演讲中英文本

The trend in data storage is even more impressive. In the early 80s, the standard unit of computer storage, one mega-byte, or one million bytes of information, cost about 100 dollars. Today, it is 10 cents. In two years, it will cost 2 cents.

数据存储技术的发展趋势更是令人瞠目。八十年代初期，一个标准单位的计算机存储能力，即 1MB，或者说 1 百万字节，售价是 100 美元，而现在却只要 10 美分，两年内还将降到 2 美分。

These gains are driven by continuous advances in how we pack information into smaller and smaller spaces.

这种结果是在技术不断进步的推动下产生的，我们可以把信息存储到越来越小的空间。

If the US Library of Congress could shrink its collections of 17 million books by the same factor we just discussed, it could replace 800 kilometers of shelf space with less than 40 meters of space.

如果把这种技术用到美国国会图书馆的 1700 百万册存书上，其书架长度将由 800 公里变成不到 40 米。

These advances are going to continue and accelerate the rate microprocessors, storage, communications, memory, and all the other engines that are propelling this industry or continue to lead to the products of the faster, smaller, and less expensive, just as they have for 30 years.

这种进步将继续下去，并且会加速微处理器、存储设备、通信、内存以及所有其它正在推动信息产业前进的“发动机”式的产品的发展，或者会继续创造出更快、更小、更便宜的产品。过去 30 年的情况就是如此。

But as we stand here today, the opening of CeBIT, we are on the threshold of a very important change and the evolution of this industry.

然而当我们今天站在这里，出席 CeBIT 的开幕式的时候，我们面对的是一场业界非常重要的变化和革命。

In many ways, this industry, a very emitory industry, is about to play out in its most important dimension. That is because the technology has become so powerful and so pervasive that its future impact on people and governments and all institutions will dwarf what has happened today.

在很多方面，信息产业将成为最重要的产业。这是因为信息技术已经变得如此强大、如此普遍，以致于未来它对人们、政府和各个机构的影响将使目前发生的事相形见绌。

知识点及背景

知识点：

1.lead to 导致；通向

eg Heart failure led to her father's death.

心力衰竭导致她父亲的死亡。

2.on the threshold of 在...的开端

eg Last night I was on the threshold of hell.

昨天夜里我是在地狱的门槛上。

3.play out 结束；放出；用完；做完

eg Neither she nor her brother used to play out with other local children.

她和她的弟弟都不怎么出来跟其他的孩子们一起玩。

人物背景

路易斯·郭士纳曾经是君临天下的企业霸主——IBM公司总裁。 路易斯·郭士纳郭士纳从小生长在纽约长岛的一个贫穷家庭里，在一所教会中学渡过全部的少年时光。毕业于哈佛大学商业学院。13年的麦肯锡咨询公司实践磨炼，使他成为一名光芒夺目的商界奇才。郭士纳其璀璨、罕见的管理与经营才干，是这个时代的先锋和佼佼者。美国《时代》周刊这样评价郭士纳——“IBM公司董事长兼首席执行官，被称为电子商务巨子”。