow scientist Patrick Steptoe, the Manchester-born physiologist developed IVF—leading to the birth of the world's first test tube baby. Dr. Steptoe died 10 years later but their work has transformed fertility (生育) treatment and given hope to millions of couples.It was a scientific breakthrough that changed the lives of millions of couples. They said, “His achievements have made it possible to treat infertility, a disease which makes humans unable to have a baby. This condition has been afflicting a large percentage of mankind, including more than 10% of all couples worldwide.”Professor Edwards, who has 5 daughters and 11 grandchildren, began his research at Cambridge University in 1963, after receiving his P hD in 1955.He once said, “The most important thing in life is having a child. Nothing is more special than a child.” With the help of fellow scientist Patrick Steptoe, Prof. Edwards founded the Bourn Hall clinic in Cambridgeshire, which now treats more than 900 women a year. Each year, more than 30, 000 women in Britain now undergo IVF and 11,000 babies are born as a result of the treatment.But his work attracted widespread criticism from some scientists and the Catholic Church who said it was “unethical and immoral”.Martin Johnson, professor of reproductive (生殖的) sciences at the University of Cambridge, said the awardwas “long overdue”. He said, “We couldn't understand why the Nobel has come so late but he is delighted—this is the cherry on the cake for him.”Professor Edwards was too ill to give interviews but a statement released by his family said he was “thrilled and delighted”.116. What is Robert Edwards' contribution to science?A. Challenging a disease which stops couples having a baby.B. Seeing the wonder of the first tube baby growing.C. Enabling millions of couples to live a better life.D. Helping couples with infertility to have test tube babies.117. What does the underlined word “afflicting” in Paragraph 4 most probably refer to?A. Troubling.B. Developing.C. Improving.D. Frightening.118. It can be inferred from Paragraph 6 and Paragraph 7 that ______.A. some people envied Professor Edwards for his being awardedB. different opinions were voiced on Professor Edwards' workC. Professor Edwards deserved the prize for his breakthroughD. the prize was late because the finding was first considered immoral119. What might be the best title for the passage?A. Life Stories of Robert EdwardsB. Preparations for Having a BabyC. Nobel Prize for IVF Expert EdwardsD. Treatment of Infertility in a Lab7、Advances in artificial intelligence and the use of big data are changing the way many large companies recruit (招募) entry level and junior management positions. These days, graduates’ CVs ma y well have to impress an algorithm (算法) rather than an (human resources) manager.While algorithms supposedly treat each application equally, experts are divided about whether so-called robo-recruitment promises an end to human prejudice in the selection process —or whether it may in fact add to it.“AI systems are not all equal,” says Loren Larsen, chief technology officer for HireVue, which has developed an automated video interview analysis system. “I think you have to look at the science team behind the work,” says Mr Larsen.The problem, experts say, is that to find the best candidates an algorithm has first to be told what “good” looks like in any given organization. Even if it is not given criteria that seem discriminatory, a powerful machine-learning system will quickly be able to copy the characteristics of existing workers. If an organization has favoured white male graduates from well-known universities, the algorithm will learn to select more of the same.The growing dependence on automation to judge suitability for everything from a loan to a job worries Yuriy Brun, an associate professor specializing in software engineering. “It takes a lot of the time for a company to put out software but it doesn’t know if it is discriminatory” he says. Prof B run explains that, considering the use of big data, algorithms will unavoidably learn to discriminate.Many of those working with robo-recruiters are more optimistic. Kate Glazebrook, the leader and co-founder of Applied, a hiring platform, says her task is to encourage hiring manager to move away from such indicators of quality as schools or universities and move to more evidence-based methods. When candidates complete tests online, Applied hides their names and shows the tests the candidates have completed, question by question, to human assessors. Every stage of the process has been designed to remove prejudice.With the same aim, Unilever decided in 2016 to switch to a more automated process for its graduate-level entry programme. Unilever worked with HireVue, Amberjack, which provides and advises on automated recruitment processes, and Pymetrics, another high-volume recruitment company, which developed a game-based test in which candidates are scored on their ability to take risks and learn from mistakes, as well as on emotional intelligence. Unilever says the process has increased the ethnic diversity of its listed candidates and has been more successful at selecting candidates who will eventually be hired.