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本文是一篇介绍现代社会信息获取的科普性文章。

time-consuming

machine-readable 

Adding to societal changes today is an enormous stockpile of information. The individual now has more information available than any generation, and the task of finding that one piece of information relevant to his or her specific problem is complicated, time-consuming and sometimes even overwhelming. Coupled with the growing quantity of information is the development of technologies which enable the storage and delivery of more information with greater speed to more locations than has ever been possible before. Computer technology makes it possible to store vast amounts of data in machine-readable files, and to program computers to locate specific information. Telecommunications developments enable the sending of messages via television, radio, and very shortly, electronic mail to bombard people with multitudes of messages.
除了现今社会变化这一原因外，巨大的信息储备是另一原因。今天，个人可以获得的信息比任何时代的人都多，而要找到一条与自己问题相关的信息既复杂又耗时，有时甚至相当困难。 伴随信息量不断增长的是技术的发展，这些技术使得人们能够比过去以更快的速度往更多的地方储存和发送更多的信息。计算机技术使人能够以机器识读的文件储存大量的数据并通过程序令计算机查寻出具体信息。电信技术的发展使人们可以通过电视、无线电传送信息。不久之后，还可以使电子邮件对人们实施信息轰炸。