YOUNG MAN: That seminar yesterday on automation and the future of work was really good, wasn't it?

男学生：昨天关于自动化和未来工作的研讨会真的很棒，不是吗？

Looking at the first industrial revolution in Britain in the 19th century and seeing how people reacted to massive change was a real eye-opener.

看看19世纪英国的第一次工业革命，看看人们对巨大变化的反应，真是大开眼界。

YOUNG WOMAN: Yes. It was interesting to hear how people felt about automation then and what challenges they faced.

女学生：是的。了解到人们当时对自动化的看法以及他们面临的挑战是很有趣的。

I didn't know that first started with workers in the textile industry.

我不知道这是从纺织行业的工人先开始的。

YOUNG MAN: With those protesting workers called the Luddites destroying their knitting machines because they were so worried about losing their jobs.

男学生：那些抗议的工人被称为卢德分子，他们摧毁了他们的针织机，因为他们非常担心失去工作。

YOUNG WOMAN: Yes, and ultimately, they didn't achieve anything.

女学生：是的，他们最终没有达到目的。

And anyway, industrialisation created more jobs than it destroyed.

不管怎样，工业化创造的就业机会多于它破坏的就业机会。

YOUNG MAN: Yes, that's true – but it probably didn't seem a positive thing at the time.

男学生：是的，确实如此。但当时这似乎不是一件好事。

I can see why the Luddites felt so threatened.

我明白为什么卢德分子感受到如此巨大的威胁。

YOUNG WOMAN: I know. I'm sure I would have felt the same.

女学生：我知道。我相信我也会有同样的感觉。

The discussion about the future of work was really optimistic for a change.

关于未来工作的讨论对于变革持乐观态度。

I like the idea that work won't involve doing boring, repetitive tasks, as robots will do all that.

我喜欢这样的想法，那就是未来的工作不会涉及做无聊、重复的任务，因为机器人会把那些事都做了。

Normally, you only hear negative stuff about the future.

通常，人们只会听到有关未来的负面消息。

YOUNG MAN: Bit too optimistic, don't you think?

男学生：有点太乐观了，你不觉得吗？

For example, I can't see how people are about to have more leisure time, when all the evidence shows people are spending longer than ever at work.

例如，当所有证据表明人们花在工作上的时间比以往任何时候都长，我看不出人们会有更多的闲暇时间。

YOUNG WOMAN: No – that's true.

女学生：是的。

And what about lower unemployment?

那么降低失业率呢？

I'm not so sure about that.

我不太确定。

YOUNG MAN: Perhaps in the long term – but not in the foreseeable future.

男学生：从长远来看也许会，但在可预见的未来不会。

YOUNG WOMAN: Mmm. And I expect most people will be expected to work until they're much older – as everyone's living much longer.

女学生：嗯。而且我预计大多数人都应该工作到更老的时候，因为每个人的寿命都更长了。

YOUNG MAN: That's already happening.

男学生：这已经在发生了。