“The things that we can do right now are impressive, but not as impressive as we’re going to be able to do next year or the year after,” says Mr Larsen.Still, robo-recruiters must be regularly tested in case prejudice has occurred without anyone realizing it, says Frida Polli, the leader and co-founde r of Pymetrics. “The majority of algorithmic tools are most likely causing prejudice to continue existing. The good ones should be examined.”55. What’s the purpose of adopting automated recruitment processes according to the passage?A. For the sake of fairness.B. For the purpose of cutting down costs.C. To relieve the pressure of staff.D. To favor graduates from well-known universities.56. The automated process Unilever adopted in 2016 for its graduate-level entry programme ______.A. was found to have prejudiceB. was copied by many other companiesC. scored the candidates on their ethnic backgroundsD. turned out to be less or not racially discriminatory57. According to Mr Larsen, robo-recruitment ______.A. is good enough for wide use nowB. is not suitable for practical use nowC. will do better and better in the near futureD. will completely replace HR staff within two years58. Frida Polli stresses in the last paragraph that algorithmic tools ______.A. need routine checksB. will unavoidably have prejudiceC. are mostly good and effectiveD. must be combined with human staff8、Earthquake rescue robots have experienced their final tests in Beijing. Their designers say with these robots, rescuers will be able to buy more time to save lives during an earthquake.This robot looking like a helicopter, is called the detector-bot. It’s about 4 meters long, and it took about 4 years to develop the model. Its main functions are to collect information from the air, and send goods of up to 30 kilos to people trapped by an earthquake.This robot has a high definition 360 degrees panoramic (全景) camera. It can work day and night and will also be able to send the latest pictures from the quake area.Dr.Qi Juntong, Chinese Academy of Science, said, “The most important feature of this robot is that it doesn’t need a distant control. We just set the destination (目的地) information on it, and then it takes off, and lands by itself. It flies as high as 3,000 meters, and as fast as 100 kilometers per hour.”This robot has a different function—it can change as the environment changes. Its main job is to search for any signs of life in places where human rescuers are unable to go.As well as a detector (探测器) that finds victims and detects poisonous gas, a camera is placed in the 40 centimeters long robot, which can work in the dark.Another use for the rescuers is the supply bot. With its 10-meter-long pipe, people who are trapped in the ruins, will be able to get supplies including oxygen and liquids.Experts have said that the robots will enter production, and serve as part of the national earthquake rescue team as soon as next year.155. According to the passage, this robot ______.A. is carried by the helicopterB. weighs about 30 kilosC. hasn’t been put into production so farD. is a machine with a length of 10 meters156. Dr.Qi Juntong thinks this robot is different from the others mainly because_______.A. it has more functionsB. it has a unique shapeC. it has more advanced camerasD. it can work by himself once given the information 157. The underlined word “which” in Paragraph 6 refers to_____.A. a detectorB. a cameraC. a rescuerD. a supply158. The text is mainly about_______.A. an introduction to the robotB. what the robot looks likeC. how the robot is madeD. information about earthquakes9、Here is a record of the discussion about AI (artificial intelligence) conducted by several scientists:Scientist A: I would say that we are quite a long way off developing the AI, though I do think it will happen within the next thirty or forty years. We will probably remain in control of technology and it will help us solve many of the world’s problems. However, no one really knows what will happen if machines become more intelligent than humans. They may help us, ignore us or destroy us. I tend to believe AI will have a positive influence on our future lives, but whether that is true will be partly up to us.Scientist B: I have to admit that the potential consequences of creating something that can match or go beyond human intelligence frighten me. Even now, scientists are teaching computers how to learn on their own. At some point in the near future, their intelligence may well take off and develop at an ever-increasing speed. Human beings evolve biologically very slowly and we would be quickly substituted. In the short term, there is the danger that robots will take over millions of human jobs, creating a large underclass of unemployed people. This could mean large-scale poverty and social unrest. In the long term machines might decide the world would be better without humans.Scientist C: I’m a member of the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots. Forget the movie image of a terrifying Terminator stamping on human skulls and think of what’s happening right now: military machines like drones, gun turrets and sentry robots are already being used to kill with very little human input. The next step will be autonomous “murderbots” following orders but finally deciding who to kill on their own. It seem s clear to me that this would be extremely dangerous for humans. We need to be very cautious indeed about what we ask machines to do.10. What is Scientist B worried about?A. AI technology will destroy the earth.B. Computers can’t think by themselves.C. Robots will take the place of humans.D. Humans will be unhappy without machines.11. What does the underlined word “this” in the last paragraph refer to?A. I launched the campaign to Stop Killer Robots.B. We forget the movie image of a terrifying Terminator.C. “Murderbots” can’t decide by themselves.D. “Murderbots” will be against humans’ orders.12. Which statement is CORRECT according to the record?A. Scientist A thinks AI technology will never develop.B. The employment will be affected by AI technology in the future.C. “Murderbots” will follow the orders of their manufacturers in the wars.D. All the three scientists agree that AI technology will benefit human beings.13. Who agree(s) AI has more negative aspects than positive aspects?A. Scientist AB. Scientist BC. Scientists B & CD. Scientists B & A10、A “virtual (虚拟的) cocktail” glass that lets you change the flavor (味道) of your drink using your Smartphone has been developed by scientists.Offering a customizable (定制的) range of drinks and tastes, the V ocktail can change a glass of water into a cocktail at the press of a button. The world’s first technology tricks your brain into thinking it is experiencing a specific flavor by fooling your senses of sight, smell and taste.Developed by rese archers at the National University of Singapore, the glass’ three sensory components are controlled via a Smartphone App. Because the software can combine a number of smells, colors and tastes, the V ocktail can create almost any flavor.Developer Nimesha R anasinghe said: “Our approach is to increase drinks flavor experience by overlaying outer sensory stimuli (刺激物). For example, in the V ocktail we overlay color, taste and smell sensations to create an adjustable flavor experience. Flavor is mainly how we feel food and that is achieved through the use of these senses. Therefore, by changing the color of the drink, using different smells and changing the taste through electricity, we are able to copy the flavor of a drink without it actually changing the liqui d.”The glass houses three fragrance containers connected to micro-air pumps. The pumps release smell that change your feeling of the drinks, flavor. For example, a lemon fragrance will trick your brain into believing it is tasting lemon-flavored drink.On the outside edge of the glass are two electrode strips (电焊条) that send electric pulses into your tongue to stimulate your sense of taste and flavor differs with different pulses.136. What controls the sensory components?A. An electrode strip.B. A Smartphone App.C. Fragrance container.D. A micro-air pump.137. How does the Vocktail work?A. By transforming the inner liquid.B. By stimulating the tip of one’s tongue.C. By putting different kinds of drinks together.D. By tricking one’s brain into flavor experience.138. What does the underlined “that” in the 4th paragraph refer to?A. The flavor.B. The software.C. The Vocktail.D. The button. 139. What can be the best title for the text?A. Smartphone Create a Kind of Liquid.B. Vocktail Make Water Taste Like Cocktail.C. Approaches Found to Change Water into Wine.D. Smartphone Produces Smells, Colors and Tastes.。
计算机与绿色发展英语作文Computer and Green Development。
Computers have become an indispensable part of our lives. They have revolutionized the way we work, communicate, and entertain ourselves. However, the rapid advancement of technology has also led to concerns aboutits impact on the environment. In this essay, we will explore the relationship between computers and green development.First and foremost, computers have contributed to the digitization of information, reducing the need for paper and thus saving trees. With the advent of e-books, online newspapers, and digital documents, we no longer rely on printed materials as much as before. This shift towards a paperless society not only saves natural resources but also reduces the amount of waste generated.Secondly, computers have enabled remote work andtelecommuting, which can significantly reduce carbon emissions. Instead of commuting to the office every day, employees can now work from the comfort of their homesusing their computers. This not only saves time and moneybut also reduces the use of fossil fuels for transportation.Furthermore, computers have facilitated the development of smart grids and energy-efficient systems. With the helpof computer algorithms, energy consumption can be optimized, and renewable energy sources can be integrated into the power grid more effectively. This not only reduces our dependence on fossil fuels but also promotes the use of clean and sustainable energy.In addition, computers have played a crucial role in raising awareness about environmental issues. Throughsocial media platforms and online communities, people can easily access information about climate change, pollution, and other environmental challenges. This has led to agreater understanding of the importance of green development and has prompted individuals and organizationsto take action.Lastly, computers have enabled the development of innovative solutions for environmental problems. From smart thermostats that regulate energy usage to sensors that monitor air quality, technology has the potential to address environmental challenges in ways that were previously unimaginable. By harnessing the power of computing, we can find creative and sustainable solutions to protect our planet.In conclusion, while computers have undoubtedly contributed to environmental challenges, they also offer immense potential for green development. Through digitization, remote work, energy optimization, awareness raising, and innovation, computers can play a vital role in creating a sustainable future. It is up to us to harness this potential and ensure that technology is used in a way that benefits both humans and the environment.。
Computer and internet adoption on large U.S.farmsBrent A.Gloy a,*,Jay T.Akridge ba Department of Applied Economics and Management,305Warren Hall,Cornell University,Ithaca,NY 14853,USAb Department of Agricultural Economics,Purdue University,West Lafayette,IN 47907,USAAbstractThe adoption of the personal computer and the Internet is studied within a sample of large U.S.farms.Factors such as age and education influence the adoption of both technologies.Likewise,strong relationships exist between the adoption of each technology and the sophistication of farm management and the complexity of the farm business.After controlling for computer adoption,the results suggest there remain several factors limiting Internet adoption.It appears that producers are unsure as to how the Internet can best be used to create value in their farm businesses.©2001Elsevier Science Inc.All rights reserved.1.IntroductionThe personal computer (PC)has become an important management tool on many U.S.farms.The PC enables managers to easily and accurately keep financial records,track production processes,summarize data,and generally assist managerial decision-making.Recently,the Internet has emerged as an information technology that has many potential benefits and applications for U.S.farmers.The Internet can be used by producers to access price and product information,access government and university reports and research,interact with other producers and specialists,purchase inputs,sell production,communicate with suppliers and customers,and access application software,among other uses.Although the adoption of the PC is virtually a necessary action for adoption of the Internet,as a technology the Internet has many characteristics that differentiate it from the PC.For instance,the PC is frequently used to process and manipulate a farm’s internal data,while *Corresponding author.Tel.:ϩ1-607-225-9822;fax:ϩ1-607-255-1589.E-mail address:bg49@ (B.A.Gloy).International Food and AgribusinessManagement Review 3(2000)323–3381096-7508/00/$–see front matter ©2001Elsevier Science Inc.All rights reserved.PII:S1096-7508(01)00051-9the Internet allows the farmer to acquire and analyze external data and information.The Internet also provides farmers a convenient environment with which to communicate and transact business with buyers,suppliers,specialists,and other farmers.Unlike PC use,Internet use in agriculture is a relatively recent phenomenon.There are few published studies of Internet use by farmers,and there is little evidence regarding the factors that in fluence Internet adoption.By determining the proportion of commercial farms that use the Internet and the factors that in fluence Internet adoption,input suppliers can begin the process of opportunity and threat identi fication necessary for the development of strategies that make use of the Internet.In addition,educational insti-tutions and government agencies can better understand how the Internet might be used to interact with large U.S.farms.According to a 1999National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)report,68%of U.S.farms with annual sales over $100,000had computer access and 43%had Internet access.This and other studies of farm computer adoption have shown that computer adoption varies considerably with the farm population under study.Table 1lists several estimates of computer adoption for various farm populations.Although the estimates are not homoge-neous with respect to population or time,these analyses have consistently found a relation-ship between computer adoption and farm size,the age of the primary decision-maker,and the educational background of the primary decision-maker.Many previous studies have examined computer adoption within a subset of farm groups (farms from a speci fic county in California;North Carolina farms;Iowa farms;Texas rice growers;Ohio commercial farms;large cornbelt farms).We examine PC adoption on U.S.farms that generate $100,000in annual sales and produce some combination of six commodities.Next,we examine Internet adoption on these same farms.In doing so,we identify the proportion of the members of this important market segment currently using the Internet,what they are using the Internet for,and the factors that in fluence Internet adoption.In the next section the factors identi fied by previous studies as possible explanations for Table 1Estimates of the number of farms using the PCStudyPopulation Time Percent adopting the PC Huffman and MercierIowa farms 1982–1984 6.2%Putler and ZilbermanCalifornia farms 198625.6%Batte,Jones,and SchnitkeyOhio farms 198724%BakerNew Mexico nonfarm agribusinesses 198744%FearneBritish farms 198812%to 47%JarvisTexas rice growers 199037%Ortmann,Patrick,and MusserLarge corn belt farms 199180%AmponsahNorth Carolina farms 199114.4%Nuthall and Bishop –HurleyNew Zealand farms 199233.6%LewisAustralian farmers 199530%NASS U.S.farms with salesover $100,000199968%324 B.A.Gloy,J.T.Akridge /International Food and Agribusiness Management Review 3(2000)323–338PC adoption are presented.Then,the data,hypothesized relationships,and models for both PC and Internet adoption are presented.The results of the analysis and conclusions regarding PC and Internet adoption on large farms are given in the last section.2.BackgroundComputer adoption on U.S.farms has been studied by many researchers (Amponsah,1995;Ortmann,Patrick,and Musser,1994;Huffman and Mercier,1991;Batte,Jones,and Schnitkey,1990;Jarvis,1990;Putler and Zilberman,1988).In general,these researchers have found both personal and business characteristics to be related to PC adoption.Some of the personal characteristics found to be related to PC adoption include level of education,age,and off-farm employment.All of the above studies except Jarvis (1990)found a signi ficant relationship between a farmer ’s educational level and PC adoption.Only Jarvis (1990)and Amponsah (1995)failed to find a signi ficant relationship between the age of the primary decision-maker and PC adoption.Huffman and Mercier (1991)found that off-farm employment was negatively related to PC adoption.However,Jarvis (1990)found no relationship between the percentage of gross farm income generated by off-farm sources and the probability of PC adoption.These results for farms can be contrasted with those of Baker (1992)who studied PC adoption in nonfarm agribusinesses.Baker (1992)found no support for a relationship between personal characteristics and PC adoption.He hypothesized that the lack of a relationship between personal characteristics and PC adoption was because of more decen-tralized decision making processes in nonfarm agribusinesses.Business characteristics such as experience with other technology,the use of farm records services,the use of consultants,the size of the farm business,the complexity of the farm business,the level of farm income,the type of commodities produced by the farm,and the number of employees have been hypothesized to affect PC adoption (Lewis,1998;Ampon-sah,1995;Baker,1992;Huffman and Mercier,1991;Batte,Jones,Schnitkey,1990;Jarvis,1990;Putler and Zilberman,1988).There is less consistency in the relationship between PC adoption and business characteristics than that found between PC adoption and personal characteristics.It appears that there is a positive relationship between measures of farm size and PC adoption (Amponsah,1995;Ortmann,Patrick,and Musser,1994;Batte,Jones,and Schnitkey,1990;Putler and Zilberman,1988).Although related to farm size,increases in the complexity of the farming operation have also been found to be related to PC adoption (Huffman and Mercier,1991;Jarvis,1990).Researchers have also documented relationships between the production of speci fic commodities (dairy,corn,cotton,etc.)and computer adoption (Huffman and Mercier,1991;Batte,Jones,and Schnitkey,1990;Jarvis,1990).These studies have taken the perspective that the computer is an integral tool for turning farm data into information upon which management can act.In other words,the computer is a key element of the managerial information system (MIS)on most farms.Lewis (1998)describes how the sophistication of farm MIS systems has progressed from manual systems to computerized systems.He suggests that the next step in the evolution of the farm MIS system is Internet use.325B.A.Gloy,J.T.Akridge /International Food and Agribusiness Management Review 3(2000)323–338326 B.A.Gloy,J.T.Akridge/International Food and Agribusiness Management Review3(2000)323–338 An important characteristic of the Internet based MIS system is its ability to transcend information gathering and processing.Thus,although the Internet can be viewed as a modest technological extension of the PC,its implementation and business function could be argued to be very different from the PC’s.If this is true,it is likely that the factors that drive PC and Internet adoption will differ.Studies of the general U.S.population suggest that factors such as education,household income,profession,and age impact Internet adoption by consumers(Lake,1999).Because these factors have frequently been associated with PC adoption,this would tend to suggest that similar factors determine Internet adoption on U.S.farms.Unfortunately,it is not clear that these studies have controlled for PC adoption or whether the suggested relationships between Internet adoption and the explanatory factors merely reflect the PC adoption decision.There is considerable variation in the estimates of the size of the U.S.population using the Internet.For instance,Lake(1999)reports that studies of Internet adoption in the general U.S.population have produced estimates of60to100million households using the Internet. Within the U.S.farm population,Internet adoption in1999was estimated at43%for U.S. farms with sales over$100,000(NASS,1999).While these studies estimate Internet adop-tion,they do not present rigorous analyses of the factors that influence adoption.This study addresses these shortcomings and focuses on a smaller segment of the nation’s farms, commercial farms(sales in excess of$100,000).Although accounting for only16.7%of U.S. farms in1997,these farms are an extremely important market segment for most agricultural input suppliers as they generate77.3%of the farm sector’s cash expenditures(Resource Economics Division,Economic Research Service,1998).3.DataThe data used to examine PC and Internet adoption come from a mail survey of10,500 U.S.farms with sales in excess of$100,000.The farms were identified from a proprietary database and were selected to meet geographical,farm size,and enterprise targets.With respect to enterprises,farms were targeted according to the predominance of corn/soybeans, wheat/barley,cotton,dairy,beef,and hog operations on farms in the database.Details of the sampling procedure can be found in Akridge et al.(2000)or Gloy(1999).The initial survey instrument was pretested with farmers in February1998.After modi-fication,thefinal survey instrument and a postage paid reply envelope were mailed in March 1998.A follow-up reminder card was sent approximately two weeks after the initial mailing. Next,calls were made to nonrespondents in late March.Data collection ended in April1998.Because the survey instrument was quite long,the farms large,and a copy of the results were offered as an incentive for participation(no monetary incentive was employed),the anticipated response was20%.Of the10,500surveys sent,1,742usable questionnaires were returned,for a response rate of16.6%.Corn/soybean growers accounted for the largest percentage of respondents and wheat/barley growers the fewest.The actual response indi-cated that the expected response rates were slightly overestimated in all enterprises except corn/soybeans.Nearly61%of the respondents had one enterprise that generated sales of atleast $500,000and the remainder had one enterprise with sales of at least $100,000.Further description of the sampling procedure and the characteristics of the sample can be found in the appendix.A thorough description of the sampling procedure,survey instrument,and an analysis of the correspondence between the expected and actual samples can be found in Akridge et al.(2000)or Gloy (1999).Respondents were asked several questions related to their farm ’s use of the PC and Internet.Table 2shows the percentage of respondents using the PC and Internet for various purposes.The results indicate that 83%of the respondents own a computer.The most popular use of the computer was financial record keeping which was computer assisted on 68%of the farms.Nearly as many commercial producers indicated that they were using the PC for communications (Internet,fax,etc.)(38%)as indicated that they used the PC for production planning purposes (39%).Nearly half of the respondents indicated that they were using the Internet.The most popular uses of the Internet were obtaining product-related information (30%of respondents)and obtaining market related information (26%of respondents).Only 5%of the respondents had used the Internet to make a purchase,and 2%had sold or marketed a product on the Internet.Thus,it appears that in Spring 1998the majority of the producers adopting the Internet were using it as a means for gathering external information.Input suppliers,educational institutions,and government agencies seeking to communi-cate and conduct business with commercial producers on the Internet will find it important to understand the factors that encourage or discourage PC and Internet adoption.This knowledge will increase their understanding of the characteristics,motivations,and needs of producers adopting these technologies.Because the decision to adopt is a binary choice (0ϭno,1ϭyes),logistic regression is well suited to predict the probability of adoption as a function of several characteristics hypothesized to in fluence adoption.When modeling Internet adoption,it is crucial to account for the sequential nature of the PC-Internet adoption Table 2Personal computer and Internet use by large U.S.farmsComputer UsePercent using*Use a computer to keep financial records68%Use a computer for production planning39%Use a computer for communications (Internet,Fax,etc.)38%Do not own a computer on my farm17%Hire a computer farm records service12%Own a computer,but do not use it much for farm business10%Internet useDo not use Internet51%Obtain product related information30%Obtain market related information26%Obtain management information16%Place orders for products5%Participate in a “chat ”group5%Do not use Internet for farm business purposes5%Sell or market my products2%*N ϭ1,662.327B.A.Gloy,J.T.Akridge /International Food and Agribusiness Management Review 3(2000)323–338process.Because it is virtually necessary to adopt the PC to use the Internet,this is accomplished by estimating the Internet adoption model within the population of producers who have adopted the PC.An alternative view of the adoption decision is that the PC-Internet adoption decision is a joint decision in which producers adopt the PC to access the Internet. Previous studies of the commercial producer marketplace show that computer adoption was 70%in1993(Center for Agricultural Business,1993).Because such a large proportion of commercial farmers had previously adopted the PC,it appears that for commercial farmers the sequential adoption process is more appropriate than the joint adoption process.The next section describes the characteristics hypothesized to influence computer and Internet adop-tion.4.Description of the variablesAge(AGEi )and education level(EDUCi)of the farm’s primary decision-maker are thepersonal characteristics included in the adoption models.Consistent with previous studies,it is expected that age will be negatively related to PC adoption and education level will be positively related to PC adoption.Older producers have more established information processing routines and thus have less to gain by adopting the PC(Lewis,1998;Amponsah, 1995;Batte,Jones,Schnitkey,1990).Likewise,older producers are likely to have less experience with computers(Putler and Zilberman,1988).Batte,Jones,and Schnitkey(1990) suggest that computer adoption is unlike adoption of technologies such as hybrid seeds because PC adoption requires substantial learning.Increasing levels of education should be consistent with the ability to learn to use a PC and create value from the information produced by the PC(Amponsah,1995;Huffman and Mercier,1991;Batte,Jones,and Schnitkey,1990;Putler and Zilberman,1988).Thus,older and less educated producers will be less likely to invest in the learning required to adopt the PC.After controlling for PC adoption,one can make strong arguments why the age(AGEi )ofthe primary decision-maker might have either a negative impact or no meaningful impact on the probability of Internet adoption.Following the learning argument,it would be reasonable to suggest that the additional investment in learning associated with Internet adoption is much less than that associated with PC adoption.In other words,once it is economically reasonable to cross the learning threshold and adopt the PC,the marginal cost of the learning required to adopt the Internet is modest.Therefore,within the population of PC adopters,itcould be expected that age(AGEi )should not be strongly related to Internet adoption.On theother hand,one could argue that the benefits offered by the Internet are much different than those offered by the PC.Thus,even though the PC is needed to use the Internet,the knowledge required to use the PC does not prepare the producer to use the Internet.If this were true,one would expect that within the population of PC adopters,increasing age would reduce the probability of Internet adoption.With respect to education level,it is expected that better educated managers are more likely to be able to realize the benefits of the Internet.At this point,one of the primary benefits of the Internet is its ability to lower the cost of information gathering.The more educated the manager,the more likely they are to benefit from easier access to information. 328 B.A.Gloy,J.T.Akridge/International Food and Agribusiness Management Review3(2000)323–338Therefore,it is expected that education level,(EDUC i )will be positively related to Internet adoption within the population of PC adopters.Establishing a computer system has relatively high fixed costs and small marginal costs.Because larger farms generate more transactions,as size increases larger farms are better able to recover the fixed costs of adoption.Therefore,farm size (SALES )is expected to be positively related to PC adoption.With respect to Internet adoption,the costs of adopting are relatively modest once the computer has been adopted.Therefore,farm size (SALES )is not expected to in fluence Internet adoption.Because the information processing requirements of various farm enterprises differ,it is expected variables indicating the primary commodity enterprise (ENT i )of the farm will be signi ficant as a group in both the PC and Internet models.The formality of the planning process on farms is expected to be positively related to PC and Internet adoption.The MGMT variable represents the number of written management plans used by the farm including written cash flow plans,business plans,risk management plans,long-term goals,succession plans,and marketing plans.The more intensive use of these planning tools indicates that the manager has dedicated increasing amounts of time to the strategic planning type activities.The PC and the Internet both offer signi ficant advan-tages to these managers.The PC ’s usefulness is centered on turning on-farm data into useful information and in the process of identifying internal strengths and weaknesses.One of the most useful features of the Internet is the ease with which one can gather external informa-tion relevant to the farm business.Both types of information facilitate the planning process.Therefore,it is believed that more intensive use of management plans will increase the probability of both PC and Internet adoption.The number of full-time hired,nonfamily farm employees (EMPL )is expected to be positively related to PC and Internet adoption.Farms with large numbers of employees must keep employment records.Likewise,the number of employees on the farm is a measure of the complexity the farming operation.The greater the number of employees,the greater the likelihood that the manager will have the time to conduct sophisticated analyses.This makes it more likely that she/he will utilize the bene fits of computerized analysis and information seeking.The involvement of the primary decision-maker with physical farm work (PHYSICAL )is expected to reduce the probability of both PC and Internet adoption.It is believed that managers not involved with physical labor are more inclined to be involved in a general manager ’s role.As such,managers not participating in physical labor are likely to be spending considerable time planning,gathering,and processing information.The PC and the Internet both offer these individuals considerable advantages in information processing and acquisition.Respondents were also asked to indicate their agreement with several goal statements on a five-point Likert scale.The goals included in the adoption models were to maximize pro fitability (MAXPROF ),to maximize production per unit of input (MAXPROD ),and to increase the amount of free time for family and leisure (FREE ).Both PC and Internet adoption are expected to be positively related to increasing agreement with the maximize pro fit,maximize production,and increase free time goals.It is expected that producers more focused on maximizing pro fit and production will perceive that the PC and Internet are tools 329B.A.Gloy,J.T.Akridge /International Food and Agribusiness Management Review 3(2000)323–338that can be used to achieve these goals.The PC allows the producer to more efficiently keep records and analyze production information.Likewise,the Internet can potentially offer the producer a great deal of convenience in acquiring information.In addition,the e-commerce strategies of manyfirms are focused on providing a more convenient way to make purchasing decisions.Gloy and Akridge(1999)found that four market segments characterize commercial producers’attitudes toward the bundle of goods and services that might be provided by agricultural input suppliers.Membership in these buying segments is expected to influence PC and Internet adoption.Segment membership was accounted for with a set of indicator variables for Price buyers(PRICE),Convenience buyers(CONV),and Performance buyers (PERF)(Balance buyers were the omitted group).Because Price buyers were focused on purchasing from suppliers with the lowest priced products and services it is expected that they willfind the Internet to be an extremely useful tool.Performance buyers were generally interested in product performance factors when selecting their input suppliers.It is expected that Performance buyers will be more likely to adopt both the PC and the Internet than members of the Convenience segment.Performance buyers shouldfind the PC useful in analyzing the internal data generated by their operations and the Internet useful for accessing external production and marketing information.Because Convenience buyers were very reliant on local influences and local dealers,it is expected that they will be less likely tofind the Internet useful.Balance buyers demanded a wide array of services and information and reasonable prices.These producers shouldfind the Internet and PC quite useful and are expected to be more likely to adopt the PC and Internet than Convenience buyers.5.ModelThe probability of PC adoption was estimated with the logistic regression equation in(1).lnͩp1Ϫp ͪϭ0ϩiϭ14i AGE iϩiϭ510i EDUC iϩ11SALESϩiϭ1216i ENT iϩ17MGMTϩ18EMPLϩ19PHYSICALϩ20MAXPROF(1)ϩ21MAXPRODϩ22FREEϩiϭ2325i SEGMENT iwhere ln is the natural logarithm,p is the probability of adopting the computer;thei’s areparameters to be estimated;AGEi is a series of four indicator variables for membership in anage category(less than35years old is the omitted group);EDUCi is a series of six indicatorvariables for membership in a specific education category(attended high school is theomitted group);SALES is total farm sales in dollars;ENTi is a series offive indicatorvariables representing the farm commodity enterprise that generates the greatest sales (corn/soybeans is the omitted group);MGMT is an index which ranges from0to6and represents the level of written long-term business planning used by management(0ϭfew 330 B.A.Gloy,J.T.Akridge/International Food and Agribusiness Management Review3(2000)323–338written business plans,6ϭwritten management plans for most long-term business needs);EMPL is the number of full-time hired,nonfamily farm employees;PHYSICAL is an indicator variable indicating that the primary decision maker is involved in physical work (0ϭno,1ϭyes);MAXPROD,MAXPROF,and FREE are the importance of each goal measured on a five-point Likert scale (1ϭnot at all important,5ϭvery important);and SEGMENT i is a series of three indicator variables for buying segment membership (the Balance segment is omitted).To model the probability of Internet adoption one must control for computer adoption.One possibility is to change the dependent variable in (1)to the natural logarithm of the odds of Internet use and estimate (1)with an additional indicator variable identifying computer owners and interaction effects between computer ownership and all the other variables in the model.An alternative is to replace the dependent variable with the natural logarithm of the odds of Internet adoption and control for computer ownership by only estimating the model within the population of commercial producers that had already adopted the PC.Because only 4%of the total respondents used the Internet without owning a computer,the latter approach was adopted.6.ResultsThe logistic regression models were estimated with the logistic procedure in SAS V7(SAS,1989).The parameter estimates for the PC adoption model are given in Table 3.The chi-square statistic for the likelihood ratio test of the joint signi ficance of all the nonintercept parameters is highly signi ficant and the model correctly classi fies 84%of the respondents.The statistical signi ficance of the individual parameters was assessed with a Wald test statistic,which has a chi-square distribution.The signi ficance of the groups of indicator variables for age,education,commodity enterprise,and market segment were assessed with likelihood ratio tests.The marginal change in probability was calculated as the product of the parameter estimate and the logistic density function evaluated at the mean of all the explanatory variables.1Consistent with previous studies,age and education are important in explaining the probability of PC adoption.However,the probability of PC adoption does not generally fall as age increases.For instance,other things equal,respondents in the 35to 44and 45to 54year old age groups have a greater probability of adopting the PC than those under 35years of age.Above 54years of age,the probability of computer adoption falls.Levels of education above high school attendance increase the likelihood of computer adoption,with a master ’s level education and beyond greatly increasing the probability of adoption.Several firm characteristics were important in explaining PC adoption.Total farm sales were positively related to adoption,but its marginal effect on the probability of adoption was quite small.With other variables held at their averages,an extremely large increase in total sales is required to increase the probability of adoption by one percentage.In other words,the relationship between size and computer adoption exists,but its practical effect on the probability of adoption is small.Increasing use of full-time hired,nonfamily employees increased the probability of PC adoption.In general,one would expect that a greater number 331B.A.Gloy,J.T.Akridge /International Food and Agribusiness Management Review 3(2000)323–338。